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There are countless reasons why trimming your trees is worth it. However, for most, it’s a process that is best left to the professionals.

A commercial tree service can get the job done quickly and correctly. It’s extremely important that you look for a quality company to work with, or the job can go wrong.

Are you wondering how you can find the right commercial tree service to work with? We’ll go over everything that you should be asking and looking out for before you choose one to work with!

Services Offered

Before choosing a commercial tree trimming company, you should consider the services that they offer. While tree trimming will be the main service you’re looking for, you may also be able to have them do some other work around your yard as well.

Many companies can also provide services like tree removal if that’s something that you’d like as well. They can also work with other types of plants to promote their health and growth.

While you may need their tree trimming services right now, you want to create a good relationship with the company. Knowing you can trust them can help you choose them again when you need other services as well.

Going through the process of searching is hard enough the first time!

Licenses, Certifications, and Insurance

Choosing commercial tree care services also involves checking up on the company’s background. It’s crucial that you work with a company that has all of their paperwork in order so that you can rest assured that the job is done correctly and safely.

Be sure to ask the company about their licenses and certifications. They should be happy to provide you with proof of their certifications.

This will tell you that they are trained and can be trusted to complete the job safely and effectively.

For example, we are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture. With this accreditation and over 20 years of experience, we can assure you that any work completed by us will be done with integrity and care.

Insurance is another important part of working with the right tree trimming service. Any service that you work with should have insurance in case of the unexpected.

This protects both the company and you as the customer.

Types of Equipment

When dealing with trees, there’s lots of different equipment needed. It’s important to know what type of equipment to expect and if the workers are certified to operate it.

It’s common for a crane to be used in tree trimming as the branches are typically too high to reach. You’ll need to know if your property can accommodate this and be prepared to have space for it.

They’ll also have to bring along tools like trimmers and chainsaws if needed. It’s important to give the technicians adequate space and a clear area to work for this reason.

You can inquire about the tools that the technicians will be bringing to ensure that everything will go smoothly for them.

Estimates

There are two estimates that you should ask for from a potential company; a time estimate and a cost estimate.

The time estimate can give you an idea of how long the job is going to take. This allows you to plan to be there and give the technicians an idea of what you’re looking for.

A cost estimate is important so that you can budget for your service. The company that you choose should be able to give you a general idea of both before you start.

They may ask a few questions to better understand the situation and give you a more accurate estimate of both. Be sure to ask for this before scheduling!

Safety Protocols

Aside from being safe with the equipment, there are other safety protocols that a company should have in place. The technicians should be wearing protective gear to keep them safe while on the job.

You can ask the company if they will be providing this for their technicians. Goggles, overalls, and other personal protective equipment are typically a staple when it comes to being an arborist.

Choosing a company that cares about their employees and their safety can give you peace of mind that everything will go well once they arrive for the job.

References and Reviews

Looking for reviews is often an important step in the process of choosing commercial tree services. You can learn a lot from looking at reviews, however, don’t forget to take them with a grain of salt.

Don’t take one good or one bad review at face value. Instead, look for similarities in the reviews to get a better idea of what the company will be like to work with.

You can also request some references from the company that you choose. They should be able to give you contact information for someone that they’ve worked with before.

This gives you a chance to get first-hand information from someone who has worked with them before and get their feeling on the experience.

Previous Experience

One last thing you can ask a potential company is whether they have worked on jobs similar to yours before.

For example, your business may be close to other businesses, but you still have a few trees that you need to be trimmed. You would need the arborists to come in and work in close quarters to another business.

You can ask if the company has ever worked on a project where they’re tight on space before, and how it went.

For companies like Arbor-Tech Tree Services that have been in business for over 20 years, we’ve seen it all.

A Quality Commercial Tree Service Awaits

If you need some tree trimming done around your business, you need to choose the best commercial tree service that you can. By looking for these qualities in a potential company, you’ll make the right choice to get the job done correctly.

At Arbor-Tech Tree Services, we’re happy to serve customers in the Southlake and Frisco, Texas areas. Contact us today to find out how we can help you with tree trimming!

When a tree falls in the forest, it may not make a sound. But it will make an impact when it falls near you.

Falling trees kill more than 200 Americans every year. Scientists have found nearly 100,000 dead yet standing trees in the eastern United States alone. Any one of these trees can fall over at any moment. 

What should be your first response to a fallen tree? Who can you call for help, even when you are in the middle of the storm? How can you prevent another fallen tree from happening? 

Answer these questions and you can keep your home from significant storm damage. Here are five things you should do after a tree falls in your yard.  

1. Assess the Fallen Tree Damage From a Distance 

As soon as a tree falls down, you should assess the situation. Start with the room you are in. If the power went out or if the room shook, you should assume the tree hit a power line at a minimum. 

Try to get to a window and look out to see what is happening. Even if you can’t see the tree, you can see where you can go if you need to evacuate. 

If there is no apparent damage to your home, you can go to a location where you can see the fallen tree. Do not go outside or get any closer than you need to. Pull out your phone and take photographs of the damage. 

If a tree fell on your house, you should evacuate. It does not matter if there is no immediate damage. Rainwater and wind can push on the tree and puncture a hole in your ceiling. 

Try to find an area where you can place a phone call. This may involve going to a store or an area near a radio tower. 

Call 911 if anyone has been injured. Keep in mind that a branch may have fallen onto your neighbor’s property or into the road. Try to see if everyone around you is okay. 

2. Call a Professional Tree Removal Service 

You can call a company as soon as your tree falls. You should keep in mind that they may not respond to you right away. A major storm will cause other trees to fall over and block roadways.

But placing a call will expedite the removal process. Tell them what storm damage from trees you have. Tell them where and how big the tree is. 

Try to assess their experience and skills. Ask them about how to remove a fallen tree. If they are not clear in the details, talk to a different company. 

You can ask about prices, but keep the focus of your call on the immediate situation. Tree removal is more important than saving money. 

3. Call Your Insurance Company

Once your call with the tree removal company is over, you should call your insurance company. Tell them what happened, what has been damaged, and where you are. 

Be as detailed with your descriptions as possible. Try to itemize your damaged belongings, including your fence and car. 

As with a professional removal company, you should not expect immediate treatment. Many people may be calling your insurer. You may be put on hold or connected to a representative you do not know. 

They may ask you to send photographs of the damage. Do so as soon as possible. You may need to move to an area where you have Wi-Fi access. 

4. Secure Your Home

After you are done with your insurance company, focus on your safety. Wait for the inclement weather to pass before you go outside. You can wait in a neighbor’s house or your car if you feel unsafe inside your home. 

Lock your doors and windows before leaving. Remove your valuables and secure them in drawers away from sight. 

Place boards or solid objects over any holes in your wall or broken windows. This will prevent animals and floodwater from entering your house. 

Do not try to remove the tree itself. It may have damaged the integrity of your home or knocked down a power line. Do not go near a downed power line, even if you are wearing protective equipment. 

Ask a home inspector to come into your house and inspect the foundation. A tree that fell in your hard may have damaged it, even if it missed your house entirely. 

Do not stay in a house with a damaged foundation or destroyed walls. Allow someone to make repairs, but stay at someone else’s place until your home is whole again. 

5. Get Your Tree Removed

Let the professionals take care of the tree for you. You can supervise their work, but let them do their jobs. 

After the tree has been removed, think of some steps you can take so damage does not happen again. You may want to remove dead or decaying trees from your property. You can also hire a tree trimming service that will remove extended branches. 

Reinforce your walls and roofing for added security. You can install stones, plywood boards, and metal grids to increase your home’s strength. Try to remove fragile objects from your walls so a tree in your backyard will not rattle them. 

Prepare an evacuation plan in the event that your home gets damaged again. Figure out where you will go if you need to leave and decide what you need to take. If you are in an area that has a lot of storms, you can prepare a go-bag with medication and important documents. 

Get Your Fallen Tree Out of the Way

A fallen tree requires immediate intervention. Assess the damage near you and outside. If you are at risk, get out of your house. 

Call a tree removal company so they can respond to you right away. Then talk to your insurance company about the potential damage. 

Board up any damaged areas and do not go near your tree. Let the removal company come and do that work for you. Take steps to improve the integrity of the house and your personal safety. 

Don’t hesitate to get tree removal help. Arbor-Tech Tree Service serves the Southlake area. Contact us today. 

You can go about pruning a tree for various reasons, resulting in a better-looking and functioning tree.

Although trees develop to their full capacity and live a long life without being pruned, this regular landscaping maintenance allows your trees to reach their maximum potential and live a long life. But before you can learn how to trim a tree correctly, you must first understand why you should do so.

So let’s delve into how to prune your trees correctly at home and why. We’ll run through all the skills needed, as well as the time and effort it takes.

Why Homeowners Should Prune Their Trees 

Pruning results in eliminating dead, dying, and diseased branches, as well as branches that rub together and any branch stubs, to ensure good tree health.

Increased foliage while reducing you getting an infected tree. It can be achieved by opening up the canopy to allow light and air to filter throughout the entire tree.

Water sprouts and suckers can weaken the wood and take nutrients from the main tree at ground level. You can build a sturdy tree that can resist winter storms and severe winds by assisting a tree in establishing one main tree and a dominant leader.

Landscape care and appearance pruning work together to create the perfect tree. You can encourage fruiting and flowering, shape trees into specific forms, and manage tree sizes by pruning and trimming them in precise ways.

Safety Hazard Concerns

Although safety considerations are rarely considered, they are a compelling incentive to cut your trees. Trimming the trees in your yard ensures that your family and friends are secure. Trees that have been trimmed well are more robust and healthier.

Property and people can become at risk from dead branches, unhealthy trees, and weak limbs. You should think about whether tree branches are getting too near safety lights, electricity lines, or obscuring road views while cutting trees.

Pruning Small Tree Limbs

Think carefully about where you want to cut your smaller limbs as it will encourage new growth.

Then you should try thinning, shrinking, and shaping limbs small enough to cut with simple hand tools. Don’t waste your efforts on larger branches with these sorts of tools. You might end up hurting yourself worse, or damaging the tree.

Cut the small branches one-quarter inches above any buds on the tree’s exterior. The fresh growth will be in this direction. To prevent water damage and disease, try to keep your cuts at right angles.

Pruning Thicker Tree Branches

Calluses form where a tree branch has been properly trimmed, and the tree’s health is dependent on this callus.

To avoid causing harm to the bark, you must cut back most tree branches to the trunk or the primary branch three times. The first two cuts eliminate the tree branch’s weight, while the final cut promotes callus growth.

Tree Pruning Methods

You can improve a tree’s health and shape in a variety of ways. As well, we should all aim to grow a tree that has good light and air circulation, as well as appealing attributes and strength.

The four most common tree trimming procedures for general pruning are:

• Crown cleaning
• Crown reduction
• Crown elevating
• Crown thinning

You’ll notice that each type of trimming involves the tree’s crown. This is because the tree’s crown is required for the production of photosynthetic leaves. The rest of the tree will deteriorate over time if the crown is not sturdy and healthy.

Crown Cleaning

When trimming a tree, crown cleaning refers to removing dead, diseased, and broken branches. It can be done at any moment and should be part of crown thinning, elevating, and reduction procedures.

Crown cleaning reinforces the entire tree, minimizes potential harm to the tree and surrounding property, and improves the overall security of your landscaping.

Crown Reduction

Crown reduction is a technique for trimming trees that are older and more mature. It can aid in the strengthening of the tree and the promotion of new growth.

Crown reduction is when you remove a tree branch and replace it with a growing lateral limb nearby. The lateral limb will form part of the newly formed tree crown when the growing season begins in the spring. This procedure is a kinder alternative to tree topping, in my opinion.

More minor cuts are used, and less crown is taken, leaving enough of the previous growth for structure. You use crown thinning to diminish branches and foliage, while you carry out a crown reduction to remove old growth and promote new growth.

Crown Raising

Crown raising is the process of lifting the bottom edge of tree limbs to make room for traffic, buildings, or a view. You should do this method of tree pruning over a long period.

If you remove too many lower branches at once, you can make your tree weak. Yearly, you should prune only some of the branches with a diameter of less than around four to five inches.

Crown Thinning

Trimming a tree’s crown to remove specific live branches to lessen the tree’s overall density is known as thinning the crown. On mature trees, thinning is the most prevalent way to prune. It improves sunshine penetration and air circulation. Gravity, wind, ice, and snow can all cause stress on certain limbs.

The goal here isn’t to modify the tree’s size or shape. So thinning should be uniform across the board. You should prune trees for crown thinning so that they appear fully unpruned.

Pruning a Tree the Right Way

As soon as they plant a tree, a forward-thinking homeowner starts pruning it. Branches that are diseased, dead, or damaged should be removed as quickly as possible.

Yet, pruning a tree can appear to be a daunting task. Choosing professional arborists might be the best solution for your needs.

At Arbor-Tech Tree Service, we have the tools and training necessary to remove tree branches of all sizes securely. Why not get a quote today and find out how we can help develop your trees the right way?