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Trees define the character of your home and even of the city in which you live.

Seldom is there natural beauty in many geographical locations that do not need to be enhanced by landscaping and trimming or removal of existing trees.

What we want on our properties are normal healthy trees and beautiful landscape that will last many years to come.

Thus logically the only way to achieve this goal is with proper maintenance.

Simply the most important tree maintenance program is professional trimming.

Correct trimming promotes the appearance and health of the tree and reduces the chance of storm damage due to wind and ice, and promotes better air circulation in the tree.

Dead limbs, also known as die back and stubs are to be cut out of the tree to prevent them from falling into the yard, on a structure, on a person or a pet.

The pruning of dead limbs and stubs also prevents further decay spreading into the green limb that they have grown from.

The reasons for die back in a tree are numerous, some of these are that the canopy is too thick causing too much shade on the lower or inside foliage, soil disturbance or construction close to the tree trunk or even under the circumference drip line of the canopy, too much or not enough water, soil condition, fungus, disease and lightning are to name just a few.

However one mistake that many tree companies make is that they over trim or over thin the tree.

By doing this the tree can look too thin and bare and they also cut out certain side limbs that leave holes in the sides of the canopy of your tree.

I have seen this time after time in pen oaks, red maples, bradford pears and so on.

The canopy of the tree is to be left completely full as possible and only the inside of the tree is to be trimmed for a more natural look.

Unless of course you are having a tree cut back from over a house, building or a property line, then there is logically no way to leave a full canopy on that side of the tree.

The monetary value of a tree depends upon many things.

The type of tree, if there is any historical significance, its location in the yard, if it balances the landscape, its health condition, its age, the amount of shade it gives and if it shades an important of your home like the house itself or your patio or driveway.

After 10 years of study in July of 1957 the National Shade Tree Conference and the National Arborist Association devised a method for determining the value of a tree.

In 1959 the basic value of a tree was 5.00 per square inch of trunk within its circumference.

Today I feel a fair value would be around 50.00 per square inch. Thus a basic value in dollars would be 15,740.00 for a tree with a 20 inch cross section of truck at chest high.

Now from this basic value you start subtracting for what kind of tree that it is, its condition, location and so forth.

For a Red Oak tree with a 20 inch trunk its final appraised value might be as high as 9,000.00, compared to an old hollowed out soft maple tree at about 1000.00 or even less.

If there is an old hollowed out tree on the southwest corner of your house, I would actually give this tree a negative value based on the amount of damage that it will do to your house when someday the wind or the weight of the ice uproots the tree and makes it fall onto your house.

Sometimes people buy lots to build a house on because of the existing trees that are already on it.

And whether someone is a buyer or seller of a home good looking healthy trees and landscaping make the property much more inviting than weeds, a ragged old brush pile or trees that are full of deadwood.

Our family has been in the tree care and landscape industry since 1947.

Telephone us now for your free estimate on 753-4420.