As with any other part of owning property, maintaining your trees is simply part of protecting the beauty and value of your home. But because your trees change gradually over time, it can be difficult for the average homeowner to spot what needs to be done with regard to tree trimming. At what point do your tree’s branches need to be trimmed? Which ones, and why?
Of course, for those of us in the tree trimming business, answering these questions has become second nature. With a quick glance at a tree, we can often spot the problems, which usually fall into one of three categories: Branches are overgrown and crowded, they’re broken and unappealing or dangerous, or the tree has become diseased. Sometimes more than one factor is present.
Overgrown and crowded branches need to be thinned, to allow more light to penetrate into the crown of the tree. Thinning these branches can also improve air circulation and keep your tree more healthy. Sometimes, overgrown branches can become too long and brittle, and pose a risk of breaking (and possibly falling). And if those branches are touching your home or overhanging it, they become a risk to the structure as well.
If branches have already broken, the tree might look uneven and unsightly. Those that are halfway broken and dangling will fall at some point, and could pose a danger. And if one side of the tree is badly damaged, the whole thing might be off-balance and more likely to fall at some point.
Finally, a tree that is beginning to show signs of disease will often respond to some regenerative pruning. Tree trimming can remove diseased branches so that a disease does not spread throughout the whole tree, or to nearby trees. Allowing more air to circulate will also improve the health of the tree. If we take this step early enough, we can often save the tree.
If you haven’t had your trees assessed recently, now is the time to do so. Give us a call, and we’ll help you decide if your trees’ health could be improved, or your property protected, by a simple trim of the branches.
