A lot of pruning and trimming in Chemung County comes down to living with large trees on small lots. In Elmira Heights and Southport, big maples reach over roofs, driveways and the sidewalk. In Horseheads and Big Flats, younger yard trees need shaping before their structure sets. The right cuts now prevent bigger problems later.
Jason Tubbs looks at each tree’s structure, its health and what it hangs over before recommending cuts. His plan explains what will be removed and why, with options from light deadwooding to a fuller crown thinning. You pick the level that fits your yard and budget, and the $50 visit is credited when you go ahead.
Clearance Over Sidewalks and Streets
In the Town of Elmira, owners of private trees are expected to keep branches at least 10 feet above sidewalks and 14 feet above streets. Low limbs that block a walkway or scrape a delivery truck are a common reason people call. Crown raising takes off the lowest branches cleanly at the right point so the tree keeps its shape.
If you live in the City of Elmira or one of the villages, check with your local office, since their rules may not match the town’s.
Pruning Goals for Older Neighborhoods
- Deadwood removal: taking out dead limbs before they fall on a car or porch.
- Crown thinning: opening dense maples so wind passes through instead of pushing.
- Roof and gutter clearance: pulling branches back from shingles and chimneys.
- Structural pruning on young trees in newer Big Flats and Horseheads subdivisions.
- Reduction cuts on limbs that have grown long and heavy over a driveway.
Timing Your Trim
Many trees are easiest to read and prune in the dormant season, when leaves are off and the structure is visible. Some work makes sense any time a dead limb threatens a roof. Bats and nesting birds use trees in the warmer months, so timing and a quick wildlife check matter, and Jason will flag anything he sees.
Branches Near the Service Wires
Tubbs does not prune around energized lines. If limbs are touching the wire that feeds your house, contact NYSEG first. Once the line is made safe, the crew can handle the rest of the tree and leave you with a balanced canopy instead of a lopsided one.
Pruning & Trimming Questions From Chemung County
How high do branches need to be over the sidewalk in the Town of Elmira?
The Town of Elmira code asks private tree owners to keep 10 feet of clearance over sidewalks and 14 feet over streets. If your trees hang lower than that, crown raising usually solves it. Jason can mark the limbs that need to go during the consultation and show you how the tree will look afterward.
My neighbor’s oak hangs over my yard in Big Flats. Can you trim just my side?
Tubbs can prune limbs over your property, and Jason will explain how to make those cuts without harming the tree’s overall health. It helps to talk with your neighbor first, since heavy one-sided cuts can affect the whole tree. If ownership or the property line is unclear, check with your town office.
How much can you safely cut off an old maple in Elmira Heights?
Less than most people expect. Removing too much live canopy at once stresses an older tree and can invite decay. Jason usually recommends targeted cuts, such as deadwood and a modest thinning, and may suggest spreading larger changes over more than one visit so the maple keeps enough leaves to recover.
Want the full picture? Read our pruning & trimming guide, or see everything we do in Chemung County.