Trees provide refreshing shade on hot days, but they also block sunlight from brightening up rooms. Those same trees can also block some winning views. If you’re not thrilled at having these obstacles in front of your windows, you can prune, reduce, or remove the trees.

However, those solutions can also result in some unexpected issues. Before making any decisions, speak with a good tree service to ensure you understand what could happen once you have someone work on those trees.

Trading Shade for Light, Views, and Possibly Heat

Depending on where the trees are, modifying them to get more light and views could make the building hotter. Trees with full canopies on the south and west sides can provide a lot of shade and cool the building in summer.

Removing these trees or pruning the canopies would certainly let in light and give you a better view. But it would also make those sides of the building much hotter once the afternoon sun hits the building. You have to decide if the potential for increased discomfort and larger summer utility bills is acceptable.

What You Can Do If You Want More Light

If you’ve decided that you really want more light or a better view, you have three options. One is removing the tree entirely, which is a drastic but quick solution. This is a viable choice if the tree is nearing the end of its lifespan or is showing signs of severe illness or infestation.

Removal is also a good choice if you aren’t enamored with the trees currently on the property. When you arrange to remove the trees, have the tree service grind up the stumps, and then plant new trees. You can look for species that don’t grow as tall, for example, or that are known for having more open canopies that let light through.

Crown Reduction Is Best for Reducing Height

Another solution is crown reduction. This is a great option if the top portion of the tree is the problem. Crown reduction involves cutting longer sections of branches to literally reduce the size of the top of the tree. It’s suitable if you just want light to reach something high up, like a solar panel.

Crown reduction is a much better choice than topping. Tree topping is a procedure in which you cut all the branches back severely, often leaving what looks like a barren trunk with stubby branches. Topping is destructive and can harm the tree.

Crown reduction, on the other hand, doesn’t destroy the entire canopy. All the tree service would do is cut branches back farther than you would in pruning but not all the way to the trunk.

A third solution is simply trimming the canopy to open it up. This is a very good choice if you just want some more light but don’t want to totally expose the window. Keep in mind that it’s something you’ll have to do every year. You’ll want to call a good tree service no matter which option you choose.

Family Tree Care is the choice in Guilford, CT for commercial tree services. From trimming and pruning to tree removal and stump grinding, we can take care of whatever services your trees need. Call us today for a consultation.