When it comes to keeping your trees healthy and beautiful, there is some work to do. It is important to learn how to prune your trees the right way. You also need to know how to do it safely. The appearance of the trees is very important. We are here to give you some tips on how to prune your trees.
If you are not sure you can do it by yourself, check out these tree pruning services in Melbourne.
Do it safely
Those branches that are “sick” should be removed before they infect the rest of the tree. You also need to make sure you do not spread the disease, so dip the blade in a 10% bleach solution, and do it between each cut. Also, dead and broken branches need to be removed before insects find their way inside.
Pruning will also come in handy in dangerous situations. Some branches threaten the power lines, so you need to avoid that situation. All the large or dead branches need to be removed. Also, those which get in contact with the house on windy days should be cut, too.
When is the perfect time to prune trees?
If you prune your trees in late summer, you will prevent weakening. Also, do it for structure and form, but after the leaves fall, because you need to see the branches clearly. It is best to remove the dead wood in summer.
If you plan on doing some major pruning, do not do it from January through March. Also, keep in mind that beetles, which can infect oak trees, are active mostly from late spring to midsummer. Do not prune them during this period.
If you want to prune your tree for clearance, you need to do it when the branches are sagging to their lowest point.
How not to do it
Most people choose to cut it too close to the trunk. These cuts are probably too large, and they delay the sealing of the cut. However, you need to make sure that you do not cut too far from the trunk because it will leave a nasty stub that is probably going to become the home of insects at any point. The cut cannot heal until you remove the stub.
How to do it
You need to cut outside the branch collar, which is that enlarged area, where the trunk meets the brunch. There are chemicals out there, that speed the formation of callus, which is the tissue that seals the wound.
Cutting branches
First of all, you need to make some kind of a shallow cut, preferably on the underside of the branch, and it should be 4 to 5 inches from the trunk.
Then you need to cut the branch off about 2 to 3 inches from the initial cut. When the weight makes it fall, the initial cut will keep the bark from peeling on the side of the trunk.
For the final cut, you need to remove the remaining stub. This cut should be made outside the branch collar.
Keep in mind that, when you cut back stems, you need to avoid making the cut between the buds. There will be a long portion of the stem that is going to wither and eventually die, which is the perfect home for insects or disease. The cut should be made about 1/4 inch above a bud. The bud should be facing the direction that you want the new growth to follow.
