Good pruning keeps a tree healthier and safer, and it keeps branches off your roof, driveway, and wires. Bad pruning, like topping or flush cuts, can shorten a tree's life. Here's what to ask for.
Types of pruning worth paying for
- Deadwood removal. Taking out dead and dying limbs is the highest-value pruning on most mature trees. Dead branches are what fall in storms.
- Clearance pruning. Lifting or shortening limbs over the roof, chimney, driveway, and walkways so snow-loaded branches don't rest on the house.
- Structural pruning for young trees. Choosing one leader and spacing the main limbs early prevents the weak V-shaped unions that split decades later.
- Crown thinning. Selectively removing some interior branches to reduce weight at the ends of long limbs, without stripping the tree.
- View and light pruning. Opening up a view or getting more sun to a lawn or garden, done in stages so the tree isn't over-thinned.
What to avoid
Topping (cutting the top off a tree to make it shorter) triggers fast, weakly attached regrowth and invites decay. Lion-tailing (stripping all the inner branches and leaving tufts at the ends) puts more stress on limbs, not less. A good crew will explain cuts in terms of branch collars and removing a limited share of live canopy at a time. If a quote sounds like "we'll take a third off the top," get a second opinion.
When to prune in central Massachusetts
Most deciduous trees can be pruned while dormant, from late fall through early spring. You can see the branch structure clearly, and the ground is often firm enough for equipment. Deadwood and hazard limbs can be removed any time of year. Oaks are often pruned outside the spring and early-summer period as a general precaution against disease spread. Flowering trees like crabapples and ornamental cherries are often pruned right after they bloom.
Branches near power lines
Never prune near energized lines yourself. The service drop to your house and the utility's lines along the street need different handling. Utilities trim around their own lines on a cycle. Groton Electric Light, for example, describes a trimming cycle averaging about three years for main lines. Call your electric utility about limbs on the lines, and use a qualified line-clearance crew for anything close to wires.
Frequently asked questions
How often should mature trees be trimmed?
Most healthy mature shade trees around a house benefit from an inspection and deadwood pruning every three to five years, plus a quick look after any major storm. Young trees benefit from light structural pruning more often in their first ten to fifteen years.
Is it bad to trim trees in the fall?
Fall and winter (dormant season) is a good time for most deciduous trees. The main things to avoid are heavy pruning during the spring leaf-out period and topping at any time of year.
Can trimming save a tree instead of removing it?
Sometimes. Removing deadwood, reducing a heavy limb, or adding cabling to a weak union can make a sound tree safer. If the trunk or root plate itself is failing, pruning won't fix it.
Who trims the trees along the street in front of my house?
Trees within the public way are public shade trees under Massachusetts law and fall under the town tree warden. Don't trim them without permission. Contact your town's tree warden or DPW. Limbs on utility lines are the utility's to handle.
Will the crew haul away the branches?
Typically yes. Brush is chipped on site and the chips are hauled off or left for mulch if you want them. Confirm cleanup is included when you compare quotes.
Sources and further reading
General information only, not legal advice. Rules change. Confirm with your town before work begins.