When Should I Trim My Trees?

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Trees grow. It’s just what they do.

In many cases, this growth poses no problem. However, when trees exist in crowded areas, their growth can turn disastrous.

The question is: when you should trim your trees? When does the overgrowth of trees start to become a problem?

We’re going to cover those questions below, showing you exactly when it’s necessary to trim trees. Let’s go!

When to Trim Trees

According to local tree experts, the best time to trim a tree is dependent upon the type of tree that you’re looking to trim. Whereas some trees are best trimmed during the hot months, other trees are ideally trimmed during the cold months. We’re going to get into the specifics of each below.

Trees That Bloom in Summer

If a tree blooms during the summertime, it is ideal to trim it during late winter, preferably after the weather has started to warm up (think March). Trimming a summer-blooming tree at this time allows for it to thrive when the weather warms up, resulting in a burst of colorful leaves and flowers.

Trees That Bloom in Spring

If a tree blooms during the spring, it’s ideal to trim it almost immediately after it has bloomed. Trimming spring-blooming trees at this time allows for them to become replenished, resulting in powerful, bursting color until winter sets in.

Trees That Don’t Bloom

Have trees that don’t bloom? If so, you would be wise to trim them smack dab in the middle of winter. Trimming them at this time allows them to maintain their strength, ensuring that they’re safe throughout the entirety of the year.

Conifers

Like summer-blooming trees, conifers should be trimmed in late winter while still dormant. This will allow them to present their full beauty through the winter months, while also allowing them to maintain their strength throughout the rest of the year.

Signs You Need to Trim Your Trees

Now that we’ve discussed the ideal times to trim specific types of trees, we’re going to discuss some of the signs that trees need to be trimmed. If you notice any of the following indications with your trees, you need to plan a trim session.

Their Branches are Snapping

A sure sign that your trees need to be trimmed is if their branches are snapping. This is particularly true if said branches are snapping on a regular basis.

Over time, as tree branches grow longer and longer, they have a harder time obtaining the necessary nutrients. Eventually, this lack of nutrients leads them to become weak.

What happens when branches become weak? They snap, break, and fall to the ground.

Note, if this is happening with your trees, you are experiencing a safety issue. Not only are your possessions vulnerable to falling branches, but the members of your household as well. For this reason, it’s often wise to trim such trees as soon as possible, before they have a chance to hurt anyone or anything.

They’re Becoming Lopsided

Trees are living beings. As such, they — in a way — have minds of their own. If you don’t regulate them, they will behave as they please, growing in completely unpredictable ways.

If you’re lucky, your unregulated trees will grow evenly throughout. However, this rarely occurs. Generally, when you fail to control your trees, they become lopsided, experiencing more growth on one of their sides than the others.

So, how do you control your trees? By trimming them of course. Trimming up your trees on a regular basis ensures that they grow evenly, keeping them from intruding on other objects on your property.

Their Branches Are Decaying

An obvious indication that you need to trim your trees is that they’re experiencing decay. If decay takes hold of a tree, it can destroy it entirely. That is, of course, unless you do away with such decay.

Removing rotting portions from a tree is the only way to stop decay from spreading. Cutting off a few branches will eliminate existing decay, and will, therefore, protect the tree for the foreseeable future.

Their Branches Are Crossing

As was noted above: trees have minds of their own. If you don’t regulate their growth, they will almost undoubtedly grow in an improper manner. While this sometimes presents itself as a lopsided tree, other times, it presents itself as crossed branches.

Unfortunately, once branches become crossed, they create resistance against one another. Often times, this resistance will lead to snapping, breaking, and, ultimately, falling.

If you notice any of the branches in your tree crossing, you need to get a trimming session scheduled.

They Appear Dense

Trees don’t only grow in an outward direction, but in an inward direction as well. Unfortunately, as branches begin to trend inward, they create resistance against one another, leading to breaks.

What do trees look like when this is happening? Generally, they appear exceedingly dense, to the point that you can’t see through them at all.

If your tree appears dense, you would be wise to have it trimmed.

They’re Starting to Intrude on Other Objects

A sure sign that you need to trim your trees is that they’re intruding on other objects on or around your property. For instance, branches from your trees might be coming into contact with your house, your shed, or the power lines in your front yard.

Whatever the case may be, this could soon lead to disaster. After all, the tree is just going to continue growing, pushing up against these objects until they’re damaged. The only viable solution is to have its branches trimmed by a tree trimmer such as the ones found at this tree service company.

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As you can see, it’s important to trim trees on a regular basis. Failure to trim your trees regularly can result in broken branches, any of which could crash down and cause damage to you or your property. In other words, tree trimming is a safety measure.

Looking for more home improvement tips? If so, Domestications Bedding has you covered. We have tips on a range of home improvement topics, including remodeling, gardening, maintenance, and more.

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