Greater Putt Tree Service, Pittsburgh, PA’s trusted tree service company, wants to protect you from the risks involved in trimming your own trees.
On the surface, tree trimming may not seem like a difficult job. But, there is much more involved than just hacking off some tree or shrub limbs and calling the job done. Certified arborists take courses on proper pruning methods so that pruning can be performed with the long-term health of the tree in mind. A reputable tree trimming service will also have an extensive safety program in place, complete with the proper tools and equipment to do the job safely and effectively for your property and their workers.
The average homeowner does not have access to the equipment or the training that is available to arborists and should not attempt to heavily prune their own trees since damage to the tree or to the person pruning the tree is likely to occur.
Tree Pruning Is A Risky Job
Tree trimming is one of the riskiest jobs that one could do. Every year accidents occur that end in serious injury or fatalities. It is important to remember that many tree trimming companies also have extensive safety training and equipment specifically to prevent these accidents. But despite the training, tree trimming is still very dangerous.
Risks from tree trimming come in the form of dangerous tools and the heights that the tree trimmers encounter. Running high-powered chainsaws while harnessed high in a tree is a dangerous undertaking. As cuts are made, the tree can sway wildly as the weight of large limbs being removed shakes the tree. Cut pieces can also fall onto equipment operators.
It is also very common for property damage to occur when untrained people try to trim trees. One of the main reasons trees are trimmed is because of their proximity to houses and other structures. As pieces are cut away from the structure, falling debris can cause massive structural damage if not properly managed.
Poor Pruning Could Cause Future Damage
While pruning can be done with the overall health of the tree in mind, pruning always puts stress on the tree. Certified arborists have special training that allows them to make good judgments about when and how much to trim a tree without causing unnecessary stress. Over-stressing the tree can lead to significant damage down the road.
If you try to prune your own tree, there is a good chance you could stress the tree to the point that it will need more maintenance in the future. Pruning too heavily damages the canopy of the tree. A thin canopy can let too much light into the internal parts of the tree and make it susceptible to die-off. Conversely, it can also lead to too much internal growth that is unhealthy for the tree and will need to be pruned off anyway.
Hiring a professional tree trimming service with certified arborists is the best way to avoid these problems that can develop from having someone who is untrained to do your tree trimming.
Common Pruning Mistakes
There is a science to tree trimming. When proper protocols are not followed serious damage may occur. Common mistakes that untrained trimmers make include:
- Over-pruning – Pruned branches are wounds of a tree. Each open wound invites wood-decaying fungi that infect more than just the wound.
- Improper cuts – Pruning cuts must be made properly to prevent further damage to the limbs or trunk of the tree. Cuts that are made too long or too short can damage the tree trunk and make it susceptible to fungus.
- Pruning in the wrong season – Removing dead limbs can be done at any time of the year. But pruning live branches should be kept to a minimum while the tree is active.
- Pruning with no goal – Pruning should be done with a clear end goal. Are you removing dead branches? Are you trying to increase fruit production? Are you enhancing the shape of the tree? Having a goal will prevent unnecessary stress to the tree and give you clearly defined objectives.
While trees may die as the result of poor pruning practices, often the damage that occurs from untrained trimming results in the need for an arborist to mitigate the damage. Often you will end up ahead by simply having the trees trimmed by a professional.
Greater Pitt Tree Services Can Help
Greater Pitt Tree Services is a full-service tree care company serving the Pittsburgh, PA area for over 25 years. Offering a fully-insured and certified staff of arborists, they have the knowledge and experience to help you with any of your tree care needs. Best of all, we perform our pruning based on your specific tree needs, ensuring healthier and more lush trees throughout your home and landscape. Call today (412) 867-9631 for risk assessment, land clearing, or tree removal services.