Yes, you can. But you absolutely should not. In most cases, you should not attempt to trim your white pine tree unless you want it to die. White pine trees are a complicated subject when it comes to landscaping. This tree has different sensitive areas that should not be left exposed -as in, a result of a trim- or the tree could potentially get infected and eventually, die.
If you are thinking about trimming your white pine tree, you need to think about why you are doing it before you confirm it’s okay to proceed. Aesthetic reasons are mostly a no-go, although there are certain moments in the tree’s life when you can do it. Dead branches removal is not only okay, but it is a must to avoid possible infections and trees’ health-related problems. When in doubt, your best choice is to consult a professional arborist.
Should you cut dead branches off a pine tree?
Dead branches need to be removed from the tree to avoid further problems. Dead branches are a potential hazard for healthy trees, as they can harbor different kinds of illnesses. Dead branches are also a hot spot for bugs and all sorts of pests to live and multiply, feeding off the health of the tree and killing it from the inside. In a worst-case scenario, an illness or a bug that started from a dead branch situation will travel to other healthy trees in the area, creating even more problems than the ones you already have.
Before you decide to remove a dead branch, there’s a caveat to take into consideration. Not every branch that looks dead is without life. A brownish look might indicate a branch is dead or dying to the untrained eye, but it could be the look of a healthy branch that needs treatment to continue, not trimming. Someone with professional training can truthfully judge whether a branch needs trimming or not.
Can you trim the lower branches off?
You should not trim your lower branches unless they are dead or dying. A lot of people decide to cut the lower branches off their white pine tree because of aesthetical or practical reasons without understanding the importance of lower branches. It might not seem like it, but lower branches are helping to support higher branches. If you decide to remove the lower branches of the tree, you might eventually find other branches collapsing and falling off your white pine tree.
This is especially the case if you are in a place where it snows in the winter. An experienced arborist might know the right way to trim lower branches without exposing the tree to any danger.
How much does it cost to trim a pine tree?
On average, you are trimming a pine tree costs between $250 and $1,200. This isn’t an exact range of all available prices, but most trims will be found among that price range. If you take into account all open estimates, the pricing range widens a little bit and stands between $190 and over $$2,500. Costs vary according to tree size and difficulty of the job.
What happens when you top a pine tree?
If you top a pine tree, there are two possible consequences. First, the tree might never recover its natural look. The top of the tree doesn’t grow back if you remove it past a certain point. This is the case when you remove most of the crown and leave larger tree limbs exposed. If you decide to remove the top of your tree, it will not only give you aesthetic landscaping problems, but it might kill the tree altogether.
As you leave the top exposed, sunlight might severely damage the insides of the tree, eventually killing it. Leaving a white tree pine exposed also makes it vulnerable to bugs and pests, which may feed off your tree and destroy it from the inside.
Can trimming a pine tree kill it?
It may kill the pine tree if done incorrectly. An average person is more likely to kill a tree as a result of an otherwise innocent trim. There are professionals trained to do it, who know what they are doing and will leave your tree even healthier than before the trim. If you are thinking about making changes to your pine tree, it’s best to hire an arborist and avoid any further trouble you may have.