Tree Service / Trimming Pruning and Costs

 Last week I had 5 mature Oak Trees trimmed. All of the trees were over 30 feet in height and the tree service had to use a bucket to get to the branches that needed to be cut back.

When you get your trees trimmed it will improve the health of trees as they will get more sunlight and the trimming will make your property appear more pleasing to the eye.

My side yard, trees growing too close, need to be thinned out

The tree service that we hired, did not remove the new growth, instead, they concentrated on the dead branches and the overhang branches that covered our driveway and also inhibited the sunlight.  Many of the smaller fruit-bearing trees, and flowers were not getting enough sun and they were all dying.

Maple tree growing too close to service lines

Know that costs do vary but for 5 mature trees over 30 feet in height we paid $1K.  Online research indicated that the average costs range from $1K to $2K and I guess that depends on your location and how easy it is to get to your trees.

Normally tree trimming is done in the spring and summer and pruning is done in late fall and winter (November – March)  

Pruning is when they remove unnecessary branches, that have died and need to be cut off.  The cooler season makes the trees less susceptible to insects and disease.

The tree service will access your trees to determine if tree branches are growing too close to power lines, your house or other buildings.  Pruning keeps your trees looking neat and discourages branches from growing in the wrong direction.

Pruning Your Trees

I like my mature trees as much as the next person but it is wise to know which trees need to be pruned. Many times trees that are not maintained will become uprooted during a wind or ice storm and this will cause the property owner great stress; damage to the home, gardens, and expense to have the tree cut down and removed.

So before your trees become uprooted or fall down on your house. Make a point to prune them annually. Remove dead branches whenever you see them otherwise you would prune the tree after the flower blooms in the spring or after the fruit is harvested in the fall.

Learn the three-cut method of pruning trees and shrubs by viewing this YouTube video.  Learn the right way and your trees will benefit from the pruning.

Learn more about pruning trees and shrubs here 

Deciduous Trees Have Canker Disease

I am not a tree expert but when I saw that there was something wrong with my willow and mimosa tree bark I knew it was not normal. The bark had cracked open and separated leaving a hole that allowed insects to go inside. 

 I treated the area infection with organic pest control but it had little effect on the problem. Within a week my mature mimosa tree subcombed to whatever had infected it and died. My pine, oak, and silver maple trees were also infected with canker disease.

I love my trees and was not willing to let them die just because we have the no chemical rule in our yard and garden. So I called a tree expert and met with him yesterday. Learned that the trees were infected with Canker disease which is a fungus.

 If I lose these trees to canker disease and termites then the autumn season will not be the same. Hoping that we caught all in time.

The expert on closer examination found that the trees had termites too. They had gotten into the tree from the open wound on tree branches and trunk that had become infected with fungus.

I agreed to the treatment for my trees, it was a chemical but I had to do it or I would lose all 8 mature trees in my yard. The tree expert will check back at the end of the month to see if further treatment is needed. He told me that once the tree becomes infected it may take up to 4 treatments to get rid of the termites and kill the fungus.

Know that for the two trees that we cut down yesterday, the wood needed to be disposed of, and the stump and surrounding area needed to be treated to put a stop to the spread of fungus, bacteria, and termites.