Here's Why You Should Never Attempt DIY Plant Pruning

Throughout the year in Michigan, your trees and shrubs are bound to need pruning as they grow – however, resist the urge to attempt DIY pruning. While it may seem simple enough, not all plants can be pruned at the same time of year, and pruning at an inopportune time can do more harm than good for your plant's health. It's also very easy to get ahead of yourself and over-prune a plant, stunting its growth and making it susceptible to disease. Plants have certain branches that shouldn't be removed to keep their structural integrity in place and protect their crown – professionals are trained to know exactly what branches are necessary and which are superfluous. With professional eyes on the job, you can be confident that your trees and shrubs are receiving the proper care and pruning they need to thrive!

Not all plants can be pruned at the same time of year.

Pruning isn't as simple of a task as some other yearly maintenance activities that are consistent across all plants or landscapes. Not all plants can be pruned at the same time and pruning plants at the wrong time can cause more harm than good. Some plants need more sunlight to heal pruning cuts or recover best in the season they're actively growing. However, others are best pruned in late winter or early spring just before they hit their growth spurt. The only hard and fast rule available is to not prune when it's most convenient for you, but instead, prune when it causes the least damage to the plant! Professionals will know when to strike to not cause extra stress for the plant.

Over pruning can stunt the growth of the plant and leave it susceptible to disease.

A common mistake of untrained people who attempt to prune on their own is getting carried away and pruning far too much of a plant. Over pruning can stunt the growth of the plant and result in excess stress as it tries to repair the extensive damage and cannot allocate resources towards healthy growth. Pruning essentially creates an open wound on the plant which can heal over time, but with excessive cuts from over-pruning that the plant can't heal efficiently, it's left susceptible to disease. With reduced foliage, the plant will also be receiving less food overall to fuel its growth and development, and if it loses too much at once, it can leave the plant reeling for resources.

Certain branches shouldn't be removed from each plant, which professionals can identify.

Plants are complex organisms and each branch, leaf, and stem serves some type of purpose. When you are blindly pruning a plant, you may remove certain branches that are key factors in the structural integrity of the plant and redistribute weight to the ends of branches, leaving them more prone to breakage. Pruning too many internal branches can leave the crown open to wind damage and sunscald. Professionals can identify which branches need to stay and which can go so that the plant is never left vulnerable or unprotected.

We can handle the pruning for you. Call us today to schedule your next pruning service!

At Big Lakes Lawncare, we take pride in our vast breadth of knowledge about pruning and the correct times to do so for trees and shrubs in our area. Our team members are diligent and attentive, tuned in to the needs of landscaping plants and how to prune with health in mind. Instead of attempting DIY pruning, rely on us to provide your trees and shrubs with professional, consistent care that keeps their best interests at the top of the priority list! Our trimming and pruning services are available to property owners in Macomb, MI and surrounding cities like Shelby and Chesterfield. Get in touch with our office by calling (586) 200-0855 today to schedule pruning for your landscaping plants!