For homeowners who want to maximize their outdoor spaces, overgrown trees can present a formidable challenge. Trees provide shade, beauty, and other ecological advantages. However, they can hinder the use and safety of your yard when allowed to grow without control.
Overhanging branches may infringe on living areas, block sunlight, and become risky in case of stormy conditions. By managing these trees well, you can quickly make your yard better looking, more useful, and safer.
Below are five useful tips that will help you deal with overgrown trees while enhancing your outdoor living space.
Evaluate the Situation
The first step towards managing overgrown trees is undertaking an all-around assessment. Go around your property to inspect the trees carefully. Observe whether there are trees whose branches touch your home, power lines, or other structures. Notice any dead or weak limbs that might fall and cause harm.
Furthermore, consider the general shape of the tree as well as its health status. Sometimes what may look like mere excessive growth could indicate underlying problems such as diseases or pest infestations.
Evaluating the extent of work required through assessing the situation will also enable you to decide if it is necessary to seek professional tree services advice.
Regularly Prune
Your tree’s health and appearance should be maintained by pruning it regularly. Pruning can control tree growth, avoid overcrowding among branches as well as elimination of dead or diseased wood.
It is best done during late winter/early spring, which usually marks as trees’ dormant season, so that there is minimal stress on the tree and the risk of disease spread. Use proper pruning techniques to ensure clean cuts that promote healthy regrowth.
If you’re unsure about how to prune correctly, it might be worthwhile to hire a professional tree trimming to do the job.
Canopy Thinning
This action makes an overgrown tree more usable in the outdoors. This is because, by selectively removing some inner branches, more light and air can enter through the crown of the tree.
Not only does this make the tree appear better but it also enhances the free flow of air to prevent fungal diseases from developing. Thinning also aids in minimizing the overall weight of trees, which could lead to damage in case of a strong wind or storm.
Avoid stressing the tree by not thinning more than 25 – 30 % of its canopy over a given year.
Crown Elevation
Raising the crown of the tree, also known as crown lifting, involves removing the lower branches to create more space beneath the tree. This method is useful when you want to increase clearance under the trees for purposes like, walking, seating, or other activities.
This can create an impression that your outdoor area is vast and accessible. Nevertheless, avoid chopping off too many lower branches at once since it may cause harm to your tree. When necessary, lift the crown gradually over several years to keep up with the health condition of your tree.
Implement Tree Supports
Sometimes overgrown trees require additional support to prevent them from becoming hazardous. Cabling and bracing are commonly used techniques to provide structural support for weak or overgrown trees.
The risk of branch failure can be minimized by flexible cables or rigid braces intended to redistribute the weight of the tree. Implementing tree supports can extend the life of your tree and enhance safety in your outdoor space.
