Who doesn’t love trees? They provide shade, oxygen, flowers, fruit, fragrance, syrup, lumber, and a bunch of other benefits. Like any good relationship, however, you need to set boundaries. When a tree crosses those boundaries, here’s what you need to do.
Terrific Tree Trimming Timing
Unless you’re pruning dead limbs, don’t trim trees during the autumn. Fungi spread their spores more widely in the fall, and cuts heal more slowly this time of year. You should also avoid pruning during heat waves since too much heat can lead to long-term disease and damage.
When’s the best time to trim? Trim a tree before budbreak or during its dormant period. Dormant periods vary by tree species, but if your tree stops flowering and releasing seeds for the year, it’s certainly dormant.
Remember the Four Ds
What are the four Ds? The first one is dead, which means dead limbs. If you aren’t sure whether a branch is alive, scrape off the bark. If it’s green underneath, don’t mess with it. If it’s brown, trim away.
Number two: Damaged. Broken limbs open the floodgates to pests and disease. Make a clean cut to a bud on a young stem of the branch or to a larger connected branch.
Speaking of disease, that’s number three. If you see barkless or oozing branches, you need to act. The same applies if you see spotted or wilting leaves. Always prune those branches back to six inches below the diseased area.
Finally, there’s deranged. As trees grow, their branches sometimes criss-cross, creating open abrasions that invite pests and fungi. If you’re trimming deranged branches, make sure that you choose one you want to keep.
Practical Pruning and Trimming Techniques
Just trimming branches ravaged by any of the four Ds is natural pruning. When a tree is young, you should look at structural pruning. This ensures that there’s a single primary structure for the tree as it matures.
When trimming your tree, always use sharp, rust-free tools. These will reduce the size of the wound and prevent infection. After all, you wouldn’t want a surgeon using rusty tools on you, would you?
Always cut the branches at a 45-degree angle. If you’re cutting a whole branch, do so below the branch’s base. If you’re only trimming part of a branch, make your cut just past a smaller branch that’s at least a third of the main branch’s width.
And that’s the basics. Time your trim properly, try to give your tree structure when it’s young, and only cut off the four Ds when it’s older. If you do all this, your trees will flourish for years. If you have concerns or require tree trimming services, contact A&M Tree Care in Cabat, AR.