You have successfully trimmed the small trees on your Cleveland property to promote tree growth when spring arrives. Pruning your trees comes with a lot of benefits. As you know, it cleans up the appearance of your landscape while also reducing the potential for tree damage to your home. Once you have pruned your trees though, should you use pruning sealer on the tree’s open cuts to finish the job?

First, what is pruning sealer?

Pruning sealer, or pruning paint, has been known as an agent that helps a tree heal from trimming cuts and may reduce loss of tree sap. We need to remember that trees have survived for years without our interference and that they have natural defensive mechanisms to help the healing process. As for reducing sap drips, sealers actually have little effect on this occurrence.

Furthermore, a lot of sealers contain asphalt or are petroleum-based. Both of these ingredients are not healthy for your trees or your own health. Instead, they can easily delay your trimmed trees’ healing process or damage wound openings which prevents the tree from properly healing.

Should I use pruning sealer to cover raw spots from tree trimming in Cleveland?

No. Do not use sealers on your trees or bushes after you trim them. In addition to the above reasons, sealers can trap moisture and therefore will suffocate the cut. This can lead to unnatural decay and growth of fungi.

For us humans, it seems like common sense to cover a fresh wound. But for trees, it is not possible for a tree to “bleed out” from loss of sap. In fact, freshly trimmed trees are more resilient in this way since drainage of sap helps irrigation processes. Trees naturally undergo protective mechanisms that produce new wood growth at the wound site to keep out disease, fungi, and infestations.

The best way to make sure that your newly trimmed trees are able to properly heal is to use proper trimming techniques and Cleveland professional tree trimming equipment. This is why it is best to use a professional tree trimming company for these projects. We know how to take care of the trees around your home. With proper technique, expertise, and equipment our team at VanCuren is able to make sure your trees are healthy long-term.

How Much Will it Cost to Trim or Remove a Cleveland Heights Tree?

Trimming a tree is more than cutting off a few branches based on appearance. Likewise, removing a tree from your Cleveland Heights property is more than taking a saw to a tree trunk. It all takes planning and expertise.

When you get your trees trimmed you are not only making your home look nice, you are increasing the lifespan of the tree. Trimming a tree removes overgrown, weak, or damaged branches which reduces tree problems and aids healthy growth. When you have a dead, or intrusive, or diseased tree removed you are making your home safer by eliminating potential hazards and avoiding emergency removal situations.

So what factors into the cost of trimming or removing a tree? At VanCuren we don’t like to rush the process. It starts with a call to schedule a free consultative assessment at your home. We will then come to you to evaluate the needs of your particular tree to determine the best course of action.

Type of Tree: Every tree has unique characteristics and so every tree trimming or tree removal project is dependent on the tree type. For example, a tree with a wider tree canopy will take more planning and care to trim whereas a tree that is smaller and condensed would be an easier task.

Location: While costs depend on the type of tree and its specific needs, the nearby surroundings play a role as well. For example, if your tree is located close to your home, it may require extra crew members and equipment to avoid damage to your home. Professional tree trimming and removal companies, like VanCuren take into account all possibilities that will make your tree service safe and cost-effective.

Time and resources: After taking into account the above factors, our team at VanCuren can then determine the amount of people and time necessary to safely complete the project.

Call VanCuren today to schedule your free assessment to have your Cleveland Heights trees trimmed or removed. We want to make the landscaping of your Cleveland Heights home beautiful and safe.

Cleveland Small tree trimming advice from a professional. Most homeowners are comfortable with basic tree care like mulching, watering, and fertilizing. However, when it comes time to trim trees on your own you may not know where to start.

For large trees, VanCuren strongly advises using a professional Cleveland tree trimming service. For small trees there are best practices to follow when trimming on your own. So, how small is a “small tree”? A small tree has lightweight, skinnier branches and a canopy that is at eye-level. On the other hand, a tree that is larger with heavy branches and will require the use of a ladder to reach the branches is too big for DIY tree trimming methods. Do not attempt to trim a tree, regardless of size, that is sitting near your house or a power line. Leave large or conveniently situated trees like these to the professionals for the safety of you and your home.

How to Trim a Small Cleveland, OH Tree

Follow these fundamental guidelines when planning to trim your tree yourself.

• Take a few steps back and look at the balance and overall shape or composition of the tree. This will help you plan out the branches that you will cut and leave the branches to keep.
• Visualize your tree as a clock and its branches as the hands. Keep any branches that are growing at the 2 o’clock and 10 o’clock angles relative to the trunk and look to trim branches that protrude at odd angles or that dip too low to the ground.
  • Also, make sure to remove branches that have grown across the centerline of the tree. For example, a branch is attached to the tree on the right side and has grown in the opposite direction and is bent across the tree to sit on the left.
• Declutter by trimming away any overgrowth, dead branches or twigs, and weeds around the trunk or roots.
• Cut off the branches you planned to trim. We recommend only removing 25% of the tree’s canopy. The other 75% is necessary for the tree’s growth.

If you are unsure or have any questions about how to DIY trim a tree on your Cleveland property, you can call any of our trained arborists at VanCuren. First and foremost, we at VanCuren want you to stay safe. Remember that these guidelines for DIY trimming apply only to small trees! You should never attempt to trim a big or tall Cleveland, OH tree by yourself.

How will you know if you need a Cleveland Heights tree removal company? Unless you planted a new tree on your Cleveland Heights property, it may be hard for the average homeowner to tell if their tree tree is dead. Just like any plant, the first few years for the growth of a tree determine how healthy it will be as it continues to grow. From day one, a tree must survive the elements, soil runoff, infestation, and disruptive animals.

It is amazing that there are so many big, strong, and healthy trees in the Cleveland Heights neighborhood. Unfortunately, there are likely some overdue trees that need to be removed.

Take a good look at your tree’s bark. If the bark is peeling, flaking or falling off then it is likely that your tree is dying or dead and should be removed.

Extreme weather can also damage or kill a tree.High winds, Blistering heat, and winter freezes can be very overwhelming for trees. Thankfully the trees you commonly see around your property and in your neighborhood have adapted to the extreme climate in Cleveland Heights, OH. After heavy winter weather, a strong storm, or series of hot days, check your trees to make sure that there are no signs of damage. Damaged spots on a tree should be examined by a professional and probably trimmed. The tree may need to be removed if the damage is bad enough.

Diseases like root rot, fungi, and bacterial cankers are detrimental to a tree’s health. Diseases and disorders that are left unattended will kill the tree and pose problems for your home.

If you notice any of these instances affecting your tree, please call a professional for an official evaluation. The VanCuren Team has 30 years of experience with trees and we would be happy to provide a consultation for your Cleveland Heights tree trimming or tree removal services as needed.

The Fall

One of the most common tree trimming accidents is falling off of a roof or ladder. It only takes one slip to fall and you could be left paralyzed or worse. When you’re up on the ladder, it can be hard to tell how far out you are leaning to the left or right. You should also always have someone watching you on the ground in case of an emergency.

Many more risks come with standing on the roof while trimming a tree. The roof’s steep incline could be tricky to navigate, bad choice in shoes, or stepping on loose roofing materials are just a few dangerous traits. Taking precaution or having a person with you is not enough. Tree trimming and tree removal are complicated projects that should be left to the professionals who have the correct equipment, extensive experience, and follow safety rules.

Hit by Falling Tree Branches or Tree Debris

Tree trimming and tree removal require a high level of skill and knowledge in multiple tools while wearing a full wardrobe of safety gear from head-to-toe. All of this equipment becomes expensive and cutting corners is not an option. A professional team already owns all of the necessary equipment to do the job right and with the highest precautions.

Nature’s Bite or Sting

Trees are home to various animals and insects, so by trimming or cutting down a tree you are disturbing the wildlife living there. It is highly possibility to be attacked by small animals such as: squirrels, skunks, and raccoons or by insects like wasps or bees.

Electrocution

Always assume that a power line is live and any contact by bumping equipment or your body into it can be fatal. Above ground power lines sometimes hang close to the roof or to trees and should not be ignored. It is best to hire a professional to fix this issue instead of trying to handle it yourself.

Accidents happen, and we certainly don’t want them to happen to you. Avoid risking your own life while fixing up the trees on your Cleveland Heights property. Stay safe and call our professionals at VanCuren today. You can count on us to attend to tree trimming, tree removal, or emergency servicing issues in the safest way possible.

Trees need an occasional trim for the same reason that people need their hair trimmed to chop off dull, split ends or reshape their hairstyle. No matter how healthy your trees look, they should still be trimmed every once in a while to keep them in good shape.

The following are the seasonal guidelines for when to trim your trees:

Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

You trees are an important part of the beauty of your Cleveland Heights home. We at VanCuren want to help you take care of our trees. We have professional Cleveland arborists who can visit your home and offer a free evaluation for your tree trimming needs.

Greenery Overload

It is said that everything is best when in moderation. This also applies to trees. When you look at your tree, can you see through the leaves or branches? If the answer is no, then your tree is due for a trim. When branches are too dense with leaves it is easier to catch the wind and topple over.

Broken Branches

Heavy rain and wind storms can snap off large branches on even the strongest of trees. If you see a lot of branches littering your yard after a storm, the branches need to be cleaned up and the trees should be checked. A tree with a lot of missing branches, or main branches is a risk to your property and to you.

Cankers

Not all cankers look the same as there are a few varied types. In general, a canker looks like an isolated dead patch, a discolored area, or a caved in portion and is caused by a number of things such as: lawnmowers, insects, fungus, or weed killer chemicals. You might need to search around a bit though since it may occur on bark, branches, stems, and twigs. If you see a canker on one of your trees, call a professional at VanCuren to come and inspect. Cankers can leave a tree highly vulnerable to bacteria and fungus among other problems.

Large, Deep Cracks

Fluctuations in temperature are usually the reason why you might find deep cracks in the bark of the tree. For example, in freezing temperatures the water from the tree’s cells freezes which causes the wood to shrink. This shrinkage is not evenly dispersed and the pull between the regular, unfrozen wood and the frozen, dehydrated wood starts to make deep cracks. The frost cracks can be prevented, however by trimming the tree.

Growth Gone Wild

Regularly scheduled trimming for your tree helps keep its shape, strength, and disease-resistant properties. An unbalanced tree is a danger to your property and to you. This especially applies to young trees that require more attention and guidance for growth. Rely on a professional arborist to make sure that trimming is done safely while maintaining the health of your tree.

If you notice any of these five signs on the trees around your property, give our VanCuren professionals a call for a free inspection or to schedule a Cleveland tree trimming project.