What People Are Saying....

I am a Boy Scout leader in Fairfield, California... Recently our troops did a city wide Christmas tree collection. Curtis and his crew donated their equipment and time to chip over 200 trees that took over 3 hours. They did this after working a full day's work. I thought this was a very wonderful gesture of community service. And, the Boy Scout Troops of Fairfield send him out much appreciation. Posted by cakusscoutson 01/09/2012

My neighbor has a huge Acacia... My neighbor has a huge acacia tree with branches hanging over the fence into my backyard with leaves blowing onto my roof. I've had to go up to the roof on my 2 story house and remove the leaves to prevent the gutters from being blocked. Curtis did an excellent job explaining how he would thin out the foliage and prune it in such a way that the remaining growth will grow upwards instead of outward toward my roof. I was impressed with the whole process of Curtis hanging from the tree, going from branch to branch, the equipment he used, and cleanup. I highly recommend his expertise! Posted by sharonoaklandon 10/30/2011

Signature Tree Service Commercial

Curtis and his team show how Signature Tree Service are the right choice when if comes to taking care of your trees. See more at www.signaturetreeservice.com

Why Prune a Tree, Especially in the Winter?

First of all, what good does tree pruning trimming and shaping do for my trees? Secondly, why do it in the winter months? Trimming a tree or pruning is necessary for many reasons. An important reason to prune a tree is to lessen the chance of it falling during a wind or ice storm. Thinning a large tree canopy is a great way to reduce wind resistance.

Once pruned, air can now breeze with ease through the top of a tree requiring much less stabilization and pressure on the root system. Tree maintenance is also appealing to the eye like grass cutting. Cutting dead limbs helps prevent the spread of disease or bacteria, and avoids potential hazards. There are many benefits to trimming, shaping, & pruning a tree.

So why is pruning a tree in the winter so effective? There are many reasons. I will point out a few important ones.

1 - It is Cheaper! Most tree cutting service prices are low in the winter months since this is a slow period. Local tree service cost is very competitive during this season.

2 - It is cold outside. Trees go to sleep (dormant) in the winter much like our beloved Bear! Vascular cambium is slow; the tree relies on its reserves for nourishment, and does not use a lot of energy. So why does this help for cutting a limb? For some species it's very important because sap flow is not heavy and the tree will not bleed.

3 - Leaves are gone. Deciduous as opposed to Evergreen trees leaves have fallen, therefore the debris is much less when trimming your trees. Cleanup and chipping the tree debris becomes much easier.

So how do tree trimming & tree cutting services determine a dead branch versus a live branch without leaves? An experienced tree climber can tell the difference. See a picture of a Red Maple (Acer rubrum) tree limb, one dead and one alive - tree service in the winter. The dead limb is a bit discolored, cracked, and dried out. The live limb has a healthier more rich color tone, together, and flexible. You can also see that the new growth is much more abundant than the dead limb.

The texture of the dead limb is very rough while the texture of the live limb is smooth. If you try to break the dead limb, it's easy to snap apart. Whereas if you try to break the live limb, it's more difficult and will rip cut or tear by its live moist wood. Live limbs usually have vibrant terminal buds, and dead limbs terminal buds are dried up, black or dark brown, or completely non-existent depending on how long the branch has been dead. Depending on the tree species, dead limbs generally droop, and live limbs are usually more upright.

Generally, when a tree climber is up a tree it is easier to identify dead limbs than from below. The sunlight helps from above also, from below there is usually a shadow under the branches making it difficult to see subtle differences. The best way to prune or trim a tree is naturally. This means that only diseased, dying, dead, split, jagged, or improperly balanced limbs are removed.

It is necessary sometimes to remove live limbs, especially if a tree is potentially hazardous with a lean. If a large heavy limb is on the side of the lean and the tree has grown towards a structure, then by removing this large limb (leader) you can decrease the chance of tree fall. A trees canopy and weight of large limbs has a lot to do with why a tree falls in a storm. Especially a tree is not diseased or dead, although usually there is a mix of issues for a large tree to tumble over in a storm.

Tree trimming, cutting, pruning, & shaping are necessary tasks. As homeowners, it is our responsibility to maintain our trees and keep our yards and neighbors safe. Performing tree work of any kind in the winter is a smart move and saves on the annual tree maintenance budget. So put on a warm coat, get out there in that Cold weather, and get those trees pruned! Contact a local company to provide your tree cutting service.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3573444

How to Check Your Trees for Damage After a Storm

Storms of any kind can wreak havoc along their path. After assessing any damage to your home, it's important to assess the damage done to trees around the property.

When to Assess Your Trees

Of course, your family and home are the most important belongings to consider after a storm. When life threatening situations have been resolved and it is safe to be outside, only then should you walk around and survey the damage.

Numerous damages may be covered or at least partially covered by your homeowners insurance. Many times an adjuster must survey the damage before repairs are made, so don't forget to contact your insurance agent immediately after storm damage occurs.

What to Look For

Broken branches and twigs on the ground are easy to see and remove. First concern should be the areas around the home and access paths (i.e. driveway, parking area). NEVER touch branches that have come in contact or are surrounded by power lines. Because the liveliness of a power line is questionable and extremely dangerous, always call a professional to take care of the situation.

While walking around surveying the damage at eye level and on the ground, it's imperative to remember to look up into the trees to observe the damage above your head that could result in future injury or harm. Remove any limbs that have been damaged and pose a threat to the tree or structures around it, and prune branches that have broken but are still attached to the tree.

When to Save a Tree

Trees are necessary to the natural ecosystem. You want to save trees whenever possible. Time is on your side, so use it to seriously contemplate the choice to cut down a tree. A mature, sturdy tree can recuperate despite major limb damage. The roots and crown are two areas to observe; if roots are not visible (still solid in the ground) and less than 50% of the crown remains intact, preservation is likely.

When to Cut Down a Tree

Trees that have been severely damaged should be considered for removal. Split trunks and exposed roots are problems that can't be fixed and can present impending danger.

Cutting off the top part of a tree (topping) may seem a logical solution to save the tree as a whole, but this should never be done. Topping trees weakens them and exposes them in a way that can subject them to disease and insects, as well as more damage in future storms.

A professional Arborist or tree care specialist should be consulted for major tree removal and assessment. Don't take on more than your skill level permits; know your limitations.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7230147

Tree Service Company - What to Look For

You are thinking about hiring a tree service to cut down a large branch hanging from a tree in your front yard. The tree you like. Who does not like trees? The branch you hate. Not only is it a safety as hazard high winds could knock it into your living room window but it blocks the sunlight from getting into your house. What company do you go with and what do you look for?

We live in a sue happy society and I would make certain that due to the inherent risks any tree service I would hire have a general liability insurance policy and a workers compensation policy. The liability insurance policy should be at least $1,000,000. This is to protect you and them. If you need to make a claim (hopefully you will not but you never know) you know they are covered. If they mess up your neighbor's yard or cable wires you know they are covered for that as well. The work their employees are doing is dangerous as the heights they have to climb to cut branches can be tens of feet high. If a person falls the workers compensation policy kicks in. Without it, and with a good personal injury lawyer, they can come after you because the accident happened on your property.

Ask if the owner and his subsequent employees have been trained a licensed through the state apprenticeship program. The state of Washington it takes 4,000 hours and 144 hours of classroom time to get a "Power Line Clearance & Tree Trimming" apprenticeship license. You want to make certain the people cutting your branches have this. The course trains people in safety first but also teaches them about various tree types and how to cut them without damaging them. Again, considering how demanding and high risk this activity is you want people who are doing it for you to be fully trained to do it right.

Get three quotes from three different tree service companies. When you call a company like this they will send an estimator out to bid the job. Make sure you get them to put everything in writing and exactly what you are getting for the money you are spending. When this happens you can make accurate comparisons. Note this: the cheapest bids are not always the best way to go. And, extremely low bids may give you a clue that they do not have all the insurance they should. Tree service companies pay some of the highest insurance rates in the country and this businesses have to pass a lot of those costs on to their customers.

Look online for reviews about a tree service you are considering doing business with. If they have been around for several years they will have some sort of reputation. You need to find out what they reputation is. Is it good or is it bad? Have they produced substandard work? Have they overcharged or did not do what what agreed upon? Online reviews of a particular tree service will tell you this.

Follow these suggestions and you should be able to weed the bad tree cutting companies from the good ones.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3772799

How to Care For Your Trees in Cold Winter Months

If you have tender younger trees or newly planted ones, you may be concerned about heavy ice and snow and strong, cold winter winds. Clear any debris from the ground around the trunk of the tree. Spread a good mulch or hay around the tree to provide insulation in the winter. The mulch should be piled at least a foot deep the plant. This should be done in the late fall, just before the first frost. A few good mulches are: bark mulch, wheat-free straw, wood chips and peat moss. There are other mulches also, but these are a few. Mulch protects roots and helps prevent rapid fluctuations in the soil temperature.

For young or new plantings, there are some options available to protect your tree or shrub from heavy snow that may fall upon it from other trees or from a roof, as well as from snowdrifts and strong winds. Many people opt for wrapping the tree in burlap, which is just fine and works very well, if the burlap is wrapped properly.

There are also garden tents which are ideal for young trees, shrubs or plants. The wood is nailed together in a V-shape, with mesh or burlap stapled to the wood. This forms a tent shape. Then all one has to do is place the garden tent over the desired plant and viola, you have protected that tree. There are also Styrofoam covers that people use. It is the same idea as the garden tent, in that it is physically placed over the plant, but it is made from Styrofoam rather than from wood and mesh or burlap. Many people today prefer the garden tents and Styrofoam covers as opposed to the burlap wrap. All three methods are good preventative measures to take towards protecting your fragile or new plants or trees against the harsh elements of winter. It is merely a matter of preference.

Trees that are somewhat larger or too large to be covered or wrapped, may need help to fight against the storm winds. You can help a tree at its weakest point, which is always where the branch departs from the tree trunk. The weakest point of a tree is where you have two branches of equal diameter coming off the trunk of the tree. It is at that point that trees seem to inevitably split. The plant collar which supports a limb cannot wrap itself around the split, which makes the branches very susceptible to high winds and heavy ice.

The tree can be braced by wrapping rope around the weak points and securing it to a wall, or anything that will keep it secure. Properly pruning a young tree will help you to avoid this kind of problem in the future. If you have any questions, be sure to contact your favorite nursery and they will be glad to help you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3383040

How to Spot Hazardous Trees

In most cases, trees provide beauty and shade around our property. But there may come a time when one of those trees is set to fall and can cause property damage, or worse, bodily harm. That is why it is wise to be able to identify visible signs that a tree may become a hazard before it happens. Here are a few things to look for:

Dead Wood

Dead wood is one of the most serious concerns and must be attended to immediately. It is unpredictable, and can come down at any time. You can identify dead wood by its dry and brittle appearance. It also doesn't bend in the wind like healthy wood. Dead branches that are already broken, also referred to as "hangers" or "widow makers," are especially dangerous.

Cankers

A tree canker is not unlike the canker sores people get in their mouth. It is an area on the stem or branch of a tree where the bark is sunken or missing. If you see a canker, this increases the chance of the stem breaking in that area. A tree with a canker that encompasses more than half of the tree's circumference is hazardous, even if the underlying exposed wood looks healthy.

You should take action if one or more cankers affect more than half of the tree's circumference. You need to also take action if a canker is connected to a crack or other defect, weak branch union, or cavity.

Cracks

If you see cracks that may extend from the bark into the wood, this poses a danger as well. You should take action if you see multiple deep cracks in the same area of the wood, if the branch in question is big enough to cause injury, or if a crack is leading towards another defect in the tree.

Weak Branch Unions

A branch union refers to the area where two or more branches connect to the tree. The branches are usually similar in size and upright. Bark grows between the branches and inside the union. Since bark is, of course, weaker than wood, the support is weaker. Contact a tree removal company if you notice a crack in a weak branch union.

Decay

A tree usually decays from the inside out, leaving a cavity inside. And while decay can be a hazard, that alone isn't a sign of a hazardous tree. In these cases, it is usually wise to have a trained arborists examine the tree to see if it is dangerous. If advanced decay is also associated with other defective parts of a tree, take action sooner than later.

Additional Hazards

Other things that you need to be concerned with are root problems and poor tree architecture. For instance, if you notice a tree leaning with root exposure, this may foretell a tree falling.

Poor architecture refers to a tree's growth pattern that may indicate a structural imbalance. While a leaning tree may pose a danger, that is not always going to be the case. Again, it is best to consult a professional arborist if you have any doubts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5267004

Bring in a Tree Trimming Service for Tree Care and Upkeep on Your Property

Even thriving trees can use a little professional TLC from time to time. Hire a tree trimming service to keep your trees looking their best.

The trees in your yard add beauty and character to your landscape. Whether you have a few mighty oaks, a long row of pines, or an array of ornamental cherry trees, you want to ensure that your trees look their best and reflect well on both your property and you as the property owner. Well-maintained trees can add value to the land and make your yard a truly pleasant place to be.

But aesthetics are only one reason to consider hiring a tree trimming service for tree maintenance. Regular trimming and pruning can boost your trees' health, helping them grow taller and stronger. Tree care can also ensure the safety of everyone who uses the yard, as well as protecting your property from tree-related damage due to falling limbs. Look for a tree services professional in your area with the knowledge, skill, and training to take all of these considerations into account.

Tree Appearance

If you put effort into maintaining your home's exterior, from regular paint jobs and clean windows to a mowed lawn, why wouldn't you also take steps to maintain your landscape elements? Well-groomed trees show that you care about your property. Of course, tree trimming doesn't have to mean pruning each tree into an identical shape, unless you're going for a topiary effect. It's often enough to remove limbs that are dead or unsightly, and to trim back any branches that are in the way of your windows, vehicles, utility lines, or other landscape features. Whether you want an extremely groomed look or desire a wilder aesthetic, tree trimming will help you achieve that effect.

Tree Health

Tree trimming service isn't just good for your property's appearance; it's also good for the trees. Removing diseased and insect-infested branches and limbs can keep problems from spreading to the entire tree. Additionally, dying and diseased limbs can sap nutrients from the healthy part of the plant, and thus removing limbs that can't be saved can make the entire tree stronger. Thinning out crowded branches and getting rid of limbs that are rubbing together can also strengthen the tree, making it better able to withstand storms and other natural events. However, it's best to hire a professional tree contractor to conduct pruning and trimming, because improper tree cutting-even with good intentions-can harm the tree and stunt its growth.

Tree Safety

Heavy limbs, improperly balanced limbs, and limbs that are about to snap pose a hazard to your family and your belongings. The last thing you want is to ignore that dangling branch only to have it fall and land on your car, your home, or your child. Even if there's nothing directly beneath the problem area, a strong storm could blow a broken branch or limb into a building or vehicle. Hiring a tree services professional to take a look at potentially dangerous limbs can help you avoid injury and property loss.

Trees are a major element of any landscaping plan, whether you choose to plant them yourself or you design your yard and home around existing trees. As such, they're an investment in your property, and as with any investment, they require upkeep. Professional pruning and trimming will make your trees healthier and your property safer and more attractive. You'll also potentially save money by preventing major issues rather than dealing with them after disaster strikes. To learn more about what's best for your trees, contact a tree contractor or landscape specialist in your area.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7280591

Eucalyptus Removal over house in Benicia, California

Signature Tree Service removes two large and hazardous Eucalyptus over house in Benicia, California

Removal of large hazardous dead Valley Oak over house!

Signature Tree Service flawlessly removes a hazardous dead Valley Oak over a house, valuable landscape and street with out any damage or incidents. This project was executed on a 102 degree summer day in Vacaville, California!