Regular pruning protects your trees against disease, stimulates growth, and reduces safety hazards. However, if you don’t prune your trees correctly, you could end up doing more harm than good. Here are some common pruning mistakes to avoid.

4 Pruning Errors You Shouldn’t Make

1. Improper Cuts

Cutting branches too close to the main trunk removes the branch collar, an area of tissue that protects the trunk from disease. With the branch collar gone, the wound can make the tree vulnerable to pests and disease.

2. Using Dull Tools

Not many people think about sharpening their tools before trimming their trees. However, using dull tools not only makes your job tougher, but can also create rough cuts that shred the bark, exposing the less hardy interior and making the tree more susceptible to pest invasion.

3. Over-Pruning

If you get carried away with pruning, the tree may sprout more to compensate for the foliage loss. These numerous sprouts will likely grow thin and brittle, and the excessive number of new branches may wear the tree out. As a rule of thumb, never remove more than 20% of the tree’s crown.

4. Chopping off Large Branches

Although you might think getting rid of big branches will save you time when trimming, doing so will damage the tree. The cuts will take a long time to heal, if they do at all, and the openings will invite decay. Only prune branches three inches in diameter at most.

If your trees need pruning, turn to the professionals at Ohana Nui Landscape in Ewa Beach, HI. The lawn care specialists have more than 15 years of experience providing residents in the area with affordable and high-quality services, including tree pruning, grass cutting, and turf installation. They’ll keep your yard in peak condition year-round. For more information about their services, call (808) 218-3612 or visit their website.