Tree removal, trimming and stump grinding in Tuscaloosa and Northport, AL
Tree removal, trimming and stump grinding in Tuscaloosa and Northport, AL
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Healthy trees, safer limbs and a roof that stays clear of branches. Careful pruning cuts, not hacking.
Tree trimming removes dead, damaged, crossing and overhanging branches so the tree stays healthy and its limbs stay clear of your roof, driveway and power lines. Good pruning follows the ANSI A300 standard used by professional arborists: clean cuts just outside the branch collar, and only as much live wood removed as the tree can handle in one season.
Common types of pruning:
Late winter, roughly December through early March, while most trees are dormant. Without leaves the crew can see the structure of the tree, insects and diseases are less active, and cuts start closing quickly once spring growth begins.
Dead, cracked or hanging limbs are the exception. Take those down any time of year, especially before spring storm season.
Topping means cutting the top of a tree straight off. It leaves big wounds that decay, and the tree answers with fast, weakly attached sprouts that break off easily in storms. Many topped trees decline and need removal a few years later. Reduction pruning shortens a tree by cutting back to healthy side branches, so the tree keeps its shape and strength.
Drive around Tuscaloosa in late winter and you will see crape myrtles chopped down to bare stubs every year. Southern gardeners call it crape murder. Crape myrtles bloom fine without it. Removing suckers, crossing branches and a few inward-growing stems keeps them tidy and lets their bark and natural shape show.
The right cut depends on the tree. These are the ones crews see most in Tuscaloosa and Northport yards:
Hanging or cracked limbs over a house or driveway should be handled soon. If one is resting on the roof or a line, see emergency tree service.
Never trim a tree that touches or overhangs a power line yourself, and do not let anyone without line-clearance training do it. Electricity can jump to a branch, pole or ladder without direct contact.
For the main lines along the street, contact Alabama Power, which maintains clearance around its lines. For the service line that runs to your house, tell the crew when you call so they can plan the work safely and arrange a temporary disconnect with the utility if needed.
Our guide on how to choose a tree service covers this in more detail.
Young trees benefit from light pruning every two to three years to set good structure. Mature trees usually need it every three to five years, or sooner if limbs reach the roof or lines.
Often, yes. If the trunk and roots are sound, removing broken and dead limbs lets the tree recover. If the trunk is split or rotted, removal may be the safer choice.
Light trimming and removing dead wood is fine in summer. Heavy pruning is better left for the dormant season, when it causes the tree less stress.
Not usually. The crew needs access to the trees and a gate left unlocked. Being reachable by phone helps if questions come up.
Limbs near power lines are handled by the utility or a crew qualified for line clearance. Call your utility before anyone works near the lines.
As a rule, no more than about a quarter of the living crown in one season. Removing more stresses the tree and can trigger weak, fast regrowth.
Proper thinning cuts do not cause the bushy regrowth that topping does. The tree keeps its natural shape and fills in slowly.
Not always. The crew needs access to the yard and a clear path for equipment, and it helps to walk through the job together beforehand.
Tell us what you need and a local crew will call you back. Prefer to talk? Call (205) 509-8966.