We understand why homeowners often want to maintain their own trees. Much like cutting the grass, it means you’re getting fresh air. It’s also your yard, so it is understandable that you would want to pour your own sweat equity into your trees as well. And the DIY approach can (seem to) be a cost savings. But there are lots of reasons to leave tree-trimming to the pros.
Tree Service is a Specialty Service
It’s usually best to leave the care of your trees to the Cincinnati tree professionals. You can prune your own bushes and shrubs in most cases, and certainly mow your own grass if you enjoy it, but in a lot of cases trees actually call for specialized equipment and specific expertise. Here are four reasons why it’s best to call Cincinnati’s best tree companies to prune and care for your trees:
1. You Can Easily Make the Crown Lopsided
There are certainly valid reasons for trimming your own trees and not wanting to wait to get on a tree professional’s schedule. If you notice your trees’ limbs are getting uncomfortably close to power lines, or you want to keep your trees from growing into your neighbors’ yard, or you notice a branch is starting to look weak or wobbly, it is understandable that you would want the trees cut back quickly, and that might mean that you feel motivated to take on the task yourself.
But many people going the DIY route will make those cuts without making parallel cuts on the opposite side of the tree. When this happens, the tree’s crown can get off-balance — too much removal from one side sends it off-center. This can impact the future growth and health of the tree. A lopsided crown can lead to tree instability, leaving the tree vulnerable to getting damaged or even falling over in a strong wind. An uneven tree also just doesn’t look great.
2. You Could Cut Off Branches in the Middle
You want to cut branches close to the mother stem. This goes for big branches as well as smaller ones. Mid-branch cuts require more nutrients for the tree to heal, and those mid-branch cuts can cause quite a shock to the tree’s system, while also leaving your tree vulnerable to disease and pests.
You Could Accidentally Remove the Collars
You know those bumps where branches leave the trunk? Those are called branch collars. These bumpy areas have cells which can work to repair the branch. When you prune, it is easy to accidentally take off these collars. Removing them could expose your tree to diseases and insect infestations.
You Could Get Hurt (or Hurt Someone – or Something – Else)
There are questions of safety and liability when it comes to tree work. Getting up on a ladder with a chainsaw just isn’t a great idea if you don’t know what you’re doing. And if your tree is encroaching on nearby powerlines, that’s all the more reason to leave the tree trimming to experts. Also, in case your amateur arboreal work results in a limb falling in your neighbor’s yard, it’s good to keep in mind that we’re licensed and insured for problems resulting from tree work – and you probably aren’t. This can be an unexpectedly high expense, especially when you were trying to save some money by doing the work yourself.
It’s usually best to leave tree work to the professionals if it’s at all in your means to do so. And you might be pleasantly surprised to find out how budget-friendly tree trimming can be (especially when compared to the long-term costs of NOT properly caring for your trees). If you’re in the Cincinnati area, give us a call here at Tree Images for a detailed estimate to learn how we can save you time, and possibly even money, on your trees.
