Mistakes To Avoid When Trimming Branches On Your Trees
If you have one or more trees on your property, you may decide to do a little trimming to keep them healthy, as well as improve their appearance. However, while you are trimming your trees, avoid the following mistakes that could damage or even kill them.
Pruning at the Wrong Time of Year
One mistake that you should avoid when trimming your trees is pruning them at the wrong time of year. While you may be tempted to trim them back while you can see them fully leaved or flowered, you could do irreparable harm that could set back the tree's growth.
During the spring and summer months, trees are busy producing new growth, so their energy and resources are devoted to this task. If you start cutting away branches during this time, the tree will then have to transfer their energy to healing itself instead of growing.
Instead, prune your trees in either fall or early winter. Since the trees are preparing to go dormant, they do not need their resources for new growth, so doing so will not set them back for the next growing season.
Using Wound Paint on the Exposed Wood
Whenever you cut off a branch, you expose the wood by leaving behind a wound. Because of this, you may feel as though you are helping the trees by covering these areas with wood paint or clear fingernail polish, thinking that you are protecting the wood from excessive moisture that could cause rotting.
However, if you seal off the wound, you may be causing the very thing that you are trying to prevent. If you seal up the wound, any moisture within the wood will remain. Plus, more water can build up, making the wood decay and rot.
Besides, trees are very adept at healing the wounds themselves by pushing sap into the area. This creates a natural protective layer to help prevent rotting.
Instead of sealing up the wound to protect it from moisture, make sure you are cutting off the branches at an angle. The angle allows any water to flow off of the wound so that it does not stand inside the exposed wood.
Avoiding the above mistakes while pruning your trees can help ensure that they stay healthy without causing excessive damage to them. However, if you have multiple trees to trim or are unsure of how to handle one that has extensive damage or dead growth, contact a tree pruning service to discuss your options for having them do the job for you.