Trimming Standards

Deadwood Removal

Dead branches are common and natural on most trees.

Trees with a lot of dead branches can be aesthetically displeasing and sometimes hazardous. If you choose to have your tree(s) cleaned up, we’ll remove all of the large, dangerous dead limbs and most of the smaller ones.

This treatment, harmless to the tree, reveals its natural beauty and form. It’s one of the nicest things you can do for your tree.

A caution: Sometimes dead limbs are a sign the tree has a health problem. We’ll let you know if this is the case and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Laurel oak after deadwood removal and clearing the house.

Laurel oak before deadwood removal and clearing the house.

Clearing Structures

Trees sometimes need to be cleared away from homes, buildings, businesses, signs, fences, etc. When doing this type of trimming many factors need to be considered and discussed, including:

• Trimming cycle – i.e. how soon the tree will need to be trimmed again (4-5 years is preferred)
• Desired sunlight/shading for surrounding area
• Preserving visual screens from neighbors and pedestrians
• Creating or restoring views
• Restoring airflow to increase roof longevity
• Reducing leaves and twigs that fall onto roofs and gutters
• Promoting, maintaining fire safety for the structure

Raising Lower Crown Level:

Lower branches sometimes just get in the way. We raise the overall lower crown to allow for pedestrian traffic, sunlight (for lawns and gardens), vehicle traffic, mowing, views, etc.

Hazard Mitigation

This includes: Removal of large, broken or dead limbs; leaning trees; branches with unsafe (split) attachments; installation of dynamic or static support systems.

A risk assessment should be performed first to determine the treatment needed.

Artistic View Clearing

Our area abounds with natural beauty and sometimes trees get in the way of seeing it.  We’ll interview you on site to find out what you want to see (a mountain, lake, meadow, etc.), or don’t want to see (neighbors, houses, roads, etc.). This is where the artistic part comes in. We open selective views through the tree(s) by trimming specific branches but leaving the natural look of the tree overall. Although tree removal is sometimes necessary, we try to keep this as a last resort.

Many clients are tempted to open large, unimpeded views by removing all the trees (the clear-cut method). If this is your desire, we’re probably not the tree service for you. Once done, it’s permanently what you’re going to see (at least until the next crop of trees grows up 30-40 years down the road). Also, with the clear-cut method, your home is visible to everyone!

With our careful and conservative approach, you can always do more at a later date. Many of our clients have had us return several times over the years, and each time they’re pleased with their fresh, new panorama.

Fruit Tree Pruning

Your fruit trees are trimmed to allow light and air into the crown. Each fruit tree has it’s own individual form and we trim them accordingly. We try not to over-prune. This just results in the tree growing lots of new sprouts as it tries to replace lost canopy. Hence, more to trim next year.

Ideally, as with my own orchard, the trees are trained/trimmed beginning about 2-3 years after planting. If done correctly, only minor work is needed to maintain them.

Crown Thinning

Most trees need very little thinning in the crown. Removing deadwood, small crossing branches and limbs with defective attachments is about all that’s needed. Too much thinning can cause problems, stressing the tree’s health and weakening its structure.

Ponderosa pine is one of the few trees in our area on which we’ll perform crown thinning. Ponderosa pines grow fast, large and have a history of tops snapping out in windstorms. We lightly thin only the upper 15-20 feet, depending on the size of the tree. This reduces the wind sail (resistance) in the most vulnerable part of the crown. Over the last 20 years or so, we’ve performed this treatment on hundreds of Ponderosa pines with no failures and no ill effects on the health of the tree. This treatment may need to be repeated every 4-7 years, depending on tree growth.

A caution: All trees have some degree of risk and the above treatment described will only reduce the risk of the top snapping in high wind, not eliminate it.

Take downs

Sometimes, a tree needs to come down. We can remove a tree safely from the tightest of locations.

Mulching

Trees in the urban forest are subject to many stresses.  For instance: Turf grasses compete for water and nutrients; foot and vehicle traffic compact soils; sidewalks, driveways, roads and buildings restrict root growth and water availability; new building and construction commonly damage roots, stems, and canopies….to name but a few challenges to your tree.

The “proper” application of a wood chip/leaf mulch to the root zone of your trees can have many beneficial effects. Mulching is basically an attempt to mimic nature, i.e. the organic litter layer present in most temperate forests. Trees and shrubs in a natural forest are constantly shedding leaves, branches, mosses, lichens, and even whole trees fall down. This organic layer is home to billions of microorganisms that work to release nutrients essential for healthy trees. Mulched trees require less watering and have less root zone compaction.

So, if you want to do a nice thing for your tree, have it mulched, properly!

Brush chipping/wood disposal

We can chip and haul the brush from your job or we can leave the chips there for your landscaping needs. Price-wise the cheapest is if you deal with the brush and wood yourself. Next cheapest is for us to chip the brush and leave the chips on site. If you want us to chip it and haul it all away, it will cost a bit more.

Burning is another inexpensive option for brush and wood disposal during appropriate times of year.

Stump Grinding

We can grind stumps of any diameter down to approximately 6 inches below grade.

Know what you need done? Contact Us!