When you think about pruning and tree trimming services, you may think, “Hey, it’s just a few tree branches, how hard can it be?” And you may be right. But if you’re guessing at how it’s probably done, or if you’re relying on YouTube tutorials from a random guy with a chainsaw, then we’d like to take this opportunity to encourage you to contact a professional to chat about your options before diving in.

For those who are committed to the DIY lifestyle, here are a few best practices for tree trimming. Our goal is to arm you with enough information and knowledge to determine whether you should press forward on your own, or if you call in your local supertreero to save the day. 

When is the Best Time for Tree Trimming Service?

A good rule of thumb for tree trimming is between the autumn leaves and spring blooms. Trimming at any other time of year actually slows growth, even if it seems counter-intuitive. You want to trim your trees while they’re dormant (between late autumn and early spring) but if you just can’t wait, you can also get away with trimming after the blooms have faded. While every tree is different, most respond best to a trimming cycle of between three and five years. Talk to your friendly neighbourhood supertreero to determine the best care cycle for your trees.

Tree Trimming Dos and Don’ts

Maintenance tasks like tree trimming are an important part of keeping young trees healthy, strong and growing in the right direction. However, it’s easy to remove too many branches in the midst of trimming (“I don’t know what happened, I just kept cutting!”), which could impact the tree’s growth rate.

DO

• Assess trees after a storm to determine if trimming is needed
• Work with the right tools and use proper cutting techniques and methods
• Keep in mind, improper trimming and pruning can cause lasting damage

DON’T

• Remove more than 25% of foliage (any more and you’ll leave your tree vulnerable to damage and disease)
• Trim newly planted trees during the first year (unless removing broken/dead branches—it needs time to have its first blossom and adjust to the soil)
• Work within three metres (10 feet) of a utility conductor—always call a professional certified arborist in these cases

When to Leave Your Tree Trimming Service to the Pros

If you notice a tree in your yard that looks like a candidate for trimming, your next step is to assess what equipment is required to get the job done safely and right. If it requires ladder or climbing work, a chainsaw rather than a hand pruner or you’re unsure of how to trim without killing the tree, these are all signs to call in a pro. 

At Precision Tree Services, we value educating our customers and make it a part of our service—we’ll do the job right and make sure you know how to maintain your trees the proper way in the future. Our trained team of Supertreeroes have the experience, knowledge, passion and tools to do the job right, ensuring your yard is safe and even better looking than you could have imagined.