Does Tree Trimming Promote Tree Growth? | 5 Facts to Know

As a homeowner who has a number of trees on your property, it is important that the trees are kept healthy as much as possible. One of the essential maintenance routines for your tree is to trim them. 

Considering how important tree trimming is, it is necessary for you to have a good understanding of how it helps your tree. In this article, we present to you five important facts to note about tree trimming service, giving answers to the following:

  • What are the benefits of tree trimming?
  • Does tree trimming actually promote tree growth?
  • How do you trim trees to encourage growth?
  • When should you not trim trees? And,
  • Why should you hire a professional?

What are the benefits of trimming trees?

There are many benefits that come with trimming your trees. The following are some of them:

  • It makes your tree healthier: The health of a tree is sustained with pruning. Decay can be prevented from further spreading when the diseased, dying, or dead branches are removed. Also, trees get to enjoy more exposure to sunlight and air circulation when properly pruned. Another benefit of trimming is that new, healthy branches and leaves start to grow.
  • Its appearance is improved: The appearance of a tree is improved when trimmed. When the tree’s branches are hanging and overgrown, they can sometimes become unsightly. However, when properly trimmed, a tree’s visual appeal of the tree is boosted.
  • More access to sunlight: When the tree’s branches are overgrown, they create a shade beneath them. This makes the area unsuitable for planting. When the tree is trimmed, however, new and existing plants can have more access to adequate sunlight, making them thrive. 
  • Risk is reduced: Trees next to power lines can become risky when not trimmed properly, with the possibility of hazard and power outages. During the stormy weather, the overgrown branches can threaten its surrounding properties. A well-trimmed tree service reduces the chances of accidents occurring.
  • The tree is kept in shape: Tree trimming service creates a good branch structure for the tree, giving it a good shape. This can be a great compensation for root loss for young trees. Regular pruning also gives you the opportunity to train your young trees to grow in a certain way.

Does pruning help trees grow faster?

Cutting off the leaves, branches or even the roots of a tree can sometimes seem counterintuitive. However, it remains one of the most effective ways to maintain your tree and create a healthy lawn and garden.

When done correctly, trimming your tree can help it to grow faster. Every plant structure has small regions or nodes on it. These nodes contain growth hormones. These hormones are stimulated to repair the plant tissue when the tree is trimmed directly above the nodes. 

How do you trim trees to encourage growth?                     

The first thing to know is that for a tree to be trimmed, you must never cut more than a third of the branches at a time. Going beyond one-third of the tree can lead to serious issues for the tree that can be very difficult to fix. For example, when too much of the tree is trimmed, it makes the spread of disease through the tree much faster. The obvious result of this is that many health issues can strike your tree.

Considering this, the tree service needs to be directed at some specific kinds of branches and growth to get the desired result without complications. This may involve cutting off any crossing branches that are likely to cause problems to each other. Also, shoots that are growing from older branches or from the side of the trunk usually draw food and water away from stronger branches. Therefore, they should be removed.                 

Another thing to pay attention to are the tree’s lower branches. Removing them will help to increase the level of the crowns of the tree. All branches should be kept at a minimum of 12-18 inches apart around the tree’s trunk. With this done, the tree is given enough space to grow and expand as it ages. For easy pruning in the future, it is important that the tree has wide crotch angles.

When should you not trim trees?

No time is bad to trim diseased, dying, or dead branches. However, you can get the best from trimming your tree in mid or late winter. When a tree is trimmed during dormancy, new growth is encouraged as soon as the weather begins to get warm. It is much easier to identify the limbs and branches that need to be removed after autumn when there are no leaves on the tree.

You should know that there are trees that tend to bleed sap when they are trimmed during the late winter. For example, while you would not be wrong to trim maple trees in winter, don’t be surprised to see them start to bleed. It’s nothing to worry about; as soon as they start to grow leaves, the bleeding will stop. It does no harm to your tree.

While it is not common to trim trees during summer, it can sometimes be helpful when it is done with caution. One of the things that summer trimming can do is control the growth of the tree by slowing down the growth of a branch. To do this, it is best to be performed by a professional and to be done just after the seasonal growth has gotten to its zenith.

Should you hire a professional?                    

While you may want to attempt trimming your tree yourself, there is a high chance that you will make one or two mistakes. In addition to having the requisite knowledge and experience, it can also require special tools to get the job done, especially if your tree is a very tall one.  

Tree trimming is best left for professionals who know what they are doing. With them, you can be sure that you will get the best quality trimming for your tree. 

In a few words, trimming your tree can promote its growth when handled by a professional. The Better Business Bureau is a good source to check out what past customers have to say about the tree care company you want to hire.

Conclusion

There are many benefits that come with trimming your trees, one of them being its ability to encourage the growth of the tree. While it is important to receive tree service, you want to ensure that you engage the service of a professional to inspect the tree, let you know its present condition, and recommend what needs to be done to keep the tree healthy.