Tree Pruning & Maintenance
Proper pruning is both a science and a skill — and doing it wrong can cause lasting damage to an otherwise healthy tree. Gomez Landscape & Tree Care's certified tree workers are trained in the full range of pruning methods, with a deep understanding of the tree species native and common to Southern California's urban landscape. Because every species responds differently to pruning, we tailor our approach accordingly — accounting for biology, growth rate, and long-term structural health rather than applying a one-size-fits-all method. For residential and commercial clients, we offer annual and bi-annual maintenance plans customized by species and growth cycle. Consistent, scheduled pruning is the most cost-effective way to maintain healthy, safe, and visually sound trees over the long term.
Our Pruning Methods
- Structural Pruning: A corrective approach used on juvenile trees to encourage the development of strong lateral branches that mature into healthy scaffold limbs — establishing sound architecture from the ground up
- Crown Cleaning: Systematic removal of dead, dying, diseased, broken, crowded, and crossing branches. The foundation of any sound tree health maintenance program.
- Crown Thinning & ShapingThinning involves the selective removal of live branches to reduce crown density and improve light penetration and air circulation. Shaping — also referred to as directional pruning — reduces branch ends to manage growth patterns and aesthetics. Decurrent trees with rounded canopies typically require more shaping than excurrent trees such as pines, which grow with a single dominant leader.
- Crown Reduction: Selective removal of branches back to strong lateral unions to decrease the overall height and spread of the canopy while maintaining the tree's natural form.
- Crown Raising: Removal of lower branches to increase vertical clearance. Performed with careful consideration of the tree's live crown ratio and the region's historical wind patterns.
- Crown Restoration: A corrective technique applied to trees that have suffered from improper past pruning, helping restore natural structure and long-term vitality.
Why is Proper Pruning Important?
Topping and lion tailing (cutting all interior branches of a crown leaving only the foliage on the very tips) are examples of unfortunate yet common practices that plague the industry. These practices negatively impact trees, making them weaker and more susceptible to insect and disease.