You might lose a branch or two after a storm or a dry spell, but should dead branches be removed from trees? Most trees will grow healthier after removing their dead branches, so it’s a good idea. Still, only proper branch-removal techniques bring these good results – just as improper techniques bring detrimental ones.
East Coast Arbor Pro’s tree services in Satellite Beach, FL, remove tree branches safely. Below, we describe why taking out dead branches is usually the smarter choice.
Keeping the Tree Healthier
When you start understanding how trees grow, the importance of removing dead branches becomes clear. Here are a few ideas:
- Resources. If your tree can compartmentalize and skip sending nutrients and water to that dead portion, it can focus its nutrient allocation on healthier areas – and grow.
- Access. Taking out a dead branch opens up the rest of the tree to better airflow and sunlight absorption. When air and sun can move through the tree’s canopy, more leaves receive the light exposure they need.
- Protection. Another reason to remove dying branches is pest prevention. Dead branches or wood provide entry points for insects and wildlife. Pests that gain a hold inside the tree could damage healthy parts of the tree, too.
Is there fungal growth on the dying branch, too? Cutting prevents the fungi from migrating.
Removing Falling Hazards
Should dead branches be removed from trees? The answer is year, especially for brittle dead branches that could break loose in windy conditions and cause damage that includes:
- Harming people or pets on the ground
- Colliding with a healthy branch while falling
- Hitting other nearby trees or electrical lines
- Damaging property and vehicles
Large branches and limbs can weigh a lot. Even if a dead branch near the top of the tree seems small, it gains speed and force on the way down, and the damage can be significant.
Improving the Aesthetic Appeal of the Tree
If safety isn’t an issue, should dead branches be removed from trees for aesthetic purposes? You will primarily remove branches for safety or health reasons. Still, why not improve the look of the tree at the same time?
Dead limbs are often without leaves, and these bare spots easily detract from the specimen’s overall aesthetic appeal. By cutting out these branches, our arborists create space for new branches and leaves to emerge. We can also shape the tree at the same time.
If you have a fruiting or flowering tree, cutting out dying branches encourages flowers and a greater fruit crop.
Avoiding Storm Damage
Dying limbs and branches are less flexible than healthy limbs. Flexible branches can sway in strong winds, but stiff branches might easily break loose in the storm. By taking down a dying branch before bad weather arrives, you’ll reduce the risk of storm damage to the tree (and anything nearby).
Some branches that have big cracks in them and are close to dying could also fall during a storm. Why not let our local arborists inspect the tree? That way, when a storm is forecast, you won’t have to worry about looking for signs of a dying branch or checking your insurance policies.
Let East Coast Arbor Pro Do Your Tree Pruning Safely
Should dead branches be removed from trees? Yes, but although some people may try pruning trees themselves, experience shows you’ll receive better results from licensed arborists. Professionals like East Coast Arbor Pro can explain the tree-cutting benefits and arrive with all the equipment and skills necessary to remove your tree’s dead branches and other safety hazards.
Schedule a free appointment in Satellite Beach, FL, by calling us today at (321) 917-9342!
