Pruning involves the selective cutting of the branches of a tree. More precisely, it consists of ridding the plant of its superfluous and hazardous branches. It involves in particular the removal of greedy, dead, rotten or damaged wood. Although it seems easy to carry out, tree pruning is a complex operation which is particularly risky. Several risks are in fact linked to its implementation (e.g.: falling, electrocution, serious injuries, etc.). To avoid accidents, it will therefore be necessary to take some precautions before carrying out it. We talk about it in this article. Find out!
Check the reliability of safety equipment
As you will have understood, fatal accidents can occur during pruning work if you are not careful. Moreover, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory during their execution. This equipment allows the worker to work at height in complete safety. Among other things, it consists of a safety helmet, glasses and hearing protection, cut-resistant overalls and gloves, non-slip boots, a safety harness and various rope systems.
However, wearing PPE is not enough. To effectively ensure its safety, the operator must first of all check its reliability. If it is defective, he must use other PPE that is in good condition.
Determine the right time to prune trees
The choice of the period for prune trees has a considerable impact on the well-being of the tree. To avoid damaging it, you will need to carefully choose the time to carry out the work. This generally depends on the species of the plant, its age and its environment. Traditionally, pruning work is undertaken in late fall or winter for practical reasons. As there is less foliage, it is easier to move between the branches and detect which ones need to be cut. Despite this, it is advisable to call on a pruner for this type of operation.
In addition, winter pruning is less aggressive than pruning done in spring or summer. During the winter, the sap concentrates in the root. The cuts therefore only cause a tiny amount of flow. The tree will therefore maintain a large part of its reserves.
Sharpen and sterilize cutting tools
Disinfection of pruning shears and chainsaw blades is important. This is a way to avoid contamination of healthy plants, especially if these tools were used to prune a diseased tree.
Besides this, it is crucial to use well-sharpened equipment. You must ensure that the cuts are very clean and honest so that they heal quickly. This will also prevent you from tearing out the wood fiber. Here again, we encourage you to call a pruner professional to avoid damaging your trees.
Hire a specialist in tree pruning work
Due to the dangerous nature of pruning work, it is best to entrust it to a professional pruner. Moreover, the intervention of this professional is beneficial on different levels. Indeed, the quality of the work he will carry out will far exceed your experiences. In addition, he will be able to determine exactly the type of treatment your plants require. Finally, you benefit from a better guarantee, because the insurance to which you have subscribed covers damages which may occur during the completion of the project.