5 Ways Your Diy Pruning Could Be Damaging Your Trees & How To Avoid It

By Author: Philip Reeves
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Mulling over the idea of trimming/pruning your trees on your own? Thinking that you could do all of it just by yourself? Maybe your children can help. Maybe it will all work out but you are still very much prone to making a few errors that every DIYer is. If you have made up your mind about pruning your trees on your own, several tree surgeons edinburgh would first advise you to make sure that you are not making any of the following mistakes:

1. Are You Trimming At The Wrong Time?

Regular trimming and pruning are important for your trees but if you trim them at the wrong time, it can have negative consequences on the entire foliage that surrounds your property.
Avoid pruning and trimming your trees when certain insects are active. You could be risking excessive sap oozing out of the trees which could invite more pests which can easily give rise to infections and diseases. Choose late winter months to prune your conifers and non blooming trees. If you notice any dead branches, you can remove them at any time of the year.

2. Trimming The Wrong Branches!

Reputable arborists in Edinburgh say that proper pruning always begins with selecting the right branches. You can't pick random branches to trim and prune. This might only work for the superficial appeal of your trees and not their inner health. Always start by removing branches that are dying or are already dead. Then move on to branches that join the trunk of the tree at weak angles. Always remove thinner and smaller branches instead of the thick and bushy ones.

3. Topping Of Your Trees

Have you ever thought of removing the whole top of a particular tree that has probably grown larger than you expected? This is a very dangerous approach because it usually ends with leaving behind stubs and lateral branches. This is not healthy for your trees and it is not advisable as either. This is going to weaken your tree which will send it into a shock repair mode. As a result your tree will start producing stronger and bushier growth on the branches that have been pruned. I'm sure you don't want that at all.

4. Noticeable Pruning Is Not Advised

Trimming of your trees should always be done in a way so that it appears that nothing has been done to your tree at all. According to several tree surgeon services in Edinburgh, you are not supposed to cut away too much of your tree or foliage under any circumstances. Do not concentrate on a particular area because that will make your tree look unnatural. Evenly distributed foliage is what we are aiming for. Remember, your trees will need leaves and a significant amount of branches to make food and grow in a healthy manner. By pruning them too much or too frequently you will be hampering their growth and life.

5. Lion Tailing For More Shade?

Lion tailing a tree is a practice where many of its inner branches are cut down. In case you have a large tree, thinning out the foliage a little bit is a good idea but going overboard with it is never advised. Removing too much of the leaves and branches is going to render your tree weaker and prone to breaking. Remember, it is never advised to remove the inner limbs of your tree if you are looking for more shade in your back yard.

If you are trying to prune and trim your trees on your own, you should take every step forward with absolute caution and care. Get in touch with a professional in your city right away for more information.