Pruning Days
Pruning and seasonal care for trees, shrubs, and other woody perennials.
Thoughtful winter pruning for healthy, resilient trees and shrubs.
Late winter is an ideal time to care for your landscape. Pruning during dormancy supports strong spring growth, clearer structure, and long-term vitality — setting trees and shrubs up for years of health rather than short-term fixes.
Luke Costlow of Gribley Permaculture offers Pruning Days: dedicated, full-day pruning visits for residential landscapes, rooted in plant biology, permaculture principles, and careful stewardship.
Whether your trees simply need their seasonal tending, or they’ve gone years without thoughtful pruning and need remediation, Luke approaches each plant with care, restraint, and a long view.
If it hasn’t been pruned in a year, it’s ready.
What Is a Pruning Day?
A Pruning Day is a focused, on-site visit designed to give enough time and attention for pruning to be done well, without rushing, guesswork, or over-cutting.
Woody perennial plants are best pruned during dormancy (winter to early spring), before spring growth begins. By April, this window is often already closing.
A Pruning Day provides the time needed to assess structure, make thoughtful decisions, clean up properly, and leave your landscape better positioned for the season ahead.
What a Pruning Day Includes
Each Pruning Day includes:
One 6-hour on-site pruning visit
Focus on the highest-priority trees and shrubs on your property
Selective pruning to support:
long-term plant health and structure
improved airflow and light penetration
reduced future stress and failure risk
safety near homes, paths, and driveways
Time for:
an initial walkthrough and priority setting
careful, case-by-case pruning decisions
cleanup and consolidation of pruned material
documentation and photos
A written Pruning Stewardship After-Action Report following the session, outlining what was done, what was intentionally left, and guidance for future care.
Experience & Approach
Luke brings a calm, skilled, and whole-system perspective to pruning work.
Certified Master Pomologist
15+ years of pruning experience
Permaculture-based, holistic ecosystem awareness
Clean, sterile, precision hand tools
Decisions guided by plant biology and long-term health.
This is not chainsaw-first pruning. It’s deliberate work with a long view.
Who It’s For
Pruning Days are well-suited for:
Homeowners who want to take good care of their trees but aren’t confident doing it alone
Folks who want practical, health-focused pruning (not drastic cutting or shaping for aesthetics)
Remediation of neglected or poorly pruned trees and shrubs
People who want their landscape to be resilient, productive, and thoughtfully stewarded
Luke regularly works with fruit trees, ornamental trees, and shrubs on typical residential properties throughout Western North Carolina. You do not need large acreage or a farm.
Note: Work is focused on small-to-medium trees and shrubs. Luke does not offer large canopy climbing or tree removal, but is happy to refer a trusted arborist if needed.
Observing, Learning & Participation
Clients are welcome to observe, ask questions, and learn during the session — or simply have the work done efficiently and correctly.
Please note that conversation, questions, and hands-on learning may slow the pace of physical pruning. Conversely, assistance with clearing branches can increase how much work is accomplished. The goal is always good stewardship, not rushing to hit an artificial endpoint.
Time, Pricing & Billing
A Pruning Day is $500 and includes up to 6 hours on site
This structure allows enough time to work carefully, clean up properly, and avoid the rushed feeling of shorter sessions
If additional time is desired and daylight allows, work beyond the Pruning Day may be billed hourly, with client approval.
A final invoice will be issued following the session for any time exceeding the Pruning Day and is due upon receipt. You only pay for the time actually used.
Debris & Cleanup
Before the session, we’ll confirm a plan for pruned material, which may include:
On-site piling or habitat stacking
Client-managed disposal
Haul-off by Gribley Permaculture (when available and agreed upon)
Cleanup and documentation typically require 30–60 minutes at the end of the session, depending on scope and debris plan.
How to Get Started
Pruning Days are scheduled in advance, with availability typically December through March. A deposit holds your day on our calendar.
Thank you for caring for your land with intention. I’m grateful for the opportunity to support you and your trees.
Warmly,
Luke
Gribley Permaculture