DIY Trimming or Hiring a Professional: Which Is Better?

A homeowner spent three weekends trimming a silver maple using a ladder, a hand saw, and YouTube tutorials. The tree looked better from the street, but the cuts developed fungal cankers the next spring. What started as simple maintenance turned into a complete tree removal.

This scenario repeats across southeastern Wisconsin every year. Homeowners face one question: Should I trim my trees myself or hire a professional? The answer depends on branch size, tree location, and what you’re trying to accomplish.

Do small ground-level cuts yourself. Hire a professional for anything over 2 inches, anything above ground level, work near power lines or structures, or if the tree shows disease.

Table of Contents

• Understanding the Difference Between Trimming and Pruning
• When DIY Tree Trimming Makes Sense
• Safety Risks Most Homeowners Underestimate
• When Professional Tree Services Become Required
• Local Permit Requirements
• Common Mistakes That Damage Trees Permanently
• Decision Framework: DIY vs Professional
• Real Stories: What Homeowners Learned
• Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding the Difference Between Trimming and Pruning

Most homeowners use “trimming” and “pruning” interchangeably, but they describe different activities.

• Trimming means cleanup work. It removes small branches, shapes hedges, and maintains appearance. Think of it like a haircut.
• Pruning means strategic care. It improves tree health, directs growth, and enhances structure. Pruning requires understanding tree biology and wound response. ISA-Certified Arborists learn these principles through formal training.

Why it matters: Bad trimming looks ugly. Bad pruning can slowly destroy a tree’s structure and lead to failure years later. A badly pruned oak may look fine for three seasons before internal decay causes a major limb to drop.

Small ground-level branches are usually safe for homeowners to trim. Pruning mature trees requires expertise from years of training.

When DIY Tree Trimming Makes Sense

DIY tree work becomes reasonable under specific conditions.

Safe DIY scenarios:

• Branches less than 2 inches in diameter
• Reachable from the ground without a ladder
• Not near power lines, structures, or walkways
• Removing dead twigs or water sprouts
• The tree is healthy with no disease symptoms
• You have sharp, clean tools

Simple tasks suitable for DIY:

• Removing small dead branches
• Clearing brush around the tree base
• Trimming low shrub growth
• Cutting back water sprouts on young trees

Hand pruners work for branches under 3/4 inch. Loppers handle branches up to 1.5 inches. Pruning saws cut branches up to 2 inches.

Ladder rule: If you need a ladder, the job has moved beyond simple DIY work. Falls from 6-foot ladders cause injuries requiring hospital visits.

Safety Risks Most Homeowners Underestimate

Tree work ranks among the most dangerous home maintenance activities.

Physical Injury Risks

• Fall injuries: Falls from heights account for over 300 deaths and 160,000 injuries annually in tree care work, according to the Centers for Disease Control. A 10-foot fall onto hard ground causes serious injuries.
• Chainsaw accidents: Chainsaws cause approximately 36,000 injuries per year in the United States. Most involve homeowners. Kickback happens when the chain catches and throws the saw back toward the operator.
• Electrocution: Power lines carry enough current to kill instantly. Electricity can arc through the air. Any tree work within 10 feet of power lines requires professional equipment and training.
• Falling branches: A 6-inch diameter oak branch 20 feet long weighs over 200 pounds. Homeowners regularly misjudge branch weight and drop direction.

Tree Health Risks

• Improper cuts spread disease: Flush cuts that remove the branch collar eliminate the tree’s natural defense zone. The wound can’t seal properly. Stub cuts leave dead wood that rots back into the trunk. Either mistake invites Oak Wilt or fungal cankers.
• Topping destroys structure: Cutting main branches back to stubs triggers rapid regrowth of weak shoots with poor attachment points. Topped trees become more dangerous. ISA-Certified Arborists consider it unethical.
• Wrong timing increases stress: Pruning oaks during the growing season creates wounds that attract beetles carrying Oak Wilt spores. The disease kills red oaks within months.

Hidden Hazards

• Tension and compression: Bent or leaning branches store mechanical energy. Cut the wrong side first, and the branch can snap violently.
• Decay inside solid-looking wood: Many mature trees have heart rot. The outer shell appears solid while the interior has decayed. The branch breaks while you’re working underneath.

When Professional Tree Services Become Required

Certain conditions push tree work into professional-only territory.

Hire professionals when:

• Branches are over 4 inches in diameter
• Higher than you can reach from the ground
• Near power lines or structures
• The tree shows disease symptoms
• After storm damage creates split trunks or hanging branches
• Dead trees (brittle and unpredictable)
• Work requires a chainsaw, climbing gear, or rigging equipment

Why it matters: Mature trees add significant value to property. Damaging a significant tree through improper work costs more than hiring professionals initially.

Professional tree services carry liability insurance. Homeowner’s insurance may not cover injuries from tree work or damage to a neighbor’s property.

Local Permit Requirements

Wisconsin municipalities regulate tree removal and significant pruning.

When Permits Are Required

Many cities require permits for:

• Removing trees over 8 inches in diameter
• Trimming trees in public right-of-ways
• Work on heritage or landmark trees
• Any tree work near protected waterways

Mequon: Requires permits for removing trees over 8 inches in diameter on private property. Heritage trees (over 30 inches in diameter) face additional restrictions. Fines for unpermitted removal can be substantial.

Milwaukee: Requires permits for removing any tree over 8 inches in diameter at breast height. Special rules apply in historic districts.

Consequences: Violations result in fines and potential required replacement planting at specific ratios. Check with your local forestry department before removing any tree over 6 inches.

Common Mistakes That Damage Trees Permanently

Poor Cutting Technique

• Flush cutting: Cutting branches flat with the trunk removes the branch collar. Trees can’t seal these wounds properly. Decay enters the trunk.
• Stub cutting: Leaving long stubs creates dead wood that rots back into the tree.
• Bark tearing: Single cuts from the top allow branch weight to tear bark down the trunk as it falls.

Proper three-cut method:

1. Undercut 6-12 inches out from the trunk to prevent bark tear
2. Make a top cut outside the first undercut to remove the branch
3. Make the final cut at the branch collar without cutting the collar itself

Timing Errors

• Oak pruning during growing season: Oak Wilt spreads through fresh wounds when beetles are active from April through July. One badly timed cut can kill a tree.
• Heavy pruning before stressful periods: Removing significant canopy before summer drought or winter cold stresses trees when they need maximum resources.

Excessive Removal

• Over-thinning: Removing more than 25% of the canopy in one year shocks the tree. Regrowth comes back as weak water sprouts.
• Topping: Cutting main branches back to stubs is the worst thing you can do to a tree. It destroys structure, invites decay, and triggers weak regrowth.

Tool Problems

• Dull blades: Dull tools crush stems instead of cutting cleanly. Ragged wounds take longer to seal.
• Dirty tools: Not sterilizing tools between trees spreads disease. Oak Wilt transfers readily on contaminated cutting surfaces.

Decision Framework: DIY vs Professional

Real Stories: What Homeowners Learned

The DIY Success

A homeowner noticed dead branches on a young maple. The branches were less than an inch thick and within reach from the ground. They used hand pruners to make clean cuts just outside the branch collar. The tree sealed the wounds quickly.

What they did right: Recognized their limits, worked on small branches within safe reach, used proper tools, and made correct cuts.

The Expensive Mistake

A homeowner attempted to trim branches over their garage using a pole saw. They couldn’t control the cut position precisely. Several cuts damaged the branch collars. Within a year, fungal brackets appeared. The tree developed significant decay, requiring removal. The cost was multiplied several times over what proper pruning would have been.

What they overlooked: The Difficulty of making precision cuts with extended tools and the importance of branch collar preservation.

The Smart Call

A homeowner noticed several large dead branches high in an oak near their house. They recognized that the job exceeded their capabilities. They called a tree service with ISA-Certified Arborists who safely removed the dead wood, identified early Oak Wilt signs, and recommended treatment that saved the tree.

What they did right: Honestly assessed the risks and hired qualified professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trim my own trees without hiring someone?

Yes, if branches are small (under 2 inches), within reach from the ground, away from power lines and structures, and you have sharp tools. Work that requires ladders, chainsaws, or involves large branches should be handled by ISA-Certified Arborists.

What’s the difference between tree trimming and tree pruning?

Trimming is cleanup work that removes small branches and maintains appearance. Pruning is a strategic removal that improves tree health and structure. Trimming addresses cosmetic concerns. Pruning requires understanding tree biology.

When should I hire a professional instead of doing it myself?

Hire professionals when branches are over 4 inches in diameter, higher than you can reach from the ground, near power lines or structures, when the tree shows disease symptoms, or after storm damage.

What happens if I make bad cuts on my tree?

Bad cuts compromise the tree’s defense system. Flush cuts prevent proper wound sealing. Decay enters the trunk. The damage may not become obvious for several years, by which time it’s irreversible.

Do I need a permit to trim trees in my yard?

Many Wisconsin cities require permits for removing trees over 8 inches in diameter. Trimming small branches typically doesn’t require permits. Check with your local forestry department before starting significant work.

How much does professional tree trimming cost compared to DIY?

DIY work requires tool purchase or rental. Professional trimming ranges based on tree size and complexity. However, improper DIY work that damages a tree can result in expensive removal if the tree declines. Factor in injury risk, time investment, equipment costs, and potential tree damage when comparing options. Professional work often costs less than fixing DIY mistakes.

Making the Right Choice for Your Trees

Small maintenance work on young trees fits comfortably in DIY territory. Large trees, significant pruning, work near hazards, or disease assessment require professional expertise.

Crawford Tree & Landscape has served southeastern Wisconsin for 56+ years with ISA-Certified and Board-Certified Master Arborists on staff. If you’re unsure whether your tree work falls within DIY range or requires professional handling, get an on-site consultation.