As you probably guessed from our company name, here at Limbwalker we love trees. We always want to do everything that we can in our power to preserve their health and beauty, which is why we strongly emphasize the importance of the proper pruning of trees.
Pruning is a service that is often misunderstood for a variety of reasons. People don’t always understand the true purpose of this practice or how it needs to be performed.
That’s why we’re covering all things related to tree pruning. In this guide, we’ll talk about all the important information that you need to know in order to get the most out of this valuable service.
Table of Contents
Why is the proper pruning of trees so important?
When should I prune a tree?
Common pruning mistakes to avoid
DIY vs. professional tree pruning in Louisville KY
Choosing professional tree pruning in Louisville KY
Tree pruning is the process of removing specific branches in order to benefit the tree as a whole. While that’s the basic definition, people don’t always realize that there are different tree pruning techniques based on what your goals for your tree are (as well as the tree’s immediate needs).
The proper pruning of trees is one of the most important things that can be done to preserve the health and beauty of these valuable assets. People often assume that the benefits of tree pruning are mostly aesthetic. Your tree is starting to look overgrown and messy, so it’s time to get it trimmed. Or, maybe, there’s a limb that is causing issues such as growing over a sidewalk or into a power line, so you need to get that resolved.
But in reality, tree pruning in Louisville, KY is also incredibly beneficial to tree health. Removing dying, dead, or decaying branches is important for the overall health of your trees.
Pruning needs to be executed with a plan in place (not just haphazardly making cuts). It’s important to understand that tree pruning errors can be detrimental to a tree’s health. We’ll talk about that further along in this guide. We often call tree pruning both an art and a science as it’s important to skillfully select branches that need to be pruned without detrimentally impacting the aesthetics of the tree (if it can be avoided).
Understanding when to perform tree pruning in Louisville, KY is part of proper pruning.
While there are some exceptions in some places with some tree species, in Louisville the best time to prune your tree is when you are ready to prune it.
Most people choose to prune their trees May through September because they are outside and can see the results of the pruning. Pruning when the leaves are present is also great for the climber, as they can easily see what needs to be removed.
However, the cost of pruning your tree is reduced in the offseason (October - April) because of standard seasonal discounts. This is appealing to many people for the savings. And there are also some benefits to dormant pruning, when the tree is under less stress because it’s in a dormant state.
It all really depends on what is more important to you. Planning ahead for seasonal discounts is typically what many of our regular pruning customers do.
As far as how often to prune, there can be a lot of variation based on factors including the species, the tree’s condition, and the tree’s needs. There are different reasons for pruning as well as different goals.
Keep in mind that tree pruning should be more about what the tree needs rather than any set schedule. That being said, a general rule of thumb is that trees should be pruned every 4 years. This pruning cycle is easy to remember: think Olympics, Presidential elections, and high school!
There are a lot of good reasons to hire a professional for your pruning needs. One of the big reasons is that you’ll avoid mistakes and errors that can be dangerous or costly. Let’s look at some of the common pruning mistakes.
To avoid mistakes and to ensure that your tree is pruned properly, you want to consider investing in professional prunings services as opposed to tackling DIY pruning. We know that many homeowners ask about pruning their trees themselves, but this is not something that we recommend.
While it might seem that pruning simply involves making some cuts to various branches, there is much more strategy to it than that (as we’ve hopefully explained well by now). As we mention above, making pruning mistakes can actually end up damaging your tree and causing significant problems.
For that reason, you want a tree pruning expert who will make strategic decisions regarding which branches to prune and also know exactly how to prune them. There are special pruning tools and equipment that is likely required.
Tree pruning professionals may make pruning look easy, but it is dangerous for the untrained person. Attempting to prune your tree yourself can lead to serious accidents and injuries. Just youtube “Pruning trees with Ladders” for a list of the horrible accidents that can occur.
This truly is a service best left in the hands of a pro.
But it’s not just about avoiding mistakes. It’s also about getting the best results. When your tree is properly pruned, you’ll see benefits like better growth, longer bloom times, better structure, and more. You’ll get the full value out of this important service when it’s done right.
When you hire a professional, you also don’t have to spend your free time on the weekends pruning your trees. You can simply enjoy having these beauties taken care of for you.
Given how important it is that proper pruning practices are adhered to, you want to make sure you choose the best tree pruning in Louisville, KY. There are plenty of tree care companies offering these services, but it’s important to do your due diligence and choose a company that you trust.
Even “professional” services make mistakes, particularly when they use inexperienced or unskilled workers to handle tree trimming. Over the years we have seen numerous mistakes that could have been avoided (both from homeowners tackling the work themselves and from inexperienced “pros”).
In fact, sometimes we are called in to fix pruning mistakes. This is not always easily done. Having seen enough hack jobs over the years that put lots of unnecessary stress on a tree, we do feel it’s our duty to stress the importance of making a wise choice from the start.
At Limbwalker, we take our role in preserving trees with the proper care seriously. We started our business with the belief that we are here to care for and protect trees whenever we can. We employ Certified Arborists and focus on using best practices so that you can rest assured your trees are being properly cared for.
At the end of the day, when you make the wise choice to work with a tree care professional, you’re making a valuable investment in the health of your property’s trees.
At Limbwalker, we are here to help. If we can answer any questions for you that weren’t covered here, please feel free to reach out.
If you’d like to learn more about tree services for your Louisville home, get in touch, get your quote, and get back to enjoying your yard.
