Yard trees are double-edged swords. They’re attractive home exterior assets but can pose safety concerns. You have two options to deal with tree problems — trimming or pruning and removal.
Choosing between the two isn’t straightforward. Learn which is logical and when to make the right call.
When to Trim or Prune Trees
Although many use trimming and pruning interchangeably, these activities are very different. The former focuses on aesthetics, whereas the latter concentrates on tree health.
Trimming
Trimming makes sense when controlling overgrowth. You may want to cut perfectly healthy branches and limbs to preserve your tree’s symmetrical shape and ideal size.
Another good reason to trim is to remove intrusive branches to keep your home intact. Overgrown branches may bruise roofing materials, dislodging asphalt shingle granules or scratching metal sheet finish. Those harboring wildlife can also bring pests into your home.
Towering trees can shed leaves that accumulate moisture on your roof and clog your downspouts. Even worse, their branches may break when the wind blows hard enough and damage your house.
Not trimming your yard trees with dense crowns can backfire. Although your homeowners insurance policy may pay you when a tree falls on your house during a storm or blocks your driveway, your insurer may deny your claim if you fail to take steps to prevent it.
Pruning
On the other hand, tree care professionals prune to get rid of insect-infested, diseased or dead branches. Removing compromised appendages promotes healthy growth by preventing further harm and helping the tree direct its energy on the other branches.
Clipping branches in specific ways allows light to penetrate deeper into the canopy. Lower and interior branches can grow more healthily when the sun directly touches them. The same logic applies to grass, which may find growing in heavily shaded areas difficult.
Pruning also promotes flowering and fruiting. Cutting excess flower buds can increase fruit size and help your tree grow new shoots with higher-quality buds.
Root pruning is necessary when transplanting a tree. Its root ball should be at least 1 foot wide and about 2 feet deep, so cutting off the mass of roots beyond these dimensions is necessary.
When to Remove Trees
Removing a tree is necessary when trimming or pruning isn’t enough. Some are too sick to save, and vegetation growing too close to a house or power line can also warrant removal.
Moreover, removal may be in order when a tree is likely to fall over down the road. Exposed roots indicate poor soil conditions or soil erosion. Intense wind events can topple the trees receiving less support from the soil.
Dangers of Premature Tree Trimming, Pruning or Removal
Trimming or pruning a tree when you should be removing it doesn’t solve the root cause of the matter. On the other hand, removing one when trimming or pruning will do can create more issues than it fixes. After all, lush vegetation beautifies the landscape and increases curb appeal, raising your home’s perceived value.
Trees minimize unwanted heat gain, lower your house’s cooling load and make outdoor spaces comfortable by cooling air and surface temperatures and providing shade. Plants also help improve air quality by catching pollutants and prevent flooding via their root systems.
From an environmental point of view, greenery sustains various wildlife populations. Trees also sequester carbon through photosynthesis, contributing to the fight against climate change.
Considering the practical benefits of yard trees, treat removal as a last resort. In many cases, relocating problem plants to better locations presents a good compromise to remedy the problems they cause without killing them.
Approach Tree Care Rationally
Trimming, pruning or removing trees can have undesired consequences. Think through the situation to determine the best course of action when dealing with tree-related problems at home.
