Trees create beauty to your outdoor landscape offering shade, oxygen, and gorgeous views. If you have trees in your yard, it will create opportunities for a shaded lounge area, hanging a tire swing, and building a treehouse somewhere. Maintaining trees is an important step to help protect your property as much as trees can add to your property.
Why is it important to trim your trees?
Trees need to be regularly trimmed or pruned, and branches sometimes need to be cut off to help ensure the tree’s health and the safety of your family. Tree trimming can be a vital part of yard maintenance for many reasons.
Trees need to be pruned first for protection, next for health and finally for aesthetics, according to the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Let’s look at each of these benefits:
Protection – Removing branches that can cause property or individual harm when they fall can be a primary reason for tree trimming.
Tree Health – Cutting branches that are dead or ill can improve the tree’s overall health. However, pruning can also allow trees to develop stronger core systems to help withstand the elements.
Aesthetics -Trimming a tree may help to enhance its physical appearance and increase the quality of flowers or fruits.
During the dormant season, the Arbor Day Foundation suggests pruning or trimming trees once a year, which may vary depending on your tree species. In certain circumstances, Immediate trimming should be performed if:
-The growth of the tree obstructs visibility for pedestrians or vehicles, especially at intersections.
-The limbs of the trees interfere with the power lines. Contact your local utility company to do the job, as it is simply too dangerous to even get close to power lines.
-Growth of the tree can jeopardize your home or property. When you think that a tree needs to be pruned as it can harm your home or trigger security concerns, it is best to contact a professional arborist like Tree Services Pasadena to assist with the trimming process.
How can you trim your trees safely?
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, personal safety is the most important rule when cutting a tree. Hiring an arborist to clip back your trees is the best way to help ensure security. Trimming can often involve a ladder and sometimes places the trimmer next to power lines, which presents a potential hazard. The safest course of action is to leave a professional with tree-trimming.
When you plan to cut your own trees, however, the USDA provides the following size guide to help you assess whether the branches are healthy or not:
Branches less than 2 inches (or 5 centimeters) in diameter: go ahead.
Branches in diameter between 2 and 4 inches (or 5 and 10 centimeters): think about it.
Branches over 4 inches (or 10 centimeters) in length: contact an arborist.
Once again, contact an arborist trained by the International Society of Arboriculture if you have any questions about your ability to properly assess the situation and perform the pruning. An arborist like Tree Services Pasadena has experience and expertise, and can safely and quickly complete the job.
Ultimately, annual tree trimming will help keep your yard for years to come, beautiful and clean.