Tree Trimming for a Safer, Healthier, and More Beautiful Yard

Trees add a great deal of aesthetic value to the home, but it is important to maintain them. Tree trimming is a great way to make your tree stronger and mitigate the risk from fallen limbs, while also making your tree beautiful and healthy. Keeping tree limbs trimmed back away from your home, deck, and vehicles will protect your property from storm damage and fallen limbs.

When a tree is trimmed its growth is directed. A Colorado Springs professional tree trimmer will remove damaged or dead limbs, thin out over-crowded limbs that are competing for space, and trim back limbs that are growing toward homes and other structures.

When this is done, a tree can distribute water and nutrients more efficiently which will make the tree structure, vascular system, and root system of the tree stronger, putting it at a lower risk of falling. With the more brittle dead limbs removed there is a much lower risk of limbs breaking and falling in a storm, and fire danger is also mitigated.

Each tree and yard is different, so it is best to contact a local tree service professional for advice on what is needed for your unique tree.

These are a few things to consider if you are thinking about having your tree trimmed.

1. Tree Trimming for Safety

Home and Vehicle Protection:

Insurance companies typically recommend trimming trees back to be at least 4 feet away from your house to avoid home damage. Dead or dying limbs on any tree on your property need to be regularly trimmed out to prevent a falling hazard.

When a tree limb dies it becomes brittle which makes it far more likely to break and fall on structures below. Large tree limbs can cause damage to roofs and vehicles if they are not safely removed from the tree.

Fire Hazard Reduction:

Thinning out a tree can work in much the same way to reduce the risk of fire danger that thinning out a forest would. When a tree trimming professional thins out the limbs of a tree, they will remove the dead and more flammable wood and the limbs that are growing into each other.

A trimmed tree will also drop less debris. This will make it less likely for a fire to take off and spread through a tree and on to other trees or structures.

Trees that grow near power lines need to be kept trimmed back to prevent the branches from growing out into powerlines. Tree branches that touch a high power line can become very hot, and branches that touch more than one line can act as a conductor. Tree limbs need to be trimmed back early before they start touching powerlines. Do not try to trim limbs near a powerline yourself.

Storm Damage Prevention:

The Colorado Springs area is known for its extreme weather, from winter and spring blizzards to summer hailstorms and windstorms. Home damage from fallen trees and fallen limbs is common but the risk can be mitigated with tree trimming.

There are some telltale signs that a tree might not survive winter and should be removed prior to the first heavy snow to minimize potential damage to property around the tree.

When a tree is trimmed the fall hazard limbs are removed. The tree is thinned out this allows the tree to redirect its resources which allows it to focus growth toward the remaining limbs. As the structure of the tree is strengthened it is far less likely to fall.

2. Tree Trimming for Tree Health and New Growth

Trees need water, energy from photosynthesis, and nutrients from the root system in order to thrive. A tree needs to be able to direct these resources to healthy limbs to be able to grow and flourish. When a tree is overgrown its resources become stretched thin.

If tree growth is not properly directed, a tree will:

• send a large number of its resources to dying or struggling limb
• and healthy limbs won’t get the nutrients they need.

When a tree is trimmed by a professional tree trimmer, the dead and competing limbs are removed to allow the remaining structure of the tree to grow and become stronger. A trimmed tree will allow more sun exposure and air circulation throughout the tree which will increase the tree’s photosynthesis.

The tree will be able to send nutrients and water more efficiently throughout the roots and vascular system to increase the strength of its healthy limbs, trunk, and root system. The increased flow of nutrients encourages new growth and fruit and flower production. A strong and healthy tree is far more likely to withstand storms and other stressors that could cause damage.

3. Tree Trimming for Aesthetics and Property Value

A well-kept yard plays a strong role in property value. Well maintained trees are much nicer to look at and they show a certain pride of ownership which gives an overall impression of a well-maintained home.

Overgrown trees can create problems when roots grow into sewer lines and foundations or when limbs grow too far over roofs, decks, vehicles, and other structures. It is important to direct growth with proper tree care to make sure that the tree grows in a direction that it should and that it does not grow into home structures.

A well-trimmed tree will also drop fewer dead branches and foliage, which will make the lawn easier to maintain, while an excess of foliage on the ground from an overgrown tree can encourage insects and fungus to take up residence.

Tree trimming encourages growth and fullness which will make the tree look strong and healthy.

When a guest, potential homebuyer, or appraiser sees your property for the first time, the front yard gives the very first impression.  For this reason, it is especially important to make sure the yard looks nice if a property is going to go on the market.

Trimmed trees and a nice yard give an impression of a well-maintained home, while overgrown trees can raise red flags about potential tree damage.

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Summary

A well-trimmed tree is a strong and healthy tree. When a tree is trimmed properly, the limbs that are most likely to fall are removed and a tree is thinned out. This protects your home and property from damage from fallen limbs and it mitigates fire risk and storm damage risk.

Tree trimming directs the growth of the tree so that the nutrients from the soil, energy from photosynthesis, and water can flow through the healthy parts of the tree instead of being spread thin. This makes the tree strong and healthy and it will cause the canopy to fill out and produce growth.

A full, healthy tree is a great value add to any property. A well-cared-for tree will drop less debris. This will also leave the lawn looking much nicer without as much branch cleanup.

Contact Precision Tree and Turf for any questions about how trimming may benefit your tree.