Tree Trimming and Pruning in Denville, NJ

A lot of Denville houses sit under trees that are older than the homes themselves. In the lake sections, oaks and maples planted or left standing when the summer colonies were laid out now spread right over roofs, decks and narrow roads. Regular pruning keeps those trees from dropping limbs on shingles, clogging gutters with every fall and catching so much wind that a storm can tear out a major branch. Good pruning removes dead and crossing wood and thins the crown without changing the tree's natural shape. On a lake lot, thinning the crown also helps more light and air reach a yard that may stay shaded and damp most of the day.

Clearance is a big part of trimming here. Many streets around Indian Lake and Rock Ridge are tight, so low limbs over the road and driveway get hit by trucks and plows. Service wires from the pole to the house often run through the canopy too. Your pro can explain what they are able to trim near the service drop and when JCP&L needs to be involved. Lines between poles are the utility's responsibility, so call JCP&L about those. Ask the contractor to point out exactly which limbs they plan to remove so you know how much clearance you will gain over the road, the roof and the wires.

Timing matters for Denville's oaks. Arborists generally advise against pruning oaks in spring and early summer, when fresh cuts can attract the beetles that spread oak wilt, so late fall and winter are popular windows. Winter also makes it easier to see structure on leafless trees. Watch for anyone who offers to top a tree, cutting big limbs back to stubs. Topping leaves weak sprouts and decay, and it is a poor fit for the mature shade trees that give lake neighborhoods their character. A light check every few years usually costs far less than a removal after a limb fails.

Signs you need tree trimming and pruning

• Limbs scraping the roof of a close set lake house
• Low branches over a narrow road that trucks or plows keep hitting
• Dead wood in an oak or maple hanging over the driveway
• Branches growing into the service wire to the house
• Leaves and twigs filling gutters well before the end of fall

Questions about tree trimming and pruning

Worth knowing in Denville

1. The March 6-7, 2018 snowstorm brought down trees, limbs and wires and caused numerous power outages; Denville spent $37,467 on snow removal for it.

   morriscountynj.gov

2. An August 3, 2018 severe thunderstorm with a funnel cloud left the township with downed trees and power loss.

   morriscountynj.gov

3. The county hazard mitigation plan estimates Denville's severe weather losses at about $56,000 a year on average and $1.2 million for a 100 year event.

   morriscountynj.gov

Typical costs in Denville