Are you the person who is in charge of your home’s lawn and yard care? Or are you a part of your neighborhood’s homeowner’s association? Whatever the case may be, expanding your tree vocabulary will help you tremendously when it comes to communicating your trees’ needs or the courses of action required to protect the trees of your HOA Community. As a professional tree service company in Roswell, we have come up with some tree service terminology that we think every homeowner should know.
Commonly Used Tree Service Terms – Glossary
Tree Trimming

Think of trimming as cutting back overgrown parts of the trees. Professionals can perform tree trimming to create a cleaner look for your trees and enhance your home’s curb appeal. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, your trees should be trimmed once a year during the dormant season. Depends on the species of your trees, the time may vary.
Tree Pruning
Pruning is slightly different from trimming. While trimming means cutting back trees, pruning involves removing branches and stems that are damaged. There are several benefits that come with pruning, such as shaping tree form, directing tree growth, and maintaining good tree health. Good pruning techniques are critical in order to avoid wounds or any sorts of impairment that may harm the tree. A good place to start is by asking yourself what is the purpose of having your trees pruned? How long it has been since you last pruned your trees? These questions are essential to determining when to call a professional for this service.
Tree Pollarding
With tree pollarding, a tree service expert will remove higher branches of your trees and prune the main branches to short stubs. Pollarding allows for achieving certain tree height or highly decorative forms. When it comes to trees planted near the streets, this method is especially useful as it can be used to prevent tall trees from interfering with electrical wires or phone lines. Like tree trimming, tree pollarding should take place when your trees are dormant.
Crown Raising / Crown Lifting
When the large, lower branches of your trees start to reach down to the ground level, it’s time for some crown raising work. Crown raising is a pruning technique where the lower tree branches are removed or prepared to be removed. Not only does crown raising help create the desired appearance for your trees but it also increases the level of light that your turf and grass receive. If possible, it is encouraged to only shorten or thin low-hanging tree limbs instead of completely removing them to avoid causing negative health impacts on the trees.
Tree Removal

The term itself is self-explanatory. When a tree seems dead or may potentially cause hazards to your home or your neighbors, it is time to have it removed. Not sure when it is time to remove your tree(s)? Here are some signs to look for:
- Fungi growing at the base of the trunk
- One-third or more of your tree is hollow
- Large, dead branches in the canopy
- Tree roots posing threats to the foundation of your house
- Cracks, splits, and dead shrubs on the trunk
- Tree leaning in an unusual way
Tree removal is another highly technical task that should ALWAYS be left to the professionals.
Stump Grinding
When having trees removed to use the space for something else, stump grinding is pretty much essential. It involves the utilization of the stump grinder, which grinds a tree stump to ground level. It is recommended to have a professional perform stump grinding as the tool is quite sharp and may cause unwanted hazards.
Trees of GA – Your Trusted Tree Service Company in Roswell
At Trees of Georgia, we understand that keeping your trees healthy is not an easy task, and we’re here to help! As a licensed and insured tree services company, we have been serving our local community since 2007. Our excellent services are offered in the Atlanta area and have been rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. Whether it’s tree trimming or removal, you can count on us to provide the best services at an affordable price.
For a free estimate, reach out to us today at (770) 882-4955 or by filling out the contact form on our website.