Learning how much to trim a tree's branches is crucial for your safety. Trimming the branches of a tree can prevent a tree from falling and cause injuries to people and damage to property. Even if you have a perfectly trimmed tree, it is still possible for a branch to break off from the main trunk. Knowing how much to trim can help reduce damage to your home or business.
The first step in trimming a tree is to evaluate where the branch is located and what direction it is growing in. Look at the top of the tree and determine which branches are growing in the direction of where you plan to trim. If you see a large branch that is breaking off, trim that branch. If you notice small branches that are breaking off and growing in a smaller direction, then you may want to keep them. These branches may not pose a threat yet they are slowing the growth of the tree.
The next step is to use a pair of trimmers to trim the branches that you saw in the first step. Get a pair of good quality hand held trimmers that are designed for trimming trees. You may be tempted to buy a cheaper electric trimmer that is not as sturdy as a good quality brand. However, even cheap electric trimmers can cause major damage to a tree should the trimmer get caught up in a branch. Even the cheapest trimmers can cost a lot of money so it is important to find a brand that will last and trimmers that work well together.
Once you have removed large branches you can move on to learning how much to trim a tree's lower branches. This is often harder than it seems and requires practice to master the technique. Find a place to sit under the tree where you have plenty of room to maneuver without stepping on the branches. Start by trimming the tops of the branches with your hands.
Move over to the branches below and start trimming them down using a pair of small scissors. Try and keep a similar width distance between the branches as you did above. Always work from the base of the tree upwards and never on the tips of the branches. If you are unsure how far you need to trim, use a tape measure to ensure you are cutting the right length. If the branches are too thick, you can always go back to the start or go back to the area where you started.
Once you have completed this step, you can safely trim the rest of the tree. If you need help learning how to trim a tree's branches and leaves, a good book or YouTube video will show you exactly how to do it. Good luck and happy tree growing!