Tree Pruning Services in Calgary
“Pruning is the art and science of trimming a tree for form, structure and health.“
It takes a steady hand and sharp eye to accomplish all three goals of pruning – and that’s where experience makes all the difference. At Chinook Arbor Services, we take pride in our ability to prune your trees expertly. As Certified Arborists, we have the experience and have been formally trained. We follow the ISA Best Management Practices for pruning trees, whether we’re working from the ground or climbing high into the canopy. Trimming a tree shouldn’t be a cavalier exercise, as an improperly pruned tree can result in more harm than benefit. A great source of information on proper tree pruning can be found here.
Why Choose Us?
- ISA Certified
- Insured specifically for tree work and WCB
- Decades of combined field experience
- Safety-first, science-based practices
- Local Calgary team with a deep understanding of prairie trees and urban landscapes
The Importance of Proper Pruning
Pruning isn’t just cutting limbs — it’s shaping your tree’s future. Poorly done pruning can cause more harm than good, from weak branch unions to long-term decay. Improper cuts can shorten a tree’s lifespan or create hazards over time — which is why pruning should always be done with care and understanding of tree biology. That’s why we follow the Best Management Practices outlined by the ISA for every pruning job.
Tree Pruning Objectives
Depending on your goals and your tree’s current condition, we might recommend:
- Crown Raising – Remove low limbs for lawn maintenance or clearance
- Conflict Reduction – Prune trees away from structures, utility wires and other vegetation
- Crown Thinning – Reduce excess tip growth to improve airflow and light
- Dead/Diseased Wood Removal – Eliminate risk and improve tree appearance and health
- Structural Pruning – Shape dominant leaders and reduce overextended branches
Professional Tree Pruning – Calgary
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Certified Arborist
Calgary & area
Case Study: Bringing Form and Structure Back to a Schubert Choke Cherry
Many trees are pruned to make them look better (aesthetic pruning) as they have outgrown their initial pruning or have never been pruned and have taken on a leggy appearance. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a tree pruned to make it look better as long as the practitioner is capable of pruning for health and structure while enhancing appearance. If you need a hand pruning your trees – give us a call!
Before Pruning
The Schubert choke cherry that is the subject of this post didn’t appear to have had any formative structural pruning and only had the lower branches removed for mowing access. As a result, this tree has taken on a leggy growth habit showing pronounced top and bottom growth while being thin in the middle.
Tree After Pruning
The pruning effort for this tree consisted of the following:
- Crown raising to provide access to the bottom of the tree for yard maintenance
- Crown thinning to remove the excessive tip growth while allowing more light and air into the crown’s interior. Thinning helps reduce disease load (airflow) while allowing interior branches to receive sufficient sunlight, facilitating healthy interior growth.
- Crown was pruned for deadwood removal
- Structural pruning was accomplished by reducing over-extended branches
One Year After Pruning
One year after a significant pruning dose, we can see that the tree has filled in nicely and now has an attractive form, well-spaced/structured branches and acceptable clearance from the ground. This tree will likely need another pruning dose in the short term to help it maintain its form and structure. As this tree ages, it should remain healthy and attractive, requiring far less pruning effort to sustain it.