Your trees will experience enhanced beauty and prolonged lifespan when you expose them to proper pruning. Besides boosting the tree's growth, pruning is a preventative tree care exercise when it comes to controlling tree disease and infection. However, when pruning is done hastily and unprofessionally, it may lead to irreversible damage, such as distorting the tree's shape or killing it altogether. 

Since every tree has specific pruning needs, it is a good idea to employ the services of a tree pruning company. The pros will use a pruning method suitable for every tree to retain its long-term health. This guide shares some of the pruning mistakes you can avoid by hiring tree care professionals. 

Wrong Techniques in Topping

Topping involves reducing the tree to a specific height. It is essential in preventing the tree from growing too fast. It is often done to trees planted in a restricted area. Topping will remove a large top section of the tree's crown and its foliage. However, cutting the tree tops (main leader) results in the tree recreating several leaders to replace the lost one. This causes the new leaders to compete, which compromises the tree's structural integrity and leads to the deformation of branches. Luckily, a professional tree care service employs the right techniques to avoid compromising the tree's structure and health.

Pruning at the Wrong Time of the Year

Although most trees are pruned in winter since they're dormant, pruning time is specific for each species. For instance, plum trees are best pruned in the summer when there is a low risk of infection. For the flowering trees, pruning is ideal immediately after flowering. Additionally, remember that heavy pruning during the growing season or summer exposes the tree to starving as it will be less resilient to water scarcity. A professional arborist will inspect the trees' conditions and recommend the right time to prune them.

Cutting the Branches Wrongly 

If you cut the branches too close to the trunk, you will destroy the branch collar. The collar has special cells that help with wound healing. At the point at which the branch intersects the trunk, a bump is created where the branch collar is located. The branch creates the callous, which prevents diseases from infecting the tree. Therefore, if you cut too close to the trunk, you will expose it to pests resulting in the bark tearing off and cracks forming on the trunk.

Removing Too Many Branches

You should not trim more than a quarter of the tree's foliage. Since trees store carbohydrates in woods and the leaves photosynthesize, over-pruning will cause the dieback of the roots. This is because the tree cannot transfer sufficient food and nutrients to the entire structure, resulting in branches wilting.

Different tree species require specific pruning techniques. Hiring a tree services company such as JJs Family Tree Service LLC will ensure that your trees are properly pruned on time for sustained health and growth.

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