Hi. 2-3 years ago I bought a Autumn Blaze Maple tree for my front yard. Since putting it in I haven't done any trimming or pruning. Before I do, I wanted to get some advice. My (loud obnoxious) neighbor has told me the angle of the main top branch of my tree is too steep and if I don't cut it off (immediately) the branch will break off in the wind and my tree will die. I told him to worry about his own trees and I would look after mine. For the past few months I've casually been looking for tree advice and recently I found out about this Ask an Expert page. Today, I guess I have these questions: 1) Do I need to worry about the angle of the branch? I've attached a few photos to show where the branch starts and how it angles up. Also a photo of the full tree so it can be seen in context. (The branch in question makes up a large portion of the tree.) 2) Along similar lines, what are the do's and don'ts for trimming/pruning maple trees? What things should I be looking for in the coming years as this tree grows. 3) When it comes time to trim/prune a maple tree, what time of year is best to do this work? 4) Would it be worth finding a landscaping/tree trimming expert to do the trimming? If I decide to have someone help with this, are there credentials or certifications I should ask about before I let them touch my tree? Thanks for your help and advice. - Your Friendly Neighborhood Philip