How Far Should You Trim Trees Away From Your Roof

Trimming tree limbs over your roof is risky and mistakes can be costly.

How far should you trim trees away from your roof. However some species rarely get over 30 feet while the white pine can reach 150 feet. Not only will you protect your roof from potential tree damage caused by severe weather you will also prevent small animals from scampering across your roof to try to gain access to your home for spring nesting. Pine tree trimming costs tend to vary between 200 to 1 500 with the average species ranging from 40 to 100 feet tall. It is better to take off a few limbs every year as it grows to head up the limbs on the tree.

Branches between 2 and 4 inches or 5 and 10 centimeters in diameter. Branches smaller than 2 inches or 5 centimeters in diameter. Bad crotch or fork. If you have a giant broken branch and 30 percent of the leaves are on that branch you are done for the season.

With that calculation a six inch trunk at dbh means the roots can extend up to nine feet away from the trunk in any direction. Limbs that tend to grow with a very acute angle to the trunk cause issues as the tree matures. The proper equipment is a necessity. The industry standard is to never make pruning cuts that remove more than 30 percent of live tissue from a tree in any season.

Trees on property lines are a common complaint between neighbors but not so much at the courthouse says cleve clinton partner at gray reed attorneys and. You want to trim the offending tree branches but the tree sits on the property line between your place and your neighbor s. One wrong cut and the branches could fall requiring significant repairs to your roof or home. Trees that hang over your house are more difficult to trim because one slip could cause a lot of damage.

Only cut 1 3 or less of the branches because it needs the leaves to generate the energy for growing. However if you do decide to trim your own trees the usda provides the following size guide to help you determine if it s safe or not to cut the branches. Large trees benefit from removing end portions of limbs between 1 to 4 inches in diameter. Care must be taken to keep control of overhanging limbs being cut to avoid damage not only to your person but to your property.

Some species also present a more complex trimming problem for your professional requiring a little more time. Small ornamental landscape trees and fruit trees can be thinned by removing smaller limbs between to inch thick. And if you attempt to diy it you need to be up a ladder to reach the branches which puts you in danger too. Are you breaking the law by breaking the branches.

Roofing contractors recommend that you trim all branches that come within six feet of your roof.