What you can ask a crew for
- Deadwood removal: dead and broken branches out of the crown.
- Clearance: lifting limbs off the roof, the driveway, the sidewalk.
- Structural pruning on young trees: one leader, well-spaced branches.
- Reduction: shortening long, heavy limbs back to a side branch.
What to say no to: topping, flush cuts against the trunk, and climbing spikes on a tree that's staying.
Why maples need attention
The Village's 2024 plan found maples made up 42% of its 19,457 trees and set a goal to diversify (Shaw Local). Many maples form tight V-shaped forks with bark trapped between the stems, a common place for splits. An arborist can say whether to reduce one stem or brace it.
How the Village prunes parkway trees
Village staff prune parkway trees subdivision by subdivision to National Pruning Standards, clearing for traffic, snowplows, garbage trucks, signs, bikes and pedestrians. The Village warns that because this is a newer service, some trees have never been pruned and may look over-pruned at first (Village of Oswego). Residents are asked to do light pruning to keep sidewalks clear (same page). Bigger parkway problems: 630-554-3242.
Branches near power lines
ComEd trims around distribution lines on a 4-year cycle with mid-cycle checks. For the wire running to your house, it won't trim, but it will drop or de-energize the line for free if you call 1-800-334-7661 at least 5 days ahead (ComEd). Work near primary lines calls for line-clearance-qualified trimmers (ComEd).
When to do it
Dormant season, late fall through winter, is the usual window for structural work. Hazards can come off any time.
Late fall to winter
Dormant-season structural pruning. Leaves are off, so the crew sees the whole branch structure.
Spring
Young-tree training after the worst cold. Hold off on oaks during the active oak-wilt season; ask your arborist.
Summer
Deadwood is easy to spot against green leaves. Good time for clearance off roofs and sidewalks.
After storms
Clean, quick cuts on torn limbs. The 2026 storm snapped 6–8 inch branches in Boulder Hill (NWS).
Skip the topping
Topping means cutting big limbs back to stubs. It leaves large wounds that decay and a flush of weak sprouts that break in the next storm. Parkway trees are the Village's to prune anyway (Village of Oswego); on yard trees, ask for reduction cuts back to a side branch instead.
Parkway trees and Boulder Hill
Don't have a crew prune a parkway tree; the Village owns and maintains them (Village of Oswego). For your own trimmings, Oswego Township's monthly brush pick-up (April–October) takes limbs over 2 feet long and up to 5 inches thick, out by 7 a.m. on pick-up Monday (Oswego Township).
Questions to ask
- Do you prune to ANSI A300 standards?
- Will you avoid climbing spikes on trees that are staying?
- Are any limbs near wires, and do we need ComEd to drop the service line first?
- Do you chip and haul the brush?