Cochrane, Calgary and southern Alberta

Clearance pruning

Branches over a roof, scraping a vehicle or blocking a walkway or view get cut back properly, so the tree stays healthy and the clearance lasts.

Call 587-830-2008What is included
5.0 on GoogleISA certified arboristLicensed and insured

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Overview

Clear of the roof, the driveway and the view

Clearance pruning removes or shortens the branches causing the problem, with each cut made where the tree can seal it. It covers roofs and gutters, driveways and parking pads, walkways, fences, views, and the lower branches of spruce and other conifers that have taken over a yard.

Lifting the lower branches of a spruce or pine, sometimes called cutting the skirt, opens up the ground underneath. It is also one of the steps Alberta's FireSmart guidance recommends for reducing wildfire risk around homes. Trees near power lines are assessed before any cutting starts.

Arborist working high in a large tree beside a house
The details

What is included

  • Branches cut back from roofs and gutters
  • Driveway, walkway and fence clearance
  • Lower branches lifted on conifers
  • Views opened up
  • Cuts placed to protect the tree
  • Chipping and full cleanup

Marek and his mate did an amazing job cleaning up the deadwood from our very old ash tree and cutting the lower skirt from the bottom of our fern tree. Not only were they good at what they do but they were very accommodating of any additional requests we had and are very polite and nice people.

Sonali Nair · Google review

I called Silver Fern to do another job on my property, 40 poplars around house and power line. As before work was done safely and professionally by Marek and his team and now I can sleep easy knowing no trees will fall on power lines.

Tomasz Kosierb · Google review
Questions

Common questions about clearance pruning

How far should branches be from my roof?

A couple of metres of clearance is a common target, so branches cannot rub the shingles, fill the gutters or give squirrels an easy route onto the roof. The right distance depends on the tree and how quickly it grows. Branches are cut back to healthy growth points, so the clearance lasts.

Can you prune branches near power lines?

Trees near power lines are assessed before anything else, because work close to an energized line can require the utility to disconnect or protect the line first. That gets arranged before the job, not discovered halfway through it. Call and describe the situation, and you will get a straight answer about what is involved.

Does clearance pruning help with wildfire risk?

It can. Alberta's FireSmart guidance recommends pruning conifer branches up to 2 metres off the ground and keeping trees and branches back from buildings, which makes it harder for a ground fire to climb into the crowns or reach the house. It matters most on treed properties like those in Bragg Creek and Bearspaw.

Talk to Marek about clearance pruning

Call or text, or send the form at the top of the page. Estimates are free with no obligation.

Call 587-830-2008Request a free quote