Tree Maintenance

Top Trees LLC is the best resource for any and all of your tree pruning needs whether you have us do the work or you need to do it yourself, we look forward to speaking with you.

Tip of the Day: First-Year Bush Pruning

The first year, cut the branch tip just beyond a bud. This “heading off” technique channels more growth energy to smaller side branches, which will then fill in vacant areas. Make this cut at a side branch or 1/4 in. beyond a bud. Be selective and watch the results from the previous year to help gauge future growth. This technique works best on bushes and trees that grow mostly from one or a few stalks, as opposed to bushes that continually send up new shoots (suckers), like lilacs and forsythia.

Bonus Tip of the Day: Avoid Flattop Bush Pruning

It’s tempting to grab the hedge shears and shape a bush by cutting off the branch tips. This “flattop haircut” approach may look fine for a year or two, but it stimulates growth on the outermost branches, forces the bush to grow into an unnatural shape (your idea rather than the plant’s) and fails to control size. The bush actually grows larger and becomes more difficult to bring back to size without being ruined. The exception is hedge-type bushes.

If you’re looking to do all of your own tree pruning, we will be your biggest cheerleaders. If you ever need advice, a quick tip, or just have a quick question, please call us anyways. We will be happy to help and assist any way we can. If there is ever a job that gets to be a little too big, please give us a chance to earn your business. We are the best tree pruning service in Kennewick.

Top Trees LLC is the best resource for any and all of your tree pruning needs whether you have us do the work or you need to do it yourself, we look forward to speaking with you.

Tip of the Day: Prune Entire Branches

If neglected, many bushes get too big and dense. While the foliage might look OK this year, next year it just might be too big to prune back without butchering it. Instead, it’s better to control size and shape by selectively pruning out a few entire branches each year. Cut them at a larger branch or the trunk. This also opens the plant to light and encourages healthy growth from the interior.

Bonus Tip of the Day: Prune Evergreens Lightly

Unlike cane-type bushes, evergreens and other “nonsucker-type” bushes grow from their existing stems. They develop a more permanent branch framework and usually need less pruning. If your landscaping was well planned, these bushes, especially evergreens, will grow to fit their spot with relatively little help. They’ll need only a light annual pruning to remove dead branches and to control size and shape.

If you’re looking to do all of your own tree pruning, we will be your biggest cheerleaders. If you ever need advice, a quick tip, or just have a quick question, please call us anyways. We will be happy to help and assist any way we can. If there is ever a job that gets to be a little too big, please give us a chance to earn your business. We are the best tree pruning service in Richland.

Top Trees LLC is the best resource for any and all of your tree pruning needs whether you have us do the work or you need to do it yourself, we look forward to speaking with you.

Tip of the Day: How to Remove a Bush

If you have bushes that you want to remove, here’s how to get the roots out without hours of digging and chopping.

Use leverage. Start by digging around the base and cutting all the roots you can get at. Then lay scraps of plywood on each side of the bush. Set a jack stand or concrete blocks on one side and set up your jack on the other. Lay a beam across them and tie the root to the beam with a chain. You’ll apply hundreds of pounds of pulling force, so both the beam and the chain must be strong. Use a 6-ft. 4×6 or 6×6 for the beam and a chain for towing cars. Raise the jack, stopping to cut the roots as they become exposed. If you max out the height of your jack before all the roots are free, add a few blocks to increase the beam height.

Caution: Before cutting the roots, reduce tension on the chain to prevent injuries from recoil. Wear eye protection.

If you’re looking to do all of your own tree pruning, we will be your biggest cheerleaders. If you ever need advice, a quick tip, or just have a quick question, please call us anyways. We will be happy to help and assist any way we can. If there is ever a job that gets to be a little too big, please give us a chance to earn your business. We are the best tree pruning service in West Richland.