The advent of Spring, when the snowy season fades away and all is revealed in the thaw, is the perfect time to really see and assess what’s going on in your yard and garden at the beginning of growing/blooming season. Now is when you should get out there and do preventative maintenance, reduce damage to your home’s exterior, and prune shrubs or trees away from your house.
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 how to go about it:
- 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.
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