If you'd like to take on the tree trimming tasks to thin and shape your trees or remove the damaged and diseased parts of the tree, it's crucial to understand the basics. You want to leave the tree in perfect health once the task is complete so it can recover and grow stronger.
If you approach this task without knowing the best practices and still don't want to assign the task to professionals, you may harm the trees. Here are guidelines to ensure you trim the trees successfully.
Use Clean Tools
Trimming trees with dirty equipment can cause significant harm. Remember, you'll cut some parts so harmful elements or microorganisms on the dirty tools can directly access the tree's system.
Before starting, clean all the tools you intend to use to eliminate the grime and dirt with water. You may also disinfect the tools before trimming the next tree to avoid transferring infections from one tree to another. Get the disinfecting products from a store or use alcohol wipes.
Trim During Winter
One way to ensure you get the best tree-trimming results is to schedule the task at the right time. Winter happens to be a suitable time because trees are dormant. It's easy to see the structure and remove all the unwanted limbs. Also, trees aren't vulnerable to disease or infections in winter.
So, even if one of your trees is diseased, the chances of transferring the condition to the nearby trees will be minimal. Trees also heal with ease if pruning is done in late winter. By early spring, the wounds will have healed, and new growth will be seen.
Avoid trimming in fall because you will stimulate the growth hormone at a time when the trees should be preparing for the dormant season. Also, pruning in summer isn't recommended unless a tree has decaying branches that pose safety risks.
Learn the Basic Trimming Techniques
Before the big day, you'll also need to familiarize yourself with some trimming techniques. First, look for the twig collar before making a cut. Also, you should angle the cut-down away from a stem when cutting. Be cautious to avoid wounding the branch collar.
If a tree has long stems, you should use the three-cut technique. This principle averts damage to the stem and bark of the tree. First, you will need to make the undercut, followed by the top cut and the collar cut. If you are concerned about making the cuts or don't want to harm the trees, assign the work to an arborist.
Reach out to a tree trimming company to learn more.