Vista Pruning

Vista pruning can add value to you home like no other landscaping can.  If your view is being impaired by trees, you have some options.  Pruning is the most common way to gain a view, but removal may be a better option. If you are on a hill, you need to consider what would happen to the integrity of the slope, if that tree died or was to be removed.

ANSI standards for pruning do not allow the topping of trees, and studies have shown that the initial cost is lower but actually costs more in the end.  There are many ways to prune your trees to keep them healthy and add depth to your view. 

Reduction pruning involves proper cuts back to a union that has a branch one-third of the size of the cut.  Reductions are a good way to deal with trees that are just beginning to enter your view and need maintenance every 3-7 years, depending on the species of tree you are working with.  Windowing is pruning branches out of an area to punch a hole through the canopy to achieve a view.  A common practice here in the northwest with large fir trees, and is most often the better option if you are considering topping an evergreen.  Thinning leaves a filtered view through the tree, by removing branches from the interior of the tree. 

Removal is sometimes necessary, often for trees that have already been topped and have become an eye sore and/or a hazard. Depending on the site, you may want to consider replanting with a smaller species of tree.