The short version: Careful cuts for the health and structure of the tree. No topping, no stubs. The estimate is free and in writing, and one of our ISA Certified Arborists looks at it in person. Call or text (503) 551-5141.
What makes pruning different from trimming?
Trimming is mostly about clearance and appearance. Pruning is about the health and structure of the tree. It means removing specific branches to take out dead wood, fix weak attachments and let air move through the canopy, so the tree grows well and resists disease.
- Promotes healthy growth by removing weak or overcrowded branches
- Helps young trees develop a strong structure
- Reduces hazards by removing weak or overextended limbs
- Improves flowering and fruit production on certain species
- Protects against disease by improving air circulation in the canopy
When is the best time to prune in the Willamette Valley?
For most trees, late winter into early spring, while the tree is still dormant and before the leaves hide the structure. Fruit trees are usually pruned in winter. Dead, broken and hazardous limbs can come out any time of year.
Some trees have their own calendar. Birch should not be pruned in spring and early summer, when the bronze birch borer is flying and fresh cuts attract it. Ash is under watch now that emerald ash borer is in Marion County. We will tell you what fits your tree.
Free written estimate: call or text (503) 551-5141
What does good pruning look like?
You should hardly notice it. A well pruned tree looks like itself, only cleaner: no stubs, no torn bark, no lion-tailed branches stripped bare except for a tuft at the end. Cuts are made just outside the branch collar, where the tree can seal them. As a rule no more than about a quarter of the live canopy comes off in one season, and less on an old or stressed tree.
Which trees do you prune most around Salem?
Fruit trees (apple, pear, plum and cherry), Japanese and bigleaf maples, birch, ornamental cherries and plums, and the big Oregon white oaks and Douglas firs that need dead wood removed over houses and driveways. Young trees are worth pruning too. A few small cuts in the first ten years set the structure for the next fifty and prevent the split trunks we get called to remove later.
“I have used the Oregon Woodsmen for years. They are the only tree service that I would use. From taking down massive fir trees next to my house to trimming fruit trees, this is who you want on the job. Highly recommend.”
What does tree pruning cost?
It depends on the size of the tree, how long since it was last pruned and whether it can be reached from the ground, a ladder, the bucket truck or only by climbing. Several small ornamental trees can often be done in one short visit. The estimate is free and in writing.
How does tree pruning work with us?
Inspection
We inspect your trees to assess their health and structure and identify what needs pruning.
Strategic and thoughtful pruning
We remove dead, diseased or unwanted branches, always with the tree’s long term health in mind.
Clean-up
When the pruning is done we clean up the debris and leave your property neat and tidy.
Tree Pruning photos from our jobs
Where do we offer tree pruning?
Across the Mid-Willamette Valley: Salem, Keizer, Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Rickreall, McMinnville, Newberg, Corvallis. Our yard is in Rickreall, so Polk County and West Salem are closest, and we group jobs in the towns farther out. If you are not sure whether you are in our area, call and ask.
Tree Pruning questions
How do I know if my tree needs pruning?
If you notice dead, diseased or broken branches, or the tree’s growth is interfering with nearby structures, it may be time to prune.
Will pruning reduce the size of my tree?
Pruning manages the shape and structure of your tree but does not greatly reduce its overall size. If you need the tree smaller, crown reduction or tree shaping may be the better tool.
Do you prune fruit trees?
Yes. Customers call us for everything from taking down massive fir trees next to the house to trimming fruit trees.
How much of a tree can be pruned at once?
As a rule, no more than about a quarter of the live canopy in a season, and less on an old or stressed tree. Taking too much at once forces the tree to spend its reserves on regrowth and invites decay and sunburn on the bark.
Can you fix a tree that was topped or badly pruned?
Often we can improve it. Restoration pruning selects the strongest of the new shoots, removes the rest over a few years and rebuilds a sound structure. It takes more than one visit, but it is usually better than removing the tree.
Related services
Tree Pruning near you
Free estimates. Honest answers.
Call or text the office, or send the estimate form. Jennifer answers the phone Monday to Friday, 7 am to 6 pm.