If your tree has a single broken branch or a branch that is growing into the side of your home, you can typically trim that tree yourself, provided you have sharp shears on hand. However, there are many cases in which you should not trim a tree yourself but instead hire professionals. Here are five of those circumstances.
1. The tree needs a lot of reshaping.
A tree that has one or two longer or misplaced branches is one thing; you can probably attempt a DIY trim. But if the tree needs some extensive reshaping, that's not a task you should take on yourself. There is a fine line between trimming a tree properly and removing too much. It's also hard to know which branches to remove and which to leave. A professional will know which branches to remove to give the tree the shape you desire without causing any long-term damage to its health.
A lot of homeowners, when they attempt to shape a tree, cut the ends off of multiple branches. This is actually an approach that is detrimental to the tree. A professional will remove branches where they meet the tree, which requires stronger shears and careful placement of the cuts.
2. The tree appears to have a disease.
If a tree has a fungal disease that is causing its leaves to curl or become spotty, removing the most damaged branches is often the right approach. However, there are certain tree diseases that can get worse when you trim the tree. There is also potential to spread the disease to other trees if the equipment is not carefully sanitized between cuts. Because of these challenges, it's best to let professionals -- who can diagnose the tree's disease -- handle the situation.
3. The tree is overhanging your house or a structure.
It's really hard to predict when and where a branch is going to fall when you are trimming a tree and don't have a lot of experience doing so. As such, you do not want to trim a tree yourself if some of the branches are hanging over your house, garage, or even fence. Make sure the company you hire to do this job carries good insurance, too, just in case something were to happen. Their insurance policy should cover any damaged caused if the limb does happen to fall on a structure.
4. The tree is interfering with power lines.
Trees love to grow into power lines, and it is a real problem that needs to be addressed. However, you should never get anywhere near the power lines yourself. The risk for shock is way too high, even if you do not intend to get that close to the lines. Some professionals won't even trim trees near power lines; they may call your local power company and have them handle the task instead.
5. The tree appears to be dead.
Trimming away one or two dead branches is one thing. But if the entire tree, or most of it, appears to be dead, you should not attempt to trim the tree yourself. Deadwood is brittle, so the branch you are attempting to trim — or one near it — may break and fall, causing an injury. A tree care company can come to examine the tree, and they may actually recommend having it removed if it truly is dead or mostly dead.
Tree trimming is more complex than you might initially assume, which is why there are professionals who specialize in this task. If you're not absolutely confident trimming a tree yourself, leave it to the tree trimming pros.
Share7 June 2019
After we moved into our house, we knew that something had to be done about our trees. The branches looked off-kilter, and we could tell that someone had pruned them incorrectly at one time or another. Unfortunately, we weren't really sure how to repair the damage. A family friend talked with us about hiring a professional tree trimmer, and so we called them the next day. The difference that they made was astounding. They removed dead branches, trimmed up the shape, and let more sunlight through. My blog is all about improving the look of your trees by hiring a professional.