What does tree trimming involve?
Tree trimming is the selective cutting of branches while the tree stays standing. A climber removes dead wood, shortens limbs that reach over the roof, and thins crowded branches so wind passes through the crown. Every cut is made just outside the branch collar, the slight swelling where a limb joins the trunk. Cuts made there close over. Flush cuts and stubs let rot in.
When do your trees need trimming?
Trees usually need trimming when limbs touch or hang over the roof, when dead branches show up in the canopy, or when lower limbs block the driveway or the view from the street. Trimming is also due when branches rub against each other and wear through the bark. Most mature shade trees do well with a trim every three to five years.
Why do overgrown branches cause problems?
Overgrown branches on Long Island trees cause damage mostly through weight and wind. A long maple limb with full leaves acts like a lever on the trunk in a summer storm. Branches over the roof drop leaves and twigs that clog gutters, hold moisture against shingles, and give squirrels a bridge into the attic. Ignored long enough, a heavy limb can tear out a chunk of trunk when it fails, and the damage can mean full removal of a tree that was otherwise healthy.
When is the right time to trim trees here?
Late fall through winter is a good time to trim most trees here, because the leaves are down and the structure is easy to see. Oaks are the big exception. Oak wilt is present on Long Island, and New York advises against pruning oaks from April through July, when fresh cuts attract the beetles that carry the fungus. Dead or broken limbs can come off any time of year.
What affects the cost of tree trimming?
Tree trimming cost depends on the size of the tree, how many limbs need to come off, and what the branches hang over. Limbs above a roof or near a service wire have to be roped down, which takes longer. Access matters too, because a backyard tree behind a fence means more hand-carrying. Trimming several trees in one visit usually lowers the cost per tree.
Should you trim the tree or remove it?
Trimming is the right choice when the trunk and roots are healthy and the trouble is specific branches. If a mature tree has a weak fork but a solid trunk, trimming paired with installing cables can keep it safe. Removal makes more sense when trimming would take off more than a quarter of the live crown, which leaves the tree stressed and ugly.
Tree trimming questions homeowners ask
Will trimming hurt my tree?
Proper tree trimming doesn't hurt a tree. Problems come from topping, flush cuts, and removing too much live wood at once. We take off only what the tree needs and make each cut where the tree can seal it.
Can you trim branches near power lines?
We trim branches near the service line that runs from the pole to your house after checking the situation first. Branches touching the main lines on the street belong to PSEG Long Island, and we'll help you contact them.
What if a limb breaks off before my appointment?
If a limb breaks and is hanging over the house or driveway, keep people and cars away from it and give us a call right away. We handle a hanging limb as an emergency tree job and move it up the schedule.