With spring on the way, it is time to trim your trees. Here are a few tips about how to trim your trees properly.
Wait for the Right Time
The best time to trim most trees is when the trees are still dormant in the early spring, before new growth has started on the trees. Wait until the last frost has occurred in the area where you live. If you watch the weather channel, they should give you a good estimate of when the last frost will occur. That is when you should trim you trees.
At that point in time, your trees will not have started growing again yet, so you will not be getting rid of any new growth. There should not be a lot of fungi in the air that would lead to an infection. The weather is right for your tree to heal itself quickly.
Cut Close to the Trunk
You want to cut as close to the trunk as possible when you prune your tree. However, that doesn't mean that you should start out right next to the trunk of the tree when you prune your tree.
For larger branches, you are going to want to make three different cuts. The first cut should be about one-third of the way from the tip of the branch inward. The second cut should be about two-thirds of the way from the tip of the branch to the tree trunk. The last cut should be right next to the trunk of the tree.
With larger branches, making three cuts will allow the branch to fall off in pieces. If you just make one cut with a large, heavy branch, the branch could tear off, leaving behind an ugly scar on your tree. Breaking up large branches into multiple cuts will ensure the last and most crucial cut, right next to the tree trunk, is clean.
Cut the Right Branches
Finally, make sure that you cut the right branches. Start by cutting any branches that are damaged already. Next, cut any branches that look like they are diseased. Diseased branches will have bark that looks different than the rest of the tree.
After that, cut any branches that are growing at odd angles. Are any of the branches growing upward? Are any of the branches wrapped around the tree? Get rid of branches growing at odd and dangerous angles.
Then, get rid of branches in areas where the branches are too thick and focus more on shaping your tree.
Don't go overboard though; you should only trim a portion of the tree. You don't want to prune back too many branches, or you risk stunning your tree. Contact a service, like Vista Tree Service, for more help.
Share17 March 2018
I love and appreciate all of the trees around my home, but I do worry about what will happen during a strong storm. Will I get rudely awakened by by a tree crashing through the roof into my bedroom? Will a tree fall and take down the power lines that my family relies on each day to live our comfortable life? This blog will show you what you need to know before you go cutting down all of the trees on your property to maintain a safe living space and advice for picking and choosing the trees that will remain.