Tree Trimming and Pruning in Framingham

Good pruning is mostly about what you leave alone. A tree that has been cut back hard, with the top lopped off and big stubs everywhere, will throw out weak sprouts and start to rot where it was cut. We do not top trees. We take out what needs to go and leave the tree with its natural shape, so it stays strong and looks like it was never touched.

What we prune for

• Deadwood. Dead limbs are the ones that fall on cars and roofs. Taking them out is the most common job we do.
• Roof and siding clearance. Branches rubbing a roof wear down shingles and give squirrels a ramp into your attic.
• Driveway and street clearance. Low limbs raised so trucks, plows and school buses get by.
• Crown thinning. Selected limbs taken out so wind passes through instead of pushing the whole crown like a sail.
• Young tree pruning. A few cuts on a ten-year-old maple save you a big problem on a forty-year-old one.

Framingham trees and what they need

Most yards here have some mix of red and white oak, Norway and sugar maple, and white pine. Each one takes a different approach. Oaks hold big horizontal limbs that get heavy at the ends, so we reduce weight on the long ones. Norway maples grow thick, dense crowns that catch wind and wet snow, so they do well with a thinning every several years. White pines drop dead lower branches and shed limbs in ice, so we clean them up and check the top for multiple leaders.

The October snowstorm in 2011 hit while most trees still had their leaves. Many of the broken tops and cracked limbs we still see around Nobscot and Saxonville date back to that storm. If your trees made it through but have old wounds, it is worth a look.

When to prune

Most trees can be pruned any time of year, and late fall through winter works well because we can see the structure with the leaves down. Oaks are the exception. To lower the risk of oak wilt, we avoid cutting oaks during the spring and early summer when the beetles that spread it are active. Our pruning calendar covers the rest.

What you get

We walk the yard with you and agree on which trees and which limbs. The estimate lists it in writing. On the day, everything we cut gets chipped and hauled, and we clean up before we leave. If a tree looks like it has a bigger problem, like decay in the trunk, we will tell you and show you, not just add it to the bill.

Common Questions

How often should trees be pruned?

Most mature shade trees do well with a pruning every three to five years. Young trees benefit from light pruning every year or two while they are forming their shape.

Do you top trees?

No. Topping causes weak regrowth and decay. If a tree is too tall for its spot, we can reduce it properly with cuts back to side branches, or talk about whether removal makes more sense.

Can you trim branches near power lines?

We handle limbs near service drops to the house. Branches near the high-voltage lines on the poles along the street belong to the utility, and we will tell you who to call.

Can I get pruning and a removal done the same day?

Yes. Most jobs are a mix. One estimate covers everything, and the crew does it all in one visit when possible.