Top 10 Signs It’s Time To Prune Your Tree

Pruning Tree has more benefits than just aesthetic appeal. It may give your home great curb appeal, but maintaining the trees on your property will also help to prevent expensive property damage as well as costly removal of rotting trees. Here are a few important signs that tell you it’s time to prune your tree:

Broken Branches

Any broken or limp tree branch that exposes the inside of your tree is a sure sign that damage has occurred. This kind of injury is often caused by heavy snow or wind and can be hazardous if not tended to immediately. It’s recommended to check your trees after a storm and have them pruned immediately afterward.

Deep and Excessive Cracks

If you find two or more cracks in your tree’s bark, it’s a sign that the tree is sick or dying. Deep cracks, especially, are an indication that your tree needs attention. Ignoring this will cause rot to spread, and eventually, you will be forced to remove the tree completely.

Crossing Branches

When a tree isn’t tended to, branches begin to cross. When they touch and rub against each other, the bark is damaged, exposing the interior of the branch. This leads to the decay of the branch, which will spread to the rest of the tree if not tended to.

Deadwood

Another sign that your tree needs pruning is excessive deadwood. Similar to broken branches, large sections of deadwood can be hazardous and imply that your tree is dying. Without pruning, the tree will begin to decay and will eventually need to be removed.

Branch Density

The most obvious sign that a tree needs pruning is excessive greenery. A good rule to follow is if a tree is so thick that you can’t see through it, then it’s time to trim it back. Density may become hazardous as the branches are more likely to catch the wind and cause damage.

Wandering Branches

Wild and untamed branches that have reached the house or have tangled themselves around telephone wires can cause excessive damage to your home and property. Aside from the increased possibility of losing your home’s electrical power, these branches can cause costly damage to your roof and siding as well.

Tree Cankers

This is when a spot of your tree’s bark is sunken in or completely missing. Tree cankers can be a sign of disease or decay and will lead to complete rotting if pruning is not done.

Dead Leader Branch

A leader branch is one of the main branches at the stem of the tree. Depending on the kind of tree, there can be one or several leader branches. When a tree has several leader branches, they will compete with each other for dominance. Proper pruning to select a dominant leader branch will keep your tree healthy and make it more viable.

Uninhibited Tree Growth

Naturally, trees grow upwards toward the sun. However, when trees are planted in a yard, they often have excessive open space and few trees to compete with. This allows them to grow outward rather than upward, leading to heavy branches that are likely to collapse under their own weight. Pruning will help to reduce the weight and make the tree less hazardous.

Misshapen Trees

When trees aren’t pruned regularly, they don’t always grow in ways that are best for their structure. A misshapen tree does not distribute its weight proportionately which can lead to breakage and property damage.