- Typical price
- $250 to $1,000 for many yard trees
- Best timing
- Most trees, late fall through winter
- Avoid
- Topping
What Good Pruning Does
Pruning removes dead, rubbing and weak limbs, thins crowded branches so wind passes through and lifts the crown off the roof or driveway. Done right it makes a tree stronger and safer. Done wrong it opens the tree to rot.
Why Topping Is a Bad Idea
Topping means chopping main branches back to stubs. It looks quick and cheap, and some crews pitch it. The tree then sends up weak, fast shoots and the cut ends rot. Good arborists reduce a crown by cutting back to a side branch instead.
When to Trim
For most trees in our area, winter is a good time, when the tree is dormant and branches are easy to see. Dead limbs can come off any time. Some trees bleed sap in spring, which looks messy but is usually not harmful. Ask the crew.
How Much Is Too Much
A common rule is to remove no more than about a quarter of the live crown in one year. If a tree needs more than that, it may be a candidate for removal. See tree removal and the tree trimming cost guide.
Do Not DIY High Limbs
Pruning from the ground with hand tools is fine for small branches. Anything that needs a ladder, a chainsaw overhead or is near wires belongs to a pro.