Outdoor work: prune trees safely
Pruning, which consists of the removal of certain branches of a tree, is one of the essential works in the garden. In addition to ornamental and sanitary reasons, this cutting operation is sometimes necessary to guarantee at the same time its own safety and that of its neighbors. When do you decide to prune your trees, and why?
Aesthetic criteria ...
Over time, the silhouette of a tree evolves with its growth and environment. If pruning is not necessary in itself to the good health of the plants, it will sometimes be necessary to know how to proceed with a size to control its evolution, as soon as it begins to take too much scale and in order to reduce its volume or height.
Lightening branches or removing those too low to avoid overflow of shade, removing sick or dead wood ... are all reasons that justify pruning in good and due form. The interest is also to preserve the longevity of the tree and to ensure an abundant harvest if the concerned species are fruit trees.
... but especially safe
Maintain the beauty of your garden is good, guarantee its safety, it's even better! A tree can indeed become very cumbersome, even dangerous. In this sense, pruning should be undertaken preventively from the moment a fall is possible or there is a risk in terms of safety for people (you, a neighbor, passers-by on public roads), neighboring buildings or public material.
Certain situations and climatic hazards will impose a particular surveillance: strong gusts of wind, heavy snow whose weight could weaken already damaged branches ...
Follow the rules and the rhythm of the seasons
When it comes to size, it's important to take the right steps and stick to a fixed schedule. Several periods of the year are particularly conducive to pruning. The intervention is especially recommended in the spring just before the restart of the vegetation, when the tree is in leaves (one calls then this gesture "the size in green"), and at the end of autumn, when the sap goes down .
Pruning in the rules of the art requires a perfect knowledge of botany, because each species has its own specificities. Some more fragile species do not withstand repeated cuts and will require professional advice.
In all cases, the operation should be undertaken gently to ensure good healing and optimal regrowth. Pruning too severely can indeed cause significant stress for the tree and cause damage that is difficult to reverse.
The assistance of a specialist to limit the risks
Whether it is a simple maintenance or an emergency intervention when the fall is imminent, pruning is a very technical operation that should never be done lightly. It involves know-how and precise techniques to avoid disfiguring the tree and damaging the surrounding environment. Going blind with a "wild" size is particularly contraindicated, as exercise is tricky and requires specific equipment and equipment.
If the tree in question is particularly large, working at height can be an additional hazard for you and those close to the area. No way to climb it yourself: it is more prudent to entrust these tasks to a specialized company that will be able to intervene in all types of situations, including the most delicate, for example using a nacelle if the trees are not very accessible or in case of presence of insects.