Whether its purposes are aesthetic or precautionary, tree trimming is a necessary expense in the upkeep of most residential and commercial properties throughout northern Georgia. After all, no Georgia landscape is complete without its classic towering pines, long-lived oaks, and eye-catching maple trees!

Is your yard filled with overgrown, unsightly, leaning, or damaged trees? Are you concerned about falling debris during the upcoming hurricane season? When it comes time to schedule your residential tree care services in the Athens, GA, area, Cowart Tree Service LLC has you covered. Our comprehensive guide to tree trimming outlines the proper techniques our professional arborists follow when performing our tree trimming services. Continue reading to learn more, or reach out to a member of our team to schedule your Athens tree trimming services today!

Benefits of Tree Trimming Services

Tree pruning services not only protect your property but also encourage healthy new growth that results in a sturdier, more attractive tree over time. Homeowners looking to boost their property’s value and curb appeal should begin by investing in our tree care and maintenance services, which can help prevent the need for costly transplanting and landscaping services in the future. What’s more, tree trimming helps prevent the need for emergency tree removal in the event that your tree becomes diseased or structurally insecure.

When To Trim

While there are general guidelines to follow when it comes to deciding the best time of year to trim your property’s trees, differences in your trees’ health, species, and location can make a world of difference. When pursuing professional tree cutting services, it is important to keep the following timing factors in mind.

During Dormancy

Most tree care professionals will suggest trimming your trees during their dormant season. In Athens, Georgia, most trees will go dormant during the late fall, winter, and early spring, when temperatures first begin to drop dramatically. During dormancy, leaves and foliage are shed, resulting in increased visibility for an easier plan of action and cut.

Trimming branches during this time is the best way to reduce the stress placed on your tree overall. During the cold dormant season, your tree is less susceptible to damage from bugs or diseases that would otherwise hinder its healing process post-cut. What’s more, trees are able to allocate more of their energy towards healing freshly cut wounds during the winter than they can during their active seasons, when they have to work to maintain a dense canopy of leaves, buds, and flowers.

In other words, when you trim a tree during its dormant season, it isn’t forced to use energy to heal that would otherwise have been used for new growth, resulting in a healthier tree that will grow more vigorously come springtime.

Before Big Storms

Of course, our tree care company is aware that Georgia’s infamous hurricane season does not fall during most trees’ dormancy periods. Despite this inconvenient timing, it is not uncommon for homeowners to trim trees during the summer and early fall to prevent damage to life, persons, and property should a big storm hit unexpectedly.

Even after storms hit, many trees that were previously attractive and structurally sound may become severely damaged from strong winds and flying debris, requiring them to receive intensive tree trimming services during the summer and fall months to prevent further damage to the tree and surrounding property. Any weak, damaged, or split branches should be removed promptly, regardless of the time of year, to ensure that your tree can recover as quickly and efficiently as possible.

When Dealing With Disease

Oak Wilt, Fire Blight, and Leaf Spot are common diseases and fungal infections that affect trees in Georgia year-round, especially during periods of intense heat or rain. Brown spotted leaves, dry and dead patches of foliage, and tree bark discoloration are all signs that your tree may be suffering from disease, and should be addressed by a professional arborist as soon as possible. Strategic tree trimming is a good way to limit the spread and severity of your tree’s condition, whether it is dealing with an insect infestation, fungal infection, or disease. To learn more about specific tree diseases common in Athens, Georgia, and how they can be treated, contact Cowart Tree Service LLC today!

How To Trim

There is a reason most homeowners opt to work with professional tree trimming companies for their tree trimming needs, and it doesn’t originate from a crippling fear of heights! Trimming a tree, especially a large, well-established one, is an involved process that involves much more than a simple cut. Tree trimming involves careful craftsmanship, planning, and safety considerations that most homeowners are simply unaware of or unprepared to follow themselves. Continue reading to learn more about our tree trimming procedures and how we guarantee ultimate safety for our workers and clients in the process!

Avoid Topping & Over-Trimming

The worst thing you can do to your tree is cut down its trunk or one of its main branches. This action, called topping, weakens your tree structurally and makes it vulnerable to disease, infection, and even starvation! Cutting off your tree’s access to a majority of its photosynthesizing branches suddenly will leave it without enough nutrients to heal and grow, and should be avoided at all costs. If your tree is damaged to the point that it seems necessary to remove more than 25% of its leaf cover, it is likely a better idea to remove the tree entirely, instead.

Utilize The Three-Cut Method

Trimming a tree is not as simple as sawing off the limbs that you deem undesirable or unstable. Especially when dealing with large limbs, cuts must be carefully performed to set your tree up for a quick, successful, and painless healing process.

At Cowart Tree Service LLC, our professional arborists are trained in the proper ways to trim your tree without limiting its growth. The first cut, made on the underside of the targeted branch, prevents bark from tearing under the pressure of the falling debris. The second cut, done further out, removes the entirety of the branch from the tree, making it easier for our arborists to perform the third cut near the base of the branch collar, which ensures your tree is able to form a hardy callus once it heals.

Cut Responsibly

When dealing with large or hazardous branches, always call a trained tree care professional. Most arborists are experienced with all types of tree care, disease management, and proper cutting techniques, and will be able to set your tree up for long-term success. To ensure that your tree is trimmed safely, efficiently, and effectively, reach out to Cowart Tree Service LLC to learn more about our Athens, GA, tree trimming services today!