An Arborist specializes in the cultivation and care of trees and shrubs, including tree surgery, the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tree diseases, and the control of pests.

An arborist is a specialist in the care of individual trees. Arborists are exceptionally knowledgeable about the need and care of trees and are trained and equipped. Hiring an arborist is a choice that should not be taken lightly. Proper tree care is an investment that can lead to substantial returns. Pruning or removing trees, especially large trees, can be dangerous work. Poorly maintained trees can be a significant liability. Well-cared-for trees are attractive and can add considerable value to your property. Tree work should be done only by those trained and equipped to work safely in trees.

There are states that dictate what types of trees you can cut down (even on your own property). A permit maybe needed and paid for. Make sure you check with your local forestry department for any stipulations.

If the tree is causing structural damage to your house or property, it would be highly recommended to cut the tree down to avoid further home or property damage. For instance, sometimes large trees close to a house or property can rot eaves or clog water pipes. Remember this when you plant new trees. Make sure they are far enough from your house or property to prevent future damage and keep the integrity of your home or property. Sometimes a tree simply has to go.

An estimate is recommended depending on the circumstances. Once you get an estimate for the cutting, make sure the price is still worth the loss. If your house or property is close to the tree, the price could skyrocket. Cutting a large tree down may seem simple enough, but usually you need to hire trained professionals for the job.

It is recommended to have a trained technician remove the hive from the premises. You should first determine if the bees are honeybees. If they are, you may be able to find a beekeeper who would rescue them for his/her own hives.

Before this question can be answered, a number of factors need to be considered. Think about the following questions:

• Which type of maintenance are you willing to provide? Do you have time to water, fertilize, and prune the newly planted tree until it is established, or will you be relying on your garden or tree service for assistance?
• What are the weather conditions? Exposure to sun and wind?
• Why is the tree being planted? Do you want the tree to provide shade, fruit, or seasonal color, or act as a windbreak or screen? Maybe more than one reason?
• Which type of soil conditions exist? Is the soil deep, fertile, and well drained, or is it shallow, compacted or infertile?
• What is the size and location of the planting site? Does the space lend itself to a large, medium, or small tree?
• Are there overhead or belowground wires or utilities in the vicinity?
• Do you need to consider clearance for sidewalks, patios, or driveways?
• Are there other trees in the area?
• What is the quality of the tree? How long is the tree expected to live?
• Are there barriers to future root growth, such as building foundations?

Then, utilize the information you have gathered and select the tree species that works best with the conditions. For assistance, contact us, a local ISA Certified Arborist, tree care professional or garden center to plant the right tree in the right place.

Topping a tree is the indiscriminate cutting of tree branches to stubs or lateral branches that are not large enough to assume the terminal role. Other names for topping including; heading, tipping, hat-racking, and rounding over.

Topping is perhaps the most harmful tree pruning practice known. It is usually done to reduce the size of a tree. Often, homeowners top their trees because they feel that they have become too large for their property and are hazardous. Topping a tree will make a tree more hazardous in the future and is very harmful to the health of a tree. This service is not recommend but provided upon request.

Mulches are materials placed over the soil surface to maintain moisture. Mulching is extremely beneficial to trees for health purposes. It can reduce water loss from soil, minimize weed competition, and improve soil structure. Properly applied, mulch gives trees, plants and soils a healthy living situation with a number of benefits.