Forsyth County · GA · Est. 1987
Tree Trimming in Cumming, GA
Pruning for Cumming and Forsyth County trees and ornamentals on the schedule UGA Extension’s own Forsyth County office recommends — crape myrtles shaped instead of butchered, never more than a third off in a visit, and every limb hauled away.
✓Licensed & Insured
✓40 Yrs Exp.
✓Free Estimates
Serving Cumming, GA
Tree Trimming in Cumming, Done by Our Own Crew
Cumming yards are full of the trees people most often over-prune: crape myrtles cut back to knuckles every winter, ornamental cherries sheared at the wrong time, and young oaks trimmed so hard they spend the next summer sprouting. Good trimming here is mostly restraint and timing.
R & R Tree Service provides tree trimming in Cumming, GA, from our yard at 1381 Buford Highway in Buford — family-owned since 1987, TCIA members, licensed, bonded and insured. We trim to the branch collar, spread big reductions over more than one season, and tell you honestly when a tree is in the wrong place. Call (678) 482-9994 for a free estimate.
✓Timed to UGA Extension’s Forsyth County pruning window
✓Never more than a third of a tree removed in one visit
✓Crape myrtles thinned and shaped, never “crape murdered”
✓Lake views opened from your own trees, not the Corps’
✓Every limb chipped or hauled away
Serving Cumming Since 1987
What is the best month to trim trees in Cumming?
Late February to mid-March, for most trees and shrubs. UGA Extension’s Forsyth County office puts the ideal pruning window for most plants at late February to mid-March. With the leaves off, the branch structure of deciduous trees is clearly visible, so the limbs that need to come out are easy to see, and the spring flush closes the cuts soon after. The same office says it is rarely a good idea to prune late in the fall.
- Late February to mid-March is the ideal pruning window for most plants in Forsyth County.
- Dogwoods and flowering cherries are pruned after they bloom.
- Crape myrtles flower on new growth and do not need heavy cutting back.
Timing follows the flowers, too. Plants that bloom on old wood, such as flowering cherries and dogwoods, should be pruned after they bloom, or you cut off next spring’s flowers. Plants that bloom on new growth — crape myrtles, fruit trees, chaste tree — are pruned before spring growth starts. Dead, broken or hanging limbs are the exception and come off whenever they are found.
Rules change. Confirm anything load-bearing with the local office before you cut — we do that check as part of every quote.
On the ground in Cumming
How Do We Trim in Cumming?
Do crape myrtles need cutting back to flower?
UGA’s Crape Myrtle Culture guide calls the belief that crape myrtles must be cut back to flower false — they flower on new growth either way. The heavy annual cut, known as crape murder, leads to more suckering, and suckers invite powdery mildew and aphids. Where shaping is needed, we do it in late winter or early spring: suckers, crossing branches and low limbs out, the natural form kept.
How much can come off a tree in one visit?
UGA Extension in Forsyth County warns that removing more than one-third of a plant’s material can severely stress it. A tree that needs more than that — an overgrown oak over the roof, a screen of Leylands that has got away — is reduced over several seasons, or reduced properly to side branches, rather than topped in one visit.
How should big limbs be removed?
The Forsyth office’s guidance for heavy limbs is a first cut on the underside about 12 inches from the trunk, then the limb removed, then the final cut at the branch collar, the swollen ring where branch meets trunk. A cut there seals properly; a flush cut or a stub invites decay.
Can you open a lake view by trimming Corps trees?
Forsyth County holds much of Lake Lanier’s shoreline, and the strip below your property line is Corps of Engineers land. The Corps does not allow clearing there for scenic views or lawns, and low-risk trees stay. We open views by thinning and raising the trees on your own lot; for a genuinely dangerous tree on the Corps side, the Shoreline Management Help Desk (770-904-3262) puts you in touch with your Park Ranger.
More in Cumming
Our Other Tree Services in Cumming
R & R Tree Service offers licensed, bonded, and insured tree removal, trimming, stump grinding, mulching, and more throughout Cumming, GA.
Local Coverage
Serving All of Cumming
We serve residential and commercial clients throughout Cumming, including these neighborhoods and surrounding areas.
Downtown Cumming
Bald Ridge Marina area
Castleberry Road neighborhoods
Around Lake Lanier
Wherever you are in Cumming, we're just a phone call away.
Trusted Tree Care in Cumming Since 1987
Our Advantage
Your Trusted Local Experts in Cumming
We understand the unique tree care needs in Cumming's neighborhoods and take pride in protecting your home or business while enhancing the natural beauty of your landscape.
Family-Owned Since 1987
Nearly four decades working North Georgia trees, from our yard on Buford Highway.
Our Own Crew and Equipment
We never subcontract. The crew that quotes the job does the job, with our own crane.
Licensed, Bonded and Insured
Comprehensive liability and workers’ comp, and members of the Tree Care Industry Association.
Free On-Site Estimates
We quote at the tree, not from a photo, and the price on the quote is the price you pay.
24/7 Emergency Response
A real person answers (678) 482-9994 when a tree comes down at night.
How It Works
Our Simple Process in Cumming
From first call to final cleanup, we make professional tree care easy for Cumming homeowners.
01
Tree Check
We look at structure, deadwood, clearance from the roof and lines, and what the tree needs — not just what is easy to cut.
02
Pruning Plan
Which limbs come out and why, written into the quote: crown thinning, raising, deadwood or clearance.
03
Proper Cuts
Cuts made at the branch collar so the tree can seal them. No topping, no lion-tailing, no climbing spikes on a tree we are keeping.
04
Cleanup
Every limb chipped and hauled away, gutters and beds cleared of debris.
What Clients Say
Trusted by Cumming Homeowners
"
★★★★★
"For the past eight years, R and R Tree Service has meticulously tended to our landscape needs. From pine tree removal to diagnosing damaged or diseased trees, I fully and completely trust this honest and hard working crew. They estimate fairly and give competitive prices. It's reassuring to know they will 'take care of business'."
"
★★★★★
"We have used R and R Tree Service since we moved to the Cumming area over 16 years ago. They are professional, dependable, and do an excellent job. Their crane service is a definite advantage. There is never any damage to surrounding trees."
"
★★★★★
"Within 24-hours of being contacted, Randy and his team gave me a quote and removed two mature trees uprooted during Hurricane Helene. Arrived at the crack of dawn and finished before lunch. True professionals."
Explore Our Services
Every Tree Service We Offer in Cumming
Full details on the licensed, insured tree care R & R provides in Cumming. Tap any service to learn more.
Also Serving
Tree Trimming in Nearby Towns
Cumming questions
Tree Trimming in Cumming: Common Questions
When should my dogwood or flowering cherry be pruned?
Right after it flowers. Those trees set next spring’s buds on old wood, so winter pruning cuts off the blooms. UGA Extension in Forsyth County lists flowering cherries and dogwoods among the plants to prune after blooming.
Do crape myrtles need cutting back every year to flower?
No. UGA’s Crape Myrtle Culture guide calls that belief false, and says heavy cutting back brings more suckers, which can spread powdery mildew and attract aphids. If shaping is needed, do it in late winter or early spring, and never in early fall.
How much can you take off a tree in one visit?
Less than most people think. UGA Extension in Forsyth County warns that removing more than a third of a plant’s material can severely stress it. Bigger reductions are spread over several seasons or done properly to side branches.
Can you trim the trees on the Corps land so we can see Lake Lanier?
No. The Corps of Engineers does not allow clearing on government shoreline for views or lawns, and healthy, low-risk trees there stay. We can open views using the trees on your own property.
Why does it matter where the cut is made?
Because the tree seals itself only from the branch collar, the swollen ring where branch meets trunk. UGA Extension in Forsyth County says big limbs should come off in stages with the final cut there; a flush cut or a stub invites decay.
Sources: UGA Extension Forsyth County — Pruning plants for better health (Mar 2023) · UGA Extension Forsyth County — The art of pruning · UGA Extension Circular 944 — Crape Myrtle Culture (reviewed Jun 2026) · US Army Corps of Engineers — Trees at Lake Sidney Lanier (fact sheet)
Get In Touch
Get Your Free Estimate in Cumming Today
When you need trusted tree service in Cumming, GA, turn to the professionals at R & R Tree Service. We deliver quality work, excellent customer service, and affordable rates every time.
Phone
(678) 482-9994
Email
accounting@randrtreeservice.com
Address
1381 Buford Hwy, Buford GA 30518
Emergency
24/7 Available
Ready for Expert Tree Care
in Cumming?
Licensed · Insured · Serving Cumming Since 1987