Pest control involves both preventive measures and emergency treatment of existing infestations. In yards and gardens, trimming is one tactic that can help with warding off and removing pests that would otherwise destroy the tree or use it to invade your house. However, you need to know just what tree trimming can and can’t do so that you can use it effectively to keep pests under control.

Tree Trimming Controls Some Pests but Not All of Them

Trimming can only help control certain pests. In some cases, that’s because trimming a tree just isn’t effective for that particular pest. For instance, certain moths aren’t affected by trimming, and you have to use insecticides to control them.

In other cases, however, it’s because trimming is just one way to control the pests in question. For example, insects and small animals like raccoons can use tree branches to access your roof and attic or crawlspace, and trimming the branch back will eliminate that pathway. But the same insects and animals can still access your home through other routes, too. That doesn’t mean trimming won’t do any good, just that it’s not the only control measure you have to take.

Regular Professional Trimming Allows for Early Detection

It’s always best to prevent pest problems entirely, but it’s also good to catch infestations when they’re just beginning. Regular tree trimming services allow specialists to see what’s going on with the branches, leaves and trunk. That gives you the chance to stop problems before they get a lot worse.

Small Infestations Respond Better Than Large Infestations

Keep in mind that even if the pest is one that normally responds well to trimming, larger infestations might not respond at all. For example, if the tree has a beetle infestation in one branch, you may be able end that infestation completely by trimming off that branch. But if the majority of branches are infested, trimming might not do any good. Tree removal would be a better tactic in this case.

Removing Dead Growth Eliminates Hiding Places

Tree trimming isn’t just about snipping off random growth to make the tree look better. It also removes dead material that hasn’t fallen off the tree yet. If you were to let that material fall naturally, that would create a pile of leaf debris that pests could hide under.

Trimming to Control Pests Is Not a One-Time Deal

Whether you’ve trimmed a tree to remove a current infestation or to prevent one from starting in the first place, you can’t look at the work as a one-time deal. For example, if you’ve trimmed back branches from the roofline of your house, you’ll have to repeat that every time the branches grow out.

If you trimmed a tree to remove infested leaves and branches, you’ll need to keep checking the tree and re-trimming each year to ensure those pests don’t gain another foothold. Treat trimming as another part of your annual yard care duties. Tree trimming is an essential service that keeps trees healthy while also keeping many pests under control, so contact Cordwin Tree Service to arrange for an appointment in Ocala, FL, today!