Tree Trimming Tips
The beauty and aesthetics of any property can be enhanced by trimming trees. It can also reduce the value of your property and landscaping if it is done incorrectly. Bad trimming is more desirable than good trimming.
The act of trimming or pruning a tree is to remove any part of it. This usually happens with the intention of increasing the plant’s beauty, health, and value. While tree trimming is not difficult, it’s easy to use common sense and follow a few simple rules. There are a few things you need to remember to trim large trees.
- “Training” the plants to grow in a particular shape or direction
- Improve plant health by focusing nutrition in the areas that are most desirable
- Encourage better-quality fruit and leaf growth
- To maintain a preferred height and circumference, limit growth
Basics of Tree-Trimming
When pruning or trimming is done in a certain order, it produces best results. These must be done according to a plan that was established before the cutting begins to reduce the trauma to the remaining growth.
The first step is usually to remove dead, broken or dying shoots or branches at the point where they connect to a healthy section of tree. Other corrective measures can be used to remove weak or crowded branches or double leaders.
Sometimes all it takes to make a tree healthy again and to allow it to flourish and grow is some pruning.
It is best to take a break from the tree trimming process after every few cuts. You may find new areas or realize that certain spots don’t require the same amount of pruning as they did in the beginning.
The training cuts are next, which involve removing certain lateral branches and shoots. These help keep the tree in the right shape and to preserve an aesthetic balance with other trees or plants around it.
When considering training cuts, you will find that less is better than most. It is better to modify shape and grow slowly over time than trying to do everything at once. It is much easier to remove the branches than to place them back on. This is why a little caution can often pay off in the long term.
For large-scale trimming and removal of wood, it may be necessary to wait as long as one year between pruning sessions. This will prevent the tree from being traumatized and allow it to heal.
According to professionals, it is best to trim trees in late winter and early spring so that the new seasonal growth doesn’t begin. It is best to avoid trimming trees during peak growth periods, such as the late spring and early summer.
Trimming too early or too often can result in new growth being killed and/or stunted. This happens more often than necessary, most commonly due to less experienced or overly eager pruners. If you are not familiar with the best ways to maintain evergreen trees, it can be difficult. To help you care for your trees, it is best that you contact an arborist certified in the field.
The Right Tools
Not only is it important to know how to trim trees correctly, but also to be able to use and maintain the proper tools for each step.
Tree trimming can be done quickly and without a lot of tools. It is essential to understand how your tools should be used and maintained.
Pruning Shears
Pruning shears can cut branches up too thick for a one-inch thickness. They look almost like giant scissors.
Lopping Shears
Lopping shears or loppers are the pruning shear’s bigger brother. They have much larger blades that can be attached to handles of different lengths. If you have a high-quality pair, your loppers will not have any trouble cutting branches as thick as 2 inches, or more depending on what kind of wood. You can also use hand saws and pole saws as well as chainsaws.
How to trim evergreen trees
Evergreen trees are trees that don’t shed their leaves in winter. As with all trees, evergreens have their own rules. It is a smart idea to research the best practices for each species before making your first cut.
You can find a few types of evergreens in Texas:
- American Holly
- Southern Magnolia
- Texas Mountain-Laurel
- Live Oak
- Wax Myrtle
Although evergreen trees usually require less trimming than others, there are some useful hints.
First, trim dead and dying branches. One branch of disease can quickly spread to the rest of the tree, inviting pests.
To fill in any gaps, it is possible to remove dead or sick branches.
Sometimes you will need to get rid of the growing shoots or candles. This is known as candling. You can remove fast-growing candles by cutting them down to half. This allows your tree to maintain its ideal shape. It can also make it denser and leave fewer bald spots and gaps.
The Rule of Thirds is the best method to trim trees, even evergreens.
The rule of thirds stipulates that you should not reduce more than one-third the amount of live growth each season. This reduces stress and encourages faster recovery.
What Not to Do When Trimming evergreens
Evergreens should not be trimmed after they have fully opened. This will ensure that you get the best long-term results. It can result in uneven growth and a misshaped tree.
Avoid “topping” trees. This refers to the act of removing the most important growth from the main trunk. The downward growth of the plant will be stopped by cutting the center stem. This will result in a small, unformed adult. For all your tree care needs, it is better to hire an expert than attempt this task on your own.
How to make Homemade Fertilizer For Evergreen Trees
Evergreens cannot be self-sufficient. This is especially true if evergreens are in a residential environment that lacks the nutrients or soil found in a forest.
Urban or suburban evergreens need more attention to survive and thrive. Even then, evergreens need to be fed in a way that is different than other species. You should not apply too much fertilizer.
There are different nutritional requirements depending on where you live and the soil composition. You will need to have a certain combination of nutrients. These nutrients include phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. However, too much of these nutrients can result in unevenly spaced branches.
It’s best to fertilize your evergreens in the spring to avoid new growth.
Eggshells can also be used to make fertilizer. The shells can be saved and ground into powder, then mixed into the soil at the tree’s base. You can boil a few dozen eggshells with water for 8-10 hours. Next, strain the eggs and use the liquid in a pump sprayer to remove the shells.
None of these DIY methods will tell you if the evergreens are getting the nutrition they require. You need a professional Arborist to do this.