Why trim a tree
Trimming is about removing the right branches — not just any branches. Done well, it makes trees safer, healthier, and better looking. Done wrong, it permanently damages the tree.
Common reasons to trim:
- Branches scraping the roof, gutters, or siding
- Limbs hanging over the driveway or play area
- Trees blocking sight lines from the road or sidewalk
- Lower limbs you want raised for clearance
- Dead or hanging branches that could fall
What we won’t do
We don’t top trees. Topping — cutting the main trunk back to stubs — is one of the most common requests and one of the most damaging practices in tree care. It opens trees to disease, creates weak regrowth that becomes dangerous within a few years, and destroys the natural form. If a tree is too big for its space, the right answer is selective reduction or removal, not topping.
If you’ve had a previous tree topped and it’s now a mess of upright sucker growth, we can often restore something resembling a natural form over a few seasons. Ask us.
Our approach
Trimming is more selective than most homeowners expect. We follow ANSI A300 standards — the industry guidelines on which cuts to make and where. The goal is to remove what’s needed, leave clean cuts that heal cleanly, and never take more than 25% of a healthy canopy in a single year.
