Tree trimming and Tree Removal Services

Tree trimming and pruning are essential maintenance services needed to keep the health of your trees. You may be deciding to trim your trees because of natural cosmetic things you've noticed on your property. Maybe you think the tree is too tall. Maybe it's hanging on your roof. Maybe you can't pull your car into the driveway anymore because it hangs too low, or maybe you can't mow your grass anymore.

Preventative tree trimming can be very cost effective if done on a regular basis. We recommend you trim your trees every 2-3 years. A thorough inspection of your tree can thin out some of the weak branches that are growing too close together, rubbing against each other, diseased, weakened, or stressed. Thinning out the middle of the tree will allow better air circulation and give the tree a better growth cycle.

It's very important to make good clean cuts on your trees, and to cut them in the right way. One of the main offenses we see is people making "Flush" cuts, or they didn't cut the branch off correctly and it tore the bark. When trimming trees, there is a method of making 3 cuts to correctly trim the branch off.

How to cut or trim a branch off your tree:

The first cut is an undercut on the branch you want to cut off, to prevent the bark from tearing on the bottom.

The second cut is made about 3 inches farther out on the branch toward the tip. This is what trims the branch to the ground. Now you're left with a stub.

The third cut is what is called the finishing cut. This is the important cut. This should be made on the tip side of the branch collar. The branch collar is the kind of rough looking bark just past the crotch of the branch you just cut off. It is crucial not to cut off the branch collar. It is needed to heal and have the tree seal itself up. The finished cut should be at a bit of an angle, where the lower part of the cut is wider than the top.

Dormant pruning, is actually one of the best times to trim a tree because it will undergo the least amount of stress. Most people don't think about trimming their trees in the winter. This is also the easiest time to clean up after the tree trimming, and you can often find the cheapest prices from professional tree trimmers because their workload is often almost at a standstill.

Tree trimming should be done with caution. You can't trim more than 25-30% of your crown, or you'll over stress the tree.

Tree Doctor does not trim trees in Spokane or Coeur D Alene. We recommend you hire someone to trim your trees that can explain some of these details. We recommend that you look at their license and ask for a copy of their general liability insurance and workers compensation insurance.