Tree Trimming in Kiryas Joel, NY

What does tree trimming involve?

Tree trimming is the careful removal of selected branches while the tree stays standing. A trained climber takes out dead limbs, branches rubbing against each other, and growth reaching over a building. Each cut is made just outside the collar where the branch meets the trunk, so the wound closes over. We don't top trees. Cutting the whole top off causes a flush of weak sprouts and often starts rot.

When do trees need trimming?

• Branches touch the roof, gutters, or siding.
• Limbs hang low over a driveway, walkway, or parking spot.
• You can see dead branches without leaves in summer.
• A limb stretches over the area where you build your sukkah.
• Two main stems form a tight V that could split.

Left alone, dead limbs drop without warning. Branches on a roof wear through shingles and fill gutters, which leads to leaks.

Why do trees here grow into problems?

Buildings sit close together, and shade trees planted as saplings are now big enough to reach roofs and neighbors' yards. Maples grow fast and push long limbs toward the light between buildings. Callery pears form weak forks that break under wet snow. Ice storms add weight to every branch, so a limb that is fine in July can fail in February. Regular trimming reduces how much weight a tree carries into winter.

What affects the cost of tree trimming?

• Tree height and spread. Bigger trees take more climbing time.
• How much comes out. A light cleanup costs less than a full reduction.
• What's below. Branches over a roof or cars must be roped down.
• Number of trees. Doing several on one visit saves setup time.

Is trimming enough, or does the tree need to go?

Trimming works when the trunk and roots are sound. If the tree has major decay, a split trunk, or more dead wood than live, removal may make more sense than paying to trim it again next year. We'll give you an honest opinion when we look at it.

Why trim before winter on multi-family buildings?

Many trees in Kiryas Joel were planted along sidewalks and in narrow front yards when the buildings went up. Now their limbs reach balconies, upper windows, and rooflines, where wet snow and ice from a nor'easter can bend them onto railings and siding. Trimming in late fall or early winter, once the leaves are down, lets us see the branch structure clearly and remove the limbs most likely to fail before the heaviest weather of the year.

On these jobs we usually work from the street side with a climber and a ground crew, roping each limb down past balconies and parked cars. We coordinate timing with residents or the building manager so cars can be moved and children kept away while branches come down.

Can you keep a tree's shade while clearing the building?

Yes. Reduction cuts shorten branches back to a smaller limb pointing away from the building, which keeps a natural shape and much of the shade.

How do you protect balconies and railings?

Each limb over a balcony is tied off before it's cut and lowered slowly by rope, so nothing swings into railings, windows, or air conditioners on the way down.