Signs a Tree Needs Trimming
Most homeowners notice the change before we do. A branch hangs lower than it did last year, rubs the gutter, scrapes the roof, or sways over the driveway where you park. Limbs growing toward the house at an angle that won't correct itself belong on the list too. So do low branches that block windows or make it hard to walk under the canopy.
Not every tree needs work every year. How often depends on the species and how fast it grows. Once a branch is touching the house or hanging over something you care about, waiting only makes the cut bigger.
How We Make the Cuts
Every cut goes just outside the branch collar, the swollen ring where the branch meets the trunk, and outside the branch bark ridge. That leaves the tree's own tissue intact so the wound can close. We don't make flush cuts. They damage stem tissue and leave a wound the tree struggles to seal.
A heavy limb comes off in stages. We cut a notch into the underside first so the bark can't tear down the trunk. Then we cut through the limb farther out to take its weight off. The remaining stub comes off last, just outside the collar.
We also leave alone what doesn't need cutting. A fork that looks tight from the ground may be sound, and we'll say so before the saw starts.
Equipment and Cleanup
We run a chainsaw for the cuts and a wood chipper for the debris, so branches go through the chipper instead of piling up in your yard. Hanford averages about 2,187 heating degree days a year, which is a mild winter count, so cold weather rarely holds up a trimming job here.
Pricing
Standard trimming is priced by the number of trees, their height, and how easy the canopy is to reach. One mature tree with open ground around it costs less to work than a tight row squeezed between a fence and a roofline, where every cut has to be staged.
Structural cabling is a separate item. It adds support where a fork or weak union could split, and it runs $200 to $400 per tree. It isn't folded into a standard trimming quote.
How It Works
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Tell Us What You Need
Tell us what you need done and when — you'll get a straight answer, not a sales pitch.
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We Walk the Job
We come out, look at the space, and confirm exactly what the job involves.
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Know the Price First
You get the scope and the price in writing before any work starts. No surprises.
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The Job, Done Right
We do the job right the first time, clean up after ourselves, and stand behind the work.
Depending on what we find, that can mean:
- For a heavy limb, make an underside notch cut, cut through the limb farther out to remove its weight, then remove the stub just outside the branch collar.
- Make pruning cuts outside the branch bark ridge and branch collar; avoid flush cuts that damage stem tissue.
What It Typically Costs
Ranges to budget around - every situation is priced on its own specifics.
$75–$250
$400–$900
Our Service Area
We work across Hanford, CA. Call (559) 794-9788 to confirm coverage for your address.