Trimming a tree is one of the most important tree maintenance tasks you can perform. If your tree gets out of control, causing you a lot of stress and headaches, it may be time to trim it. Trimming a tree will allow you to reach high branches, remove overgrown portions, and compact weak areas so it will be easier to deal with in the future. But before you start pruning, you need to learn how to do it right.
First of all, it is critical that you know what you are doing when pruning. You must be aware of the natural growth pattern your tree has. If you have a tree that bends towards the wind, you will want to straighten it out before you trim any part of its branches. The opposite is true if you have a tree that grows faster than it bends. By watching your tree and its growth, you will soon know how much to do at certain times of the year. In fact, you may even be able to anticipate when you might have to prune based on when particular branches start to grow.
Do not cut branches that are thicker than the main support. Do not cut branches that are growing near the main trunk or tree. Do not prune weak or falling branches. As long as you are doing it right, you should never have to pull a branch. Pulling a branch can seriously injure a tree.
You have learned how to trim a tree by now, but there are still some things you need to learn. One important factor to consider is where to start trimming. When you start at the bottom of a tree, you are likely to cause the tree to grow out of control. The first thing you will want to do is remove the majority of the dead and broken branch stock. Then, you will want to make two passes around the base of the tree, cutting the branches in half. Be sure to keep an eye on the direction of the growth so you don’t do any damage to the tree.
When you are done with the majority of the branches, you will trim the remaining part of the branch with your saw. It is important to trim the tree in a straight line. Do not go into the thick branches of the tree. This can cause the tree to become unstable and even tip over. Also, remember to only cut what you need to.
Another important consideration while learning how to trim a tree without causing damage is keeping your hands out of the way of the trimmer. While it may seem safer for you to hold the tree in your hand when you are trimming, it is actually a bad idea. By tripping on your hands, you could potentially cause a serious injury. Keep your hands away from the trunk and just focus on the branches.
Lastly, you should never trim the tree directly above or below where you are trimming. The reason behind this is that the branches that are above and/or below will grow in a different direction than the one you are trimming. By doing this, you are likely to trim the branches in the wrong direction and potentially do more harm than good to your tree.
Learning how to trim a tree without causing any damage is crucial if you ever plan on having this task performed on a regular basis. There are some types of trees and branches that need to be trimmed regularly in order to avoid problems. These include trees that are growing up at an angle, trees that are leaning to one side, and trees that are showing signs of decay or weakness. No matter what type of tree you have, it is essential that you know how to trim it so you can take necessary preventative measures. Trimming a tree can be an important part of tree care. Do it correctly and soon enough, you can avoid unnecessary tree damage.