Best Practices for Trimming Trees Around Your Home

Well-maintained trees add beauty to any landscape. However, trees that grow uncontrolled detract from a home’s curb appeal and can damage its exterior. Trimming tree branches before they touch or overhang a roof helps keep trees healthy while protecting a home from costly damage.

Preventative Maintenance: Why Trim Trees and Shrubs?

Homeowners often wait until a large branch falls or touches their roof or for branches to rest against their siding before taking action. Unfortunately, waiting too long can create lasting damage to your home and trees.

As part of yearly spring and fall maintenance, homeowners should inspect for the following: 

Mold

Tree branches that overhang on a roof can create an environment in which mold thrives. Homes in humid climates with limited sun exposure are especially susceptible to mold. Mold can weaken a home’s structure if allowed to accumulate. It can also cause respiratory infections and allergies.

Storm Damage

Heavy rain and high winds can damage a roof. Falling branches can cause structural damage. Heavy rain or melting snow can result in leaks or water intrusion. In extreme conditions, the added weight of snow or rain can increase the risk of a branch breaking. Dead tree limbs should be removed promptly to minimize potential damage.

Gutters

Untrimmed branches add to the debris that accumulates in gutters. Overflowing water caused from clogged gutters can damage or compromise a home’s siding or foundation, resulting in costly repairs.

Pests and Disease

Squirrels can travel across overhanging branches to gain entry to your attic. They can chew through wiring and destroy walls. Dead and diseased limbs also allow pests to flourish, causing damage to trees and other plants. They are also a breeding ground for termites that can destroy a home.

Other Considerations

Property owners should check their local ordinances regarding tree maintenance. Neglecting overhanging branches that cause damage to neighboring property can have legal consequences or worse, your local HOA might take notice.

When To Trim Trees and Shrubs

The best time to prune trees and shrubs that flower in spring is immediately after flowering. Trees and shrubs that flower in summer or fall should be pruned during the winter when they are dormant. Using this schedule helps maintain a healthy tree by:

• Closing Wounds. A broken branch or limb creates an opening (or wound) that needs to be removed to protect the health of the tree.
• Minimizing Disease. Trees and shrubs can spread disease to other plants if infected.
• Decreasing Sap Flow. Sap helps seal wounds but it can also attract insects and other pests.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, branches under two inches in diameter can be easily trimmed without much planning. Before trimming branches between two and four inches in diameter, consider the tree’s health and the safety of the home or surrounding structures. Do not trim any branch that is larger than four inches in diameter without considering these factors.

How To Trim Trees And Shrubs (Smaller Branches)

While typically seen as the “easier” of the tasks when compared to trimming large branches, trimming small branches and shrubs can actually be the most work over time just due to the sheer volume of things to trim and the frequency in which they need to be trimmed. One large branch takes several years if not a decade to grow large enough to become an issue, whereas shrubs and small branches need to be pruned back several times a year if not several times a season. In this section, we will go over some best practices for handling these smaller types of trimming tasks.

Start with safety.

• If it’s time to clear cut, it’s time to gear up! Put on your safety goggles or glasses (they are literally under $5 at most hardware or big box stores and can save your vision!) and sturdy work gloves. 
• Safety gloves. Many things that need to be pruned have sharp points or thorns that can really tear up your hands. Gloves help get the job done quickly and safely. 
• Sturdy clothes or body coverings. You may want to throw on a protective leather bib or light jacket to protect your chest and arms from thorns as well.

Get the right tools for trimming trees with small branches and shrubs.

• Short handled bypass pruner (for small branches and outcroppings at eye level or below)
• Long handled hedge shears (for trimming hedges or a thick cluster of very small branches like suckers etc.)
• Short handled pruning saw and/or a long handled one for high up trimming needs. A good rule of thumb for when to break out the saw is for when you can’t cut through a branch easily with the first attempt with the pruning tool. Don’t fight with it! Just break out the saw and lop it off with ease.
• Long handled lopper/pruner, preferably in the “bypass” style which is more effective and sturdy than the “anvil” style, although both will work fine for most jobs. Bypass can give cleaner cuts since it uses two blades instead of one.
• A sturdy tarp is a must for medium to large jobs. Place the tarp under your trimming area and make sure the branches go on it as they fall. You can then easily gather up and dump your branches into your compost or removal area.
• A wide ended rake. This will help you gather up the small bits and leaves that fall around the hedges and trees that may escape the tarp. 

Maybe it’s time to go electric.

• Electric tools save time. If you have a lot of trees and/or shrubs that need constant attention throughout the growing season, then you may want to consider using electric versions of the above tools. While not as precise or versatile as manually operated tools, electric tools can double or triple your output, saving you hours if not days of work each year.
• Mobility and health issues helper. Electric tools are also an excellent choice if you have issues like wrist and hand weakness, arthritis pain, or other similar mobility issues that impact your ability to physically operate manual trimming tools.

Small branch trimming best practices.

• When trimming trees with branches, always cut as close to the base of the branch or trunk as possible. This gives a cleaner look and helps to allow the plant to heal faster, preventing disease.
• For hedges, trim flyaways and any new growth that is less than a year old. We want to make the sides and top look as flat and uniform as possible. Don’t trim too deeply or close to the trunk, as that can create unsightly holes in your hedge that can invite pests or rodents to nest in.
• Start trimming on the bottom on the sides and work your way up. Trim the horizontal top of the bush last to get the cleanest angle at finish.
• Rake up afterwards to ensure your lawn and garden area is clean and looking excellent.

How To Trim Large Tree Branches 

Trimming large branches on trees requires the proper tools. Pruning shears are great for smaller branches like rose bushes, but a more robust tool is required for successfully trimming large branches, like a chainsaw or pole saw or even a handheld wood saw. c Regardless of the tool, protective gear such as gloves, safety glasses, and a helmet should always be worn..

Furthermore, whenever a cut requires the use of a ladder, be sure to follow best practices for ladder safety: 

• Is the ladder tall enough?
  • At least three or four rungs should extend above the roof.
• Is the ladder stable?
  • All legs should be on a flat surface and properly adjusted to prevent slipping.
• Is the ladder in good condition?
  • If the ladder has not been used recently, check for damage that may make it unsafe to use.

Step 1. First Cut

The first cut should be on the underside of the branch, about 1.5 feet from where the branch connects to the tree. It should go about halfway through the branch. Try to use a consistent and smooth motion to achieve an even cut. Power tools like reciprocating saws and chainsaws might be optimal tools for large branch maintenance, but they tend to come with increased risks. We strongly recommend only using tools that you are familiar with and can operate safely. If you are unsure or need more practice, you can always take a course at your local big box store, garden supply store, or through your local adult education center, or if you have a friend or family member that has professional experience trimming trees, you may want to ask them for a tutorial before embarking on this on your own.

Step 2. Second Cut

The second cut should remove the branch from the initial cut to the end of the limb. If using a chainsaw, avoid sudden movements that can cause accidents.

Step 3. Trimming Trees With Larger Branches, The Final Cut

Move to the base of the branch. Measure a 45-degree angle from the branch base and cut from that angle. The angled cut helps prevent water damage and fosters faster healing.

Professional Help For Trimming Trees

Large branches or those located near power lines may require professional assistance. Attempting to remove branches without the proper safety equipment can result in serious injury or even death. If in doubt, call a pro! Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, proper trimming of trees and shrubs helps protect and increase the value of your home.

What To Do With Your Branches And Trimmings After You’re Done?

When the job’s done and you have successfully trimmed, cut, sliced, and sheared your way through your entire landscape, it’s time for a cold drink and a hearty pat on the back. However, there may be a lingering question of what to do with the debris lying on the ground that you’ve collected? Here are a few solid ideas for you to consider. 

Compost it.

• If you have a relatively small amount of garden trimmings to dispose of, you can add them to your compost bin or compost heap that you should already have going in your garden. If you don’t then this is a great time to start one!
• When composting this type of organic matter, make sure you layer this between layers of smaller organic waste and debris like food scraps, soil, and similar items. Don’t just pile this on top and call it good. 

Mulch it.

• A great way to give an extra life of usefulness for your trimmed waste is to mulch it up into smaller pieces and then scatter that throughout your vegetable garden or flower beds around your home. This will help to feed the soil and help your plants grow in the coming weeks and months. In order to do this, you will have to rent or borrow a wood chipper or mulcher. 

Add it to your curbside pickup.

• If your city or county offers a green waste disposal bin program, then this is an excellent choice as well. You can drop the clippings into a green-lidded disposal bin and you can put it out with your regular trash collection. It will then be taken to the proper disposal facilities and dropped off. 

Trimming Trees On Borders: What If Your Neighbor’s Tree Branches Are Overhanging On Your Property And They Need To Be Trimmed?

This is an awkward situation to deal with for sure, but sometimes it must be done. A neighbor’s tree that is close to your property line can grow out of control and need to be trimmed or cut back, especially if it is touching your home, your roof, or is intertwining with your trees. Left unchecked, it could cause massive amounts of damage and hardship for you. The fact of the matter is that many neighbors may not care to or want to bother to trim their tree back so that it is less of a nuisance to you and your property. In that case, you may be able to do it yourself and still be within the law. Depending on your local laws, if a neighbor’s tree is overhanging your property, you are generally allowed to cut it back and trim it up to the boundary of your property line. 

All in all, it is a sticky situation and no one wants to cause friction with their neighbor, but getting the tree trimmed and safely squared away should be your highest priority. Check your local laws and regulations before doing anything and then have a polite conversation with your neighbor. Heck, you may be able to bribe them with some homemade cookies or bread. It doesn’t hurt to try! 

Parting Thoughts

We hope that today’s guide on springtime tree trimming was helpful to you. Keeping your yard and roof clear of wayward tree branches makes for a great weekend project. Doing so can help to prevent damage to your home and your trees and shrubs. As it is said, a little prevention goes a long way! We look forward to hearing about your own tree trimming best practices, so feel free to share below in the comments or shout it out on social media and tag us. Best of luck with everything around your home this year!