Skilled Tree & Shrub Pruning Specialists

When a tree should be pruned depends on many factors, including the tree species, its health, and your desired outcomes. However, winter will be a good time for most trees so it’s generally safe to plan on pruning during this timeframe.

If you feel overwhelmed by all this, or want to correct the pruning mistakes that, um, somebody might have made, call the arborists at Rayzor’s Edge Tree Service. We’ll be able to identify your trees, determine what kind of pruning they need, and recommend the best time to do the work.

We love trees and we’re here to help you love them too, even if that means braving the cold Connecticut winter weather to prune your trees!

Yes, you can! Winter is the dormant season for most plants and trees, which makes it an ideal time for pruning.

Cold temperatures and short daylight hours usher in dormancy and, like hibernating animals, trees and shrubs turn their energy use down to its lowest setting and settle in to snooze until spring.

You may associate winter with staying inside and doing your own bit of hibernating, but arborists take advantage of the season to work on trees. In fact, we are just as busy during the winter months as we are during the summer.

The type and size of power line, as well as proximity to the pruning we'll be doing, dictate how we will approach performing the work. Any job that involves pruning near a power line requires a thorough inspection by one of our experienced arborists. If necessary, we'll coordinate with the local power company to disconnect power to the line(s) in or near your tree.

Safety is always our first consideration when working near power lines so we take extra care to ensure our crews are safe. This might mean that scheduling your pruning job will be delayed while we make proper arrangements with the power company.

We do not top trees. Also called "hatracking", this process of cutting trees to make them shorter is not only harmful to the trees, but it's also illegal in most cities throughout South Florida.

We prefer to meet with you prior to starting work to make sure we all agree on exactly what's being done and the expected outcome. Plus, we love meeting our customers! 

However, if you've already had a good conversation with our arborist and are not able to be present while work is being done, we can proceed with pruning work with your approval.

As a general rule, cutting off dead branches may help a tree, but every situation can be different. When done properly, cutting off a dead branch will allow the tree to focus on the healthy branches and promote more growth.

Often, you'll know when it's time to prune a tree.

For example, it may have an unattractive shape, branches may be hitting your roof, or low branches could be blocking your view or obstructing traffic and pedestrians.

Perhaps you're seeing deadwood throughout the tree, or broken or hanging branches that pose a safety risk.

Any time you think there may be a safety hazard, call an arborist for a tree inspection. Safety is always a good reason to prune a tree!

It depends on the age of your tree. Generally, for mature trees, you will need to prune them every 3 to 5 years. Younger trees should be pruned every 2 to 3 years.

Yes, the proper type of pruning can reduce the risk of damage from strong winds, such as during a hurricane.