There are many reasons why people choose to plant trees on their property, which include to improve the appearance of the landscape and to provide shade. It's often necessary for homeowners to contact a tree service to trim their trees, care for diseased trees and to remove trees. We aren't affiliated with tree service professionals but we think homeowners should understand the importance of tree specialists and why their services are needed. We researched tree care and talked to professionals in the tree service industry to obtain the information we needed for this blog. As you read these articles, you'll learn when it's necessary to contact a tree service to maintain and care for your trees.
The Importance of Tree Services for Maintenance and Care
Three Pruning Situations For Overgrown Trees
Lynn Lee
Overgrown landscape trees can be both a safety hazard and unattractive. Pruning can solve the issue, but you need to prune right for the situation.
Situation One: Good Structure and Height
In some cases, an overgrown tree is of a suitable height, but the crown is too dense and some weaker branches are growing too low on the trunk. As long as the basic structure is good, in other words, there is only a single trunk and the main lateral branches are spaced evenly throughout the crown, you will only need to make thinning cuts to improve the tree. This is done by thinning out up to a quarter of the interior branches by cutting them off at their base. You can also completely remove the scraggly growth on the lower section of the trunk. The remaining branches will leaf out more fully once the overgrowth in the crown is removed.
Situation Two: Good Structure But Too Tall
For trees with a strong central trunk and a well-spaced lattice of branches in the crown, there can sometimes still be some issues with height. This is often a problem with trees growing near power lines or in a small yard. It's preferable to trim all the branches back by about 1/4 their length each year in order to manage height, but there is a three-year pruning plan you can implement if the tree is overgrown. Simply cut back all the branches by a third of their length. Repeat this each year in late winter for three years to drastically reduce height without stressing or weakening the tree.
Situation Three: Poor Structure
A tree with poor structure is harder to save, regardless of its height or spread. Can try to use the same method as situation two, while also trimming out up to a third of the branches with poor growth form as well. Another option is to trim back all of the main branches by up to half their height, cut out the weak branches and the smaller of any split trunks, and cut down the height of the tree by several feet. Some trees, particularly those in the apple and pear family, respond well and can survive this treatment, although it will take several years for the tree to fully recover. This type of pruning can kill other types of trees, so always consult with a professional before attempting.
Contact a tree trimming service if you need more help in reigning in an overgrown tree.
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