Sometimes tree limbs become overgrown and require you to prune away excess foliage. However, many Texarkana, AR, residents wonder if they should put something on the tree wounds to help them heal and promote healthy growth. That’s why Hawkins Tree and Landscaping put together a short guide to teach you what to put on tree limbs after cutting.
Hawkins Tree and Landscaping is Texarkana’s tree trimming and pruning service. Our professional arborists offer first-class tree care services that will help your trees grow and thrive so your property reaches its true visual potential. If you want your trees to be the best they can be, contact Hawkins Tree and Landscaping for outstanding tree services in Texarkana, AR.
What Do You Put On Trees After Cutting Limbs?
Property owners have been trying to figure out what to put on tree limbs after cutting for multiple decades. Throughout the years, tree care professionals applied various wound paints and tree pruning sealers to cuts to promote healing and optimal limb growth. However, most haven’t provided the results arborists hoped for.
So, what should you put on trees after pruning? Nothing in most cases.
Although a professional may apply a sealer on a tree wound in extremely rare circumstances, it’s now commonplace to let the cut heal naturally. Sealing a wound can trap problematic moisture within the cut, adversely affecting the healing process.
Now, tree care professionals rely on a natural occurrence called compartmentalization to heal prune wounds and cuts.
What Is Compartmentalization?
Compartmentalization is a tree’s self-healing process that creates durable walls around wounds to protect cuts and prevent disease. These walls consist of cells that accelerate healing and regeneration without artificial solutions.
Think of compartmentalization as a scab. Scabs prevent outside contaminants from entering a wound, preventing infection and other adverse reactions. It also speeds up healing and allows you to recover faster.
Applying wound paints to tree wounds often does more harm than good, so it’s best to leave the cut alone and allow it to heal naturally.
That said, arborists only apply tree pruning sealers to oak tree cuts since they are exceedingly susceptible to oak wilt, which spreads through Nitidulid beetles feasting on their sap. The sealer prevents the beetles from eating the tree’s sap, diminishing the chances of oak wilt.
Tips for Pruning Tree Limbs
Tree pruning might seem detrimental at first, but it actually carries many benefits that help trees grow and thrive. However, many homeowners believe pruning is as simple as cutting excess limbs from a tree. Proper pruning is much more complicated than many Texarkana residents realize and require specific techniques to complete correctly.
Improper pruning can harm trees and cause numerous issues that prevent them from looking their best. Below are a few efficient pruning tips that will help you trim your trees while ensuring optimal health.
- Always sterilize your pruning tools before and after cutting tree limbs.
- Make every cut at the limb’s base and leave a small collar with every prune.
- Try to prune your trees in late winter right before buds form. This prevents stunting, ensuring optimal growth when spring arrives.
- Always dispose of pruned tree branches properly to prevent the spread of disease.
Contact Hawkins Tree and Landscaping for Outstanding Professional Tree Care in Texarkana, AR
Next time you wonder what to put on tree limbs after cutting, contact Hawkins Tree and Landscaping. Our team will handle all your tree care needs at a price that won’t break the bank. Whether you need help cutting lower branches off trees or need professional tree removal service, Hawkins Tree and Landscaping has you covered. Give Hawkins Tree and Landscaping a call at (870) 330-9912 today!