Tree pruning can seem simple, but it’s a delicate, almost surgical process. After all, trees are living things.
How can you know which common tree pruning mistakes to avoid? If you’re hesitant to schedule tree services in Healdsburg, CA, we’ll at least give you a foundation to start from. The following expert tree care and pruning tips won’t turn you into an arborist overnight, but a little extra carefulness can go a long way.
What Not To Do When Pruning Trees
Here are a few “Don’ts” for pruning trees. We follow each of them up with proper pruning techniques for healthy trees. If you have specific questions, call 707-625-7444.
Wrong Timing
You can’t just break out the pruning shears whenever you want to. Pruning leaves open wounds on your tree, so if you prune at the wrong time, your tree could get sick.
Schedule your pruning around the best time for the tree, not the best time for you. Unless your tree presents an immediate danger to your or someone else’s property, research the best time to prune the type of tree you have.
Poor Tool Maintenance
Yard tools can get rugged and worn down with use. However, you should always ensure they are in top shape before using them, and pruning trees is no exception. Unfortunately, one of the most common pruning mistakes is using dull tools on a tree.
Dull or dirty tools can result in jagged cuts that fail to heal properly, if at all. Always sharpen your pruning shears, then disinfect them before and after use. You wouldn’t want to carry any parasites or diseases from one job to another.
Too Much Pruning
It’s true that landscape trees need more care than their forest-bound fellows. If you don’t know the appropriate level of care to offer, you could end up smothering them. For example, you can over-prune your tree, not leaving enough foliage for it to photosynthesize.
You should never remove more than one-third of a tree’s foliage during a pruning session. Then, give the tree time to recover and grow so that it can regain its strength.
Cutting Too Close
One of the most detrimental pruning mistakes affects several parts of the pruning process. Whether cutting buds or branches, many DIY pruners cut too close. They either remove too many buds, damage the buds, which prevents new leaf or branch growth, or remove the branch collar.
Learn how to make a heading cut to leave ample space for new growth. You should also not cut off branch collars, which are the lumps where the branch and trunk meet. That way, the tree can more easily repair itself.
Don’t Skimp on Tree Care
If you’re dead-set on avoiding pruning errors in Healdsburg, CA, we suggest calling our team at Empire Tree Experts. Our licensed and insured arborists specialize in various types of tree pruning. We can provide top-quality tree care and maintenance whenever you need it.
Say goodbye to unnecessary pruning mistakes. Contact Empire Tree Experts today.
