While trees do grow and flourish in the forest without the help of routine trimming, the trees that contribute to the beauty of your property’s landscape do not. Regular tree trimming is essential for the health of the tree as well as its beauty. It can be easy to take your beautiful trees for granted, but there may be problems that are not obvious, even in trees that appear healthy. These problems can result in a badly shaped tree over time, and one that is susceptible to damage from wind and storms. In addition, disease can become a problem if it is allowed to spread throughout and between trees. If you are looking to clean up the trees in your yard, and set them up for future success, here are some signs which indicate that it’s time to have them trimmed.
- Weak or diseased branch unions: These will affect the integrity of the branches. These branches can break and fall without warning. This is a more common problem with maple and elm trees, but any tree can have this problem.
- Tree cankers appear: You will notice tree cankers as sunken spots or in the bark, or missing spots of bark, in the surface of a large limb. The cankers may result from a wound, but not always.
- Dead, brittle branches: Dead branches are very brittle and unstable. These branches can fall and may, if large enough, damage your home or hurt people if they fall in the wrong area. Smaller branches can break off and become trapped in the tree which can cause damage to the tree as well. A strong wind can blow these branches out of the tree, creating a dangerous situation.
- Poorly formed or weirdly shaped: Trimming can sometimes help to make an odd or unbalanced looking tree beautiful again! Depending on the cause of the strange shape, this may or may not be possible, but you’ll definitely be better off having a tree trimming expert look at it, rather than trying to deal with it yourself or just hoping that things will improve with time (they usually won’t).
- Diseased branches: Branches which harbor disease must be trimmed to prevent the spread of the disease, which would ultimately result in the death or necessary removal of the tree. Disease can spread to other trees if the diseased branches are not trimmed quickly or properly. If you see what appears to be tree illness, your tree may be in need of urgent service in order to save it and its neighbors.
- Gotten too big: If the tree is too large for the yard, or if it is interfering with power lines, then it should be trimmed.
- Crossing Branches: Branches that cross over other branches can rub together and result in damage to the bark, which will cause decay in the affected branches, and the damage can spread to the rest of the tree.
- Too shady: The heavy growth of branches can prevent air and sunlight from permeating to the inner branches. This condition can also cause the tree to resist wind rather than allowing wind to pass through the tree, ultimately resulting in broken branches during times of high winds.
If you spot any of these signs or symptoms of tree problems, you should take action by correcting the problem yourself, or by asking a professional tree company such as Tree Images to come to see if it’s time to trim your tree. Their expertise will identify every issue and they will make appropriate recommendations for the appropriate action.
Preserving trees is important not only because of their contribution to the environment but also because of their beauty. Trees add so much to the enjoyment and value of your property. Don’t risk possible damage to your trees by ignoring them.
