Tree trimming tips
Tree trimming adds beauty and aesthetic value to any property. If done wrongly, trimming trees can decrease the property’s value and appeal. The general rule is that good trimming is better than poor trimming.
Pruning, or trimming, is the act of removing parts from a tree or plant with the aim of increasing its value, health, beauty, or health. Although tree trimming isn’t difficult, common sense and a few basic rules can help you get the job done. These are some things you should remember when trimming large trees.
- Training the plant to grow in a certain shape or direction
- Focusing nutrition on the most important areas of plant health can improve plant health
- Encourage better quality growth of fruits and foliage
- Limiting growth to preserve a desired height or circumference
BASICS OF TREE TIME
Pruning or trimming produces the best results if cuts are made in a particular order. To minimize trauma and the number of cuts, it is important to have a plan before you start.
First, remove any dead, dying or decaying branches or shoots from the area where they join to another healthy section of the tree. You can also remove double leaders or weak branches by making other corrective cuts.
Sometimes, pruning is enough to restore a tree’s health and allow it to continue growing and flourish.
You can take a step back from trimming every few cuts to check how the tree looks. You’ll often find new areas to focus on or spots that don’t need as much pruning.
The next step is to make the training cuts. These are used to remove specific shoots or lateral branches. These are necessary to keep the tree in its desired shape and maintain an aesthetic balance with other trees and plants.
When it comes to training cuts, it is more important to do less than too much. Instead of trying to change everything at once, focus on slowly changing shape and growth. It’s much easier to remove branches than it is to put them back on. So, a little patience often pays off in long-term.
You may have to wait up to a year if your final goal calls for extensive trimming or wood removal. This allows the tree to heal and prevents any potential trauma.
Most professionals recommend that tree trimming should be done in the late winter or early spring before new season growth starts. Do not trim trees in the spring or summer as this is peak growth time.
Pruning at the wrong time of the year can lead to new growth being killed off and slowing down growth. This is often due to inexperienced or over-eager pruners. If you don’t know what to look out for, it can be difficult to care for evergreen trees. It is best to hire a certified arborist for help with your trees.
THE RIGHT TOOLS
It is important to know the right way to trim a tree. However, it is equally important to have and use the correct tools for each stage of the process.
Tree trimming is an easy process that doesn’t require many tools. It is important to be familiar with the correct use and maintenance of your tools and to ensure that they are used safely.
Pruning Shears
Pruning shears look like large scissors and can be used to cut branches upto a half-inch thick.
Lopping Shears (Loppers).
Lopping shears (or loppers) are the big brother to the pruning shear. These loppers have larger blades and can be fitted with handles of different lengths. High-quality loppers will be able to cut branches up to 2 inches thick. This can vary depending on the type of wood. Hand saws, pole and chainsaws are all options.
How to Trim Evergreen Trees
Evergreens are trees which don’t shed leaves during winter. They have specific rules for each species, just like other types of trees. Before you cut your first tree, it is a good idea research the best methods for trimming the species you are working with.
Several types of evergreens can be found in Texas, including:
- American Holly
- Southern Magnolia
- Texas Mountain-Laurel
- Live Oak
- Wax Myrtle
While evergreen trees require less trimming than other trees there are some helpful tips.
The first thing you should do is trim and remove any dying or dead branches. A disease in one branch can spread quickly to other branches and invite pests.
Remove sick or dead branches and allow new growth to grow from nearby branches to fill in the gaps.
You will often need to take out the newly-grown shoots or candles. Candling is the process of removing new growth shoots or candles. Cut down the fast-growing candles to about half of their height. This will help your tree retain its desired shape and reduce gaps and bald spots.
Many trees, including evergreens respond well to trimming with “The Rule of Thirds.”
The rule of Thirds says that you shouldn’t reduce more than one third of the live growth in any given season. This helps to reduce stress and promotes quicker recovery.
WHAT NOT TO DO IF YOU TRIMMING EVERGREENS
To ensure the best results long-term, don’t trim evergreens after their needles have fully opened. This can lead to uneven growth and a distorted tree.
Avoid “tipping” trees. This is when you remove the top growth from the main trunk or center stem. This will prevent the plant from growing upwards and result in a smaller, less shaped adult. You don’t have to do this yourself. Instead, contact an expert for all your tree-care needs.
How to make your own fertilizer for evergreen trees
Evergreens can’t be completely self-sustaining. This is particularly true for evergreens living in residential areas that lack the soil and nutrients found in a forest.
For evergreens who live in urban areas or suburbs, they need extra care to ensure their survival and growth. Even so, evergreens require different nutritional needs than other species. It is important to not use too much fertilizer.
The location and soil composition will determine the nutritional needs of each individual. They also require a particular combination of nutrients. These nutrients include potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. However, too many of these nutrients can cause uneven and dispersed branches.
You can fertilize your evergreens by yourself in spring before new growth begins.
Eggshells can be used as fertilizer DIY. You can save empty shells and make powdered fertilizer by grinding them up before adding them to the soil around the tree’s base. You can also boil a few dozen eggs in water, and boil them for between 8-10 hours. Strain the eggshells out and then use the liquid to spray the rest into a pump sprayer.
These DIY methods won’t tell you if your evergreens get the nutrients they need. This is why you need to hire a professional arborist.
