So your trees are looking a little rough and you’re wanting to hire an arborist. If you’re like many people, you’re probably wondering what exactly an arborist does for your trees.
What services do they offer and what should you ask for? Arborists are experts in all things trees, including removing, trimming, pruning, and cabling.
They are also knowledgeable on tree health for a variety of different species, and they know what to look for when treating diseases and infestations. These five simple services arborists offer can help your trees look their very best!
1 – Tree Removal
Removing trees, especially trees you really like, can be a bit depressing. However, sometimes tree removal is necessary for the protection and safety of the home and it’s occupants. If you have any large trees that are too close to your home, or too close to other homes, it might be needed to get them removed.
The first thing arborists will do is inspect the tree by looking at the size and determining if there are any cracks or decay that will hinder the removal process. Next, arborists will determine the best plan of action and begin to prep the site. They will climb the tree using harnesses and cut sections of branches off with a chainsaw.
There are many safety risks when it comes to removing trees. This is a job meant for arborists who are trained and have the right equipment to safely get it done, so please never attempt this on your own! Tree removal can offer many benefits to the rest of your garden as large trees block natural sunlight and consume a lot of moisture and nutrients, so by removing a large tree your garden and lawn now have a chance to thrive.
2 – Stump Removal
Stumps in your garden can cause a lot of different problems. It makes cutting the grass difficult, and it’s a tripping hazard. Not only is it an inconvenience, but tree stumps can attract termites or carpenter ants that can then spread to other plants or trees in the garden. This can leave you with even more problems than you started with! There are two different ways arborists can treat tree stumps. They can grind a stump or just fully remove it. An arborist will ask you about your future plans in your garden before deciding which is best. While removing a tree stump is more laborious and will likely take the most time, it will leave your garden with a clean slate and allow you to do any sort of landscaping on that spot in the future. Stump grinding, while less intrusive, will leave the roots behind and it can take up to ten years for the roots to fully decay. Arborists will assess the situation and give you the service they believe will work best in your case. If you have big plans for your garden, make sure to let them know!
3 – Tree Trimming
Arborists will trim your trees when the bushes are overgrown and they’re not receiving enough light to properly flourish. Trimming trees ensures that they are properly growing and enhances the overall physical appearance. If trees are left untrimmed, it can cause damage to the property. Especially if they’re close enough to fall on the house! Arborists will use a hedge trimmer to safely trim your trees. Ideally, trees should be trimmed once a year during the dormant season.
4 – Tree Pruning
Similar to tree trimming, tree pruning is done in order to protect the tree. Tree pruning removes dead, loose, or infected tree branches so the tree can flourish. It can also be used to reshape the shrub if you’re trying to give your tree a different look. There are several different pruning techniques an arborist might use to prune your trees:
– Cleaning, which removes dead, loose, or damaged limbs in order to improve the overall health of the tree
– Raising is exactly how it sounds- it involves raising the limbs of the tree. This is especially important if the lower limbs are in the way of buildings or vehicles.
– Thinning, which simply removes branches in order to “thin out” the tree. This will allow better airflow through the tree and helps it keep its natural shape.
– Reduction, which helps maintain the form of the tree but reduces its height or width overall.
5 – Tree Care
Overall tree health is a crucial factor to caring for your trees. If you’re like most people, you probably don’t have the slightest idea what a tree needs. (Besides sunlight, of course). But don’t worry! Arborists can care for your tree and also offer advice if you’re looking for answers on how to care for your trees yourself. Arborists can treat infections and infestations in your trees. To treat these diseases, arborists will first diagnose the disease and decide on the best course of treatment. They can also provide preventative treatments for both diseases and infestations. This would be the best course of action. Who wouldn’t want to prevent the problem before it happens? Arborists will also provide cabling services. Cabling is an important part of tree care because all trees grow differently. Some trees have limbs that overextend and this can cause many problems.
Here are a few reasons that cabling is sometimes needed for trees:
– Prevention: Cabling can prevent weak limbs from falling by providing the proper support.
– Conservation: Cabling can protect the weak limbs to help preserve them.
– Protection: Cabling can lessen the chance of failure on hazardous trees. Arborists will install a single cable into one limb of a tree and run it into another limb. The cabling process will reduce movement on the weakest point of the tree and lessen the risk of limb failure.
If saving your tree is important to you, and you don’t want to have to completely remove it at some point in the future, asking an arborist to cable your tree is the best option! Arborists are essential when it comes to caring for your trees. These services can be laborious and dangerous, so it’s important to contact an arborist if you want or need these services. Never attempt these jobs alone or without the proper knowledge to complete it safely! When it comes to tree and stump removal, trimming, pruning, and knowledge on the overall health of trees, arborists are there to provide services and knowledge for anything you need to know. Contact an arborist for these services and your trees will be looking good in no time!