Preventative pruning isn't one big job. It's a handful of specific things we're checking every time we're up in a tree, and most of it isn't complicated, people just don't do it, and then a storm takes out the exact limb we would've flagged.
What goes into the work.
Deadwood comes off first, every time. Dead or dying branches attract pests, carpenter ants especially, so leaving them on invites a second problem on top of the first.
We don't take more than about 25% of the canopy in one visit. More than that, especially in the middle of summer, and the tree's working to recover instead of holding up under wind.
Cuts go back to the trunk, not halfway down a branch. A branch cut halfway keeps getting fed energy it can't use, and it never heals right.
Cuts are angled, not flat. A flat cut holds water. Water sitting in a cut is how rot gets started.
Live growth gets pruned in the dormant season, December through February. Deadwood's the exception and can come off anytime; cutting into active growth the rest of the year stresses the tree.
Roofline branches get cut back with room to spare, not trimmed even with the roofline, because regrowth catches up faster than people expect.
Soundside and exposed properties get more attention on canopy density. Trees taking direct wind and salt off the water need more thinning than something sitting behind a dune.
Get ahead of the next storm.
Tell us about your property and what you have noticed. We will help you find the right next step.