Summer storms in Australia bring with them violent winds and rain, and during this volatile weather, property is quickly damaged when parts of a tree become flying debris. It is important that homeowners know how to stop their trees from becoming a flying projectile and that is where our tree service company comes to the rescue. Tree branch trimming and dead tree removal are just two services provided which take away the hazardous parts of a tree. While tree retention and restoration to full health is always the best outcome, sometimes tree removal means that the chance of a rogue tree landing on your home is greatly reduced. Our website gives further information about the services available.
Pruning your trees correctly and at the right time is good for them. Pruning helps to train your trees to grow in a healthy manner and ensures that they put their resources to good use. You can also use pruning to produce trees that are more attractive. However, if you prune your tree incorrectly, you could do much more harm than good.
If your tree is in need of pruning, remember that the following pruning practices could harm your tree.
Pruning Too Much
No matter what species your tree is, if you remove too much of its foliage, it will struggle to take in enough food to remain healthy. A tree needs its leaves to take in food from sunlight. As a rule, prune no more than 15 to 20 per cent of your tree's canopy. Otherwise, your tree might not be able to take in enough food. If that happens, its health will suffer, and it will become more susceptible to disease.
Pruning Stressed Trees
If your tree has suffered some form of damage recently, avoid pruning it. For example, if your tree survived a recent drought, flood or physical injury such as a lightning strike, let it heal before you prune it. This is because your tree is still in the healing process and needs its leaves to bring in the necessary food to promote vigorous health.
Pruning the Wrong Area
Never remove the top of a tree. This is essentially beheading your tree, depriving its main method of bringing in food via its leaves. Once you remove most of a tree's canopy in this manner, the tree has to rely on the resources stored in its roots. If recent seasons have been difficult, for example, if water has been scarce, removing the top of a tree could kill it.
Pruning Too Close to the Trunk
Always leave a collar when removing a branch. If you cut too close to the trunk when you remove a branch, your tree will struggle to heal the wound. As a result, diseases and pests could infect the wound and eventually kill your tree. Always cut a branch just after the raised area at the beginning of the branch. This area contains special cells that help the wound close over quickly.
If you have never pruned a tree or are unsure of how or where to prune, contact a local tree care service or arborist. With the help of a professional, you can avoid harming your tree while improving its look and longevity.
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