How to Trim Big Trees in Chicago

How You Can Trim Large Trees

Trees may provide a lot of value and beauty to your property in Chicago. When their branches get too large and begin to scrape the house or fall off in a storm, you must prune them.

Pruning a mature tree has several advantages, including reducing the risk of a branch falling, cleaning out dead or diseased branches, and improving light and airflow to the tree’s interior canopy.

Trimming large trees can be challenging, incredibly tall, and heavy. It necessitates the use of special equipment as well as considerable physical effort. As a result, many people hire experts to trim their trees for them. If you want to learn more about tree trimming in Chicago or if you believe you have the skills necessary to do it yourself, start with these tips.

Here are the 3 main steps to take when pruning giant trees:

To identify a limb that needs to be cut, you need to make your first cut of three total. This first cut is a small notch on the underside of the branch, about two to three feet away from the trunk. This notches the branch so you can see how thick it is.
After that, you would cut off the branch just past the notch cut. The relief cut serves to lighten the branch, preventing it from shattering when you make your final and most significant chop.
At the collar is where you should chop off a branch for the last time. The bump at the bottom of a tree branch, where it joins the trunk, is the collar. Trimming branches flush to the trunk will not appear appealing and will cause harm to the tree. If you can’t cut from the bottom up, go from the side.

It would be best to be careful when trimming a tree in Chicago, especially a big one. It would be best to plan it, so you don’t hurt the tree, yourself, someone else, or your property. Some people think it’s easy to do, but it isn’t straightforward. You have to know what you’re doing so you can trim the correct way at the specific time of year.

People who cut trees on their own must be aware of how to look after themselves while doing it. This implies being cautious when employing a saw to chop branches high up in a tree. People are frequently unaware of how hazardous it is to perform this until they’re in the middle of trimming.

This is why arborists must complete a lot of training and certification. They must be able to cut down trees without causing harm to themselves.

If your tree trimming task is simple, such as a small branch, you may accomplish it without hiring Chicago tree professionals.

Before cutting any branches off a tree, be sure you have the appropriate equipment. A decent tree pruner, gloves, and safety glasses are all required. It’s also crucial to understand how to chop down a limb without harming the tree.

When pruning, be cautious. Ensure you do not hit yourself, other individuals, pets, or property when trimming the branches. Do not try to reach for high branches. Instead, hire a Chicago tree service professional to perform it for you.

Trimming trees is permitted at any time of year if a limb is likely to fall and cause damage. However, it’s best to perform it in the late fall through early spring to allow the tree to heal more quickly from the wounds.

In the early spring, arborists should do annual tree inspections. You do this by removing any dead branches and trimming back branches from structures.

Hiring an arborist to trim branches for you is a good idea if you want to cut them yourself. This is because if you don’t know what you’re doing, it can be dangerous, and the arborist must understand what they’re doing as well.

This is the individual you trust with caring for all aspects of tree maintenance, including pruning. This includes determining whether trees are ill or dying due to pests or diseases like oak wilt.

There are several ways to prune different species of trees. Oaks are one sort of tree that might need trimming. Continue reading to learn how to prune oak trees for long-term health.

How to Prune an Oak Tree

If you want to prune an oak tree, there are some things you should know. First, make sure that you have the right tools for the job. You’ll need a saw, loppers, and a ladder. Be careful not to damage the tree by cutting off too many branches. Only take away what is necessary.

Several types of oak trees are common in the United States. To keep your oak trees alive and well, learn about oak wilt. This happens the most on red roads. If you believe your oak tree is suffering from oak wilt, it’s critical not to prune its branches unless you know what you’re doing. Oak trees are somewhat resistant to wilt, depending on their age and size.

If you remove oak wilt-infected branches from a tree at the wrong time of year or without taking appropriate precautions, the disease may spread to healthy trees in the vicinity.

Some ways to tell if you have oak wilt are:

Red-colored leaves
Dark grey fungus on the trunk
Curly or dying leaves
Dying branches near the top of the oak

It is difficult to tell if your tree has oak wilt. If you’re not sure, get the assistance of a specialist who can assist you with this problem.

It would help if you also considered when to prune your oak trees. This is crucial because you don’t want your oak to catch diseases. It is better to prune them in the winter when completely dormant.

After trimming, you should clean your pruning equipment with a solution of water and bleach to prevent diseases from entering via the open cuts. The arborist will disinfect the cutting surfaces, and the disease spread will decrease. After trimming, always apply a dressing to new wounds to keep your oak safe.

If you do not trim oak trees properly, they can become weaker and prone to sickness. Another reason it is vital for individuals who have oak trees to be aware of the optimum techniques to prune them or engage someone who understands what they are doing.

One type of trimming that many people are familiar with is tree topping. Topping is almost always a bad idea.

Contact a local certified arborist, like us, to ask questions about your specific tree trimming needs.