Local Tree Pruning in Augusta-Richmond County, GA

How do I know a tree needs pruning?

You likely need pruning if you can see dead or broken branches, limbs touching the roof or siding, or storm damage in the canopy. Northgate Tree Service looks at each tree in Augusta-Richmond County in person before recommending anything, because some trees only need a few cuts and others need a different plan.

The signs are fairly plain. Dead branches are bare and brittle, with no leaves even when the neighboring limbs are green. Limbs that rub the roof, gutters or siding will keep wearing at them. Branches hanging over a driveway, a play area or a parking spot are a risk to whatever is underneath. And after a windy storm, a cracked or hanging limb is worth a look even if it hasn't dropped yet.

Not every rough-looking tree needs work. If one small branch is dead, that branch may be the whole job, and the quote will say so.

This work can lead into tree removal. Looking for tree service augusta in Augusta-Richmond County? See every service we offer.

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How is a branch actually cut?

We cut back to the right spot, not to a stub. A heavy branch comes off in stages: the first cut is made farther out along the limb to take the weight off, and the final cut sits just outside the collar and the branch bark ridge. Our tools for this are a hand pruning saw and a pole saw.

Removing the bulk farther out leaves only a light stub to finish, so the last cut lands cleanly at the collar and the limb's weight isn't pulling on it. The pole saw handles higher branches from the ground, and the hand pruning saw does the close, careful work.

When the goal is to make a tree smaller, say to pull a limb back from the roofline, we use a reduction cut. The cut is made back to a side branch whose diameter is roughly a third to a half that of the limb being taken off. The lateral becomes the new end of the limb, which is different from lopping the end off.

How long does a pruning visit take?

It depends on the tree, and we won't quote a time we can't back up. A small tree where only a handful of cuts are needed is a short visit. A big canopy with several reductions takes longer. Size, the amount coming off, and how many trees are on the list set the length.

Before any cutting, we agree with you on which branches come off and the reason for each. Dead and damaged wood goes first, then the limbs near the house or anything else in the way. The scope is in writing before anyone picks up a saw, so you know what's included.

Should I have a storm-damaged tree looked at?

Yes, if a limb is cracked, hanging or leaning toward the house, fence or cars. Straight-line thunderstorm winds have uprooted trees and brought down limbs in Augusta, so after a blow we check the canopy and whatever is under it before deciding what to cut.

Pruning can take weight and risk out of a canopy, but it isn't the answer for every tree. If one is uprooting or has failed at the base, we'll tell you when we see it and talk through what makes more sense. Winter freezes here are occasional, but they do cause some freeze-thaw movement, which is why the inspection covers the entire tree and not only the limb you noticed.

Want a number for your trees?

Call Northgate Tree Service and tell us which tree is bothering you and what you're seeing, whether that's a branch on the roof, dead wood or storm damage. That's all the call needs. Nothing needs deciding on that call, and you don't need to know which branches should go.

From there we set up a visit and give you a written quote based on what the tree needs. If it only needs a few cuts, that's what the quote will say.