You’ve prepped your chainsaw and are ready to go to town on that overgrown tree. Sure, you’ve never pruned anything before, but it can’t really be all that hard, right?
If you proceed with your pruning adventure, you’ll soon wish you called the pros instead.
Below, the leading tree service in Navarre, FL, explains how improper pruning can wreak havoc on your poor tree.
Why Is Improper Pruning Bad?
Poor pruning can certainly make your tree look unattractive, but the damage goes far beyond just bad looks. Here’s just a sampling of the many issues that bad DIY pruning can cause.
Open Wounds
Pruning the wrong way can leave your tree with open wounds, which pests find incredibly irresistible. They’ll flock to your tree to dine on that soft, tender tissue, then move on to the rest of your tree in short order.
Open wounds are a magnet for bacteria and fungus, too. If you’ve ever had an infected wound on your body, it’s the same principle. Once your tree contracts a disease, it can be nearly impossible to get rid of.
Sunscald
You might think that your tree needs all the sun it can get, but there can be too much of a good thing. Just like people, trees can get nasty sunburns that do serious damage and can outright kill them.
Improper pruning removes branches that would otherwise protect the tree’s trunk from too much sun exposure. In the summer, this can cause the trunk to burn to a crisp. In winter, frozen trunk tissue can thaw in the sun and rapidly refreeze, causing cell death.
Branch Collar Damage
The branch collar is the raised, sometimes wrinkled-looking area that wraps around the base of every branch. If you damage the branch collar, the tree can’t properly seal the wound, meaning that infection is sure to set in.
Common Pruning Mistakes To Avoid
Keep your tree growing like a champ by avoiding these improper pruning mistakes.
- Making flush cuts at the branch collar: Cutting a branch flush with the trunk is a surefire way to invite infection.
- Making stub cuts: Stubs on branches can’t heal, so you’re essentially rolling out the red carpet for bacterial bad guys.
- Topping: Topping is a cardinal sin in tree care. Not only does it look terrible, but it also prevents the tree from growing properly.
- Over-thinning: If you don’t want your tree to croak, take it easy on branch removal.
- Pruning too often: Trees need a little R&R from pruning every once in a while. If you prune too often, your tree won’t have a chance to heal its wounds.
Don’t Risk Harming Your Favorite Tree, Call the Pros for Pruning Instead!
Improper pruning can spell doom for your tree, so why not let the experts at Backridge Tree Service handle it for you? That way, you won’t be calling us for tips on how to save a dying tree!
To schedule pruning, call us at (850) 240-2829.