Tree Trimming & Pruning

Proper tree pruning is much more than cutting branches.

Every pruning cut affects how a tree grows, responds to stress, distributes weight, and develops in the future. Poor pruning can create weak growth, large wounds, excessive sprouting, sunburn, decay, and structural problems that may remain with the tree for years.

Canopy Arborists provides professional tree pruning throughout Santa Rosa and Sonoma County with an emphasis on tree health, structural integrity, safety, and long-term management.

Before recommending pruning, we consider the species, age, structure, location, condition, and objectives for the tree.

Pruning recommendations may include:

• Deadwood removal 
• Structural pruning 
• End-weight reduction 
• Canopy raising 
• Roof and building clearance 
• Road and driveway clearance 
• Crown reduction 
• Young tree training 
• Corrective pruning 
• Storm-damage pruning 

Our goal is to accomplish the property owner's objective while preserving as much healthy canopy as reasonably possible.

Large mature trees require a different approach than small ornamental trees.

A mature oak, redwood, cedar, pine, or other large tree should not simply be cut back because branches appear long. Removing too much live foliage can stress the tree and create new problems.

Instead, selective pruning can reduce excessive weight, remove defects, improve clearance, and help manage individual limbs while maintaining the natural form of the tree.

End-weight reduction can be especially valuable on long, heavy limbs when properly performed. Strategic pruning near the outer portion of a limb can reduce leverage while retaining interior foliage and maintaining the character of the canopy.

Structural pruning can also help address:

• Codominant stems 
• Crossing branches 
• Poorly attached limbs 
• Excessively heavy lateral branches 
• Dead or damaged branches 
• Unbalanced canopy growth 

Canopy Arborists does not believe every tree should look the same after pruning. The finished tree should still look like its species.

Tree topping is one of the most damaging pruning practices used on mature trees.

Topping removes large portions of the canopy indiscriminately and often leaves large wounds and branch stubs. The tree may respond by producing numerous fast-growing shoots that are poorly attached to the original branch.

Although the tree may initially appear smaller, topping can create future maintenance problems and may increase long-term risk.

When size reduction is necessary, proper reduction pruning uses carefully selected lateral branches rather than simply cutting limbs at arbitrary locations.

We can help determine whether your tree needs:

• Selective reduction 
• Deadwood removal 
• Clearance pruning 
• Structural pruning 
• Canopy raising 
• Or no pruning at all 

Sometimes the best recommendation is to leave a healthy tree alone.