DIY – How to Trim Tree Branches Yourself

Most homeowners are confident they are giving their trees the best care to thrive and stay healthy. Water, fertilizer, and mulch right on schedule.

However, tree branch trimming can be very intimidating to the average person. While big pruning tasks should be left to the professionals, pruning small trees and branches is perfectly safe and manageable for the average person.

First, know when DIY tree trimming is appropriate, and when it’s not. If you want to prune a small tree that has lightweight branches, go for it. However, think twice about pruning a tree that’s near a power line, large branches overhanging your roof, or if the branches are too heavy for you to easily handle.

If you’ve decided to go ahead, just start with a little DIY tree branch trimming. First, you’ll need to understand the parts of the tree and branch. The branch collar is the enlarged area at the base of the branch that connects it to the tree. The branch bark ridge is between the tree trunk and the branch; it’s raised a little higher than the branch.

Make sure your pruning tools are clean and sharp. Make a cut on the far side the branch collar; don’t cut the branch collar itself but make the cut close enough not to leave a nub.

For a thin branch, one inch or less in diameter, cut just above the branch collar at a 45-degree angle to the bark ridge.

For a thick branch, cut it in three …

Is your Water Environmentally Friendly?

You’re ticking all the boxes: you recycle, you have a dozen bags for life, you’ve got all sorts of insulation, you switch off your power at the wall and you do everything you can to conserve energy and reduce your carbon footprint, right? Well, what about water? And we’re not talking single-use plastic bottled water, or glass water filters here. We’re talking about the very veins that run around your home.

Water Consumption & Saving

There’s the debate about whether or not you could save money and be more water-conscious on a water meter rather than your run-of-the-mill direct debit solution. The arguments are pretty clear: For a larger household with 3-4 (plus) residents with a higher rate of water consumption, a direct debit payment system is usually suitable. But for a single home-owner with a full time job out of the house, a water meter could be a lower cost solution, and it also encourages us to be more conscious of the amount of water we are using. It’s on a meter after all.

There are also a few simple rules when it comes to being water-smart. For example, opt for a quick shower over a long soak in the tub. But do make sure the shower isn’t a lengthy one, or you could end up using more water than it would take to fill the bath. It’s surprising how much water we can use just to enjoy a warm shower on a morning before work. Wash your veg …

Sustainable building materials are more than just reused or recycled materials. The energy consumed during harvesting, transporting and processing of the material should decide if it is truly sustainable. Local materials are commonly considered sustainable due to its huge reduction of energy needed to transport them.

Price also plays a major role in considering a material sustainable. However, the most important consideration is the health and environmental impact of these materials.

Using sustainable materials promote a cleaner, healthier and better home and there are many benefits to designing spaces using sustainable products. Sustainable building materials are adobe, straw, cork, bamboo and clay. They have low emission rates and possess energy conservation qualities. These materials are all-natural and can be used to build greener homes. Recycled materials include granite, steel or polyurethane.

The adobe for instance, can be used to construct all types of buildings. There is very little or almost no energy used in transporting it and the material is found everywhere. Most people simply use the adobe found there on the site of their building. You would need a frame as support, but the adobe is very durable and the home will be naturally insulated due to the thickness of the walls and density of the adobe. A home built in adobe will have lower electricity bills and less consumption of energy.

Building a home to standard measurement cuts back on waste and requires less trimming. Whatever material you have decided to use, it will be sustainable …