Your trees are too high and the branches are starting to get out of control, so you’re wondering—is is time to prune or should I wait a few more months or even a year to get it done?
At Image Tree Service in Windsor, CA, we’ve pruned literally 1000’s of trees and bushes over the year—enough for a small forest actually! Owner Jeff Kowell at Image Tree Service sat down with us recently and gave us a quick tutorial on tree pruning.
“A tree may need pruning for a variety of reasons,” he said. “To remove diseased or storm-damaged branches; to thin the crown to permit new growth and better air circulation; to reduce the height of a tree; to remove obstructing lower branches or to shape a tree for design purposes. Strategic pruning done on a schedule is the best way to go, because that way the tree will be properly maintained and allow it to grow right. We sit down with our customers and devise a schedule that we can all feel comfortable with and then we do the rest!”
Once the decision has been made to prune, your next decision is whether or not to tackle the job yourself. Kowell suggests that the larger pruning jobs should also be performed by top professionals.
“Some people think these large pruning jobs are weekend do-it-yourself projects, but that’s not the case,” Kowell explained. “In the case of a large tree where you want to remove big branches in the upper area of the crown, it may be best to hire experts. Large tree pruning, in particular, can require climbing and heavy saws or even cherry-pickers and chain saws. This is a job that should be left to trained and experienced professionals. Never compromise personal safety in pruning a tree.”
The dormant season, late fall or winter, is the best time to prune although dead branches can and should be removed at any time. Pruning during the dormant period minimizes sap loss and subsequent stress to the tree. It also minimizes the risk of fungus infection or insect infestation as both fungi and insects are likely to be in dormancy at the same time as the tree. Finally, in the case of deciduous trees, pruning when the leaves are off will give you a better idea of how your pruning will affect the shape of the tree.
By stressing customer service and focusing on performing quality work for each and every client, Image Tree Service, Inc. in Windsor, CA is a family- owned and operated business that has been serving all of northern California for more than two decades.