How can I maintain my trees to be as beautiful and safe as possible?

Keeping your trees healthy with regular care and strategic interventions specific to your goals is the best way to achieve continued strength and beauty. A lapse in care such as no watering in the hottest months of summer followed by a deluge in an effort to compensate can sometimes shock a trees system. It is best to try to plan for regular and consistent maintenance so as not to shock the tree in a way that may negatively impact its health. Tree bags are an excellent way to provide a small but consistent flow of water in summer months, and regular pruning whether this is multiple times a year, yearly or even every other year for some species can be enough to stay on top of managing your trees health. Regular maintenance visits can also be an opportunity for your arborist to visually check up on the health of your tree, and let you know if anything needs to be addressed or monitored, for your safety or the safety of the tree.

Do I need to meet with the arborist to get a quote?

In 99.9% of cases, yes! We need to know exactly what you are looking for and what to price out in the quote. There are very few exceptions such as recurring maintenance on properties we have already visited, or emergency services. Please get in touch with us to discuss your own unique situation!

Do I need to be present while the work is being done?

In most cases, no! But there are exceptions.
The only cases requiring a client to be present is if it has been arranged ahead of time to verify specific details of the work on site before work is commenced. This can often still be accomplished by phone and sometimes necessary details can be obtained and relayed to us before the scheduled work and as such release the client from the obligation of being present.
When we are doing standard trimming , removals and hedge work, our experienced crew knows best how to complete the work. We also have the PPE (personal protective equipment) required to be in the work area. If you wish to see the crew in action on your property, it is best done from a safe distance.

My tree looks sick, what can I do?

The BEST thing to do for your tree is to get the problem accurately diagnosed before making any attempts at treating it. Sometimes additional watering or fertilizing can make the problem worse if you do not know what is causing the tree to be unhealthy in the first place. One of our ISA certified arborists can help with a ‘Tree Health Consultation” to determine what action-if any, is needed.

I’m concerned a tree on my property is unsafe. How can I find out ?

You can book us for a free estimate as sometimes safety issues are easy to assess and act upon. Sometimes an unsafe tree is not quite as obvious and an in-depth investigation is needed to determine if a tree is unsafe. If further investigation is needed, you may require an official ‘Tree Risk Assessment Report’ from a certified ISA arborist with a TRAQ designation. Please contact us so we can help you determine how to proceed.

Why are there limits to the amount of material I can take off of my tree?

While there are some exceptions, to keep most trees in optimal health, it is not recommended to take more than approximately 20% of material from the canopy during any one trim. Taking more material, in some cases, may be considered to be ‘tree damaging activity’ and could result in a decline of the health of the tree and, depending on what municipality the tree resides in- monetary fines.

I have a full day of work booked, how long will the crew be there?

A full day at one property generally allows the crews to accomplish the greatest amount of work in one day. The crews typical work day consists of 7.5-8 hours. This includes collecting trucks, gear, etc. from our head office, driving to the work site and to the dump if necessary to discard material once the trucks fill up. Safety briefing, setting up tools, rigging and if necessary, flagging a designated area as a drop zone for tree material can be part of the time spent working at your property. The exact time the crew will spend in action on your property will vary with your location, the complexity and size of the job, and sometimes weather if severe conditions require the crew to stop periodically to assess risk or tend to their physical needs in order to remain safe. The usual working time is approximately 6 hours but can be affected by any of the aforementioned items.

Am I allowed to help?

Since our crew is covered by work safe, has all the appropriate PPE and are used to working efficiently together as a team, they cannot have homeowners join in to help- as this can be a danger for the homeowner as well as the crew who’s processes may be interrupted. The best way to help our crews do their job is to make the work area and removal route as tidy as possible before their arrival. This can include moving vehicles so that the most direct waste removal path can be taken and/or the crew can allow branches to fall to the ground instead of rigging and lowering each branch carefully by hand. Cleaning up anything that could get in the way of the crew such as outdoor furniture, plant pots, statues, bicycles, etc. can help the crew maximize efficiency as well.

Why can’t I just hire you by the hour?

If tree work was always straightforward and predictable, an hourly rate would make sense, however, trees are living beings and can hide secrets under their bark. The price of a specific job may need to account for level of risk and difficulty as well as time involved. We do not want to pressure our crew with a time limit if their lives are at stake. Therefore, we price work fairly and consistently and consider many factors while doing so. Please get in touch if you are curious about getting a quote for your tree project.

How can I tell if my tree needs to be pruned?

When trees are planted around our homes, they sometimes may need special attention in order to fulfill our goal of having them grow safely and harmoniously with us. If you don’t know or cant remember when your trees were pruned last, its a good idea to give them a little attention. Some clues that your tree needs a trim can be dead or broken branches, branches that are crossed or rubbing, pronounced crookedness or long, heavy, drooping limbs. You may also just want to trim a tree that is starting to encroach on buildings or pathways, impede roadways or driveways, or grow over or towards high foot traffic areas as this can be a preventative safety and maintenance measure.

What do you do with all the material you take off of the trees?

Most of the time when we have a mixed load of wood scraps, chips and brush we will take this to the dump to be recycled. Sometimes, if we have a load of clean, suitable chips we will drop these off to a local gardening organization or a client who has requested them in advance. Some clients opt to keep the chips from the wood processed on their property. We also leave suitable firewood on site for clients when requested.

When is the best time of year to get my trees trimmed?

Contrary to popular belief, late fall/winter is one of the best times to prune as the lack of leaves makes it easy to see the structure of a tree, and trees can often recover more easily since they are in a ‘dormant’ stage. There are some exceptions to certain species or if you have specific goals for your trees and property.

When is the best time of year to get my hedge trimmed?

Winter is an optimal time to prune hedges as certain species can be quite stressed by dry summer heat and a trim at that time can add to that stress. Early spring can also be a prime time to prune a hedge as this can help spur new growth adding to the beauty and vibrancy of your hedge.