How to Trim a Tree

Most of us grow trees around our homes for ornamental purposes. Trees render a great landscape to our yard and also provide us with fresh air. However, growing trees comes with a responsibility of caring for them and ensuring their proper growth. Trimming a tree is one such responsibility that the home owners are expected to undertake periodically. However, you need to know a few basics on trimming a tree if you wish to do the job yourself.

How to Trim a Tree on Your Own

Purpose of Trimming a Tree
Trees can be trimmed for various reasons such as safety, health, aesthetics, etc. Often, you are at risk of injuries or property damage due to falling of overgrown branches. Sometimes, the trees may obstruct your view or the branches may interfere with the access of utility lines. Also, trimming a tree becomes a must to protect the tree from diseases or insect infestation. Moreover, you also need to trim a tree to improve its overall appearance, more so, if you have planted it to enhance the beauty of your home.

Right Time to Trim a Tree
Right time to trim a tree would primarily depend upon the individual species of tree. Flowering trees set their blossom a year prior to their bloom. Therefore, if you trim them after their blossom, you might cut off the buds and the tree may not bloom in the following season. Therefore, the right time to trim a flowering tree is 3 weeks after their bloom. Anytime after that, you are at risk of cutting young, fresh blossom. Other trees can be trimmed in winter when they are dormant.

Choose the Right Tool
Powered chainsaw is usually an ideal tool for trimming trees. However, if you do not have a prior experience with handling this tool, you should not go for it. In this case, a pruning saw with a telescopic handle may do the job. Shears can be used to cut shoots or relatively smaller branches. Pole saw is also an effective tree trimming tool for branches that are small to medium.

Proper Way to Trim a Tree
Firstly, you will have to assess the condition of your tree. Depending upon the purpose for pruning, you will have to select the branches for pruning. If you are trimming the tree to eradicate the diseased branches then you might have to do an extensive inspection of your tree to determine the extent of spread of disease. You will have to trim down all the affected branches as well as those already dead due to disease. If you are pruning tree for aesthetic purpose then you will have to be very careful about the amount of branches you trim. Normally, you should never trim more than 25% of the crown of the tree. Also, while trimming a tree care must be taken that you don't tear the trunk of the tree and cause damage to the stem. Branches should be always cut at the collar of the tree, this is a node where the branch meets the trunk. To begin with, make a wedge shaped cut on the inner side of a branch, about 6 inches from the collar. Make the second cut away from the first and towards the end of the branch from top. Trim the branch completely leaving a stub. Make the final cut as close as possible to the collar. Do not close the wound with paint, instead leave it open to heal naturally. If you must, use a latex pruning sealer, which protects the wound from insects.

For pruning taller trees, you must execute proper caution and make provisions to alleviate damage from falling branches. It is not recommended that you use a ladder to trim a tree. If the tree is tall, you should better leave the job to a professional arborist.