Tree services
Tree trimming and pruning removes dead, broken, crowded or poorly placed limbs so a tree is safer, healthier and clear of your roof, wires and driveway. It is for property owners who want to keep their trees instead of removing them.
Good pruning has a reason behind every cut. Deadwood comes out so it does not fall on its own. Limbs get lifted off roofs, away from siding and above driveways and walks. Crowded or crossing branches are thinned so wind passes through and light reaches the lawn. Long, heavy limbs can be shortened to ease the load on a weak union. Cuts are made at the branch collar so the tree can close the wound. Topping, which cuts main leaders back to stubs, is not pruning, and we do not recommend it.
How we reach a limb depends on the tree. Bucket trucks are quick where there is truck access, along driveways and street fronts. For backyard trees and interior limbs, our climbers go up on ropes and work through the crown by hand. Both approaches follow ANSI Z133 safety requirements, and Certified Tree Care Safety Professional training is on staff. Limbs over roofs or gardens are lowered on rigging lines, not dropped. Brush goes through the chipper as it comes down, so the yard is not buried while we work.
Trees here take a beating. Coastal wind and salt burn the seaward side of crowns. Wet snow snaps white pine limbs, and old pines carry dead lower branches for years. Red and white oaks set back by spongy moth and winter moth shed deadwood over driveways. Norway maples grow dense and shade out what is under them. American beech across the region is dealing with beech leaf disease. Pruning ahead of storm season takes out the weak wood a nor'easter would otherwise bring down. Public shade trees along the road are under the town tree warden.
At the estimate we walk the property with you and agree on which trees and which limbs. On the day, the crew works one tree at a time. You can be home or not. Expect chipper noise and a truck in the driveway. When we leave, brush and limbs are gone and the lawn is raked. A properly pruned tree should not look scalped. It should look like the same tree, cleaner and lighter. Most mature trees do not need pruning every year, and we will tell you when to look again.
How it works
From first call to clean yard
01
Walk the property
We look at each tree with you, point out deadwood and weak limbs, and agree on what gets cut.
02
Free estimate
You get a price for the agreed scope, along with whether the work calls for a bucket truck, climbers or both.
03
Prune the trees
The crew makes clean cuts at the branch collar, lowers anything over a structure, and chips brush as they go.
04
Clean up
Limbs and brush are hauled away, the lawn and driveway are raked, and we tell you what to watch going forward.
Pricing
What affects the price
Tree size and count
A tall, wide-crowned oak takes far longer to prune than a small ornamental. Doing several trees in one visit spreads the setup time across the whole job.
Amount of pruning
Removing a few dead limbs is a short job. A full crown cleaning, thinning or weight reduction through the whole tree takes many more cuts and more hours aloft.
Bucket or climber
Where a bucket truck can park beside the tree, work moves quickly. Backyard trees that must be climbed by hand take longer for the same amount of pruning.
What is below
Limbs over lawn can be dropped. Limbs over a roof, deck, fence or garden have to be roped down piece by piece, which adds rigging time.
Debris handling
Chipping and hauling all brush is the normal scope. Heavy wood from large limbs, or long carries from a backyard to the chipper, add to the time on site.
Reviews
What customers say
The tree service provided was exceptional. The team was out a few times to make sure they had the right equipment for the job. I barely knew they were here. Thank you!
Fantastic work. Fast, efficient, added some extra trees to the quote the day of for a reasonable price. All in all, would definitely use them again.
Excellent! I highly recommend Newcombs. The crew is awesome. Efficient, friendly, accommodating. Our experience was 5+ stars.
Questions
Trimming & Pruning FAQ
Dead, broken and hazardous limbs can come off any time of year. For general pruning, the dormant season from late fall through winter is a good window for most species, since the branch structure is easy to see and the tree is not actively growing. We can advise on timing for your particular trees at the free estimate.
It depends on how many trees, how large they are, how much needs to come out and whether we can reach them with a bucket truck or have to climb. There is no honest flat rate without seeing the trees. Newcomb's gives free estimates on site, with the scope agreed tree by tree before any work is scheduled.
Yes. Topping cuts large leaders back to stubs. The tree answers with fast, weakly attached sprouts, the stubs decay, and within a few years the tree is often more hazardous than before. If a tree is too tall for its spot, selective reduction pruning or removal are better choices. We will tell you which one fits your tree.
It depends on the line. Utilities handle trees on primary power lines, the high-voltage wires at the top of the poles, and you should call the utility about those. For branches near the service wire running to your house, or near cable and phone lines, call us. We will look and tell you what can be done safely.
There is no fixed schedule. Most mature shade trees do well with a look every few years, and sooner after a major storm or if you see dead limbs, cracks or branches touching the roof. Young trees benefit from light structural pruning early on. Fast growers near a house usually need attention more often than slow ones.
Related services
Trimming & Pruning near you
We cover every town within about 30 miles of Halifax.
Ready for a free estimate?
Call the office or send a photo of the tree. You get a written price before any work starts.