Why trim a tree?
Good pruning keeps a healthy tree healthy and makes a risky tree safer. The common reasons homeowners around Big Rapids call:
- Dead wood. Dead limbs are the ones that come down in wind and ice. Removing them is the single most useful thing you can do before winter.
- Roof and gutter clearance. Branches rubbing shingles wear them out, and overhanging limbs fill gutters and drop onto the roof in storms.
- Clearance over drives and walks. Raising the lower limbs ("crown raising") lets trucks, campers and people pass underneath.
- Thinning. Selectively removing crowded branches lets wind pass through instead of catching the whole canopy like a sail.
- Light and view. On lake lots, a careful thinning can open a view without killing the tree.
What good pruning looks like
A well-pruned tree should look natural. Cuts are made just outside the branch collar, so the tree can seal the wound, and no more than about a quarter of the living canopy is removed at one time.
Be wary of "topping." Cutting the whole top off a tree to a uniform height is not the same as pruning. It leaves large wounds that decay, and the tree responds with fast, weakly attached sprouts that break easily. If a tree truly needs to be shorter, it is usually better to remove it and plant something that fits the space.
When to trim in Michigan
- Late fall through winter is the best time for most deciduous trees. The leaves are off, the structure is easy to see, and the ground is firmer for equipment.
- Oaks: avoid pruning oaks from mid-April through mid-July. Fresh cuts during that window can attract the beetles that spread oak wilt, a disease that kills red oaks quickly. If an oak must be cut in that window, the wounds should be sealed right away.
- Dead or hazardous limbs can and should come off any time of year.
- Maples may "bleed" sap if pruned in late winter. It looks alarming but does not harm the tree.
Trimming near lines and buildings
Limbs over a roof or near the service drop to your house are lowered by rope, piece by piece, rather than dropped. High-voltage lines along the road are the utility's responsibility — contact Consumers Energy or Great Lakes Energy if a tree is growing into those.
Not sure whether a tree needs trimming or removal? Describe it in the form, add a photo, and we'll tell you at the estimate.
Questions about tree trimming
How often should trees be trimmed?
Most mature shade trees do well with a look every three to five years. Young trees benefit from light structural pruning more often while they are developing.
Will trimming hurt my tree?
Proper pruning does not. Removing too much at once, topping, or cutting flush against the trunk does. Good pruning removes only what is needed.
Can you trim just the side over my house?
Yes. One-sided clearance pruning is common. We'll balance it as much as we reasonably can.