Services

Tree Removals


A variety of factors influence the price of a job including:

  • size
  • species
  • health/stability
  • distance from the road
  • nearby obstacles (homes, wires, fences, sprinkler systems, etc.) requiring  rigging
  • need for expedited work


Trimming

See below for the different kinds of trimming services.


Fire Mitigation

Insurance companies are requiring a certain distance between trees and the house to comply with standards. To achieve an acceptable space, both tree removal and trimming may be required. 



Stump Grinding


We grind down stumps to below grade by six inches when possible.

***The owner is responsible for marking the sprinkler systems. 

Pruning

Crown Cleaning


Dead and diseased branches are removed along with branches that are weakly attached to the trunk.


Crown Restoration


Trees damaged by storms or had significant portions break may be saved with restoration prunning. Broken sections are removed and appropriate cuts are made to encourage new growth on the remaining structure.


Additional Kinds of Trimming


  • Crown Thinning
  • Vista Pruning
  • Crown Raising and Reduction
  • Beautiful Shaping all Around
  • Structural and Correctional Trimming (mainly for younger trees)

Unfavorable Branch Structures


Branches with weak attachment or form are more prone to failure under heavy loads and strong wind. 

Examples include:


  • Codominant stems. Two main stems arise from the same location and are roughly the same diameter. Under stress, one section is likely to split away from the other due to the weak bond that forms between such stems.
  • Overly-large branches. Branches greater than half the diameter of the main trunk do not have a branch protections zone (the branch/ trunk union rich in chemicals that inhibit the spread of decay). Should the branch fail or need to be cut, a large portion of the tree may decay.
  • Branch attachments with included bark. If the union between the trunk and branch seems to have a depressed seam, then the bark is included in the attachment. This kind of attachment has less strength than a clean one.
  • Branch attachment angles of less than 30 degrees. Sharply-angled branches generally have less strength than those with broader angles of attachment. At sharp angles, wood fibers do not interlock with each other. Some species are characteristic due to this kind of upright growth habit.



For most tree species, branches should be spaced about a foot apart for smaller trees and about 18 inches for larger trees.


***It is best to do correctional pruning on young trees before structural flaws become too large to safely correct for the health of the tree.



Topping Trees


In most cases, topping is an inappropriate way to control a tree's growth. Topping is a temporary solution with long-term consequences:


  • Topping destroys a tree's natural beauty that may never be attained again.
  • Large, indiscriminate cuts often never heal and consequently, fungi easily eas its way down the tree.
  • Watersprouts grow in abundance from the cuts, at a rapid rate. The tree quickly reaches its previous height with a thicker canopy.
  • Watersprouts have weak attachments to the rest of the tree and are more prone to failure under heavy loads.


***One situation where heavy reduction cuts may be used is after a tree has been damaged in a storm.



When Should Trees Be Pruned?


Generally, it is best to do corrective pruning during the winter or summer. In the spring, trees expend a lot of energy putting out new growth, while in the fall trees are preparing for dormancy, which pruning can interfere with. Some trees should be pruned in midsummer, such as those producing stone fruit (peaches, plums, cherries). This will help the trees avoid a devastating fungal disease known as silver leaf. On the other hand, pome fruit trees (pears, apples) benefit from winter pruning. Trees with heavy sap flow in the spring should be trimmed when in leaf if weeping (heavy flow of sap from cuts) will be of aesthetic concern (birches, maples, and walnuts).


Removal of dead branches can be done at any time of the year. 


Corrective pruning should be done less often on older trees than on young ones. Mature trees are not as tolerant of major cuts and have fewer resources with which to heal. With each branch removed comes the possibility of fungi invading the wood and rotting the trunk. Proper cutting techniques and the tree's vitality can help prevent or outgrow rot, but the risk of damage increases with the size of branches removed. 



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