Trimming is the maintenance work that keeps your trees out of trouble: limbs lifted off the roofline, growth cleared back from service lines, canopies raised over sidewalks and driveways, and the whole tree cleaned up so it looks cared-for instead of overgrown.
It’s different from pruning, which is surgical work done for the tree’s health and structure — trimming is about clearance, safety, and appearance. Along the Wasatch Front, where canyon winds test every overextended limb, regular trimming is also the cheapest storm insurance you can buy. Most Salt Lake Valley trees do well on a 2–3 year trimming cycle.
What you get
Roof, line, and sidewalk clearance
Limbs scraping shingles, shading swamp coolers, or hanging into the parking strip get cleared to proper distances.
Wind-storm preparation
East-bench canyon winds regularly gust past 70 mph. Thinned, balanced canopies shed wind instead of catching it.
Curb appeal that lasts
A well-trimmed tree reads from the street. We shape for the tree’s natural form, never topping — topped trees grow back worse and weaker.
How it works
- 1
Walk-through and estimate
We walk the property with you, flag every limb that’s coming off, and quote it in writing.
- 2
Climb or bucket trimming
Clean cuts at the branch collar, clearance distances to code, natural shape preserved.
- 3
Debris chipped and hauled
Everything that comes down goes in the chipper and leaves with us.
Tree Trimming questions, answered
What’s the difference between tree trimming and tree pruning?
Trimming is maintenance for clearance, safety, and appearance — getting limbs off your roof, away from lines, up over the sidewalk. Pruning is health and structure work: removing dead or diseased wood, correcting weak branch unions, thinning for the tree’s long-term development, usually timed to the dormant season. Many visits include some of both, but they’re priced and planned as different jobs.
How often should trees be trimmed in Utah?
Most mature shade trees in the Salt Lake Valley do well on a 2–3 year cycle. Fast growers like silver maple, cottonwood, and willow may need attention every 1–2 years; slow growers like oak and most conifers can go 3–5. Fruit trees are their own schedule — annually, in late winter.
Can you trim branches away from power lines?
We trim around service drops (the line from the pole to your house) with proper clearances. Branches in contact with or close to high-voltage distribution lines must be cleared by the utility first — Rocky Mountain Power handles those at no charge. We’ll tell you which situation you have before we quote.
Will trimming hurt my tree?
Done right, no — proper cuts at the branch collar close quickly and the tree is healthier for it. What hurts trees is topping: lopping the canopy flat. Topped trees respond with weak, fast-growing shoots that break in the next windstorm. We don’t top trees, and we’ll talk you out of it if you ask.