3 Tips For DIY Tree Trimming
Do you have trees on your property that could use some trimming? If so, it will help to know these tips for getting the job done.
Work Safely
Tree trimming can involve removing branches that are hanging over your head. It's important that you always keep safety in mind when removing those large branches. Work gloves can help protect your hands from accidentally being cut using a handheld pruning saw. A hard hat can also protect you from falling branches.
Use A Three-Cut Pruning Technique
The trick to pruning a tree is to cut off branches in a way that does not harm the bark and the trunk of the tree. The best way to do this is by using a three-cut pruning technique so that the weight of the branch does not come down and rip the branch off the tree.
Start by making some cuts a bit further out from where you actually want to remove the branch. The first cut will be underneath the branch, and it will only go about a quarter of the way through. This cut relieves the tension that would normally be on the bottom of the branch. A second cut is then made on the top side of the branch, which will remove the bulk of the branch completely. You'll notice that as the weight pulls the branch down that it doesn't rip off any bark.
Identify Where To Make The Last Cut
Your third and final cut is made closer to the trunk of the tree, which will remove the short stub that remains of the branch. However, you need to know where exactly to make the cut. You want to make it at the branch bark ridge, which is the area where the trunk's bark and the branch's bark meet. The bark layers are being pushed upward at this union, which makes it easy to identify since it is a bit swollen.
By cutting the branch at this part rather than close to the collar, the trunk of the tree is going to grow new bark that will cover up the cut that you are making. Over time, the tree is going to heal much better by forming over the cut, rather than leaving an exposed part of the branch sticking out.
Don't feel confident in your tree trimming skills? Then consider hiring a professional to take care of it for you.