A Guide to Shearing, Pruning, and Trimming

The Importance of Proper Tree Maintenance

Trees are the reason that we are able to live and breathe and it is our duty to protect and care for them. There are several reasons why proper tree trimming is important, both for the health of the tree and the wellbeing of any structures or people that may be in the vicinity of the tree. Trimming any dead, dying, or diseased branches will allow the tree to grow fuller, and healthier, while avoiding any property damage from falling branches. When trees are in their “natural habitat”, so to speak, they drop their undesired branches to the ground. When in areas where they are along sidewalks, roads, and houses, trees and their branches pose a threat to the property around them so they must remain maintained for safety. Another issue with unruly trees is if the canopy grows too large, plants, leaves, and grass under the shade will not get enough sunlight. It is important, for the health of the plant life, to prune back some of the branches to allow UV light to penetrate the layers of tree leaves. The benefits of trimming, pruning, and shearing your trees are not just for the environment but also for the aesthetics of your property. A clean tree is a happy, healthy tree.

Tools Required for Tree Trimming

When playing arborist for a day, one must come equipped with the correct gear. The most important tool in the kit isn’t a saw or a ladder, but actually a decent pair of protective eyewear. You are going to need these because you are constantly dealing with sharp branches and twigs around your eyes and face, as well as the debris that comes with climbing and trimming trees.

A few more basics that don’t involve a blade or handle would be a pair of protective gloves, pants, and long sleeve shirt. You want to make sure you are adequately covered because despite the apparent ease of trimming trees, it is actually quite dangerous and the risk for bodily injury is relatively high. One last piece of puzzle that is needed for safe and efficient tree trimming is either a wagon or wood chipper. A wood chipper makes the process of cleanup much more streamlined, but it is more expensive and exponentially louder than tying up the bundles of branches and transporting them to a suitable location.

Tree Trimming Tools

When trimming your tree, there are some tools that come highly recommended by professionals. A few of which are:

1. Handsaw or Chainsaw: When the branch you’re working with is thicker than an inch in diameter you are going to need heavier duty equipment. Exercise extreme caution when using these tools.
2. Pruning Loppers: Loppers are effective on branches that are an inch or less in diameter. No sawing motion is required for this piece of equipment as it uses lever action and sharp blades to slice cleanly through branches.
3. Hand Shears: A good pair of handheld shears are essential for quickly removing small branches and suckers from the base of the tree trunk. They don’t have the cutting strength of loppers, however, they are much easier to maneuver when up in a tree
4. Pole Pruner: For those tricky upper canopy branches, the pros recommend using a pole pruner instead of climbing the tree and attempting to use a handsaw or pair of loppers. A pole pruner is equipped with a set of blades, one for sawing and one for slicing, attached to a 10-15 foot pole, that can be used to tackle high branches up to 3 inches in diameter, without using a ladder.

To Trim or Not to Trim

Doing work outside of your expertise always brings challenges but some jobs are small enough and require little or no prior experience to complete. So how do you know when a job is too big for an average joe? Another thing to consider is, what are the potential risks in attempting to trim your own trees? There are many reasons to call in a professional arborist to complete your job. One of which being, that you can seriously harm the tree and jeopardize its health. With the experience that comes with years of arborist training and schooling, also comes the knowledge of which branches to keep, which to leave, and how much of the tree actually needs trimmed, not to mention the ability to easily identify diseased branches and proper tree growth.

A situation in which you may not need to bring in outside help, would be one that does not require you to cut more than a few branches. Cutting back an impeding branch, cleaning small developing branches off of the trunk, or clipping deadwood out of a canopy that is no higher than 20 feet in height, are all projects that are easily handled by regular individuals without proper arborist training. Anything larger should be handled by professionals to avoid property damage or bodily injury. When attempting to solve your tree trimming problem for yourself, always make sure to do research prior to starting the project to ensure that you can handle it.

Georgia’s Leading Tree Specialists

The experts at LTRC Tree Specialists prides themselves on providing professional and courteous service that works with your budget. Anything from tree and stump removal to selective trimming, LTRC has the solution and equipment for a fast, effective, and healthy tree care experience. For more information or to schedule a free estimate, give us a call at (404)-288-5872 or visit our website.