Tree trimming and removal in Birmingham, MI: Start with whose tree it is.
Birmingham takes its trees seriously, and the rules change with who owns the tree. HD Landscape prunes and removes smaller trees on private property, and the first job is working out which kind you have.
- Pruning and smaller removals
- Oak and elm dates respected
- Private trees
Trees in Birmingham
The owner sets the rules, and the calendar sets the rest.
The city has been a Tree City USA for 47 years and looks after about 25,000 trees on public land, with its own arborists on staff. That care is a big part of why these streets look the way they do. It also means the first step of any tree job here is working out whose tree you are looking at.
Your tree
A tree on your own property is yours to prune or remove, at your discretion. This is the work we do: pruning and smaller removals, with clean cuts and a clean yard. The exception is a tree that is diseased, infested or a risk to the public, where the city can require action.
The city's tree
Street trees and trees in the right of way are managed by the Department of Public Services. All work on them has to be done or approved by the city, roots included. If the tree is the city's, we point you to the city.
The shared tree
On a few streets, trees just inside the sidewalk or at the edge of the right of way are shared. They can look like yours, but the city maintains them and public tree rules apply. Public Services can tell you which one you have.
April 1 to October 15
The city's tree manual says oaks and elms, public or private, must not be pruned between those dates, because beetles carry oak wilt and Dutch elm disease to fresh cuts. That runs longer than the state's spring and early summer oak guidance. The open months are the cold ones, so ask Jake early whether he can get to your tree or who can.
What you get
Clean cuts, lifted limbs and a yard you can walk.
Our own crew does the pruning and the smaller removals. That covers the work below.
- Pruning
Dead, broken and rubbing branches out, with clean cuts and no stubs.
- Clearance
Low limbs lifted off roofs, walks and drives.
- Smaller removals
Smaller trees cut down and the site cleaned up.
- Stump grinding
Stump ground below grade if you want the spot back.
Oaks have their own calendar in Michigan, so ask about timing early.
In Birmingham
First whose tree it is, then whether it is a job for us.
Jake looks at the tree with you and works out who owns it, what it is and whether it is a job for us. Pruning and smaller trees we handle ourselves. If a tree is more than we should take on, you will hear that at the walk through, not halfway up the trunk.
If the tree is a silver maple, Norway maple, catalpa or another species on the city's prohibited list, the same tree cannot go back in. Brittle wood is one reason those trees made the list. The city's 2026 forestry report shows a 32 inch silver maple removed in an emergency in 2024, after a report of the top twisting in the wind.
Wires change the job. DTE hires its own tree trimming contractors to clear power lines, so a tree growing into the lines is not one for a landscape crew. Tell us if you see wires in the canopy.
- Oak and elm pruning
- Not between April 1 and October 15
- Street trees
- City Department of Public Services
- Your own trees
- Your call, with a few exceptions
- Estimate
- Free and itemized
HD Landscape did an outstanding job. They trimmed bushes, planted new shrubs, put down mulch, cut down a tree, grinded down the tree stump and had a company repair fence for me. They were so nice and did everything I asked. They showed up on time and gave me itemized costs beforehand.
Anne J.Trim, plant, mulch, tree and stump
This young man and his crew were nothing less than amazing. They just completed a big project for us.... his team of young men were so polite, professional, easy to get along with... They did a great job on our yard and flower beds. The owner gave us some great advice before they started, and we listened to him.. and we are so glad we did. …
Stephen D.Yard and flower beds
Questions
What people ask about tree trimming in Birmingham.
If yours is not here, call or text (586) 718-8762.
Do you do tree trimming in Birmingham?
Yes. HD Landscape prunes trees and removes smaller ones on private property in Birmingham, MI. Street trees are the city's, so work on those goes through Public Services. Jake looks at the tree with you first and works out whose it is and what it needs.
Can I trim the city tree in front of my house in Birmingham?
Not on your own. Trees in the street right of way are managed by the city, and all work on them must be done or approved by the city, including root pruning. The city trims street trees on a block cycle of every 7 to 8 years, and you can call the Department of Public Services if one looks unhealthy.
Can I remove a tree on my own property in Birmingham without a permit?
Generally yes. The city says planting, upkeep and removal of private trees are at the owner's discretion. Exceptions include diseased trees, where the city can require action, private trees near new construction, and homes in a local historic district. A draft zoning update also proposes tree protection standards, so ask the city ahead of a big removal.
When can oak trees be pruned in Birmingham?
After October 15 and before April 1. Birmingham's tree manual says oaks and elms, on public or private property, must not be pruned between April 1 and October 15. That leaves the cold months, so ask Jake early whether he can get to it or who can. If a storm breaks one in the closed window, call Public Services first, because exceptions go through the city.
Do you remove large trees?
No. We take down smaller trees ourselves and hand the big removals to a tree company. If yours is too big for us, you will hear it at the walk through. We can still come in afterward to grind the stump and put the spot back together.
How much clearance do branches need over a sidewalk in Birmingham?
The city's tree manual asks for 8 feet over sidewalks and 14 feet over streets, and it applies to private trees and shrubs too. The owner has to prune anything that blocks the way, and Code Enforcement can issue a violation. We lift low limbs on private trees, though oaks and elms have to wait for their dormant window.
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Background: a finished job, relit for evening
Free estimate
Get your Birmingham estimate.
Tell us about the yard and where in Birmingham it is. Jake will take a look and give you an itemized estimate.