Latest from the Blog

• Licensed and Insured: A Tree Service Should Make the Cut

  November 16, 2018

  

  When selecting a tree service, the importance of choosing a service with the proper credentials cannot be overstated. Not only is the safety of your family at stake, but your trees should be cared for by a professional who will preserve the health of your yard overall.

  What does it take to make a tree service worthwhile?

  Appropriate Insurance Coverage

  Since trees are heavy and capable of causing harm, having a tree service prepared to handle any damages both physically and financially is vital. Insurance coverage should also include workers’ compensation because all members of a tree service working on your property need to have appropriate coverage for their safety and yours. When a tree service is in your yard, you should be completely at ease that the safety of all present will be considered, and you will not face any danger or undeserved liability.

  ISA Certification

  The International Society of Arboriculture teaches the art and science of proper tree care. When a tree service has the ISA seal of approval, you can feel confident that the service has the knowledge and experience to properly care for your trees and ensure your safety. At 770-Tree-Guy, our team is led by a certified arborist, which is defined by ISA as an individual who has completed extensive tree education and passed a comprehensive test for certification. Certification is a guarantee that a tree service is educated and accountable.

  Extensive Services

  Throughout the life cycle of your trees, different care is necessary. A tree service should offer a full spectrum of services which accommodate your growing yard’s needs. The services which a certified arborist can provide include pruning, planting, emergency tree care, tree removal, plant health care, tree risk assessment, bracing trees, and consulting.

   

  Read More

• Why Tree Topping Should Not Be At The Top of Your List: Part 3

  October 18, 2018

  

  Throughout this series we have been highlighting the negatives of tree topping on your tree as well as you. Finally, we would like to address how it can impact your wallet and what can be done as an alternative to tree topping.

  Topping is not cheap!

  There are several costs which go way beyond the initial fee for topping which can remain hidden to a homeowner.

  • Further Maintenance Costs—Topping a tree is not a one-time fix. Assuming the tree survives, pruning to correct the topping will be necessary within a couple years. If your tree dies, paying for tree removal will be necessary.
  • Impact on Property Value—Trees if properly cared for can add as much as 10-20% to your overall property value. Unsightly topped trees not only could be a deterrent if trying to sell your home because of the visual eyesore, but they also would be considered a future maintenance cost. Basically, on the financial books and the eyes, topped trees are a serious problem.
  • Possible Liability Costs—As previously mentioned, topped trees are a fall hazard waiting to happen with their weakly attached branches. Since topping is not viewed as a responsible pruning choice, a fallen branch from a topped tree causing damage could easily be rendered an act of negligence. The risks of having a topped tree are clear, so it is best to avoid the liability.

  Topping is bad…so what can be done about an overgrown tree?

  • Proper pruning—If branches are removed at the proper points, the tree will be able to recover from the cut. For smaller branches, removal at the origin is the recommended pruning technique. If a larger branch must be pruned, for the sake of a power line for example, it should be pruned back to a lateral branch, so that the role of being the core of the tree is not in the hands of an incapable branch.
  • Tree Removal—In some serious cases, the pruning necessary for the tree to not be a danger to your home, property, and itself is not possible and the tree might have to be removed. Although not an ideal solution, removal is still a safer and more responsible choice than topping.

  If you have a tree outgrowing your yard, imposing on your power lines, or threatening to fall, contact 770-tree-guy for a consultation. We only utilize arboricultural practices which are in the best interest of you and your tree.

  Read More

• Why Tree Topping Should Not Be at The Top of Your List: Part 2

  September 30, 2018

  

  In the previous post, we started to explain the many reasons why tree topping is not a proper arboricultural practice. In continuation, we would like to offer even more reasons why 770-Tree-Guy cannot recommend this practice.

       1. Topping exposes your tree to sunburn!

  Think of the leaves at the top of the tree like a pair of sunglasses or a coat of SPF 55. Leaves provide protection to the branches below by absorbing the sunlight. Exposure to too much light and heat causes the tissue beneath the bark to become sunburned which can lead to splitting, cankers, and ultimately death for some branches. Keep your tree out of the heat by refusing to top your tree.

       2. Topping is risky for you!

  Many homeowners will choose to top trees to avoid fall risks and minimize danger. The opposite happens by topping—trees become even more dangerous. The survival mechanism which kicks in and causes rapid new growth through new shoots produces branches which are weak and likely to break off. Branches are designed to grow from the proper socket of layered up tissue which will anchor them for support in the long-term. Because these branches grow so rapidly, as much as 20 feet in a year for some varieties of trees, these branches can cause serious damage when impacted by hazardous conditions such as wind, snow, or ice. The original goal of being “safer” has the opposite effect as these new branches are even more likely to fall. Protect your home and property by only employing proper pruning techniques.

       3. Topping is stealing the natural beauty of your tree forever!

  Topping is so much more than giving your tree a bad haircut. Although an ugly haircut will grow out and remedy over time, topping damages the very core of the tree so it will never shine with its former natural splendor. Trees are designed to grow with an intended structure which will allow their leaves to fully absorb the natural sunlight. When a tree is topped, not only is the tree less attractive for the moment with unsightly stumps, but the tree is impacted forever and will never regain its original ideal structure. Topping can leave a tree without proper leaf coverage for up to 6 months. During that time, the tree will look disfigured, but it will also absorb far too much light and heat. Topping is a decision believed to be a temporary solution, which has long-term consequences.

   

  Look out for the concluding blog post in this series which highlights a final impactful reason and the best alternatives to tree topping.

  Read More