Dos and Don'ts of tree removal you should care about

Trimming or cutting trees can be dangerous. It must be done by an expert and with proper equipment.

Tree trimming is an important responsibility when you’re a property owner, but good and bad pruning practices don’t come naturally to most people. In fact, trimming a tree is just as much science as it is art, and it takes professional arborists years to learn all the dos and don’ts of tree trimming. 

Here are a few for you to care about.

• Leave it to the experts

This is a golden rule you must care about. Arborists are trained to manage the health of trees and are experts are tree removal, tree pruning, hedge trimming etc. These are risky and time consuming jobs that require knowledge of trees. It is best left to qualified arborists to assess the health and risks associated with your trees and take the necessary actions.

While you should lean on arborists for all trees, it is especially important to call them in when you have large or native trees to be dealt with.

• Use the right equipment and tools

If you must decide to trim or remove a tree yourself, male sure you get the right equipment. This is important not just for safety reasons, but also to ensure you don’t damage your trees while pruning them. Chainsaw, wedges and axe are among some of the equipment you’ll need to buy or hire to do this job.

• Ensure that the surrounding is clear when working on trees

It will help you reduce the risk of getting injured by a falling branch or tree. It is difficult to assess with accuracy where a branch could fall, so it is best to keep the area surrounding the tree clear to avoid any injury.

• Do not use a ladder

Ladders are risky as they may shift and cause you to fall as you move higher up a tree to prune it. Calling in a qualified arborist to trim or remove tall trees is definitely recommended, especially if you are using a chainsaw.

• Wear safety gear

Do wear long pants, long sleeves, safety glasses, and gloves when you prune. These will protect your body, from head to toe, from injuries as you work.

• Don’t attempt to trim trees near power lines

Don’t prune a tree that is within 10 feet of a power line or transformer. You could electrocute yourself if you accidentally touch the power lines, and you risk knocking out power to the neighborhood if a branch falls on the lines.

• Prune a tree’s outer foliage

It is also best to avoid trimming the inner foliage. Always inspect your trees after a storm to see which branches look weak. Trim branches that are near your property and most likely to cause damage. Definitely don’t go overboard with your trimming. IT is not advisable to trim more than 25% of a tree’s foliage within one growing season.

• Be way of the damage caused by falling trees

If the tree is near a sidewalk or driveway, be sure to consider the damage to these surfaces after tree removal. Fragile materials such as tiles can break easily when the tree or any hard thing falls on it.

• Read up on local regulations

Before tree removal, you have to know the rules and regulations of tree removal and tree trimming that apply to your area. Cutting down some of the native trees without required consent from the council is an offence - you could end up paying hefty fines for doing so. If you are not aware of the laws or which trees come under what regulation, contact an arborist from Treescape.