Trees need to be pruned for a number of reasons including: safety, aesthetics and tree health. Broken or dead branches can be dangerous if they fall - oftentimes without warning, even on a calm day! If a tree’s branches grow too big for the tree or are too close to your roof or chimney, they need to be pruned and cleared to prevent them from damaging your home. From an aesthetic perspective, pruning can help make a tree look better or provide you with a better view of your property or horizon. If you are thinking about pruning a tree, be sure to use a Certified Arborist. Unskilled and uneducated workers can damage your trees and property.

Generally speaking, fall is the best time to plant a tree, with spring a close second. First, make sure you choose a tree that's adapted to your climate and the conditions in your yard.

The best time to prune is when the plant is dormant. However, if the plant is out of bounds, you may have to prune whenever needed. You can also safely remove dead, diseased or damaged wood any time during the year without having a huge impact on tree growth.

Pruning at the wrong time of year can reduce flowering. For example, pruning spring-blooming plants severely from fall to early spring will reduce bloom. Too much nitrogen fertilizer or a deficiency of other nutrients can also reduce bloom. A soil test could help you solve that problem. In addition, too much water or poor drainage can reduce bloom, as could freeze damage. If it is a young tree, keep in mind that seedlings can take many years before they bloom.

After a storm, check for broken and dangling branches, as well as cracks where branches attach to the trunk. Also note any cracked or raised soil on one side of a tree trunk, which could indicate the start of leaning. Remove dead wood as soon as possible or hire a certified arborist to remove large branches, branches located high within a tree canopy, and to inspect other potential hazards.

A Wolverine Tree Services is required to remove, destroy or injure any tree on city property, regardless of size.