Tree Pruning & Trimming

Healthy branches on most types of trees are flexible, while dead branches snap easily. Gently bend a small branch or twig slightly. If it bends, it’s most likely alive. If it breaks, it’s probably dead.

You can also try a “scratch test,” where you gently scratch off the outer layer of bark on a twig or small branch. If the layer just beneath the outer bark is green, the branch is alive. If the bark and the wood beneath it is grey, dry, and brittle, chances are the branch is now deadwood.

If you can’t safely reach the section of the tree or want a professional’s opinion (we have a variety of resources to check on a tree’s health), schedule a tree consultation. 

Dead branches tend to break off and fall at inopportune times, so we advise scheduling it to be pruned out as soon as possible. If entire sections of the tree are dead, there’s likely an underlying issue that you should identify and treat first. If significant sections of the tree are dead, it may need to be removed.

If the branch is dormant, leave the branch (and tree) alone. It should leaf out during the springtime. If leaves do not appear, contact us to look over your tree.

Dead branches are cut back to live wood or removed entirely, regardless of where they are in the tree. In contrast, live branches are carefully selected and strategically pruned to achieve specific goals, such as improving the tree’s overall structure or reducing its size.

If a dead branch is part of an ash tree suffering from emerald ash borer, different steps may be taken as trees impacted by EAB are often extremely brittle and dangerous. 

We recommend removing dead branches as soon as possible to minimize the risks involved. Deadwood is prone to break and fall without warning, harming anyone or anything below it. And a storm or strong wind could turn the dead, broken branch into a dangerous projectile. Plus, if the branch has been killed by a pest or disease, leaving it in place could help the problem spread to other parts of the tree.

No. We have the necessary skills to be able to tell a live branch from a dead one. Often, the lack of leaves makes pruning easier and more efficient as we can more easily access the entire tree and can better see its structure. See the details of when to prune what in Northern Virginia. 

Crape myrtles go dormant every winter and are one of the last trees to begin regrowing their leaves in the spring. In fact, they often won’t show any signs that they are still alive until temperatures reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit for a few weeks in a row!

However, if you get impatient, you can try either of the techniques we shared above to see if your tree (or a branch) has survived the winter weather.

We recommend that you schedule your crape myrtle pruning for late winter or early spring. Crape myrtles bloom on new growth, so pruning in late winter will give you a better chance of more blossoms.

No. It’s normal for some needles to turn brown and fall off every few years, usually in autumn. Pine trees, for example, lose needles every fall.

However, needles turning brown may also point to a problem with the tree, such as overwatering, underwatering, salt damage, or a pest or disease. If only part of your conifer has brown needles, or it’s turning brown in spring or summer, contact us for a tree inspection to determine the cause.