Stumps: To Remove Or To Grind?

The tree care experts at Greater Pitt Tree Service in Pittsburgh, PA share advice about caring for newly planted trees. Whether you are replacing a tree that had to be removed or adding trees to your landscape, planting new trees is one of the best things you can do. New trees represent a multi-generational project that can be appreciated for decades to come. During its lifetime, a tree will add habitat for animals, clean air to your surroundings and beauty to your property. But, did you know that the first years of a tree’s life at its final location can be detrimental to its success and well-being? Planting healthy trees is more involved than simply plopping a potted tree into the ground. Since trees take so long to grow, you want to make sure that you’re doing everything in your power to give its best shot at growing strong and healthy. This article will give you some tips to ensure your tree’s success.

Greater Putt Tree Service, Pittsburgh, PA’s trusted tree service company, wants to protect you from the risks involved in trimming your own trees.  On the surface, tree trimming may not seem like a difficult job. But, there is much more involved than just hacking off some tree or shrub limbs and calling the job done. Certified arborists take courses on proper pruning methods so that pruning can be performed with the long-term health of the tree in mind. A reputable tree trimming service will also have an extensive safety program in place, complete with the proper tools and equipment to do the job safely and effectively for your property and their workers. The average homeowner does not have access to the equipment or the training that is available to arborists and should not attempt to heavily prune their own trees since damage to the tree or to the person pruning the tree is likely to occur. Tree Pruning Is A Risky Job Tree trimming is one of the riskiest jobs that one could do. Every year accidents occur that end in serious injury or fatalities. It is important to remember that many tree trimming companies also have extensive safety training and equipment specifically to prevent these accidents. But despite the training, tree trimming is still very dangerous. Risks from tree trimming come in the form of dangerous tools and the heights that the tree trimmers encounter. Running high-powered chainsaws while harnessed high in a tree is a dangerous undertaking. As cuts are made, the tree can sway wildly as the weight of large limbs being removed shakes the tree. Cut pieces can also fall onto equipment operators. It is also very common for property damage to occur when untrained people try to trim trees. One of the main reasons trees are trimmed is because of their proximity to houses and other structures. As pieces are cut away from the structure, falling debris can cause massive structural damage if not properly managed. Poor Pruning Could Cause Future Damage While pruning can be done with the overall health of the tree in mind, pruning always puts stress on the tree. Certified arborists have special training that allows them to make good judgments about when and how much to trim a tree without causing unnecessary stress. Over-stressing the tree can lead to significant damage down the road. If you try to prune your own tree, there is a good chance you could stress the tree to the point that it will need more maintenance in the future. Pruning too heavily damages the canopy of the tree. A thin canopy can let too much light into the internal parts of the tree and make it susceptible to die-off. Conversely, it can also lead to too much internal growth that is unhealthy for the tree and will need to be pruned off anyway. Hiring a professional tree trimming service with certified arborists is the best way to avoid these problems that can develop from having someone who is untrained to do your tree trimming. Common Pruning Mistakes There is a science to tree trimming. When proper protocols are not followed serious damage may occur. Common mistakes that untrained trimmers make include: Over-pruning – Pruned branches are wounds of a tree. Each open wound invites wood-decaying fungi that infect more than just the wound. Improper cuts – Pruning cuts must be made properly to prevent further damage to the limbs or trunk of the tree. Cuts that are made too long or too short can damage the tree trunk and make it susceptible to fungus. Pruning in the wrong season – Removing dead limbs can be done at any time of the year. But pruning live branches should be kept to a minimum while the tree is active. Pruning with no goal – Pruning should be done with a clear end goal. Are you removing dead branches? Are you trying to increase fruit production? Are you enhancing the shape of the tree? Having a goal will prevent unnecessary stress to the tree and give you clearly defined objectives. While trees may die as the result of poor pruning practices, often the damage that occurs from untrained trimming results in the need for an arborist to mitigate the damage. Often you will end up ahead by simply having the trees trimmed by a professional. Greater Pitt Tree Services Can Help Greater Pitt Tree Services is a full-service tree care company serving the Pittsburgh, PA area for over 25 years. Offering a fully-insured and certified staff of arborists, they have the knowledge and experience to help you with any of your tree care needs. Best of all, we perform our pruning based on your specific tree needs, ensuring healthier and more lush trees throughout your home and landscape. Call today (412) 867-9631 for risk assessment, land clearing, or tree removal services.

Certified arborists in Pittsburg, PA share tips to help you protect your home and landscape. For years now, trees have been valued and protected for environmental reasons. Indeed, trees are an integral part of nature and even to our own survival. Mature trees and landscaping add incredible value to your home and property in several ways. The aesthetic value adds beauty to your surroundings. Trees close to your home allow you to interact with all the critters that use them as habitat. It has even been estimated that mature trees add thousands of dollars to the value of properties, simply because of aesthetics. Mature trees also save you money in several ways. Shade provided by mature trees can increase the life of parts of your home such as the roof and exterior sheathing by preventing damage from direct sunlight. Mature trees also can lower utility bills by keeping sunlight from warming up your home in the summer. Since trees represent a huge investment in your home, it makes sense to care for them as an integral part of your property. Investing in the trees around your property will not only add value, but it can also protect you from the potential dangers associated with trees near the property.  Tips For Tree Maintenance Any season is a good time to have your trees assessed by an arborist. Licensed arborists are better than landscapers at assessing trees because they have specific training to know how to best deal with any issues with your trees. An arborist’s job is to do what is best for the health and longevity of your trees, not simply removing them or hacking them to pieces. Taking advantage of the services of an arborist is the best way to protect your trees. An arborist will make recommendations about tree trimming and they will know the right methods and seasons to perform the work so that your trees stay healthy. Using an arborist will also help you avoid any safety concerns that could do extensive damage to your property. What To Do In Case Of Emergencies Unfortunately, trees can represent a threat to your property. Winter and spring are particularly busy times for tree emergencies . Winters cause damage to trees from ice and snow loads that can cause large branches to crack. Spring storms can break limbs from the force of winds or trees can uproot because of soft soil caused by heavy rains. As tree limbs crack and trees fall over, they can damage homes, vehicles, and power lines. If you see an emergency caused by a tree, assess the situation. If there is immediate danger from power lines or structural damage to your home, vacate the area and call the utility companies and your insurance company. In both cases, arborist services may be covered by your insurance. How Do Arborist Help? Upon an initial visit to your property, an arborist will perform a tree risk assessment. During an assessment, the arborist will look for things such as: Dead limbs Rotten trunk sections Fungus or mushrooms Insect damage Shape of the trees Clearance to structures and power lines Depending on the findings of the risk assessment, the arborist may recommend tree trimming, corrective tree pruning or if the tree is too damaged or close to a structure, full tree removal. Whatever the recommendations, the arborist can take the corrective action and haul away all green waste, including grinding the stump. Greater Pitt Tree Service has been proudly serving the Pittsburg, PA area for 27 years. Serving both residential and commercial needs, we can help you with any of your tree care needs. Whether you need a lot cleared, annual tree trimming, or a stump ground, wehave the knowledge and tools to help.

Tree Service Pros in Pittsburgh, PA Explain the Difference Between an Arborist and a Landscaper Many homeowners aren’t aware of the many benefits of hiring an arborist, or even exactly what one is and what they do. Ironically, arborists are incredibly important to maintaining the health of the trees around the home, which can also keep everyone in the home safer. Hiring one has many hidden benefits that all homeowners should strongly consider before attempting any tree or landscaping based projects. What Exactly Is an Arborist? Although sometimes referred to as a “tree doctor,” an arborist is so much more. In fact, arborists are like a pediatrician, physical therapist, emergency room physician, surgeon, and primary care doctor all rolled into one. They are incredibly multifaceted in all that they are able to do for trees, as well as other shrubs and woody plants. Arborists are in charge of maintaining the health of the tree from seedling on. They plant the trees, tend to them, maintain them, and can diagnose them if they show signs of disease. They can also advise the homeowner on many different tree-related issues – insect control, drought mitigation, seasonal tree care, and fertilization. An arborist also performs services like tree removal, tree trimming, pruning, and planting. They do all of these while looking at the health of the tree overall, instead of just focusing on one physical aspect. The Benefits of Hiring an Arborist There are many benefits to hiring an arborist, even though they tend to be more expensive initially. Over the lifespan of the home, these benefits can actually add value to the home and decrease the necessity to remove sick and diseased trees . Arborists are well-educated to deal specifically with the health of the trees and other plants on the property. This means issues are diagnosed more quickly, treated appropriately, and can actually be prevented in the future. This is especially true for those who are ISA (International Arboriculture Association) certified, as they have additional skills and knowledge to maintain that health and well-being long term. Another benefit of hiring an arborist that isn’t as frequently discussed is their ability to keep the home safe by significantly decreasing the risks associated with having a tree limb or even an entire tree fall on the home or on a person. Arborist vs Landscaper – Which is Best? To start, neither one is “better” than the other. They simply perform different jobs and hold different skill sets. An arborist is the best choice for homeowners who may be dealing with unhealthy trees, or trying to plan their tree selection and design for the future. Arborists think long term, and take the health and well-being of the trees into account. In contrast, a landscaper is more concerned with the physical part of the yard as a whole. While trees are part of this, they aren’t a landscapers only concern. They take care of a variety of physical projects, like weeding, mulching, irrigation, lawn maintenance, and the creation of artistic things like gardens and hardscapes like stone walkways. Both arborists and landscapers have their own benefits, but should only be hired for specifically what they are trained to do. About Greater Pitt Tree Service With more than 25 years of experience in the tree service industry, Greater Pitt Tree Service provides professional tree and timber services to the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania community. They are licensed and insured and have ISA certified arborists on staff. They can be reached at (412) 867-963 1, and perform tree-related services including tree risk assessment, removal, and trimming/pruning.

Know When It’s Time to Remove a Tree Tree Experts in Pittsburgh, PA, Talk Tips for Knowing When It’s Time to Remove a Tree The Importance of Trees Trees are as much a part of our lives and enjoyment as the gardens and houses that line our streets. But as much as we don’t want to have to remove the trees that grace our yards, sometimes it’s necessary due to the health of the tree. Removing a tree is not just an aesthetic issue, it’s often a safety issue and must be done for the protection of people and property. If you’re wondering when it might be time to remove a tree on your property, keep on reading. Tell-Tale Signs for Tree Removal Trees will tell you when it’s time to remove them if you know the signs. Large, dead branches in the crown of your tree are a dead giveaway that your tree probably needs to be removed. This only happens when the tree is extensively damaged. If the trunk of your tree has large cracks or splits, it’s a sign to be taken seriously. This often points to significant internal decay and damage. Though trees can continue living for a while when there is a significant amount of decay on the inside, it certainly won’t last forever this way and will eventually need removal. Finally, if a tree suddenly leans to one side, it could be a sign of structural damage and will likely need to be removed. Treatments to Try If you catch a problem with your trees early enough, sometimes treatments will help prolong its life. If you notice branches with fungus or disease, pruning the branches would be ideal so the fungus doesn’t have a chance to infect the rest of your tree. Ensure your trees receive proper nutrients my mulching around the base while ensuring to leave room for absorption and breathing. Ensure roots stay unexposed to avoid root rot. If you live in an arid climate, water your trees regularly to ensure they’re getting enough hydration when rain is lacking. Calling out one of our certified arborists to see if they have suggestions for potentially saving your tree would be a great way to see what can be done for your tree. They may be able to incorporate treatments such as chemical sprays that can help cut down on mold spread and prolong the life of your tree. When to Talk to An Arborist Our arborists are professionals that “speak” tree. They understand the risks with the way your tree is growing, know what signs to look for, and can make informed suggestions about how to take care of your tree – or removing it if necessary. Our arborists know what chemicals might help, can identify diseases, know how to brace trees for support, and offer pruning tips for long-term care. If you see any signs of tree disease or decay mentioned in this article, it’s crucial to call in an arborist to have a professional diagnosis and plan drawn up for the health of your tree and the safety of those living near it. Affordable, Best-in-Class Arborists Greater Pitt Tree Service serves the Pittsburgh, PA, area for residential and commercial landscaping needs. They offer award-winning service for tree risk assessment, all tree services, land clearing, and timber services. With over 27 years of experience, they know how to take care of your property and every tree on it.