Short answer
Check it from the ground. Trim soon if the branch rubs the roof, fills the gutters or has cracks or dead wood. Call a certified arborist: cutting over a roof takes ropes and climbing gear, and a falling branch can go through the roof. If the branch is near a power line, do not touch it and call your power company first. Most trees are best trimmed in late winter.
Safety first
Never climb a ladder with a saw, and never cut near power lines. Electricity can jump to a branch, a pole saw or you without touching the wire. Call your power company for anything near a line.
What to do about a tree branch over your house
1A branch rubs the roof in the wind
Long branches scrape shingles, fill gutters with leaves and give squirrels and rats a bridge onto the roof.
Read all the steps
- A branch rubs the roof in the wind. Long branches scrape shingles, fill gutters with leaves and give squirrels and rats a bridge onto the roof.
- Look from the ground. Use binoculars if you have them. Look for cracks where the branch meets the trunk, dead wood with no leaves and branches that hang lower every year.
- Near a wire? Do not touch it. Do not climb, prune or shake it. Call your power company. They clear branches from their lines, or cut the power so a pro can work safely.
- A certified arborist trims it. They cut the branch back in sections and lower the pieces with ropes, so nothing lands on the roof. Ask for an ISA-certified arborist and proof of insurance.
- Clear space between tree and roof. A good cut leaves the branch well clear of the roof without topping or butchering the tree. Then check it once a year.
- Branch near your roof? Call a tree pro Especially if: a branch touches or hangs over a power line.
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When to trim
- Right away: cracked, hanging or dead branches over the house. Anything touching a power line goes to the power company.
- Late winter, while most trees are dormant: the best time for regular trimming. Cuts close faster in spring.
- In Texas, avoid pruning oaks from February through June, when the beetles that spread oak wilt are active, and paint fresh cuts.
- Before hurricane season in Florida and on the Gulf Coast: thin out heavy branches over the house.
What not to do
- Do not top the tree (cutting the main stems flat). It grows back weaker and bushier.
- Do not use a chainsaw on a ladder or from the roof.
- Do not hire a crew that knocks on your door after a storm without checking insurance and references.
- Do not remove more than about a quarter of the leaves in one year. The tree needs them to recover.
When to call a landscaper
- A branch touches or hangs over a power line.
- You see cracks, splits or a branch hanging by a strip of bark.
- Branches rub the roof or hang within a few feet of it.
- The tree leans more than before, or has mushrooms or rot at the base.
Frequently asked questions
How far should tree branches be from the roof?
Many tree pros like to keep branches about 6 to 10 feet from the roof. That keeps leaves out of the gutters and animals off the roof, and stops branches from scraping in the wind.
Can I trim a tree branch over my house myself?
Only small branches you can reach from the ground with hand pruners, far from any wire. Anything over the roof or near a power line is a job for a certified arborist.
Who trims trees near power lines?
Your power company handles branches near its lines, often at no cost to you. For the line from the pole to your house, they may cut the power so a tree pro can work.
When is the best time to trim trees?
Late winter, while most trees are dormant. Dead, cracked or dangerous branches should come down any time of year.
Can I trim my neighbor’s branches that hang over my roof?
In most states you can trim branches that hang over your side of the property line, at your cost, as long as you do not harm the tree. Talk to your neighbor first and check your local rules.