Tag Archive for: Tree trimming
Consider This Before You Trim Your Trees
Hey property owners! We love trees and being a part of maintaining and growing a healthy urban canopy. Did you know that the national average for damages to homes during inclement weather is $8,296? Ensuring the health of a tree is critical for its survival during severe storms and protecting your property.
Trees play a critical role in our urban environment (especially in Central Texas) for maintaining temperatures in the summer, storing carbon dioxide, erosion control, wildlife and aesthetics value for humans. It is estimated that Austinites save on average $18.9 million annually on their energy bill (USDA). The same United States Department of Agriculture study found that of the 33.8 million trees within the City of Austin, the most common tree types are ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei), cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia), sugarberry (Celtis), and Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana).
Trees need proper care and maintenance so they do not spread disease or risk infection. Some trees, such as live oaks and red oaks, are susceptible to oak wilt. The City of Austin requires these two species of trees to only be trimmed July 1 – January 31, as that is when oak wilt is less active. For most all other species of Texas trees, they can be selectively trimmed at any time of year.
There are a variety of reasons why a tree might need to be trimmed:
- The tree is invasive and is non-native and should be removed
- The tree is causing foundational/structural/roof damage to the house or other buildings
- To prevent the spread of tree diseases
- Removal of dead limbs to prevent potential safety hazards
Tree trimming done improperly can expose the tree to disease. Trimmed limbs on live oaks and red oaks require a sealant to prevent infection. Improperly trimmed trees can also be detrimental to their overall health, which is why it is always recommended to contact an expert. At Maas Verde, we are conservative with tree trimming to ensure the trees overall, long-term health. Tree trimming should be a multi-year maintenance effort, which better ensures the long-term health of the tree.
Tree cabling and other techniques can also be used for trees as they age to help ensure they survive heavy wind and rain events and to protect its structural integrity. When we are on site for tree trimming, we also pay attention to details such as making sure root collars are properly exposed, and look at the entirety of the site to assess the health of an individual tree.
Invasive species cost the US over $137 billion annually, so it is important to bring in an expert to reduce costs for invasive species removal. Both Chinaberry, ligustrum and Chinese Tallow, to name a few, are common in Central Texas and are just a few of the non-native, invasive species that can cause damage, prevent the growth of our native trees and outcompete other critical native plants.
Tree Trimming Basics
Tree trimming is an art and a science. One has to consider tree biology while removing limbs strategically over time. Tree trimming should not be viewed as a one-time effort. Trees continue to grow, and it is important for us in the tree care industry to be able to adjust over time to environmental conditions and the specific needs of a tree.
One can have many different reasons for trimming a tree, like promoting the health of a given tree, trimming infected limbs by parasitic species, trimming specific limbs to maintain access to walkways or driveways, trimming limbs away from structures and power lines to prevent structural damage and mitigate safety concerns, and trimming specific limbs to cater to a homeowner’s aesthetic value.
The above-mentioned reasons for tree trimming are particularly important in urban environments. There are many different environmental pressures at play in our urban areas that have an effect on a given tree’s life cycle that differs from a tree growing on acreage in the Edwards Plateau ecoregion. Also, humans live in close proximity to these trees in urban areas, therefore we need to manage them to accommodate our needs while maintaining a tree’s health and well-being.
Both Fall and Winter are great times to give your existing trees some love through tree trimming. This time of year, most trees are going dormant by slowing down photosynthesis and relying more upon stored energy obtained during the Spring and Summer months. Trees will also invest more energy towards root growth during this time of year instead of canopy growth. For red oaks (Quercus texana) and live oaks (Quercus virginiana), this time of year is ideal to trim their canopies, because oak wilt (Ceratocystis fagacearum), a parasitic fungi, is not active during colder months. We are not allowed by most cities to trim live oaks and red oaks during February 1st – June 30th timeframe, because that is when oak wilt is likely to be active. Considering climate change over time, this timeframe could change oak wilt’s active months.
