The short answer is no.

Trees are self optimising organisms and as long as the environmental conditions are favorable they will adapt to their surroundings and get along quite well without any interference. 

In general we prune trees to fulfill human needs. These needs are most easily summarised into 3 categories

Risk Mititgation

Asset Clearance

Aesthetics 

Risk Mitigation

Although trees are self optimising they don't move from juveniles to veteran trees unscathed. Trees can be exposed to some severe weather as well as pests and disease.  

Compared to other everyday risks we readily accept, the overall risk to us from branches or trees falling is extremely low. Our annual risk of being killed or seriously injured is less than one in a million. That's so low! We're at greater risk on one 400km round trip to visit friends for a weekend than we are from falling branches or trees over an entire year. Given the number of trees we live with, and how many millions of us pass them daily, being killed or injured by a tree is a rare event. A rare event that usually happens during severe weather.

Our approach is to inspect and think before we start cutting, improper pruning can increase the risk of tree failure over time. So, if you value your trees its something that should not be done without proper thought and training. 

Of course, we can't be an insurer of nature. Trees are living structures that sometimes shed branches or fall during severe weather. Since we need the many benefits from trees, we have to accept we can't remove all of the risk. Leaves, bark, cones, nuts, fruits, and small diameter live branches and deadwood regularly fall from trees. This natural debris is an Acceptable or Tolerable risk.

Assest Clearance

How far should your tree be from your house?

This one is personal preference as with most things it comes with trade offs

In general we are going to advocate for the tree and mostly suggest very minor pruning.

If you have issues with leaves in the gutter we are more than likely going to suggest gutter guard. 

Another point to think about is that lower level branches can provide fall protection for upper canopy elements that are more susceptible to wind and also have further to fall. 

Aesthetics

Would you cut your own hair?

Its amazing how many people would never risk cutting their own hair, which will grow back with no issues. However, they will risk improperly pruning their trees, which could leave them with life long structural issues or ultimately lead to the death of the tree.

Alot of people want more light in their yards, restoration of views, or tidier, more symmetrical looking trees. 

We try to consider how pruning will affect the tree over time. Now, 1 year, 5 years or 20 years down the line. 

Sometimes this discussion leads to a removal or the beginning of an annual pruning cycle. 

We will do our best to advocate for the health of the tree, while trying to find solutions so that the tree can fit into your vision of the garden you want to create.  

We dont like to use the word safe. 

Every tree will always pose some risk and therefore we need to take a reasonable and practical approach to managing trees, because they provide us with many benefits. 

The more obvious benefits that trees give us are visual beauty in the landscape, timber and the various crops they produce. Wildlife habitat, air quality improvements, shade and cooling effects are additional benifits. Trees also have important social value as part of our culture, history, or because they commemorate an important event. As if all these benefits aren't enough. There's an ever-expanding body of scientific evidence that shows trees are essential for our physical health, mental wellbeing, and quality of life.

We use a tree risk assessment methodology called VALID and believe in managing trees in the context of risk. 

Compared to other everyday risks we readily accept, the overall risk to us from branches or trees falling is extremely low. Our annual risk of being killed or seriously injured is less than one in a million. That's so low! We're at greater risk on one 400km round trip to visit friends for a weekend than we are from falling branches or trees over an entire year. Given the number of trees we live with, and how many millions of us pass them daily, being killed or injured by a tree is a rare event. A rare event that usually happens during severe weather.

Of course, we can't be an insurer of nature. Trees are living structures that sometimes shed branches or fall during severe weather. Since we need the many benefits from trees, we have to accept we can't remove all of the risk. Leaves, bark, cones, nuts, fruits, and small diameter live branches and deadwood regularly fall from trees. This natural debris is an Acceptable or Tolerable risk.

Summer Branch Drop, or Sudden Branch Drop (SBD) is a very loose term from branches on mature trees that have no obvious tree risk features which unexpectedly fail after a period of hot dry weather.

There is no agreement in the published scientific literature about what causes SBD and Arborists cant tell the difference between branches that have a high likelihood of failure from those that have a low likelihood of failure.

For this reason if your tree has no history of SBD the risk is Acceptable. If your tree has a history of SBD the risk is not acceptable or tolerable the risk can be reduced by lowering the occupancy or pruning.

Under the VALID tree risk methodology in which we subscribe to, deadwood under 100mm in diameter is considered an acceptable or tolerable risk.

Deadwood has both ecological benefits and also individual tree benefits as it can aid the tree in dissipating wind load.

Then why do we remove it?

Because people ask us to, its your tree, its your risk and your property. If you want to have it removed we are happy to do so, but we won’t be upselling you on remove something that we see as an acceptable risk.

More energy and research goes into human health and yet there are still plenty of debates about what to eat and how to live.

So, when it come so to tree health, it is best to start with the basics - Soil.

There are some great books written on this topic that go into more details, but to summarise:

Water, mulch, avoid poisons or other soil contaminants that may impact root growth for example: Compaction - avoid driving or parking within the trees 'drip line'. Also, avoid heavy foot traffic as even this can cause compaction, mulch can help mitigate this.

If you are going to prune them, think first, do some research and ask for professional advice. Branches don’t grow back like hair, pruning is wounding and it pays to understand the future consequences of what you are doing.

As qualified arborists we are trained in advanced climbing techniques to allow as to access, inspect and carry out work at heights.  We generally access the tree by throwing a weighted ball into the canopy, we then pull in a rope and walk up it using specially designed ascending devices.  Once at height we use a variety of rigging techniques to safely lower branches to the ground avoiding any damage to surrounding infrastructure.