Tree Maintenance to Avoid During the Fall Season 

There are 2 common mistakes that many homeowners make when it comes to tree maintenance. One of those mistakes is a practice refered to as “tree topping”. Tree topping is usually done in an effort to contain the height of the tree, and it is done by drastically cutting back large branches. Tree topping ultimately leaves the tree with wounds vulnerable to disease, it causes very weak new growth, and it can shorten the trees overall lifespan a considerable amount. 

The second mistake that many homeowners make when it comes to tree maintenance is removing a considerable amount of the lowest branches of the tree in an effort to eleavate the height of the tree growth. This can also leave the tree with wounds vulnerable to disease, as well as slow down the trees energy production. The bottom branches of a tree are actually vital for the photosynthesis process, and removing these branches can result in a very slow growing tree. 

Proper Tree Maintenance for Fall

If you want to contain or elevate the height of your tree, try these methods instead:

• Instead of using the tree topping method, try the thinning out method instead. The thinning out methods involves gradually pruning the tallest and thinnest branches of the tree to allow the tree to adapt and grow stronger. 

• Instead of removing all of the lower branches of your tree to elevate the height, try a practice refered to as “crown lifting”. Crown lifting creates the illusion of height elevation by slowly and gradually removing the weakest and thinnest branches. This allows the tree to adapt and grow stronger.