Tree Pruning & Trimming

It depends on the age and type of tree. Most trees should not be pruned for the first 3 years after being planted. 

After that, younger trees benefit from being pruned every 2-3 years, and mature trees every 3-5 years.

However, this is a general guideline, not a hard and fast rule. If a tree is overgrown, blocking your view, casting too much shade, hitting your roof, or in any other way causing issues, you can have it pruned more frequently.

Fruit trees and trees that have storm damage may also need to be pruned more frequently. 

Check for any broken branches or dead sections of the tree.

Also, check out the full shape of the tree, look for branches hitting a roof or other nearby structure, or sections of the tree that may be restricting access along a path or even blocking a view from a window.

Any time you think your tree may be dangerous or could pose a safety risk, contact a professional for a tree inspection as soon as possible. 

For more things to look for, check out our article on 7 signs it's time to prune your trees. 

Yes! In some cases, winter pruning may be preferable. 

Winter pruning is a good idea for several reasons. Not only does it allow you to clean up your trees when they aren’t actively growing (which can help reduce the likelihood of stressing them or inviting insect pests and diseases) but it also lets you check off a gardening chore before things get hectic again as the weather warms up.

Learn more in our blog post on winter tree pruning and trimming.

Reputable tree service companies don’t work when winter conditions are hazardous to people OR trees!

Protecting your property and your trees is of primary importance, so we take no risks in bad weather conditions. When we experience any of the following situations, we'll have to reschedule your work for when conditions improve.

• When temperatures drop to dangerously low digits
• When heavy snow builds up in trees
• After freezing rain has coated roads, power lines, and trees in ice
• When freezing and thawing cycles create ice loads in trees and atop roads

Fall is the only season when pruning is not suggested, except for dead, damaged, or diseased branches. Fall pruning, like all pruning, stimulates growth. But new fall growth will likely be killed by the dropping temperatures as winter arrives. With winter approaching, this short-lived fall growth will end up being useless to a tree, and stimulating that growth requires using a tree’s stored energy reserves that would be better used to help it through the colder months ahead.

We do not top trees. This process of cutting trees shorter is not recommended and can be harmful to trees. 

Crown reduction is a specialized pruning technique and is the proper way to reduce the size of a tree.

Of course, planting the right tree in the right place is always the best option as you can avoid unnecessary pruning.

Learn more about tree topping and how it can cost you more money in the long run.

Pruning trees gives them a well-maintained look and adds to your curb appeal (which can increase your property value).

More importantly, though, pruning helps the health of your trees, allowing them to live a longer life. 

Pruning can help younger trees to develop good branch structure, which helps trees when storms and strong winds arrive.

Pruning can also help mature trees by opening up the canopy, removing any dead or broken branches, and more. 

Please give us a call if you have any questions about your trees or our tree pruning services. 

As a general rule, cutting off dead branches may help a tree, but every situation can be different. When done properly, cutting off a dead branch will allow the tree to focus on the healthy branches and promote more growth.

The type and size of the power line, as well as its proximity to the pruning we'll be doing, dictate how we will approach work.

Any job that involves pruning near a power line requires a thorough inspection by one of our experienced arborists. If necessary, we'll coordinate with the local power company to disconnect power to the line(s) in or near your tree.

Safety is always our first consideration when working near power lines so we take extra care to ensure our crews are safe. This might mean that scheduling your pruning job will be delayed while we make proper arrangements with the power company.