Do you admire your yard’s tall trees? You’re in good company.
Trees’ ability to grow as tall as 35 stories is among their most enviable traits, with trees’ maximum height being 400 feet to 426 feet.
What happens if you have large trees on your property that need to be trimmed down? Let’s examine the process of trimming tall trees.
Reach the Tree
Accessing the part of a tall tree that requires trimming can be tricky. Unfortunately, most landscapers and property owners don’t have the tree trimming supplies to reach a tree section over 10 feet to 15 feet high.
Fortunately, a professional tree trimmer has this equipment along with tools such as grapple saws to reach and cut the highest sections of just about any tree.
A professional tree trimmer will also be able to figure out how to move their equipment close to your tree in tricky situations, including the following:
- Buildings or trees surrounding the tree
- Narrow passageways around the tree
- Uneven surfaces
The trimmer will additionally know how to access your tree safely if power lines are nearby.
Make Cuts
Once you have reached the part of the tall tree you would like to trim, you can begin removing branches. This process is called pruning.
This step involves determining which branches should be removed to lessen the weight placed on your tree’s long branches. You’ll also want to remove branches in a way that will let more air and light reach your tree’s inner sections. However, you’ll still want to maintain your tree’s structure.
A professional tree company can help you achieve all of these goals.
A reputable trimmer may also remove branches they think might cause damage down the road.
Likewise, they might remove a branch that is growing incorrectly or is touching a nearby object, like your home’s roof.
During the pruning process, you’ll also want to remove any branches that are weakened, diseased, damaged, or dead.
Keep in mind that a large pruning cut, like the removal of an older and bigger branch, often heals poorly on a tree. This may leave the tree vulnerable to insect infestation and diseases.
That’s why it’s important to avoid trimming too many tree branches and eliminating too much of a tree’s foliage. It’s also important to avoid removing too many interior branches. If you over-thin your tree — which is also called lion-tailing the tree — your tree may become less safe.
Maneuver and Dispose of Your Branches
You might need to remove a large tree section if the tree is decades old. In this situation, it’s especially important to hire a tree trimming service. They’ll be equipped to cut and lower branches that might weigh several hundred pounds.
Once these tree branches are in your yard, the tree service can cut them into smaller chunks and remove them. You may also keep some wood on your property for firewood.
Handle Dangerous Tree Branches Carefully
As you trim your tree, you might come across cracked, broken, or dead branches. Remove them carefully to keep them from falling, as they could harm your home or another building, like your shed, below them. They might also injure family members who walk underneath them.
It’s paramount you remove them before extreme weather shakes them loose. A storm may cause a dead branch to fall suddenly or even turn it into a projectile in a strong wind.
A professional tree service can easily handle these dangerous branches so you don’t have to.
Use the Right Tree-Trimming Techniques
As you navigate the tree-trimming process, keep in mind that the pruning process is a delicate one. If you do it incorrectly, this may cause irreversible damage to a tree.
Trimming trees is not the same as trimming hair. Cut hair can grow back quickly, but removed tree sections cannot.
In addition, improper pruning may leave behind unsightly stubs. It may also cause branches to develop jagged ends and lead to tree wounds. These wounds may allow disease and pests to get into your tree.
Also, improper pruning, like removing a large amount of your trees’ canopy or tree topping, where you cut a tree’s top off, may prevent trees from photosynthesizing due to lacking leaves.
Photosynthesis is necessary to generate energy for healing and growth. If trees don’t have ample energy, they will be stressed. This may make them susceptible to diseases, eventually leading to tree death.
Professional tree trimmers will use proven tree-trimming techniques to ensure your trees remain healthy for years to come.
How We Can Help With Trimming Tall Trees
Trimming tall trees requires the right equipment, time, and training. It also requires a selective trimming approach, as you’ll have to analyze which branches should be removed.
At Tree-Line Arbor Care, we’re excited to offer top-of-the-line tree pruning services. In addition, if you need to remove a tall tree from your yard, we can use a crane to complete this task for you.
Get in touch with us to learn more about our tree services, and request a quote today!