Owning a home comes with a bevy of home projects, like knowing when to trim trees. It’s something that’s easy to overlook, and people often wonder, “ Why prune my trees?” Well, there are multiple reasons to trim trees. From aesthetics to safety, maintaining your trees and knowing when to trim them is an important task every property owner needs to stay up-to-date on. Whether it’s your front yard or backyard, trees can transform your home and be a blessing or a curse. Dead branches, overgrown trees and diseases can all impact your outdoor foliage, and ultimately, your home. Learning about the intricacies and care that trees require will keep your home safe and beautiful, while putting your mind at ease.
Signs that It’s Time
Having a big, burly tree in your yard may be exactly what you want, but be wary of letting it get out of control. Worry not, there are plenty of signs for you to know when to trim your trees.
If It’s Broke, Fix It
If you’re seeing broken branches with splintering or bowing, consider picking up the phone for a consultation on next steps. Once branches start breaking, they pose a serious danger to your home, car, and people. A broken or splintering branch may not be as obvious as you think, so be sure to regularly inspect your tree and look at the branches from multiple angles.
Dead & Gone
Dead branches are sure sign that it’s time for some trimming. Good indicators of dead branches are brittle branches, holes, disease, and dead patches of leaves. One reason why you should prune trees regularly is to combat dead branches. Once you see a branch start to die, nip it in the bud quickly to stop any risk of danger and any potential disease from spreading and ruining your tree.
Crossing the Powerlines
Now, this may not be the tree’s fault, but once branches and limbs start creeping in on powerlines, you’ll know that’s when to trim your trees. Tree branches close to powerlines should be handled by a professional, so everyone stays safe and your tree can live on without doing any damage to the people and property around it. Often, your county may insist on seasonal trimming for this reason. Be sure to work with a professional that can help you navigate local ordinances and codes.
Time of Year
It’s important to time your outdoor work with the seasons. Knowing the time of year and when to trim your trees can make or break you. People often think autumn is the best time of year, but that’s not exactly right. In the fall, deciduous trees are preparing for dormancy, and this is the main reason why you shouldn’t prune trees at this time. If you start tree maintenance services in the fall and cut off branches, you’ll be running the risk of depleting the tree of nutrients.
If there’s not a dire need to prune your trees, wait until the spring or summer when the tree will have a chance to bounce back and soak up some nutrients. If you’re thinking of when to trim your trees, consult an expert and let them decide when the best time of year would be.
Why Prune Trees?
Trees need to be cared for, and when you put effort into them, it will show. Regular care and maintenance to trees is crucial in keeping the tree healthy, safe, and beautiful. When it’s time to trim trees, think about what you want that tree to provide. A place for a tire swing, some much needed shade on the lawn, or even a whimsical treehouse–these are all things the right tree with the right maintenance can easily obtain. A property maintained tree will have the structural integrity to support a number of things, and with proper tree maintenance services, you’ll be able to manipulate the limbs to their maximum potential.
Going Forward
When you’re ready to take your tree care to the next level, consider these factors:
Weather
If it’s just rained or the wood is still damp, you may want to push out your service appointment. Trimming or pruning trees while the wood is wet makes it more prone to infection, and then you’ll just be adding more work for yourself or tree-trimmer.
Don’t Go Overboard
It’s easy to get carried away when it comes to tree trimming. If you’re not a professional, taking off too much or the wrong parts is a common pitfall. Pruning the smallest amount possible while still getting the desired effect should be your goal.
At the end of the day, it’s your tree, and it’s up to you to decide what to do with it. Whether it’s for safety or aesthetic purposes, your trees could use a little love. Not sure how to show it? Gutierrez & Sons has over thirty years of experience in the tree trimming game in southern California. From small branches to complete teardowns, we can handle any tree task.
Call us with confidence and learn more about our 100% guaranteed injury-free and insured tree trimming service!