Here are the most common pruning mistakes that people make.
Many people will try to handle tree pruning by themselves. It’s a common way to try and save money. Besides, can it really be that challenging to cut a couple branches? The answer is that it’s harder than some people may think. If you don’t do pruning the right way, then you can ruin how your trees look, and you can make them more vulnerable to storm damage and disease. Here are the most common pruning mistakes that people make.
Topping
This pruning mishap is one that’s easy to spot. It’s a common mistake for people to make with trees that are too large for the areas in which they were planted. As the name implies, topping involves cutting off some of the top of the tree’s crown. It also could include cutting off leafing branches along the top half of your tree. After topping is done, you’ll have an awkward, deformed tree that has much weaker branches than it did before.
Bad Timing
There are good and bad times for a person to prune. As an example, oak trees shouldn’t get pruned between February and June since oak wilt disease can be spread. Before anyone starts trimming, you need to get your trees professionally inspected. Failure to get your trees inspected means you could lose them entirely if you go to prune them.
Making Improper Cuts While Pruning
Many people will make cuts that are closer than they should be to the trunk. This gets rid of branch collar, which is a spot of tissue filled with cells that help to heal the tree’s wounds. You’ll know this problem exists on your property when you see either swelling or a bump at the place where the branch and trunk meet. By cutting too close to the trunk, it can create a wound in the tree that is vulnerable to all kinds of pests and diseases. This will lower the life expectancy of your tree significantly.
Over Pruning
You should never trim more than 20% of your tree’s foliage off at any one time. Oftentimes, 10% will be enough. Excessive pruning prevents the tree from creating enough food, transferring nutrients, and supporting itself. Over Pruning often happens because people want grass beneath their trees to grow the right way, but this will almost never happen.
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