If you’re thinking about trimming your trees, the first step is knowing what to avoid. In this blog post, you’ll learn the most common pruning mistakes in the order they usually happen, so you can avoid them before you cause irreversible damage.
If you need professional help or pruning advice, call Hawkins Tree and Landscaping to schedule the best tree services in Ashdown, AR.
Signs You Need to Prune Your Trees
Before you start pruning, look for clear signs that your tree needs it, including:
- Limbs overlapping and blocking sunlight from the center of the tree
- Dead and cracked branches snapping and falling without warning
- Suckers growing at the base and pulling energy from healthy limbs
Once you spot these problems, take a step back and learn what not to do before you start cutting.
How To Prune Trees Correctly Using 7 Steps
Avoid these seven bad pruning habits so your trees remain healthy and structurally sound.
Mistake #1: Skipping the Plan
Cutting without a plan removes healthy limbs and ruins the tree’s shape. Unplanned cuts weaken the structure and force the tree to redirect energy toward repairs. Walk around the tree and find dead limbs, rubbing branches, and problem areas. Mark your cuts before you start to keep growth balanced.
Mistake #2: Pruning at the Wrong Time
Cutting at the wrong time stunts growth and limits blooms or fruit. Winter cuts remove spring buds. Summer cuts expose trees to sun damage. Each species has a best time to prune based on dormancy and growth cycles.
Planning around seasonal timing helps prevent the most common pruning mistakes homeowners make.
Mistake #3: Using Dirty or Dull Tools
Dirty blades carry bacteria and fungus. Dull tools crush bark and leave ragged wounds that heal slowly. Sanitize with alcohol before and after trimming each tree. Sharpen your blades to make clean cuts that seal fast.
Keeping your tools in good shape helps you avoid injuries and bad pruning habits that weaken the tree.
Mistake #4: Making the Wrong Cuts
Cutting too close to the trunk or too far from the branch collar makes healing slower. Jagged cuts and torn bark leave the tree exposed to decay. Make your cuts just outside the collar at a downward angle.
Mistake #5: Over-Pruning or Topping
Removing too much at once suppresses photosynthesis and stresses the roots. Topping removes the central leader and triggers weak, unstable shoots. Take off no more than one-third of the crown during a single session. These pruning mistakes shorten your tree’s lifespan and weaken its structure.
Recognizing pruning pitfalls to prevent helps you control growth without leaving the tree exposed or unstable.
Mistake #6: Sealing or Painting Wounds
Wound dressings hold in moisture and slow natural healing. Paint, glue, or sealants trap bacteria and attract pests. Trees recover faster when clean cuts remain open to sunlight and air. A proper cut calluses on its own and closes the wound over time.
Mistake #7: Skipping Pruning Altogether
Avoiding yearly cuts creates thick canopies, weak limbs, and blocked light. Old wood stops producing and gives insects a place to spread. Trees that go untouched lose shape and break more often. Routine pruning improves structure and helps prevent property damage.
Call Hawkins Tree and Landscaping for Professional Pruning Services and Advice
Fixing pruning mistakes costs more time and money than doing it right the first time. Our team can walk your property, spot hidden problems, and help you trim your trees the right way.
We also guide homeowners through structural pruning for saplings and new growth. Check out our other blog post on pruning young trees, or call Hawkins Tree and Landscaping at (870) 330-9912 to schedule service.