Tree trimming and pruning in Lafayette, LA
Good pruning keeps a tree healthy and off the roof for years. Here's what a trimming job in Lafayette should and shouldn't look like.
Trimming isn't only about looks. Taking out dead wood, lifting limbs off the roof and correcting weak structure all cut the chances of a limb coming through the ceiling during the next storm. It's also the main way to keep a tree that's worth keeping, like a well-shaped live oak, instead of losing it.
Common trimming jobs
- Deadwood removal. Taking out dead and dying limbs, especially over roofs, cars and walks.
- Clearance pruning. Lifting limbs over driveways and the street, and pulling them back from roofs and gutters.
- Crown thinning. Selectively removing branches so wind passes through the canopy.
- Live oak pruning. Reducing long, low limbs carefully instead of cutting them off at the trunk.
Does trimming need a licensed arborist?
In Louisiana, yes, when it's done for a fee. The arborist license covers pruning and trimming as well as removal. State law does let a person prune under the owner's direction without a license only when the branch is two inches or less in diameter and within ten feet of the ground, and that exception doesn't apply to commercial properties.
What about topping?
Cutting the top off a tree to shrink it leads to weak, fast regrowth and decay. If someone offers to top a tree, ask about crown reduction or thinning instead.
Branches near power lines
LUS keeps trees trimmed back from its main lines on a maintenance schedule, using a contract tree crew, and says it will consider a certified arborist's opinion when trimming legacy live oaks. Louisiana law bars unauthorized work within 10 feet of an overhead high-voltage line and requires 48 hours' notice to the utility before planned work near one. Call your utility about limbs in the lines.
Planting the next tree
LUS asks residents not to plant under a primary line and to keep trees within 20 feet of one under 25 feet tall at maturity. Big shade trees like oaks belong 50 feet or more from the primary lines.
The tree company prices the job after it has seen the tree, what's underneath it and how a truck or lift can reach it. We don't quote prices, and any number given over the phone before a visit is a rough starting point at best.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
When is the best time to trim trees in Lafayette?
Many trees prune well in the cooler dormant months, when structure is easy to see. Dead and hazardous limbs can come off any time, and ideally before hurricane season.
Can I trim my neighbor's branches that hang over my yard?
Talk with your neighbor first and don't damage the tree. For anything bigger than small low branches, hire a licensed pro.
Related services
More background: Lafayette tree removal guide.
Water oak on the roof, a pecan split in the storm, or a stump in the way?
Call and get connected with a Louisiana-licensed tree service that works in Lafayette Parish.