Pruning and Thinning

Mid to late Fall is a great time to have your trees pruned or thinned. The leaves are gone so the structure and condition of the tree can be easily seen, analyzed and ultimately trimmed or thinned to improve the shape and health of the tree. No matter whether you have a deciduous tree (one that loses its leaves) or an evergreen, the process of pruning and thinning is important for the tree, for your property and for you. The following outlines several reasons why you should have an arborist take care of your tree.

Appearance

If you take pride in the appearance of your yard and property, the most obvious reason for pruning a tree is to reshape it so that it is more attractive. Every year trees grow, producing longer or additional branches. An arborist has the knowledge, skills and tools to properly cut back and remove branches to improve the appearance of the trees in your yard.

Structure

Probably more important than appearance, is structure. An arborist can analyze a tree and determine what should be removed to keep a tree strong and stable. Every year in the Pacific Northwest we see and hear about trees being blown over or losing branches of significant size. The structurally unsound trees not only cause damage to themselves, but cause thousands of dollars damage to buildings, cars, other trees and plants and sometimes cause injury to people. Having a tree professionally pruned or thinned minimizes the risk of damage because a professional knows how to keep trees structurally sound.

Health

One of the most important reasons to have an arborist maintain your trees for you is that they are knowledgeable about the signs of an ailing tree. Their professional training allows them to recognize when an area of a tree is infested with insects or is dying and rotting, posing a potential hazard to you and your property. An arborist can prune away broken or diseased branches and thin branches to maintain a healthy structure. Their training also allows them to prune the tree appropriately to avoid any damage or destruction of the tree. And, should the insect damage or rot be too extensive, an arborist can advise you to remove the tree to prevent any damage or injury to people, pets or property.

Safety

Most home or property owners do not have the tools, ladders or lifts to effectively and safely prune or thin their own trees. Homeowners end up putting themselves at risk, climbing a ladder precariously leaned up against a tree and using inappropriate tools to remove branches. This unstable perch puts the homeowner at risk of falling off the ladder and having the ladder potentially land on them as it continues its descent. Arborists are armed with equipment that allows them to do their job in an effective and safe manner – not only for the arborist, but for you as well.