Trees are a wonderful part of any yard or property, but they do require maintenance. If your trees are overgrown, they can obstruct walkways or driveways and even pose safety hazards during storms.
Overcrowded branches block sunlight and inhibit healthy growth, but a professional can thin out the canopy to promote health and reduce insect infestation. Dead branches are also a serious safety hazard, particularly during storms, and can be a magnet for wood-boring insects.
Dead or Diseased Branches
Dead branches are one of the most obvious signs that a tree needs attention. These brittle, lifeless limbs can fall in high winds, posing a danger to people and property below. Additionally, the tree will continue to send nutrients to those dead branches, preventing other healthy parts of the plant from growing. Proper pruning can save your trees from dying and help them grow strong.
A bare, discolored tree is also an indicator that it needs attention. It may be suffering from a lack of sunlight or nutrients. It could also be a sign of insect infestation or disease. In addition, a tree that suddenly leans or shows other structural problems is another reason to call for professional help.
Other common signs that your trees need a little TLC include mushroom growth, cracks in the trunk or crown, and holes or cavities in the bark. In addition, mushy or slimy roots are an indication that the plant is unhealthy and rotting from the inside out.
It’s important to catch these issues early on before they become more serious and potentially dangerous. By evaluating your trees regularly, you can ensure their health and safety for everyone on your property. A qualified arborist can prune a tree properly and prevent structural damage in the future. To keep your trees looking their best, contact Green Thumb Tree Specialists today!
Overgrown Canopy
A dense canopy can restrict sunlight from reaching the ground below and inhibit healthy growth. A licensed arborist can prune your trees to thin out their canopies. This allows the lower branches and ground cover to thrive and helps prevent fungal growth.
Overgrown canopies can also pose safety hazards and increase the risk of damage from falling limbs during storms or high winds. They can also create a blockage of views and interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
Trees that grow out of control can cause structural problems in their roots and crowns, leading to weak limbs or even collapse. A professional can prune your trees to remove damaged or weakened limbs and keep them in balance.
An overgrown tree can provide hiding places for pests and other wildlife, such as possums or rats. If these branches extend toward your home, they can easily invade your space and lead to pest infestations.
A crowded canopy can also restrict air circulation, causing fungal growth and creating an ideal breeding environment for mold and mildew. Proper pruning can help reduce the humidity inside a tree’s canopy by thinning out its foliage. This also encourages healthier fruit production and lowers the risk of tree diseases and other health problems. Proper canopy trimming can also enhance the aesthetics of a landscape and improve its overall value.
Damaged Branches
Broken branches should be pruned as soon as possible. Not only do they pose a hazard to those below them, but they also can cause damage to property or even power lines. In addition, a broken branch can provide an entry point for insects and diseases to enter the tree, making it more vulnerable to further problems.
A sunken appearance in a tree’s bark or limbs can be another indication that it is damaged and needs professional attention. A sunken area in a limb may indicate internal rot, which can weaken the limb and increase its susceptibility to breaking during a storm or falling over. Fungi growing at the base of a tree can also be a sign that the roots are decaying, which weakens the overall structure and increases its vulnerability to a fall.
It’s never too late to take a look at your trees, and it’s especially important to check on them before and after a storm. If you see any of the signs above, call a professional arborist right away to schedule pruning services to improve the health and beauty of your property’s trees. With proper care, you can ensure that your trees stay safe and healthy for years to come! The best time of year to perform major pruning is during the dormant winter season. However, many types of pruning can be done at any time of the year.
Storm Damage
If a tree has sustained damage from severe weather, pruning is essential to help it recover. A professional arborist can target limbs that pose an immediate risk and set the tree up for long-term resilience.
In addition to eliminating broken limbs that can fall unexpectedly, pruning reduces structural damage to your home or property. It also allows light to penetrate a crowded canopy, which can promote healthy regrowth and reduce humidity which can lead to mold development in the canopy.
A Certified Arborist can remove limbs that are interfering with electrical wires. It’s important to leave this type of work to a professional, as getting any tool near power lines is dangerous (even for trained professionals).
Regular pruning significantly reduces storm damage. It eliminates dead or weak limbs that are more likely to fail during severe weather. It also reduces wind resistance and prevents branches from growing too close to homes, cars, or other structures. It can also identify structural defects like codominant stems, which are multiple trunks that compete for dominance and make a tree more vulnerable to failure during a storm.
Unlike many landscape maintenance tasks, pruning is a skilled job that requires proper training and knowledge of horticulture to avoid damaging trees. If you’re seeing signs your tree needs to be pruned, contact a Certified Arborist for a seasonal inspection and professional pruning service.