Pruning & Tree Surgery

Proper tree care is an investment which can lead to substantial returns. Well cared for trees are attractive and can add considerable value to your property.

When to Prune?

As a rule of thumb, growth is maximized and wound closure is fastest if pruning takes place before the spring growth flush. We highly recommend that your tree is pruned during the winter, but our capable staff is always available to tend you’re your pruning needs year round. Some trees such as maples and birches tend to “bleed” if pruned too early. This may be unsightly, but is of little consequences to the tree. Heavy pruning just after the spring growth flush should be avoided but normal pruning cycles resume thereafter and are just as affective in the health of your tree.

Pruning varieties and techniques?

Specific types of pruning may be necessary to maintain a mature tree in a health, safe, and attractive condition.

Crown cleaning is the removal of dead, dying, diseased crowded, weakly attached and low-vigor branches from the crown of a tree.

Crown thinning is a selective removal to increase light penetration and air movement. Reducing the weight on heavy limbs, while retaining the trees natural shape.

Crown raising removes the lower branches from a tree in order to provide clearance for buildings, vehicles, and pedestrians.

Crown reduction reduces the size of a tree often for clearance for utility lines.

How much should be pruned?

The amount of live tissue that should be removed depends on the tree size, species and age, as well as the pruning objectives.

Younger trees will tolerate the removal of higher percentage than that of mature trees.

It is important to remember that it is easier for a tree to recover from several small pruning wounds faster than one large wound.

Over-thinning reduces the tree’s sugar production capacity and can create tip-heavy limbs that are prone to failure.

The older and larger a tree becomes, the less energy it has in reserve to close wounds and defend against decay or insect attack.

Hiring an Arborist?

Pruning larger trees can be very dangerous. If the pruning requires any use of power equipment, it is best to hire a professionally certified arborist.

A professional arborist can provide the services of a trained crew, with all the required safety equipment and liability insurance.

Also our services provide clean-up and disposal as well: brush dragging, cutting, stacking, chipping, raking and sweeping.