Prune Your Tree to Prevent Predicaments

Tree pruning is essential for the promotion of tree health. Letting trees become overgrown is not only unattractive, but can pose a threat to an otherwise healthy tree’s life span. Below are several tips that indicate when it is time to get those branches pruned back.

  1. Removing dead tree limbs will help avoid heavy branches from falling at unexpected times. Spring brings heavy rain and winds. Though we usually expect limbs to fall during a storm it is not uncommon for heavy limbs to fall later on a calm and peaceful day. In the business we call those heavy dead branches “widow makers” and they can prove catastrophic for obvious reasons.
  2. Pruning diseased limbs will slow/stop the spread of disease within a tree. Does one of those branches not look right? The branch may have a fungus growing inside of it. Dutch Elm disease is a common fungus that, left untreated, will spread through a tree until the it is completely dead.
  3. The removal of insect-infested branches is essential to maintaining a healthy tree. Termites and carpenter ants will not stop until the tree is just a shell of its once great self. Removing insects through pruning and spraying will ensure your tree has a fighting chance.
  4. Pruning a tree’s dense canopy allows sunlight to reach your lawn and other plants that need the rays to grow. Perhaps your lawn is not as thick and green as it used to be? That’s likely due to the tree canopy blocking sunlight from reaching the grass. Also, and if the foliage prevents sunlight from reaching your home’s roof, your roof might develop mould or algae. The growth is usually green or black in colour and is unattractive, harmful to shingles, and potentially dangerous to your health. Perhaps your shingles seem damp and your soffits are mouldy. Sunlight is essential to dry these spaces and kill off unsightly and harmful algae and mould.
  5. Fewer branches means less raking in the fall.

5 Tips for Improving Fruit Production by Pruning Trees

The best times to prune trees are in the late winter or early spring.

If you think it is time for your trees to have a little taken off the top, please contact the Dave Lund Tree Service & Forestry Company today at one of our two convenient locations:

Richmond Hill: (905) 884-0511 Bradford: (905) 775-1020