Home › Common Problems › Large Branch Pruning
Large Branch Pruning
in Amarillo, TX
Pruning a branch sounds simple until you are 30 feet up with a chainsaw and a branch the size of a telephone pole over your roof. In Amarillo, where spring storms come in fast and hard off the caprock, a heavy branch that should have come off last fall becomes an emergency in April. Homeowners in the areas around Tascosa Road and the Canyon Road corridor have large post oaks and pecans that need proper pruning every few years to stay safe.
Quick Answer
Large branches hanging over a roof or fence in Amarillo don't need to be obviously dying to be a problem. A branch over 4 inches thick that fails drops with enough force to go through a roof or crush a fence. Proper pruning removes the right branches without damaging the tree. A wrong cut leaves a stub that rots and falls anyway. Call (806) 310-7795 before the next wind event.
Telltale Signs
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Branches larger than 4 inches hanging directly over the roof or fence
- Dead or dying branches mixed into an otherwise healthy canopy
- The canopy is so dense it's killing grass underneath by blocking light
- Long horizontal branches with visible cracks near the trunk attachment
- Previous stub cuts that are now showing rot or mushroom growth
Root Causes
What Causes Large Branch Pruning?
Included Bark at Branch Attachment
When two branches grow together and trap bark between them, it's called included bark, and it's a weak joint. Amarillo's fast-growing elm species commonly develop this condition, and the joint will eventually split, especially under wind or ice load.
The Fix
Targeted Branch Removal at the Collar
The branch is cut back to its attachment collar, which is the ridge of tissue where the branch meets the trunk. A proper collar cut lets the tree seal over the wound. A flush cut or a stub cut will rot and create a bigger problem.
Branch Weight Overextending Limb
A long horizontal branch gets heavier every year as it grows. At some point the leverage on the attachment point exceeds what the wood fibers can hold. High winds in Amarillo, which regularly hit 50 miles per hour in spring, provide the final push.
The Fix
Crown Reduction Pruning
Reducing the branch length removes the end weight that is putting stress on the attachment. The cut is made back to a lateral branch that is at least one-third the diameter of the piece being removed, so the tree has a natural endpoint to grow from.
Neglected Pruning Over Many Years
A tree that hasn't been touched in 20 years develops a canopy full of crossing branches, water sprouts, and dead wood. Crossing branches rub against each other in the wind, opening wounds that invite disease, and dead wood falls without warning.
The Fix
Structural Pruning and Dead Wood Removal
The work starts with the dead wood, then moves to branches that are crossing or rubbing. The goal is to open the canopy so wind moves through it instead of pushing against a solid wall. This kind of pruning takes more than one visit if the neglect goes back a long time.
Self-Diagnosis
Which Cause Applies to You?
Check the signs you're observing to narrow down the likely root cause before your inspection.
| What You're Seeing | Included Bark at Branch Attachment | Branch Weight Overextending Limb | Neglected Pruning Over Many Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visible bark folded inward at the crotch between two main branches | |||
| Long branch drooping lower each year, especially in summer | |||
| Multiple dead branches visible throughout the canopy | |||
| Crack at the attachment point visible after a wind event | |||
| Branches rubbing and leaving wounds on each other |
Free Inspection
Get a Diagnosis in Amarillo
An on-site inspection is the only way to confirm which cause applies to your property. Free, no obligation.
(806) 310-7795Free on-site inspection
Written estimate before work starts
Serving Amarillo & surrounding areas
Other Problems
Services That Fix This
Also Helpful