Tree trimming and pruning in Albany, GA
Good pruning can keep a shade tree healthy and out of your gutters for years. Here's what a trimming job should look like.
In Southwest Georgia, a big shade tree is worth a lot in July. Trimming is how you keep it without it becoming a problem. Removing dead limbs, pulling branches off the roof and fixing storm-torn stubs all lower the odds of a limb coming through the ceiling in the next thunderstorm.
What kinds of trimming jobs are common?
- Deadwood removal. Cutting out dead and dying limbs, especially over roofs, cars, decks and walks.
- Clearance pruning. Raising limbs over the driveway and street, and cutting back branches that touch the roof or gutters.
- Crown thinning. Removing selected branches so wind and light pass through without changing the tree's natural shape.
- Storm cleanup cuts. Removing broken stubs and hangers and cutting torn limbs back to a clean point so the tree can seal the wound.
Should a tree be topped?
No. Lopping the top off a tree to make it shorter leaves big wounds that decay and triggers a flush of weakly attached new shoots, which can break in the next storm. If a tree has gotten too big for its spot, ask about crown reduction done with proper cuts, or about removing it and planting something better suited.
How do I know a tree needs more than a trim?
UGA Extension's tree health guide suggests checking four things: roots, trunk, limbs and leaves. Fungus at the base, cracks in the trunk, lots of dead limbs, or leaves that are small and sparse can mean the problem is bigger than pruning can fix. A certified arborist can tell you which you're looking at. See hazardous tree removal if that's the case.
Branches near power lines
Limbs in or near the service line to your house, or the lines along the street, are the utility's call. Georgia's High-Voltage Safety Act requires notice through the utilities protection center at least 72 hours before work within 10 feet of a high-voltage line, not counting weekends and holidays, so call your electric provider about branches in the wires.
Every tree job is priced on site, after the company sees the tree, what it could hit and how a truck, lift or grinder can reach it. We don't quote prices, and any number given over the phone before a visit is a rough guess at best.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
When is the best time to prune trees in Albany?
Many trees can be pruned in the dormant season, when leaves are off and the structure is easy to see. Dead, broken and hazardous limbs can come off any time.
Can I cut my neighbor's branches that hang over my yard?
Talk with your neighbor first, and don't cut in a way that harms the tree. For big limbs or anything over a roof, hire a crew.
Related services
More background: Albany, GA tree removal guide.
Water oak on the roof, a pine snapped in the last storm, or a stump in the middle of the yard?
Call and get connected with a local tree service that can come look at it.