Spring Cleaning To-Do: Prune Shrubs and Trees

When putting together your Spring Cleaning list, don’t forget the outside portion of your house.  To reduce the possibility of damage to your home’s exterior, you need to prune nearby shrubs and trees.

Overgrown shrubs can rub and damage your siding, windows, and roof; while vegetation near or against your home leads to moisture damage and rot.

In addition, rodents and insects can use overhanging branches as a highway right into your house!

So get out your pruning shears and saws and do a little trimming.

Here’s what to do:

• Trees: Prune tree limbs back 6′ to 8′ away from your home’s roof and chimney. Fallen limbs can cause a great deal of damage to roofs, and overhanging branches allow animal access and can be a fire hazard near your chimney.

• Shrubs: Shrubs should be pruned back at least 18” away from the side of your home.

• New Plantings: When planting new trees and shrubs, locate them far enough away from your house so they can grow to their natural width without the need for excessive trimming. For most small shrubs, 3′ to 4′ away is usually enough distance.

A little pruning now will save you a lot of headache later.  If you’re a DIY’er, remember your ladder safety rules.  Or you can always find yourself a tree trimming professional.  Get recommendations from friends and neighbors who have been happy with their tree trimming service, and you’ll be more likely to be pleased with yours.

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Photo Credit: Ozgur Coskun / Shutterstock.com