FAQs About Trimming Tree Canopies For Air Flow
That thick canopy that's developing on your trees certainly looks nice, and the prospect of having all that shade in the hot summer may make you very happy. But there is a dark side, no pun intended, to all those leaves. The denser the canopy, the more susceptible the tree can be to disease, especially in humid regions. To protect the tree, you'll have to have the canopy trimmed on the inside to open it up for better airflow. This can sound confusing to some homeowners who haven't had to deal with the issue before, but it's a lot simpler than it sounds.
Why Do I Need to Do This?
When the canopy on your tree is too thick, that blocks air flow through the branches. The air flow helps the leaves and branches dry out after rain or even morning dew. If the tree can't dry out, molds and mildews can settle in and grow, causing damage to the tree (and aggravating allergies in humans). If other pathogens, particularly other fungi, land on the tree, they could grow as well. Some of these pathogens actually lead to tree death.
A tree landscaper or certified arborist will go up to the canopy and cut out smaller twigs in the center of the canopy to open up more pathways for air.
Won't That Let More Wind and Noise Through?
If you're using the tree for a wind or noise break, yes, you may have a little more wind and a little more noise to deal with. However, keep two things in mind. If you don't trim, and the tree develops a fungal problem that requires massive cutting or even removal, then you lose the entire tree and not just some twigs. Also, this procedure does not create holes in the canopy. It merely adds space inside the canopy. So you'll still have a thick mass of leaves that protect your home from wind and noise.
Why Can't I Go up There and Hack a Few Branches Out?
Safety first. In a small tree, where you can reach the canopy with a stepstool, the fall risk isn't that bad. But in a taller tree, where you would need a tall ladder, you could fall quite a distance and severely injure yourself. Plus, you can't randomly hack out some branches. An arborist will choose the branches and twigs that are least likely to affect the look of the tree and most likely to unblock a path for air.
Why Do Some Parts of the Canopy Look Really Dense Compared to Others?
Occasionally a tree can be more productive in certain parts and not so productive in others. You may also be looking at a feature called a witches' broom (also witch's broom), which is a dense ball that looks like a miniature tree canopy itself. Occasionally these can be genetic and not harmful, but most of these are caused by pathogens. The arborist can take a look while he or she is up there.
This is a fairly simple process that will help your tree stay healthy. Contact an arborist like Treetime Inc to take a look at the canopies on your trees and fix the air flow situation on any that are too dense.
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