Tree Trimming & Pruning Birmingham, AL

Tree trimming keeps the trees around your house healthy, safe and out of the way – dead limbs out, branches off the roof, the canopy raised over the driveway. We prune shade trees, pines and ornamentals for homeowners in Birmingham, Homewood, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills and Hoover.

What we prune

Dead wood. Dead limbs fall without warning. Taking them out is the single most useful pruning job.
Roof and house clearance. Branches that rub the roof, fill the gutters or give squirrels a bridge to the attic.
Raising the canopy. Lower limbs removed so you can walk, mow and park underneath, and so trucks don’t clip them.
Vines. English ivy and wisteria climbing into a tree add weight and hide problems; we cut them loose.
Young trees. A few cuts in the first years give a tree one strong leader and well-spaced limbs – much cheaper than fixing it at 40 feet.

Good cuts, not topping

Every cut is made at a branch junction, just outside the collar where the branch meets the trunk. That is where the tree can seal the wound. We don’t leave stubs, we don’t paint wounds, and we don’t climb with spikes on trees that are staying. And we don’t top trees – if a tree needs to be smaller, crown reduction is the right way to do it.

Best time to prune in central Alabama

For most shade trees, late fall to late winter is ideal: the leaves are off, we can see the structure, and insects and fungi are less active. Oaks especially are best pruned in the dormant season. Dead, broken or hanging limbs are the exception – those should come out whenever you notice them. Spring-flowering trees like dogwoods and redbuds are best pruned right after they bloom.

Tree trimming questions

How often should my trees be trimmed?

Mature shade trees usually every three to five years; young trees every year or two while they are being shaped.

Will you clean up the branches?

Yes. We chip the brush and haul everything away – the yard should look better than before we came.

Can you trim a tree that hangs over from my neighbor’s yard?

In Alabama you can generally trim branches that cross onto your property, up to the property line, as long as you don’t harm the tree. It is always better to talk to your neighbor first.

Do you prune crape myrtles?

Yes – lightly. Cutting crape myrtles back to the same knobs every winter (“crape murder”) weakens them; we thin them and remove crossing branches instead.

Reviews

What customers say about the work

4.9 · 58 Google reviews

RJ's team trimmed some tall trees for us. They are professional and timely. I would definitely recommend using them

Pat Mizerany on Google

Wesley and his crew were prompt and professional in trimming trees in my power lines. They exceeded my expectations !

David Renaker on Google

Extremely professional, timely, and did more than the job they quoted. they went above and beyond, and I could not be more pleased with the work that was done. I have/will continue to recommend them to anyone who asks for tree services. Not only did they clear my trees dead limbs, they also cleared the vines from my tree which was not asked of them.

Amanda Holstein on Google