Tree pruning when done correctly by a team of qualified experts, can enhance the look and health of your trees. Removing dead branches promotes new growth. It also reduces the risk of dying limbs falling onto your property or passersby.
However, some Los Angeles property owners might choose to forgo hiring a professional tree services company to save some extra cash. They may even attempt do-it-yourself (DIY) tree pruning methods to maintain their property.
Unfortunately, DIY tree pruning can be dangerous. Not only can it put you in harm’s way, but it can also jeopardize the health of your beloved trees.
The tree care specialists at Green Leaf Zone are here to explain five reasons why tree pruning is a job best left to professionals.
1. Dull Tools Do More Harm Than Good
For optimal results, you must only use sharp tools to trim your trees. But many homeowners may not have new, well-sharpened shears or secateurs in their shed or garage. If you choose to try trimming your trees with dull, old tools, this will impact the tree’s healing process because the branches will not be cleanly cut
For optimal results, call a team of tree-trimming experts, like Green Leaf Zone. We use high-quality tools to achieve the best results possible.
2. Making Improper Cuts
Tree pruning isn’t as easy as you may think. You can’t just take a pair of sheers and start hacking away at any dying or dead limb you see. It’s important that all pruning cuts are done correctly. If you make a mistake, your trees can suffer the consequences.
The top pruning cut mistakes many novices make include flush cuts and stub cuts. The former removes the branch collar. This is an area of tissue that the tree needs to form a protective seal over the pruning wound. Flesh cuts leave trees vulnerable to pests and bacteria.
On the other hand, stub cuts leave protruding branch stubs in their wake. As a result, the tree’s branch collar cannot grow over it.
3. Attempting to Prune Large Branches
Does a tree in your lawn have a thick dead branch that you want to be taken down? If so, call a tree care company rather than try to prune the large branch yourself. Attempting to prune a branch that is 3 to 4 inches in diameter is a safety and liability hazard. The limb can fall on you, a neighbor, or something valuable on your property. Additionally, large branches are a pain to dispose of.
Green Leaf Zone has the right skills and equipment to make sure the task is done safely and efficiently. Instead of doing it yourself, call our experts today.
4. Lion-Tailing
Does your friend or neighbor have trees in their yard with thin, patchy canopies and leaves growing only at the end of the branches? This is known as “lion-tailing” and should not be used as a substitute for tree crown reduction.
Lion-tailing can harm your trees in multiple ways, including:
- Removing too much foliage
- Distributing the crown weight unevenly, causing potential tree-falling hazards
- Stimulating stress-response leaves
To avoid this bad practice, call a crew of qualified tree-pruning arborists.
5. Injuring Tree Bark
Lastly, DIY tree pruning can seriously injure the tree’s bark. This can be fatal for the tree. Highly-trained pruners use the three-cut method to ensure the bark stays safe. This method involves:
- Making a cut on the underside of the branch. This acts as a stopping point for tearing bark.
- Making a second cut farther out than needed along the branch to remove excess weight.
- Making a third and final cut just beyond the branch collar to ensure the pruning wound is sealed.
Los Angeles’ Go-To Tree Pruning Experts
Instead of attempting DIY pruning methods, call Green Leaf Zone instead. Our fully licensed, insured, and certified team of arborists has over 35 years of combined experience. This ensures we always get the job done right the first time around.
To get your free quote, contact us today by calling (818) 797-7861.
