How to Prune Long Branches Safely in Ottawa: DIY or Call a Pro?

The safe way to prune long branches in Ottawa is to keep your feet on the ground, cut only what a hand saw or pole pruner can reach, and hand anything heavy, high or near wires to a pro. Small limbs on a young tree are a fair DIY job. Long, heavy or overhanging limbs are not, and a bad cut or a fall costs far more than the job. If a branch is out of safe reach, book professional tree pruning and keep the tree and yourself in one piece.

When can you prune a long branch yourself?

Do it yourself only when all of these are true:

• You can reach the cut from the ground, or from a pole saw, without leaning out or climbing.
• The branch is thin enough to cut with loppers or a hand saw (as a rule of thumb, a few centimetres across).
• Nothing electrical is nearby: no service line, no wires running through the crown.
• The branch will drop clear of the house, fence, car and you.
• You are not using a chainsaw above shoulder height. Ever.

If any of those is a "no", stop. Long branches are heavy at the far end and swing as they come off, which is how most homeowner injuries happen.

Call a pro instead when

• The limb is thick, long or reaches over the roof, a driveway or a neighbour's yard.
• It is near or touching power lines. Do not touch it or the tree. Call your electrical utility (Hydro Ottawa or Hydro One, depending on your address).
• The branch is cracked, hanging, or the tree leans. Our guide to warning signs of a hazardous tree shows what to look for.
• You would need a ladder to reach it.
• The tree is large or mature and the cut would remove a big share of the crown.

How to cut a long branch without tearing the bark

A heavy limb cut straight through from the top will split and strip bark down the trunk as it falls. Use the three-cut method:

1. Undercut. Cut a third of the way up from the underside, about 30 cm out from the trunk.
2. Top cut. Cut down from the top a few centimetres further out. The limb drops and leaves a short stub.
3. Final cut. Remove the stub just outside the branch collar, the slightly swollen ring where the branch meets the trunk. Do not cut flush, and do not leave a long stub.

Do not paint the wound. Trees seal their own cuts, and sealants usually do more harm than good.

How much is too much?

Remove no more than about a quarter of a tree's living crown in one season. Heavy cutting stresses a tree and invites decay and weak regrowth. Never "top" a tree by cutting the main leaders back to stubs. The sprouts that grow back are weakly attached and break easily.

Check the rules before any large cut on a mature tree. Ottawa's Tree Protection By-law deals with injuring or destroying protected trees, and severe pruning can cross that line. Our permit page explains what applies.

When to prune in Ottawa

Late fall to late winter, while most trees are dormant, is a good time for structural pruning. You can see the branch structure clearly, and it is easier on the tree. Snow and ice make ladder and pole work in winter riskier, so pick a dry, calm day or leave it to a crew. Dead or broken limbs can come off any time of year. Elms are the exception: avoid pruning them in spring and summer, when the beetles that spread Dutch elm disease are active.

Common mistakes

• Cutting from a ladder with a chainsaw.
• Leaving a long stub, or cutting flush against the trunk.
• Cutting a limb without checking where it will fall.
• Pruning near wires.
• Removing too much of the crown.
• Hiring someone who only offers to top the tree. Our article on common tree pruning mistakes covers more.

FAQs

How do I prune a branch that is too high to reach?

Do not climb or lean a ladder against it. A pole pruner handles thin branches within reach from the ground. Anything higher or heavier is a job for a trained crew with proper rigging.

Can I prune my neighbour's branches that hang over my yard?

Branches that cross the property line are a common issue, and rules can apply to the tree itself. Talk to your neighbour first. Keep cuts to the overhanging limbs and avoid damaging the tree. If the trunk is on their land, do not harm the tree.

Is it okay to prune in winter?

Yes. Dormant-season pruning is common in Ottawa. Take care with ice, snow and short daylight, and keep clear of lines.

Should I use a ladder?

No. Ladders and tree work are a risky mix. Use a pole tool from the ground or hire a crew.

Does pruning need a permit?

Routine pruning of your own tree does not, but protected trees and heavy cutting are covered by the by-law. When in doubt, check before you cut.

Need long branches pruned safely?

Need tree pruning in Ottawa? Call Tree King at 613-627-2017 or get a free quote for tree pruning. We will tell you what is worth cutting and what to leave.