As fall approaches and the leaves from your deciduous trees start to fall, you may notice that they look a bit overcrowded and gnarly. You may be tempted to pick up your pruning shears and have at them, but now is not the time. Pruning and trimming are for supporting your trees’ health, and they need to be done at the right time for the best results. Here are some things to know about pruning and trimming your trees.
Prune at the Right Time
Most trees should not be pruned in the early fall. This is because healthy branches are not yet dormant, and pruning a tree stimulates its growth. Though winters in Mobile are not particularly brutal, freezing temperatures are not unknown. These temperatures can kill off any new growth and damage your tree. It’s best to prune in late winter or very early spring before buds start to develop.
Other Problems
One potential problem with pruning the wrong way is that you will damage the tree more than is necessary. Cutting the tree, even the right way, hurts it. This is why it is essential to use tools that are sharp and scrupulously clean. A dull, dirty blade crushes a limb instead of cutting it cleanly, and this can introduce pathogens and attract pests. If the blade is dirty, this makes the situation even worse.
Even if the wound seems to heal, the pathogen can spread throughout the tree over years and eventually kill it. Having a dead tree on your property can be dangerous if the tree is large, for it can fall at any time. This can lead to terrible damage to your property or even to people.
Another wrong way to prune a tree is to take down a large branch with a single cut. This can strip bark off the tree and make it more susceptible to diseases and pests. You should also avoid pruning off all the branches of a large limb and save the ones at the end. This weakens the limb, sometimes to the point where it snaps off.
Cutting off large branches to reduce the height or the diameter of a tree is also a bad practice. It can lead to sprouts, which are weak branches that sap energy from the tree. They are especially unwelcome on trees grown for their fruit or flowers.
Rely on Our Arborists for Tree Trimming Help
Found right on the Gulf of Mexico, Mobile is a wonderful place to live, work, and grow many varieties of trees. Our arborists not only know how to correctly prune and trim trees, but they provide a range of options such as tree removal, emergency services, and storm preparation and cleanup. Call us at South Coast Outdoor Service today to learn more about pruning your trees.
