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Category: Tree Pruning

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What Does Tree Removal Cost?

what does tree removal cost

Trees are such a prominent and long-lasting part of any landscape, so much so that they can start to feel like family. Sadly, there may come a time when you must say goodbye to a tree – for good – due to fallen branches or an unstable structure that makes the tree unsafe – and the cost of tree removal can be high. When you remove a tree from your landscape, here’s what to expect:

The Cost of Tree Removal Generally Varies By Region

Depending on where you live in the country, you should expect differing costs for tree removal. In the Bay Area, the price of tree removal could range from $400 to over $3,000 depending on a huge variety of factors that we will lay out in this article. 

Cost Varies by Situation

Fallen Trees

If the tree has already fallen, the cost will drop significantly compared to if you needed to hire a professional to cut down a standing tree because it requires less effort and equipment. In the past few years, fallen tree service has been booming due to severe weather events that have left thousands of people with fallen trees after a storm or natural disaster struck.

Although fallen trees may be easier and cheaper to remove, you should still expect the price from a fallen tree removal service to start at about $100 for small trees.

Trees Close to Property

For instance, if your average-sized pine tree is located near an outdoor patio or other expensive fixtures that need protection from fallen limbs, you can expect costs to rise because of additional labor needed to protect property/assets. If it’s a close call – whether the tree poses a direct threat to buildings or any power lines/piping in the area – then professional companies just might charge you extra for their time spent assessing the situation.

The Cost Depends On How Large The Tree Is And What Type It Is

Trees vary widely when it comes to size, weight, and general health. The cost of cutting and removing a fallen tree can vary depending on several factors. A fallen tree with a trunk diameter of more than 40 inches will usually cost more than $200. Larger, healthier trees are also likely to be more expensive because they require additional labor and equipment.

Type and Age of the Fallen Tree

If you have an old redwood or sequoia that has fallen, then it’s obviously going to be more expensive than fallen pine limbs, since there might be actual wood value in the fallen giant after all its years above ground! According to one price list we saw while researching this estimate, some services charge up to $1,000 for fallen trees over 100 years old. This price is often negotiable.

Contact a Professional Fallen Tree Removal Service Near Me 

If you are looking for the Bay Area’s favorite tree cutting service, look no further. At Sexy Trees, our wide range of services and care will keep your trees healthy and beautiful for decades to come. We believe in supporting our communities of trees through evidence-based techniques that you can depend on. 

Give us a call at 925-233-6877 for an estimate, or email us at [email protected] anytime with questions!

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Essential Winter Tree Care Checklist

professional tree care service

Beautiful trees are a homeowner’s most prized possessions, and in winter, they need extra care to ensure they remain healthy and vibrant year-round. This essential winter tree care checklist by our professional tree service providers will explain which treatments you need to do on an annual or biannual basis for the best results. 

1. Prune out deadwood

When trees go dormant in winter, it is the perfect time to prune away any dead or broken branches, as well as those that rub up against one another. Damaged, dead or dying trees can be dangerous in winter, particularly when we get harsh winds that blow trees over. Dormant pruning makes them safer and can also rejuvenate weaker trees by removing dead and diseased wood. Winter pruning also helps promote healthy growth for the next season because overcrowded branches can cut off sunlight to the rest of the tree. For safe pruning, you may be interested in hiring professional tree trimmers. 

2. Remove weeds around your tree

Trees do not like competition for nutrients, so try to keep their roots free of weeds and grasses through regular weeding all year long. If you see tiny seedlings growing near your tree’s trunk, prune them out immediately before they become established. This will help prevent competition for nutrients in the soil, allowing your tree to thrive. 

3. Spread mulch around the root zone

Mulching is a year-round practice that can improve soil quality, conserve water and suppress weed growth, but few people know this essential winter tree care tip. During winter when trees are dormant, spreading mulch around their root zone will reflect sunlight back into the canopy. This warmth encourages healthy root development during the cold months when it is often difficult for roots to grow in search of nutrients in the cold ground. It also discourages weed growth by blocking out sunlight needed for seed germination. 

4. Cover young deciduous trees

Younger trees often grow very tall before they develop full size leaves that offer natural wind protection, making them more susceptible to winter breakage due to heavy snow or ice accumulation on their thin branches. Young deciduous trees need some winter protection for at least two years until they become stronger. Use tree wraps to offer wind protection, which you can purchase online or from your local garden center.

5. Hire professional tree care experts

Winter is the best season to have professional tree care service providers inspect your trees for signs of damage, disease or infestation. It is much easier to deal with problems while they are still small and easy to manage before they become large, expensive issues. If you hire professional arborists in the Bay Area, they will be able to suggest ways to prevent diseases that can limit a tree’s growth.

Contact Your Trusted Bay Area Tree Service

If you are looking for the top professional tree care services, look no further. At Sexy Trees, our wide range of services and care will keep your trees healthy and beautiful for decades to come. We believe in supporting our communities of trees through evidence-based techniques that you can depend on. Give us a call at 925-233-6877 for an estimate, or email us at [email protected] anytime with questions! 

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What’s the Best Time of Year to Prune Trees in Alamo?

best time to prune trees

The best time to prune trees is after the winter. Trees are dormant in the winter, and it’s easier to see which limbs are dead.

In this article, our Alamo Tree Service team recommends our best pruning and trimming techniques for excellent tree health and aesthetic beauty. 

A beautiful landscape adds a personalized touch to your property, and regular maintenance is essential to keep it that way. As a part of caring for a landscape, pruning your trees is vital for a healthy, even configuration of branches with robust structural integrity. Regularly pruned trees tend to live longer, resist disease better, and grow larger and more beautiful than their left-alone counterparts. 

Wait – don’t reach for the loppers just yet! There are certain times of year when pruning might do your tree more harm than good. 

When Not To Prune

Avoid pruning in the fall prior to the dormant season. In the cooling weather, trees don’t heal as well from cuts, so pruning in autumn exposes your tree to all kinds of vulnerabilities. Also, fall weather allows fungi spores to proliferate and spread disease in otherwise healthy trees. 

Alamo tree care experts also recommend avoiding the urge to trim certain trees in spring. For many tree varieties, trimming during a growing season causes unnecessary stress to the tree, potentially putting a damper on its growth. 

The Goldilocks Zone: Late Winter or Early Spring

Most plants go dormant during the winter months of temperate regions. This “hibernation” involves the sleeping plants halting active growth, losing their stems and leaves, and otherwise appearing quite dead. (They are not dead – just dormant!) Choose a mild, warm day to prune because it will be more pleasant for both you and the trees or shrubs. 

B est Time To Prune Trees And Why Winter?

After winter dormancy, plants are primed for new growth. When you remove diseased limbs and dead branches during a winter pruning, the tree can focus on healthy new growth during spring. Since trimming does cause minor injury to the tree, it will need to heal. The most compelling evidence that winter provides the optimal conditions is the season’s decrease in bugs, pests, and diseases that might otherwise harm a tree. 

What to Prune in Winter? 

  • Evergreen shrubs and trees
  • Shade trees including oak, maple, and sweetgum
  • Azalea 
  • Apple 
  • Roses
  • Peach trees
  • Plum trees
  • Butterfly bush 
  • Dogwood 
  • Abelia

Basic Pruning Techniques 

First, remove dead and diseased limbs or branches. All stems, branches, and limbs that are unhealthy should be your first priority – not only are they a strain on the tree, they can actually be quite dangerous. Dead branches cause a lot of trouble when they fall. 

Next, move on to overgrown, tangled, or simply unwanted branches. You can coax branches to grow in a certain direction, but always follow the natural growth of the plant type. 

Tip: Always cut branches at the node, the intersection at which one branch or twig attaches to another. 

Let Us Prune Your Trees for You! 

Contact Alamo Tree Service

If you are looking for the top Alamo tree service, look no further. At Sexy Trees, our wide range of services and care will keep your trees healthy and beautiful for decades to come. We believe in supporting our communities of trees through evidence-based techniques that you can depend on. Give us a call at 925-233-6877 for an estimate, or email us at [email protected] anytime with questions! 

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Easy Guide to Killing Your Trees Year-Round

berkeley tree service

If you look out your window and feel rage at the lush, green foliage staring back at you, this article is for you. 

Are you tired of the mature, healthy trees taking up precious space in your yard? Do you despise the shade that your trees’ canopies provide? Or do you, for one reason or another, have a personal grudge against trees? Well, there are a number of things you can do as a tree owner to encourage the death of your trees. Read on for the following most pleasant ways to indirectly or directly commit arboricide. 

How to Kill A Tree in Every Season

[Disclaimer: The following tips are not recommended by Sexy Trees Berkeley Tree Services unless you want to kill your trees.]

HOW TO KILL A TREE IN FALL

  • Don’t rake – leave the leaves to rot. By allowing fallen leaves to sit and accumulate moisture, you will encourage your tree to contract disease-causing fungi. 
  • Don’t fertilize – Fertilizing the soil will only bolster your tree’s strength for winter. Keep your tree stressed and nutrient-deprived to kill it faster. 

HOW TO KILL A TREE IN WINTER

  • Don’t prune – Of course, to keep a healthy tree, you’d prune the dying or diseased branches in preparation for winter dormancy. But since you want your trees dead, leave those old branches! They contribute to limb failure and poor structure in young trees. 
  • Don’t mulch (or pile it on) – Without mulch, the tree won’t retain soil moisture and organic matter. Plus, the tree won’t have insulation to protect it from the winter cold. Alternatively, you can pile the mulch directly on top of the tree’s root flare to slowly suffocate it and make it susceptible to root rot. 

HOW TO KILL A TREE IN SPRING

  • Don’t pull weeds – Weeds steal water and nutrients from your tree, so let them take over! The moist soil has the perfect conditions for weeds to thrive and grow deep, impossible-to-remove roots. 

HOW TO KILL A TREE IN SUMMER

  • Ignore deep watering advice – Arborists suggest deep watering trees for good health, disease prevention, and strong root formation. By ignoring this advice, you will encourage your trees to develop weak shallow roots and die faster. 
  • Don’t hire Berkeley Tree Services – These expert arborists will make your trees radiate with inner health. Their comprehensive Berkeley tree services keep the city’s trees robust and wide-canopied. Obviously you want your trees atrophied and sickly, so avoid arborists at all costs. 

Of course, you can kill trees in any season by planting them too close together, wounding them with mowers, leaving insect and disease problems untreated, planting it in terrible soil or bad terrain, and incorrect pruning known as “topping” a tree. 

Talk to Us 

Skip the murder plotting and opt for Berkeley Tree Removal. At Sexy Trees, our tree removal services can rid you of the vegetation you so despise. We can even grind the stump and erase any trace that the tree was ever there. Give us a call at 925-233-6877 for an estimate, or email us at [email protected] anytime with questions! 

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A Quick Guide to Spring Tree Pruning

Despite what Punxsutawney Phil declared, spring is right around the corner. Soon the flowers will be in bloom, but before you get caught up in the earthy magic of this season, make sure that your plants are ready for the changing weather. Any certified arborist will tell you that pruning is essential tree care for your landscaping, and we are certified arborists, so…

Here’s a quick spring guide to tree pruning to help prepare your yard for the warmer months ahead.

When to Prune

A certified arborist considers several factors when it comes to providing the best tree care. When you prune your tree will depend on a couple of things, like the kinds of trees on your property.

Flowering Trees

First and foremost, if your tree is a flowering tree, such as a ornamental cherry or crabapple, you want to prune after the tree blooms. This is generally in late May or early June, depending on where you live. Waiting a little longer prevents excessive flower bud removal, as flower buds were formed during the previous Autumn.

Tree  pruning can vary among flowering, ornamental trees, as some are more sensitive to branch removal. For example, redbud and flowering dogwood are better pruned in late winter or early spring, around February or March, to prevent excessive bleeding, and to speed wound recovery.

Fruit Trees

On the other hand,  if you’re dealing with a fruit tree, the best time to prune is also late winter or early spring. This will allow enough time for wound healing while helping the tree divert more energy to flower buds, and the formation of fruit, rather than vegetative growth.

Tree Pruning for Other Varieties

For all other trees, late fall to early spring are fine times to prune. It’s easier to see the structure of a tree once it’s lost its leaves for the year. Although, not all  trees shed their foliage. A certified arborist can help you determine the best time for tree pruning in your yard.

How to Prune

While tree pruning may seem like a simple process, certified arborists use certain tools and techniques to ensure proper tree care. First, when cutting the branch, a cut that is slightly sloping down and out from the top to the bottom of the branch ensures that moisture drips off of the cut.

This helps prevent dampness that can lead to fungal or bacterial infections. Likewise, it’s best to prune as close to another branch or the trunk as possible, depending on the size of your cut, so that excessive dead material will not remain. When pruning, it’s also best to remove dead or injured material first, as this can lead to further damage.

A certified arborist may remove branches that rub together, particularly ones that cross through the middle of the tree. This helps prevent damage while improving air flow.

What Tools to Use

The basic tools are a hand pruner, a lopper and a pole saw. Hand pruners are best used for soft wood or small branches less than a 1/2 inch in diameter. Loppers come in various sizes, but are generally sized to cut limbs that are 1.5″ or thinner. For anything bigger, a manual or engine-powered pole saw will get the job done.

Regardless of the tool, a certified arborist will make sure that the blade is sharp to make the cleanest possible cut. They will also wear gloves and protective eye wear, since branches can have a mind of their own.

When cutting infected material, certified arborists will also use alcohol to sanitize the blade after tree pruning in order to prevent infecting other plants.

Talk to a Certified Arborist

At Sexy Trees, we pride ourselves on offering the best tree care possible. We hope the above guide answers some of your questions about spring tree pruning. I you have other questions or feel like this is a messy job you don’t want to tackle on your own, please reach out by calling us at 925-233-6877. You can also read client testimonials by clicking this link.

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Tree Pruning for Topiary Designs

tree pruning

Topiary is a shrub and tree pruning art form that involves crafting shapes or likenesses out of foliage. Some of the most popular designs range from animals to living fences.

Shaping trees and shrubs can be a fun hobby to explore, even if you’re still a novice. If this unique landscaping art interests you, you’ll need to learn more about tree pruning. Now, not all trees and shrubs are suitable for shaping, but there are a few favorites that people often turn to in landscaping. Let’s review some of the most common species used in topiary design.

Classic Boxwood Shrubs

While not technically a tree, the average boxwood is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to six feet tall. Although, there are some varieties that can grow even taller than this once they reach full maturity, so be sure to read labels at the nursery or you might be in for a surprise.

Boxwood shrubs have been used in topiary design for a long time. They tend to be very popular with landscapers. This is likely because they provide year-round color and can be shaped into crisp lines, making boxwoods easy to work with. There are also dwarf varieties if you’re limited on space for your topiary. If you’re going small, consider the Baby Gem Boxwood, and the North Star Boxwood.

To Evergreen, or Not to Evergreen?

Most people select evergreens when designing their topiary, but deciduous topiaries that shed their leaves in the autumn are trending. Tree pruning can be easier during this time as well. A professional arborist is able to more clearly see the structure of bare trees. If you want to try something a little different, consider the colorful beech tree. The hornbeam is another popular species of deciduous tree that’s seen in garden topiaries.

If you want a classic year-round structure, though, stick to evergreen varieties for your tree pruning art. They won’t shed their leaves. Yew trees are often seen in topiary gardens as well as the flowering burkwood viburnum.

Herbal Topiaries

Lavender and rosemary are both fragrant options when it comes to creating an herbal topiary. This is an inexpensive way to dip your toes in the waters of topiary design. You can use the clippings indoors for potpourri, dried flowers, and floral arrangements. Rosemary is also prized in the kitchen, which is an added bonus if you enjoy cooking. If you’re interested in creating an herbal topiary, you may also enjoy adding moss to your garden.

Tree Pruning and Topiary Design

To learn more about the best species to grow in your region, talk to a professional arborist today. At Sexy Trees, we’re happy to help you make the best decisions for your trees. If it’s time to schedule tree pruning or other important tree care services, we’re here to help. Give us a call at 925.233.6877 to schedule a consultation. You can also view our client testimonials by clicking this link.

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Common Questions About Tree Pruning

tree care

If you have trees growing on your property, you know that one of the most important maintenance routines is pruning. Below are some common questions and answers regarding pruning techniques for your Lafayette tree service.

Is Pruning Important For My Trees?

Yes. You need to regularly prune the trees on your property to keep them healthy and looking their best. Pruning when the trees are younger ensures they gain a sturdy structure. Also, removing ailing branches allows the remaining limbs to get more energy and grow stronger. When pruning your trees, you make them more visually appealing, and also reduce the potential hazards they pose to people and property.

When Should I Have My Trees Pruned?

It’s often best to schedule a pruning service in winter when there’s less risk of insects or infection. Trees have time to recover before all that spring growth. It’s also easier to identify dead branches during winter than in other seasons. This is because many trees lose their leaves. Although, you can still prune other times of the year, especially if your trees have begun to look a bit shabby. In spring, tree bark is usually softer. That can make tree care easier. You do have to be careful, though, because you could easily damage the new branches.

How Frequently Should I Have My Trees Pruned?

Tree pruning should be done at least once every year. However, you can schedule Lafayette tree services more often if your trees need them. Arborists are able to determine if special circumstances require pruning, such as a tree branch rotting, or new construction that’s obstructed by tree growth.

Are There Specific Pruning Techniques I Should Use?

While tree pruning may seem easy, it requires expert knowledge and a refined skill set. The best way to guarantee proper tree care is to hire experts to handle the process. Alternatively, you can study up to learn the appropriate techniques and prune them yourself. They include:

Hazard Reduction Pruning

This is done on larger branches that pose a danger. It should be handled carefully to guarantee safety.

Maintenance Pruning

This technique is used to remove dead branches or branches that are infected. The goal is to allow the tree to continue growing properly, without hindrance from the affected branches.

Related Content: 3 Tools for Tree Pruning

Crown Raising

You remove the lower hanging branches to increase the aesthetic appeal of the tree.

Vista Pruning

Allows removal of tree limbs without damaging the tree. Vista pruning removes branches that block a beautiful view.

Should I Treat Pruning Wounds?

You shouldn’t add any product to the surface of the tree, as it could cause decay. Make sure you make a clean pruning cut that will allow natural healing.

Related Content: The Dangers of Improper Tree Pruning

Why Hire a Professional Tree Company?

Tree companies have the knowledge and experience you need to guarantee clean cuts and proper healing. A Lafayette tree service will also have the equipment and insurance to cover any accidents on the job.

Lafayette Tree Service

When you need tree care in the Bay Area, contact us at Sexy Trees by calling (925) 233-6877.

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Pruning Mistakes That Can Kill Your Trees

tree pruning

A common question homeowners often ask is does pruning hurt trees? The answer to this question is that improper pruning can create lasting damage, or even shorten a tree’s lifespan. That’s why it’s so important to hire a local arborist to care for your trees. This article is a review of three pruning mistakes that can damage, or even kill, an otherwise healthy tree.

1) Over-Pruning

So, how much pruning is too much? Essentially, over-pruning is a problem because it reduces the leafy canopy that produces food for the tree via photosynthesis. Remember, plants turn sunlight into food. Pretty neat, huh? If we could do this, we’d save a fortune on groceries. Over-pruning also makes the tree more vulnerable to pests and diseases, especially if the cuts aren’t done correctly. So, although pruning in and of itself is necessary to keep a tree healthy, sometimes less is more. Over-pruned trees can also die as result of associated stressors caused by pathogens or insects that invade these wounded branches.

2) Not Pruning At All

Perhaps one of the most common pruning mistakes that busy homeowners make is forgetting to prune at all. Nature goes through seasons, or cycles, and trees are no different. Without proper pruning, branches may cause damage to your home, or even grow too close to power lines or windows. Further, if dead branches aren’t removed, they can become brittle and prone to breaking, or infested with insects that could spread to the rest of the tree. A trained specialist can spot these issues before they become a real problem.

3) Pruning at the Wrong Time

For homeowners, it’s important to ask questions like: Does pruning hurt trees? Here’s something else you should know. Another pruning mistake is deciding to prune your trees at the wrong time. For instance, if you forgot to water your trees during a dry season, it wouldn’t be a good idea to prune them because they would probably already be stressed out.

In general, the best time to prune your trees is between November and March, but before spring blooms begin to bud. Trees are less susceptible to insects during these colder months, and your trees will have time to heal before all that spring and summer growth.

Alamo Tree Pruning

Schedule your winter tree pruning by calling Sexy Trees at 925-438-0805. You can also request an estimate through this quick contact form. Tell us a little about your trees, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

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Why Do Trees Need Pruning?

tree pruning

Is pruning trees necessary? Periodic pruning helps trees look better, yes, but it also keeps them healthy. Some trees can live for thousands of years, so we often don’t think of them as being vulnerable. In fact, in California and Nevada, the bristlecone pine is one of these remarkable species. But lack of care can actually lead to a tree’s death. Let’s take a look at why tree pruning is so important.

Fruit Growth

If you have a fruit tree in your yard, proper pruning can make it more productive. Over time, some branches may become unhealthy or die. Getting rid of these limbs promotes the growth of healthy branches because the tree is no longer wasting energy on them. And, as a result, the tree is able to produce more fruit.

Healthier Branches

But even when it comes to trees that don’t bear fruit, proper pruning is necessary in order to keep branches as healthy as possible. This is because unkempt branches can make a tree less structurally sound, and even prone to falling limbs that can damage property, or injure people. Additionally, pruning can be used to give trees different shapes to increase their aesthetic appeal.

Better Visibility

Overgrown trees can also block your view of the landscape or other blooming plants. Plus, they may overshadow smaller plants that are trying to grow but can’t get enough light.

Disease Treatment

Pruning services can effectively spot disease or fungi on trees before they get worse. This is especially important in order to avoid the spread of the disease towards healthy portions of the tree. Besides, tree pruning allows inner branches to receive more sunlight, which is a natural way to combat diseases that cause rot.

Accident Prevention

As mentioned above, it’s not uncommon for weak, diseased branches to break off and fall. For instance, this can happen during strong winds, such as a winter storm. These branches are a great risk for anyone who lives on the property, or even your neighbors, depending on how large the tree is. Fortunately, regular pruning by a trained arborist allows you to avoid accidents and property damage.

Is Tree Pruning Necessary?

As you can see, yes, tree pruning really is necessary for the health and safety of your landscaping. For an estimate, or other questions, please contact Sexy Trees at 925-438-0634. Or, you can learn more about our team by clicking here.

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Must-Try Tree Pruning Techniques in Late Fall

Tree Pruning

Many people agree that late fall is the best time to prune trees. Some trees shed their leaves in the autumn, making it easier to see their branches and overall structure. But, it’s still not an easy job. That’s why it helps to know the right tree pruning techniques. Of course, you also need the proper tools to prune your trees. So, read on to learn more about tree pruning techniques for this fall.

1) Use the Right Tools

If your trees have thin branches, then you can probably use shears or loppers to get the job done. But to cut through thick, heavy branches, you may need something tougher, like a pole pruning saw.

You may also need a sturdy step stool or a ladder to reach any high-level branches. It’s important to be careful, though, because you can injure yourself if you slip. Also, if you decide to use a ladder, it can be a good idea to have someone help you stabilize it at the base.

2) Be Careful With Heavy Branches

Pruning heavy branches involves more risk, so they’re best left to a professional. In fact, branches are often heavier than they actually look, so they can cause some serious damage on their way down. In late fall, trees become dry, making them more brittle and prone to breaking. It’s best to cut large branches in smaller pieces whenever possible.

3) Don’t Cut Too Many Branches

Cutting too many branches can make a tree weak and give it an unappealing structure. Proper tree pruning techniques involve cutting a tree’s branches with the whole tree in mind. Usually, pruning away 25 to 30% of tree is considered ideal. So, try to prune your trees in a balanced way.

4) Use the Right Angle

It’s ideal to prune tree branches at an angle between 45 degrees to 60 degrees. This will make your tree pruning job easier, and helps to prevent water damage and illness in your trees.

5) Apply the Right Method

Some portions of a tree are vital and shouldn’t be cut, such as its roots. It’s also essential to prune any dead tree branches very carefully. This is because a dead tree branch can break from anywhere. If you have large trees, then it may be more difficult for you to prune them on your own. In that case, it’s best to seek the help of skilled professionals.

Professional Tree Pruning Techniques

Sometimes tree pruning can involve risks. If you need help or advice, contact us at Sexy Trees by calling our Alamo office at 925-438-0898. We can also be reached through this quick online form, just click here to get started.