Most certified arborists suggest having your trees pruned every 3-5 years. However, knowing when to prune or trim your trees can vary depending on their species, age, environmental factors, and aesthetic appeal. The best way to know if your trees need to be pruned is to take a closer look at them and their branches. That’s why Westcoast Tree Care would like to provide you with the following Gig Harbor tree care tips for knowing when to trim your trees.
Broken Branches
Limp or broken tree branches are often caused by extreme weather like wind or snow. Furthermore, they can be extremely hazardous because they can fall unexpectedly and injure people or animals below. That’s why it’s important to have them removed as soon as possible. Since tree branches typically break during storms of any season, it’s a good idea to inspect them afterward or have a certified arborist evaluate your trees if you are unsure of their health and safety.
Crossed Branches
Branches of a tree can become crossed when it hasn’t been trimmed in a while. This causes them to touch and rub up against each other, damaging the exterior bark thus exposing the interior wood of the branch. These open wounds then attract unwanted insects, disease, and fungi. Once infected, these areas can spread causing a tree to become sick. If you spot crossed branches, it’s important to have them pruned as soon as possible by a certified arborist before further damage occurs.
Deadwood
While deadwood is often found in most trees, large amounts or clusters of it is a sign your tree needs to be trimmed. During the summer it can be easier to spot deadwood because of a lack of foliage. To help you identify deadwood, look for areas without leaves or branches that are a different color and texture than the rest of a tree’s live branches. Furthermore, deadwood can be very brittle and will typically break when slightly bent. This makes it an extreme safety hazard that should be removed by a certified arborist.
Branch Density
Airflow through the canopy of a tree is essential to keeping it healthy and preventing unwanted diseases. If a tree’s canopy becomes too dense, airflow becomes limited, causing it to stay wet after a rainstorm, which can lead to the growth of fungi. Furthermore, a tree with a dense canopy is more likely to catch the wind during a storm, which can cause it to fall over. If you can’t see through the canopy of a tree when it’s fully leafed, it’s too dense. This makes it a serious safety hazard that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible.
Encroaching Branches
Trees tend to grow how they want. This means they don’t have the mind to stay away from the boundaries of our homes or nearby power lines. Encroaching branches can easily take out power lines during a storm or damage the roof or siding of a home. However, encroaching branches can easily be removed by a certified arborist. This, in turn, works to slow the growth of a tree to prevent these issues from happening in the future.
Misshapen Tree
When a tree isn’t pruned regularly, it can grow in odd angles, making it extremely dangerous. Over time, trees can become misshapen which can lead to issues with weight distribution. Incorrect weight distribution can, in turn, lead to limb breakage, cracks in the trunk, and other serious issues that can cause injury or property damage. If you have a tree that’s growing in an odd direction or starting to lean at an odd angle, it’s important to have it evaluated by a certified arborist for needed pruning to support its structural integrity.
Westcoast Tree Care
If any of the trees on your property are showing any of the signs mentioned above, it’s important to talk with the certified arborist at Westcoast Tree Care. We will take the time to walk your property with you and answer any questions you may have. We will also provide you with a no-cost, no-obligation quote for any of our Gig Harbor tree care services.
Fill out our online form or give us a call at 1.800.767.8733 today.
