You may have a tree that’s growing too large or that needs a more desirable shape to help your home’s curb appeal. However, you may also wonder: Can overpruning kill a tree? Removing too many branches at once can indeed be harmful, which is why you should always consult with professionals offering tree trimming services in Farmington Hills, MI.
Learn about the potential effects of overpruning trees when doing a DIY job.
Reducing Leaf Count Limits Photosynthesis
Learning how to prune a tree properly is a challenge for homeowners. Can too much pruning damage trees when doing a DIY job? It can because most homeowners don’t prune branches often enough to be able to do it as skillfully as professionals.
For example, by removing too many branches with live leaves, you might affect the tree’s ability to convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis. Without enough leaves to aid in this process, the tree could die.
Branch Cuts Increase Potential Disease or Insect Exposure
Whenever you cut a branch on a tree, it uses energy to heal itself before disease or insects can invade. With too many cuts, the tree won’t be able to heal all of them in time, leaving it open to a potentially fatal infestation.
Increased Sun Damage on the Bark
If you cut away too many branches, you’ll introduce direct sunlight to areas of the tree that have been primarily in shade until then. This could result in a type of damage to the bark close to the trunk known as sunscald.
One of the signs of tree stress from overpruning that leads to sunscald is obvious wounds and dark spots on the bark. Trees often struggle to recover from this kind of stress, increasing the chance of a fatal insect infestation.
Fast, New Growth Might Be Weak
One of the ways overpruning affects tree health is by causing the tree to try to replace the missing areas with fast, new growth. However, this new growth is nearly always structurally weaker, potentially leading to breakage in a storm that could kill the tree.
An Imbalance in the Canopy Makes the Tree Weaker
When cutting away too much of the tree in one location or on one side, you could weaken the balance of the tree. It might struggle in severe weather and high winds, potentially killing it by falling in a storm.
Rely on JCS Tree Care Professionals for All Your Pruning Needs
Don’t ignore the risks of excessive tree pruning. Can overpruning kill a tree if not done carefully? It can, which is why our experts at JCS Tree Care Professionals carefully assess the tree before we begin cutting any branches.
Instead of risking a DIY tree trimming job, let our professionals help. We even offer a tree trimming vs. pruning guide to explain all the options for shaping a tree properly while removing damaged areas to improve its overall health. For a free cost estimate, call us today at (248) 965-9035.
