Pruning & Plant Health Care

Expert Tree Pruning & Arborist Services

Proper tree care is an investment in the value, beauty, and safety of your property. Improper trimming—such as the harmful practice of ‘tree topping’—can cause irreversible damage, invite disease, and lead to structural failure. That is why having an ISA Certified Arborist handle your canopy is absolutely crucial.

Precision Pruning & Trimming (ANSI A300 Standards)

Every cut made on a tree is a wound that the tree must heal. We perform all pruning in strict accordance with ANSI A300 industry standards to promote rapid healing and robust growth. Our pruning services include:

Deadwooding:

emoving dead, dying, or diseased branches. This prevents them from snapping during a storm and halts the spread of decay into the main trunk.

Crown Thinning:

Selectively removing inner branches to increase sunlight penetration and air movement through the canopy. This greatly reduces wind resistance, making your tree much safer during high winds.

Elevating / Crown Raising:

Removing lower branches to provide clearance for roofs, driveways, vehicles, and pedestrians.

When is the Best Time to Prune Trees in Michigan?

While light pruning can be done year-round, the dormant season (late fall through winter) is generally the best time for heavy structural pruning. This is especially critical for Oak trees. To prevent the deadly Oak Wilt disease, Oak trees in Michigan should ONLY be pruned during the winter months when the sap beetles that spread the fungus are inactive. As Certified Arborists, we time our pruning perfectly to protect your landscape.

Tree Risk Assessments

Worried about a leaning tree, large cracks in the trunk, or unusual fungal growth (like mushrooms) at the base? Robert Burgund will conduct a comprehensive Tree Risk Assessment. We evaluate the structural integrity of the root system, trunk, and canopy to determine if the tree poses a hazard. We provide honest, science-based recommendations on whether the tree can be saved through cabling/bracing, or if it must be removed.

Root Collar Excavation

A tree’s health begins underground. When trees are planted too deeply or covered in excess mulch (often called ‘mulch volcanoes’), the root collar suffocates. This leads to girdling roots that choke the tree, root rot, and eventual death. We safely use specialized, high-pressure air tools to excavate the soil away from the base, exposing the vital root flare and restoring the tree’s ability to breathe and thrive.

Pruning FAQs

Why shouldn't I just "top" my tree to make it shorter?

Tree topping is extremely destructive. It removes the tree’s primary energy source (its leaves), forces it to grow weak, rapid “water sprouts,” and leaves massive wounds prone to rot. We use crown reduction techniques instead, which safely reduce the size of the tree while maintaining its natural shape and structural integrity.