Tree trimming in Houston, TX from Sticks Tree Service Inc. is pruning done for a reason: limbs off the roof, the service line clear, weight taken out of a heavy crown and the dead wood out before storm season. Trey Lamar’s crews trim for homes and businesses on the northwest and west side of Houston, working out of the office at 14120 Cypress North Houston Rd in Cypress. Call 281-373-1472 for an estimate.
What does a Houston tree trim actually include?
A good trim is a list of specific cuts, agreed before the climber goes up:
- Roof clearance. Limbs cut back so they no longer rub shingles, fill gutters or give squirrels a bridge onto the house.
- Service line clearance. Branches kept off the line that runs from the pole to the house. Primary lines on the poles are the utility’s work.
- Raising. Low limbs lifted over the drive, the sidewalk and the street, so trucks and school buses stop hitting them.
- Thinning. Selected limbs removed inside the crown so wind passes through instead of pushing on a solid sail. This matters most on live oaks.
- Dead wood removal. Dead branches taken out before they come down in the next storm.
- Structural pruning on young trees. One strong leader chosen and rival stems shortened, so the tree does not split in twenty years.
What a proper trim does not include is topping: cutting a tree’s top off flat. Topped trees send up weak sprouts that break easily and decay at the cuts.
When should trees be trimmed in Houston?
Most trees can be trimmed any time of year, with two Houston rules of thumb:
- Oaks: avoid February through June. Texas A&M Forest Service advises against pruning or wounding oaks in those months, when the sap beetles that spread oak wilt are most active, and recommends painting oak cuts right away in any season.
- Before hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Getting dead wood and overweight limbs out in the cooler months means less to clean up after a storm.
Pines and most other trees can be done whenever the schedule allows.
Which Houston trees need trimming most?
- Live oaks grow wide and heavy over roofs and streets. Thinning and end-weight reduction keep the long limbs from cracking.
- Water oaks and laurel oaks grow fast and often decay at old cuts. Regular dead wood removal keeps big limbs from dropping without warning.
- Loblolly pines mostly need dead limbs out and clearance from the roof; their crowns are high and simple.
- Crape myrtles should be thinned at the base and shaped, not cut back to the same knuckles every winter.
- Pecans carry heavy limbs that break in wind and ice; reducing the longest ones lowers the load.
Who trims the trees by the street and near the power lines?
Trees on city property, including the right of way, go through the Houston Permitting Center tree permit for trimming as well as removal. Trees touching primary lines on the poles are handled by the utility’s line-clearance crews. Do not try to trim near an energized line yourself. Everything on your side of the lot line, including the line to your house, is planned with the crew at the estimate.
How does a trimming visit go?
- Walk the trees with the owner. Agree which limbs come off and why, tree by tree.
- Climb or use the lift. On most Houston lots the climber works on rope; limbs over the roof are cut in pieces and lowered.
- Make clean cuts. Cuts are made just outside the branch collar so the tree can seal the wound. Oak cuts are painted.
- Chip and clean. Brush goes through the chipper and the yard, the roof and the gutters are checked for debris.
Where does Sticks Tree Service trim in Houston?
The northwest and west side, west of I-45: Jersey Village, Willowbrook, Champions and the FM 1960 corridor first, then Spring Branch, the Memorial side and the Energy Corridor. For the city overview see tree service in Houston; near the office, tree trimming in Cypress. If a tree is past trimming, see tree removal in Houston; if it looks sick, an arborist look comes first.
What goes into the quote?
- How many trees and how much comes off each one
- Height and spread, and whether a climber or a lift is needed
- Limbs over roofs, pools, fences or the neighbor’s yard
- Lines through the crown
- Brush volume to chip and haul
Sources
- Texas A&M Forest Service: prevent the spread of oak wilt
- Houston Permitting Center: Tree Removal/Tree Trimming permit
- ReadyHarris: hurricane season
Frequently asked questions
How often should Houston trees be trimmed?
Most mature trees do well with a trim every three to five years. Fast growers near the roof, and young trees still being shaped, may need attention more often.
Can oaks be trimmed in spring in Houston?
Texas A&M Forest Service advises avoiding pruning or wounding oaks from February through June, when oak wilt spreads most easily. Late summer through winter is the better window, and oak cuts should be painted.
Will trimming hurt my live oak?
Not when the cuts are right. Thinning and reducing the longest limbs lightens the load without stripping the tree. Removing too much foliage at once, or topping, is what harms it.
Can Sticks Tree Service trim branches off my power line?
The line from the pole to the house can be planned around at the estimate. Branches touching the primary lines on the poles are for the utility's line-clearance crews.
Do I need a permit to trim a tree in Houston?
For a tree on city property, including the right of way, the Houston Permitting Center tree permit covers trimming as well as removal. Trees on your own lot do not need one.
Does the crew clean up after a trim?
Yes. Brush is chipped and hauled, and the roof, gutters and yard are checked for fallen debris before the crew leaves.
What is the difference between trimming and topping?
Trimming removes selected limbs at proper cuts. Topping chops the top off flat and leaves weak regrowth and decay, so it is not recommended.
Sticks Tree Service Inc, 14120 Cypress North Houston Rd, Cypress, TX 77429. Phone 281-373-1472.