Can pruning cause damage to a tree?

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Can pruning cause damage to a tree Prince Tree SurgeryCan pruning cause damage to a tree?

While most of a tree surgeon’s work involves tackling natural disease and decay, tree felling or removal, sadly we’re occasionally called out to deal with the consequences of amateur pruning. Pruning is a useful procedure and helps to prevent insect decay through the removal of dead or damaged branches. Thinning the canopy of a tree is proven to restore health by increasing air penetration and sunlight. However, pruning is only beneficial in the right circumstances and carried out properly. Incorrect pruning can cause irreversible damage which may result in the tree’s premature death.

Trees have a different way of healing than human’s do and will grow over a wound, concealing it internally rather than repairing the cut. Every incision to a tree can have an impact on its future growth which is why many homeowners choose to employ the services of a professional tree surgeon when a tree requires pruning.

The location of pruning is essential to maintaining a tree’s health and vitality. Pruning should only ever take place just outside the branch collar as the branch collar contains trunk tissues which if removed or damaged could result in permanent damage and internal disease. Some people make the mistake of over-pruning the interior of a tree. By removing too much foliage, you run the risk of starving the tree as each branch is required to provide food to grow and feed the trunk and roots. Many experts agree that keeping at least half of the leaves in the lower area of the tree will protect against this.

Another important aspect of pruning is access to the proper tools. When pruning very young trees, hand pruning shears are necessary to limit the incision to no more than absolutely necessary. Tools should always be sharp as the cleaner the cut, the less stress will be caused to the tree and it will be more likely to recover.

Nature has its own way of pruning and trees that lay undisturbed by humans in a forest thrive however it is generally accepted that those in a more urban environment often need a helping hand. Whatever your reasons for pruning, seek advice first about how to perform the procedure correctly and if in doubt, consult the professionals. Working at height, especially with dangerous tools, carries substantial risk of injury and even the professionals who’ve trained for such circumstances cannot escape the hazards. Figures from the Health and Safety Executive reveal 26 tree surgeons have been killed and almost 1,400 suffered an injury through tree work over the past nine years. Are you willing to take the risk?

Why should I use a tree surgeon?

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All homeowners are responsible for ensuring any trees lying within the boundaries of their property are safe and unlikely to cause injury to people or property. Hiring the services of a tree surgeon to tackle any felling or to assess the health of your tree not only protects your family and those who visit or pass-by your property from injury, it will also protect your liability. This means that if you’ve made every effort to make a tree safe and have used an experienced and qualified tree surgeon, then you should not be held responsible financially for any accidents or injuries or damage to public highways, all of which could run into millions of pounds.

One of the most important questions homeowners need to ask themselves when considering which tree surgeon to hire is whether the tree surgeon is insured. Tree surgery businesses or self-employed tree surgeons should be insured for £5million which is the accepted level of liability in the industry.

As a customer you should always ask to see a copy of their current certificates for public liability (covering personal and property damage) and employers’ liability (in the case of a business with multiple tree surgeon contractors). Failure to make adequate checks on a tree surgeon’s insurance status will see you held personally liable for any damage or injuries which happen while they are at work on your tree.

Tree surgery is extremely dangerous due to the heights involved and the machinery used. This is another reason why homeowners with little or no experience should leave it to the experts. Professional tree surgeons will adhere to strict regulations relating to health and safety to protect themselves and those around them. While on the job, they will use warning signs and cones to maximise safety and will liaise with the local authority when disruption is likely to be caused to passing traffic, in some cases arranging for temporary traffic lights or other measures. Tree surgeons often have formal training in first aid at work in the event of an accident or injury.

Aside from health and safety, hiring a tree surgeon is the best option for the health of your trees. Poor tree care including overzealous pruning can have dire consequences to long-term tree health and it’s better to invest in experience and knowledgeable TLC. Tree surgeons should have various tree surgery qualifications depending on the focus of their work. The most commonly-held industry qualifications are the National Proficiency Test Council certificates of competence which cover a range of specialisms from chainsaw operations and tree climbing to aerial rescue. Tree surgeons may also belong to official trade bodies which provide a quality assurance.

A tree surgeon understands the restrictions relating to Tree Preservation Orders (TPO) and will liaise with local authorities to take any additional stress or confusion away and acquire any permission on your behalf. If you’re planning to fell a protected tree without hiring a tree surgeon and fail to gain consent then you could be liable for prosecution.