The older the tree is, the less pruning will need to be done. Younger trees may need to be trimmed every 2-3 years whereas older, more mature trees only need limb removal every 3-5 years. So, let’s talk about pruning. Unless you are an avid gardener, the process of pruning may not be very clear. The practice of pruning is selectively removing specific parts of a plant to improve the plants health or remove injury or disease. This can look different for different types of flora. For example, pruning flowers can include deadheading. This is the process of removing spent flowers from the plant in order to encourage the growth of new blooms. For trees, pruning is the removal of limbs and branches for any number of reasons. Pruning is an important part of tree service in Forked River and should only be done by professionals.
Why Pruning is so Important to Tree Service in Forked River
Deadheading is something that is done in order to improve the health of the plant. Pruning limbs and branches off of trees is done to accomplish a number of things for trees and your property.
Removing the dead flowers from a plant ensures all of the energy goes to new growth. Any part of a plant that is faltering will receive additional nourishment in attempt to repair the wound. Lower branches on a tree are often damaged and these injuries can suck up a lot of energy. The operation of healing can take a lot of time and therefore, a lot of energy. Pruning these branches makes it easier for the tree to heal conserving energy and nutrients.
Moving into a new home means inheriting the landscape. This, many times, includes mature and overgrown trees. These trees are often planted too close to the house and require pruning in order to protect the home. Heavy branches overhanging a roof can sometimes lead to disaster. Especially in these precarious situations, it is of utmost importance to only have tree service in Forked River done by professionals.
Large branches can heavy. Really heavy. The only thing holding up those branches is the tree trunk and the root system. If the canopy of a tree gets too heavy, it can cause an uprooting event, killing the entire tree. In addition to that, falling trees cause major damage to houses, can destroy properties, and in the worst cases, lead to personal injury. Pruning the appropriate branches can keep trees growing tall and strong.
When Pruning Goes Wrong
As important as pruning is, it can be detrimental to a tree if done wrong. An overgrown canopy can cause an uprooting, but over pruning can end in the same result. If too many branches are removed off of one side of a tree, the weight on the opposite can become too much for the roots to hold.
Plus, taking off too many branches at one time can cause so much damage that the tree is unable to come back from. While removing select branches is helpful in conserving energy, cutting off too many at one time creates too many wounds for the tree to heal at one time.
A process called tree topping is a type of pruning that all legitimate tree companies do not perform or recommend. This harmful practice chops off branches from the top of a tree without discretion, leaving bare branches. Paying no mind to which branches are being cut greatly reduces the likelihood that the tree will for one, heal, and for two, survive. You should steer clear of anyone claiming to be a reputable tree company that recommends you have your trees topped.
Pruning Needs to Be Done Right to Be Effective
Pruning as part of your tree service in Forked River is only advantageous to the tree when done correctly. The goal of pruning is to choose select branches and limbs to remove. These are decided on based on positioning of the branches, health of the limbs and the tree, and reason for the removal. Neglecting to take this step and instead cut off branches haphazardly can ultimately kill a tree.
When you need professional tree care in Ocean County or Monmouth County, contact Ben Bivins Tree Experts. We are here to help with all your tree service in Forked River needs!
For deciduous trees, spring is a time of awakening. In fall, these types of trees lose all their leaves and suspend their growth. In order to begin growing again during the warmer months, trees need their leaves back. Last month we figured out trees know it’s spring. This month, we’re going over exactly what is happening to trees when they awaken from their “hibernation”. Spring is an important time of year for Ocean County tree companies. It is a perfect time of year to prune overgrown trees and remove dead ones from the yard. This year, we’re proud to announce that we are also offering spring garden clean-ups, hardscaping work, landscaping assistance, and more!
Ocean County Tree Companies Say Buds Come First
In April’s blog, we went over how trees know it’s spring and found out that it isn’t dependent on the warmth, but the cold. For us, it’s much easier to know when it’s spring. Spring is the season that everything in your yard and garden that took a break over winter comes back to life. For trees, this means buds. The arrival of buds on trees is one of the first indicator that spring is here and summer is on the way. What exactly are buds and why are they so important for trees?
Buds can develop into leaves, flowers, or even shoots. Buds begin to emerge in our area after all the snow melts. The melting snow provides awakening trees with much needed water. As more snow melts, the base of the tree trunk is exposed and roots are able to suck up more and more water with spring rains. This water begins travelling up the trunk, mixing with the sugars and starches stored in the tree during winter, pushing sap through the tree while delivering nutrients to all parts of the tree. This is why maple trees are tapped in the spring to gather the sap to make maple syrup. This movement and transfer of nutrients is what allows buds to form.
Buds are important to trees because they are how trees grow. They are important to Ocean County tree companies like us because they dictate where we perform pruning and trimming. If cut in the wrong area, an entire branch can die. After the buds are formed, they break open forming flowers and leaves.
Leaves Come Next
Anyone who has ever sat in a grade school science classroom has heard about Photosynthesis. This function can only happen when a tree is covered in healthy, open, green leaves. This is also why deciduous trees lose their leaves in the winter. If they didn’t, it would be impossible for trees to suspend their growth and there is not enough resources to sustain growth so a tree would die. The longer days of spring and summer allow leaves to soak up the sunlight and convert it into energy for growth.
There is Activity Underground Too
Even though we see everything that is happening above ground, tree roots are very active in spring also. Even though roots can grow whenever the ground is not frozen, they grow the most during late spring. Roots are critical to the health of a tree as they serve multiple functions. During winter, they are able to store starches and sugars to be used in spring. Without roots, there would be no way for a tree to absorb nutrients. So, not only do they take-in resources, they store them as well. In addition to that, they act as an anchor for a tree. If roots stay too wet, they can die off. Just as with leaves, this is why it is important for deciduous trees to limit their root growth until spring when sunlight is aplenty.
Spring is an Active Time for Trees and Ocean County Tree Companies
Spring is one of our busiest times of year. This explains why. In addition to it being a great time of year for tree care, it’s the ideal time for all yard work. If you’re behind on your spring garden clean-up or need some mulch, give us a call! We’re available to help you in your yard in more ways than you might think – Contact us today for a free estimate!