The Process
As trees grow, they form their own natural shape. Occasionally, the odd branch will push beyond its form and look very out of place. These stray branches are often dealt with in tandem with pruning, allowing the tree to maintain its natural look.
If you are looking for a more distinct or unnatural shape, we also do ornamental tree shaping. This is a process in which we will trim a tree back to have it a completely new shape all together. Over time this will produce a tree with a very thick branch structure along the edges and a more defined shape. Shaping a tree takes time as most branches along the canopy edge must be trimmed to some extent.
Shaping FAQs
No. Tree shaping is only effective with certain species of tree since you are limiting further growth in a set space. This is also a different process from topping as we are be more precise with our approach
Yes. We also provide shrub shaping services, both for individual shrubs or hedges.
Shaping requires the most consistency. Shaping is intentionally trying to have the plant produce more growth to fill in the defined shape. The more time between shaping, the less crisp the outline will be. Shaping can be completed anywhere from every year to every other season depending on preference.
Burning Timber does not provide topping services (cutting off the top of a tree) as we believe this practice is not in the best interest of the tree. When a tree is topped, you introduce a large surface area of wood that is completely exposed to the elements, which increases the risk of decay of the stems. Further, branches that sprout up from this cut will have weak attachment and can be prone to failure.
While having your tree topped is not a death sentence, it can take many years of methodical pruning and care to restore the tree to a new healthy state. If your tree has been topped in the past, we can work with you to restore the crown of your tree and ensure it a stronger and healthier future.