What we trim for
Every tree gets trimmed for a reason. Before we start we tell you what we plan to cut and why.
- Clearance over roofs, gutters, driveways and sidewalks
- Deadwood that could fall on people or cars
- Crown thinning to cut wind load before storm season
- Raising low limbs so you can mow and walk under the tree
- Structural pruning on young trees so they grow one strong leader
Why we will not top your tree
Topping means cutting big limbs back to stubs to make a tree shorter. It looks tidy for one season. Then the tree pushes out a thicket of weakly attached shoots, and the stubs rot. Five years later you have a taller, more dangerous tree than you started with.
If a tree is simply too big for its spot, we will tell you honestly whether reduction pruning can work or whether removal and replanting makes more sense.
How often to trim
Mature shade trees in the Springfield area usually do well on a three to five year cycle. Young trees benefit from a light pruning every year or two while their shape is set. Fruit trees and ornamentals like Bradford pears need attention more often.
Questions people ask us
When is the best time to trim trees in Springfield?
Late winter, from about January through early March, is ideal for most species. Oaks especially should be pruned in the dormant season to lower the risk of oak wilt. Dead or hazardous limbs can come off any time.
Will trimming hurt my tree?
Not when it is done right. We follow standard pruning practice and rarely remove more than a quarter of the live canopy in one visit.