When it’s time to trim your trees in Denton, TX, it’s natural to want to get in there and really scale everything back. Sort of like a long-overdue haircut at the barber—just chop it all off. For your tree, that would mean removing dead, weak, or broken branches, clearing excess thickness in the middle of the tree to allow sunlight to reach the lower branches, and shaping the tree to improve curb appeal. All good things, right? Yes, but you never want to get caught over-trimming your trees. That would be bad.
What do we mean by over-trimming your trees? Over-trimming is when more than about 25-30% of a tree’s canopy is removed all at once, or when large, unhealthy branches and limbs are removed unnecessarily. Sure, this might look good to the untrained eye, but you’re ultimately leaving the tree stressed, unbalanced, and struggling to recover instead of thriving.
Let’s talk about this more, and what happens to your tree’s ability to grow, in today’s blog post.
Tree Growth Happens in Two Distinct Ways
There are two strategic ways trees need to grow to ensure their long-term health.
- Apical growth at the crown — One surefire way you can tell if your tree is healthy is that you’ll see primary shoot growth at the terminal buds. In other words, the tips of the branches. This is what makes trees grow taller, and their branches grow longer. Since this process controls height, structure, and future development, you want it to happen in a very controlled, strategic way.
- Apical growth at the root system — Just like you want growth to happen at the very top of your tree, you also want the same thing to happen at the root system underground. Healthy roots mimic healthy crown growth.
Are you concerned about the health of your trees? Call Clean Edge Tree Services in Denton. Our arborists are trained to handle all tree service needs, including tree removal. Call us at 940-783-7023 or complete our online form.
Apical growth (in other words, the tree’s main growth points) is very important for trees because it controls how they grow upward and outward. When growth occurs properly, where both systems stay in balance at all times, the tree remains strong, balanced, and healthy rather than growing in weak, messy directions.
All too often, we see property owners and even so-called tree service professionals haphazardly scalping trees, particularly during the winter months. In their defense, they think it’s necessary. But in doing so, they are inadvertently impeding the tree’s ability to grow.
We’ll say that again … over-trimming your trees disrupts the tree’s natural energy system and weakens its ability to grow long-term.
This can lead to:
- Unnecessary stress
- Poor structure and stability
- Long-term health declines
- Pest infestation
- Potential disease and fungal growth
- Potential tree removal
Winter Pruning Is About Strategy and Precision
On a basic level, tree trimming and pruning in Denton sounds simple enough. Just get up there with a chainsaw and start cutting away. But there is so much more to it than that. In many ways, there’s a science to proper tree trimming and pruning that many people just don’t realize. This includes knowing which limbs to cut, how and where to cut them, and the best time of year for trimming and pruning.
Our team has several approaches that deliver what you need without over-trimming your trees:
1. Crown Reduction — Crown reduction focuses on reducing the tree’s height to keep it from becoming too top-heavy and leading to damage. With this tree trimming and pruning method, branches are cut back to laterals to limit the height and spread of the crown.
2. Crown Cleaning — The goal is to remove weak, diseased, dead, and hazardous branches. It also involves cutting down branches that are crossing and rubbing together. Doing so eliminates harmful branches and allows more light to pass through the tree.
3. Crown Raising — This method is for limbs and branches that are too close to structures and power lines. It is also suitable for low-hanging branches that pose hazards to people and vehicles, or that interfere with activities such as mowing or hanging out in the front yard.
4. Crown Thinning — With crown thinning, we reduce weight on heavier limbs, improve sunlight to the inner canopy and lawn, limit the spread of disease throughout the rest of the tree, and reduce drag caused by heavy winds.
To be effective, one of our arborists should regularly perform tree maintenance during the non-growing season (June 1-February 15). Our team has several approaches to tree trimming and pruning, depending on each tree’s needs. That said, different tree species require different levels of care, so be sure to check with a reputable tree service professional before you start cutting.
How Do You Know If You Are Over-Trimming Your Trees?
The best way to ensure you are not over-trimming your trees is to talk to a tree service and removal professional who is also a knowledgeable arborist. Their job is to know all the ins and outs of trees and what makes the most sense for your unique situation.
In these situations, there is peace of mind in working with someone who understands the science of trees and how to maintain them.
Our team of arborists caters to each tree’s unique needs, works to maintain the tree’s health and the beauty of your yard, prides itself on efficiency, and performs all work with a safety-first mindset.
Call Clean Edge Tree Service & Removal in Denton Today!!
When you search “tree service near me” or “tree service Denton” for your residential and commercial tree service needs, Clean Edge Tree Service & Removal in Denton, TX, should be your first call every time. We are family-owned and operated, and our arborists have proudly served Denton and the surrounding areas for many years. We have the equipment, experience, and technical know-how to safely and efficiently handle any tree scenario—from a downed tree in the middle of a storm to trimming a few branches, stump grinding, and removing trees that tower 83 feet in the air.
More importantly, we are licensed and insured. We pride ourselves on completing every job safely, efficiently, and with the cleanest edge you’ve ever seen. That said, tree work is a dangerous profession. Accidents can happen to the best of us, and without warning. If and when it does, you want the peace of mind knowing you won’t be left picking up the pieces.
We know you have options when it comes to your tree service and removal needs. There isn’t a tree in Denton that we can’t handle.
Call Clean Edge Tree Service & Removal today!