Tree Care 101: 5 Services from Professional Arborists
If you have trees in your yard you know how important is to take good care of them. There are things you can do on your own to make them better and keep them healthy. However, sometimes you’ll need professional assistance. Your trees can get “sick”, they’ll need a professional trim or you’ll need to remove them and this is something you shouldn’t do on your own. Calling a professional tree service is the safest way to go.
Tree Removal
Tree removal is just what it sounds like. It’s the act of cutting down a tree to remove it completely. Don’t worry, this is an inevitable process that’s bound to happen with old trees or trees that have been damaged beyond repair. Sometimes removal is required because of construction, to get lumber or for safety reasons.
Some homeowners think this is a task they can do on their own. However, cutting a tree by yourself can be dangerous. It’s always a better idea to hire a professional arborist tree removal company. Tree removal is a process that requires a lot of skill, tools, and precision and has steps you should follow. Not having that knowledge and tools can lead to disastrous results.
There are 2 types of tree removal, manual and mechanical. The manual removal requires tools such as axes, chainsaws and saws. It’s mainly used and smaller and thinner trees and trees where there isn’t a lot of access for the bigger machines. It takes a lot of skill to manually cut down a tree. Professionals have the tools, to do an assessment, determine the fall’s direction and make sure everyone and everything around them is safe.
The mechanical method involves excavators, harvesters and feller bunchers. This is a method used when tall and large trees need to be removed. It’s also used when there’s enough room for the people and the machines to move around. This is a faster way of getting the job done and it requires fewer workers. To get the job done, the machines have attachments and extensions. They take it down and cut it into smaller logs or even chips and sawdust.
Every professional tree-removing company has a plan on how to work on the tree. They first make the environment safe for everyone by removing debris and obstacles. They plan the cutting direction so there’s no potential damage to the property. They make calculated cuts little by little. Once they’re done with the removal, they usually clear the space of the leftover wood, leaves and branches and leave the space clean for further work.
Tree Pruning
Tree pruning is a process in which a tree’s dead branches are removed. When the tree is old, very ill or very damaged, there’s no point in keeping the dead branches on. This can only cause more damage and kill off the whole tree. So, to prevent this from happening, they should be pruned. Pruning will also encourage flower and fruit production and growth.
This process is usually done twice a year. Trees blooming in spring are pruned during the summer. And the ones that bloom in summer are pruned during winter or spring. This is a 3 step process that involves planning, measurement and clean and precise cuts. Doing it on your own is risky because you could damage the tree and cut branches that are perfectly healthy. So, the safest option is to hire professional services.
Stump Grinding
Stump grinding is another reason to call the professionals. Arborist tree removal companies can take care of tree stumps in a fast, efficient manner. This process includes removing the tree’s stump but leaving the roots underground.
Professionals have a specialised tool called a stump grinder. This is a machine that not everyone can own and operate. They have the experience, knowledge, training and skill to use it safely. These people will protect the surroundings and the people and will get the job done in no time.
Elm Beetle Treatment
One of the most common bug issues for trees is elm beetles. Call the experts as soon as you see tiny, circular holes in your trees’ leaves. They will assess the risk to your trees and assist you in controlling these pests. If you’re not sure what an elm beetle looks like, it has a brown-green body, is about 5sm long and usually has 2 stripes.
These bugs are very active from November until the end of February. You can prevent significant damage to your tree if you take prompt action. If left untreated, the eggs that hatch can turn into larvae. The larvae then turn into elm-beetle adults. These adults can cause skeletonisation, discolorisation of the leaves and defoliation.
Instead of tree cutting, call the professionals to take care of them. They have several ways to solve the issue depending on the damage that the tree has. The most eco-friendly way to do it is with trunk injection which includes injecting imidacloprid. The beetles get one small bite of the tree and they’re gone.
Professionals also use Foliar sprays on young trees, usually twice a year. The third way is the non-chemical control banding. It’s where they trap larvae as they move across the trunk. It’s not a very effective method but if there aren’t many insects it can work.
Insect Control
Insects are one of the most common problems that trees face. Different areas of Australia have different types of insects that can harm and damage the trees. Don’t worry, most of them are pretty harmless, but some can cause a lot of damage and even kill the tree. Hiring professional services will help you solve this issue faster.
They have the knowledge and tools to make an assessment of the situation and damage, identify the insects and find the most suitable solution. They’re always starting with a more natural treatment to remove the insects. If this doesn’t help, they then turn to chemicals but tread very carefully so they don’t damage the tree even further. Most professionals will also do follow-up inspections to make sure everything’s going according to plan.