Tag Archives: Tree Pruning Springfield MO

Structural Pruning Young Trees

Structural pruning is a type of pruning typically performed on young to middle-aged trees. The objective is to create a strong and healthy structure so that trees are sturdier under wind and less prone to failures. Structural pruning helps trees live full and useful lives.

Posted by All About Trees on Monday, January 16, 2017

Earlier this week, Noel lead a crew at Drury University and decided to use the job site as a chance to teach us all some tree knowledge and give us a view from the sky! Thank you, Noel!

As you can see in the video above, the crew’s work for the day consisted of hazard pruning some big older trees and structural pruning some younger trees. Jacob, one of our arborists, climbed a Maple tree to reduce co-dominate leads. He also worked out a Willow Oak. The Willow Oak had 3 leads competing for the top. Structural pruning helps eliminate this issue. Noel climbed a Willow Oak as well. He structurally pruned the tree to create one dominant leader. There used to be 6 leads! In order to make the remaining lead boss, Noel reduced the other 5 leads. These co-dominate issues should have been taken care of years ago. Noel also climbed an old Sweet Gum tree that was encroaching into the Willow Oak. The goal was to make a little more room for the next generation of trees.

There are three basic steps to developing and maintaining a dominant leader. The first step is to identify the stem that will make the best dominant trunk. It should be in the center of the crown, and free of cracks, openings, mechanical damage, large pruning wounds, cankers, or other defects that could compromise its strength. The second step is to identify the stems and branches that are competing with this stem. The last step is to remove competing stems and branches back to the trunk, or subordinate by shortening them with a reduction cut. Be sure to remove branches that are clustered together and growing from the same point on the trunk. Ideally, only one large branch grows from one position on the trunk.

Our arborists have years of experience and can help determine if any of your young trees need structural pruning. Call us at (417)863-6214 for a free estimate!

NEVER Pre-Pay for Tree Work!

NEVER pre-pay for tree work of any kind! I just can’t believe that this is the 4th or 5th story to make the news this year on people getting ripped off by fly-by-night tree service companies in Springfield. At All About Trees, we strongly recommend to never pre-pay for tree work. With nearly all of our jobs, we require payment upon completion of the work. Be wary of any tree care company that requires pre-payment.

Click here to read an example:
http://www.ky3.com/content/news/Cut-and-Run-Tree-trim-service-leaves-Springfield-homeowners-with-brush-piles-407674365.html

Why Hire an Arborist:
An arborist is an individual trained in the art and science of planting, caring for, and maintaining individual trees. Arborists are knowledgeable about the needs of trees and are trained and equipped to provide proper care. Hiring a tree doctor is a decision that should not be taken lightly.

Proper tree care is an investment that can lead to substantial returns. Well-cared-for trees are attractive and can add considerable value to your property. Poorly maintained trees can be a significant liability, as they are prone to breakage, disease, and failure. This can lead to significant property damage in the event of a storm. Pruning or removing trees, especially large trees, can be dangerous work. Tree work should be done only by those trained and equipped to work safely in trees!

We have two ISA Board Certified Master Arborists, as well as seven Certified Arborists. We will be able to get your tree work done safely and efficiently, to improve the quality of your yard.

To view a full list of our services, please go to https://allabouttrees.com/tree-services-tree-trimmers-springfield-mo/

If you would like to schedule an estimate, please give the office a call at 417-863-6214. If you miss us, please leave us a detailed voicemail message with your name, address, phone number, email, and tree concerns. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Bradford Pear Removal

Field of invasive Bradford pears

When people ask me what to do about their overgrown Bradford pears, I always say, “Cut it down and put a better tree here!”. Here are some of the reasons why:

https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/life/2016/12/12/bradford-pear-next-worst-thing-since-kudzu/95344290/http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/regional/bradford-pear-the-next-worst-thing-since-kudzu/37045711

Bradford pears, also called Callery pears, are an invasive species within the United States. They were introduced from China and Vietnam in 1964 as a fast-growing ornamental species. Due to this, they were quickly adopted by landscapers and gardeners. However, what they did not know at the time is that Bradford pears are incredibly invasive. After decades of widespread planting of this tree, we are still feeling the effects. The pears strangle out native trees and plant life, which is devastating to the ecosystem.

This is why we recommend removal of Bradford pear trees if at all possible.

If you would like to know more about our tree removal services, click here.

All About Trees is a locally owned, full-service tree care company in Springfield MO serving a 20-mile radius around the Springfield area. We offer many services, including tree pruning and trimming, tree removal, planting, stump grinding, cabling and bracing, shrub trimming, and consultation. All About Trees is caring for Springfield’s urban forest, one tree at a time.

Phone:
417-863-6214
Hours
Mon – Fri: 8am – 4pm

Selecting Native Trees for Missouri

Many homeowners are discovering the benefits of planting native trees and plants. Native plants include all kinds of plants from mosses and ferns to wildflowers, shrubs, and trees. Native plants occur naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without direct or indirect human intervention. Restoring native plant habitat is vital to preserving biodiversity. There are also many other reasons to embrace the use of Missouri’s wonderful native plants.

A Few Examples of Native Plant Benefits:

Supports native animals: birds, bats, possums, bees and snails and other wildlife!
Improves water quality.
Prevents soil erosion.
Provides clean fresh air.
Secures our food resources: around one-third of our food comes from plants that rely on native pollinators such as insects!
Native plants are adapted to local environmental conditions, they require far less water, saving time, money, and perhaps the most valuable natural resource, water.

Local native plants have adapted over a long period of time to the specific conditions here in Missouri. They are best adapted to grow in these local conditions and will be more likely to thrive than plants from a different region.

Native Trees for Missouri Landscapes:

Red Cedar
Short-leaf Pine
Boxelder
Red Maple
Silver Maple
Sugar Maple
Ohio Buckeye
Pawpaw
River Birch
American Hornbeam
Hardy Pecan
Shellbark Hickory
American Chestnut
Catalpa
Sugarberry
Hackberry
Fringe Tree
Yellowwood
Flowering Dogwood
Cockspur Thorn
Washington Hawthorn
Green Hawthorn
Persimmon
Honey Locust
Kentucky Coffee Tree
Black Walnut
Sweet Gum
Tulip Tree
Osage Orange
Cucumber Magnolia Tree
Red Mulberry
Black Gum
Eastern Hop Hornbeam
American Sycamore
Eastern Cottonwood
Wild Plum
Black Cherry
White Oak
Swamp White Oak
Shingle Oak
Bur Oak
Pin Oak
Willow Oak
Red Oak
Post Oak
Black Locust
Sassafras
Bald Cypress
American Linden
American Elm

For more information on native trees visit www.missouribotanicalgarden.org or www.grownative.org

All About Trees is caring for Springfield’s urban forest, one tree at a time.

Topping is NOT an Acceptable Pruning Technique!

Topping is NOT an acceptable pruning technique and we love to educate our customers as to why topping does not reduce future risk of damage to property. In fact, topping will increase risk in the long term. Some homeowners and unprofessional tree services practice topping whenever trees reach an undesirable height. However, topping is not an acceptable pruning technique.

How does topping damage trees?

Topping Stresses Trees
- Topping reduces food-making capacity.
- Topping stimulates undesirable “water sprout” growth.
- Topping leaves large wounds
Topping Leads to Decay
- The branch wounds left from topping are slow to close, therefore more vulnerable to insect attacks and fungal decay.
Topping Can Lead to Sunburn
- Increased sun exposure on trunk and branches can lead to severe bark damage
Topping Can Lead to Unacceptable Risk
- Weakened stubs are more prone to wind and storm breakage because they generally begin to die back or decay.
Topping Makes Trees Ugly
- Ugly branch stubs, conspicuous pruning cuts, and a broom-like branch growth replace natural beauty and form.
Topping Is Expensive
- Increased maintenance costs.
- Reduced property value. Healthy, well-maintained trees can add 10 to 20 percent to the value of a property. Disfigured, topped trees are considered an impending expense.
- Increased liability potential

Want to learn more about proper tree pruning? Check out our articles on young tree structural pruning, mature tree pruning, and/or crown restoration!

References:

Image source: Carrroll, Jackie. “Tree Topping Information – Does Tree Topping Hurt Trees?” Gardening Know How, 2021, www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/tree-topping-information.html

“Tree Owner Information.” Trees Are Good. International Society of Arboriculture, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.

Tree Planting – How To Care For Your New Tree

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR NEW TREE:

Water the tree, slowly, and deeply. It’s best to let water trickle very slowly onto the tree roots, so it doesn’t create a puddle. Let a hose drip at the lowest setting for an hour, or use a 5-gallon bucket with small nail holes in the bottom. Make sure the soil is moist, but not saturated. Once a week is plenty in the winter, but you may have to water more in the summer or periods of drought.
Keep the tree pit or tree lawn tidy. Ongoing: remove weeds, grass, and debris from the base of the tree. Annually: Gently loosen the soil to allow more water and oxygen to penetrate through the top three inches of soil. This is where most of the tree’s root hairs are and how the tree absorbs water and nutrients.
Mulch your tree. Newly planted trees need to be mulched. If it washes or blows away, add mulch. Cover the tree planting area with a couple inches of mulch, as wide as the outer dripline, if possible. Remember not to pile mulch against the trunk; expose the trunk root flare. This prevents moisture and insects from accumulating around the bark.
Keep dogs and cats from relieving themselves in the tree pit, if possible. Dog and cat urine and feces are very alkaline and can harm roots.
DON’T feed your newly planted tree or fertilize during a drought. Forcing a water-stressed tree to grow will only cause further stress. Also, granular chemical fertilizer is a salt that could dehydrate the tree.
DON’T prune heavily except to remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches. Removing more than one third of healthy branches will substantially weaken the tree. Never “top” your tree!
Protect the tree. You may want to install tree pit guards, bollards, or other obstacles to keep your tree from being damaged by car doors, bicycles, dogs, etc. Trunk wounds can invite disease and weaken the tree.

Now that you know how to care for your new tree, you’ll be able to enjoy your tree for years to come! If you are having difficulty with your new tree, please give us a call at 417-863-6214 to set up an estimate. We would be more than happy to help you take proper care of your trees! We are a tree service, after all. To view a full list of our services, please visit https://allabouttrees.com/tree-services-tree-trimmers-springfield-mo/

For even more information on how to care for your new tree, please visit https://www.arborday.org/trees/tips/

Tree Planting Around Utilities

Tree planting season is upon us and planning before planting can ensure our trees here in Springfield, MO will thrive for years to come. While we have been busy making our tree planting list, we thought we would help remind our customers of how important it is to plant the right tree in the right place. Basic knowledge of proper tree care helps individual tree owners understand the quality of care necessary for the health of their trees. The following article, from a treesaregood.org brochure, provides great tips for tree planting around utilities.

To view the PDF in its entirety: http://treesaregood.org/treecare/resources/Avoiding_Conflicts.pdf

Avoiding Tree Planting & Utility Conflicts

Many factors should be considered prior to planting. Here are some helpful hints for tree planting around utilities.

Determining where to plant a tree is a decision that should not be taken lightly. Many factors should be considered prior to planting. When planning what type of tree to plant, remember to look up and look down to determine where the tree will be located in relation to overhead and underground utility lines.

Often, we take utility services for granted, because they have become a part of our daily lives. To ensure us the benefits of reliable, uninterrupted service, distribution systems are required to bring utilities into our homes. These services arrive at our homes through overhead or underground lines.
Overhead lines carry electricity, data, and communications. Underground utility lines may also carry those mentioned, plus water, sewer, and natural gas.
The location of these lines should have a direct impact on your tree and planting site selection. The ultimate mature height and spread of a tree must fit within the available growing space beneath and alongside the lines. Just as important, the soil area must be large enough to accommodate the particular rooting habits and an ultimate trunk diameter of the tree. Proper tree and site selection can provide trouble-free beauty and pleasure for years to come.

Overhead Lines
Overhead utility lines are easy to spot, yet often overlooked. Although these lines look harmless enough, they can be extremely dangerous. Planting tall-growing trees under or near these lines eventually require your utility provider to prune them to maintain safe clearance from the wires. This pruning may result in the tree having an unnatural appearance. Periodic pruning can also lead to a shortened life span for the tree. Trees that must be pruned away from power lines are under greater stress and are more susceptible to insects and disease. Small, immature trees planted today that have the potential to grow into overhead lines can become problem trees in the future.
Tall-growing trees near overhead lines can cause service interruptions when trees contact wires. Children or adults climbing in these trees can be severely injured or even killed if they come in contact with the wires. Proper selection and placement of trees in and around overhead utilities can eliminate potential public safety hazards, reduce expenses for utilities and their customers, and improve landscape appearance.

Underground Lines
Trees consist of much more than what you see above ground. Many times, the root area below ground is larger than the branch spread. Many of the utility services provided today run below ground. Tree roots and underground lines often coexist without problems.
However, trees planted near underground lines could have their roots damaged if the lines are dug up for repair.
The greatest danger to underground lines occurs during planting. Before you plant, make sure that you are aware of the location of any underground utilities. To be certain that you do not accidentally dig into any lines and risk serious injury or a costly service interruption, call your utility company or utility locator service first. Never assume that these utility lines are buried deeper than you plan to dig. In some cases, utility lines are very close to the surface. Locating underground utilities before digging is often required by law.

Tall Zones
Trees that grow 60 feet (20 meters) or taller can be used in the area marked “Tall Zone.” Plant large trees at least 35 feet (11 meters) away from the house for proper root development and to minimize damage to the building(s). These large-growing trees can be planted on streets without overhead restrictions if planting space is sufficient. Street planting sites should be greater than 8 feet (3 meters) and allow for a large root system, trunk diameter, and trunk flare.
Large trees are also recommended for parks, meadows, or other open areas where their large size, both above and below ground, will not be restricted, cause damage, or become a liability.

Medium Zones
Medium-sized trees that grow up to 40 feet (12 meters) tall are often used to frame or soften the appearance of structures or create a park-like setting. Appropriate soil spaces are wide planting areas or medians [4 to 8 feet (1 to 3 meters) wide], large planting squares [8 feet (3 meters) square or greater], and other open areas of similar size or larger.

Low Zones
This zone extends 15 feet (4.5 meters) on either side of the wires. Trees with a mature height of fewer than 20 feet (6 meters)
may be planted anywhere within this zone, including street tree plantings under utility lines. Such trees are also recommended
where soil volumes are too limited to support tall or medium zone trees.

Some Further Suggestions
Plant evergreen trees in the path of prevailing winter winds to serve as windbreaks. Plantings should be approximately 50 feet (15 meters)
or more from the house.
Plant deciduous trees (those that drop their leaves in the fall) to maximize shading in the summer. In winter, the bare canopies will allow
sunlight to reach the house.

Right Tree–Right Place
Planning before planting can help ensure that the right tree is planted in the right place. Proper tree selection and placement enhance your property value and prevent costly maintenance trimming and damage to your home. For further information on planting and helpful tips
on tree selection, refer to ISA’s brochures on tree selection and new tree planting. If you have any more questions, please contact your local
ISA Certified Arborist or tree care professional, utility company, local nursery, or county extension office.

Developed by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), a non-profit organization supporting tree care research around the world and dedicated to the care and preservation of shade and ornamental trees.

For further information, contact: ISA, P.O. Box 3129, Champaign, IL 61826-3129, USA.

E-mail inquiries: [email protected]

Works Cited:

“Avoiding Tree & Utility Conflicts.” Trees Are Good. Web. 14 Nov. 2016.
http://treesaregood.org/treecare/resources/Avoiding_Conflicts.pdf

While you are planning your tree planting, why don’t you consider planting native Missouri trees! Click here to view a list of wonderful Missouri trees to make your yard look beautiful.

Our Most Valuable Asset

We were recently asked what our most valuable asset is as a tree service company. This was meant to be a trick question. Our mind first went to our physical assets: trucks and equipment. But we knew that wasn’t the right answer. Our next thought was our reputation, that we have worked hard and fought for, for so many years. But that wasn’t the right answer, either.

The biggest asset in our tree service company, and many other successful companies, is our people. Our team. Our work family.

We are proud to have nine Certified Arborists in our company. Men and women who love trees and really care about making the best decisions for our customers’ trees. We are proud to spend many of our weekends together as a work family, going to tree climbing competitions, or just hanging out at the river.

When All About Trees is caring for your part of Springfield’s urban forest, we hope you will take the time to meet our most valuable asset.

To view a list of our certified arborists on staff, please visit https://allabouttrees.com/about-arborist-springfield-mo/certified-arborists-springfield-mo/

Leave us a review! http://goo.gl/9trWh6

To schedule an estimate, please give the office a call at 417-863-6214. If you miss us, please leave us a detailed voicemail message with your name, address, phone number, email, and tree concerns. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Avoid Removing Healthy Trees

One of the most frustrating things that we see in the tree business is when we hear about trees that have been declared “rotten” by someone who does not know what they are talking about. Even worse is when it is proclaimed to be a hazard by a tree removal guy with a vested interest in selling a job. Removing healthy trees does a disservice to your yard and your pocketbook.

We’ve seen our competitors cut down some of the nicest young pin oaks in the area. Pin oaks often develop with very round canopies, sort of an “O” shape, although they should be more of an upright “A” shape for most of their life. We’ve seen trees with a strong central leader, or main trunk, with branches that were clearly branches, as opposed to multiple competing scaffolds and stems just as large as the main trunk. Trees that were 70 feet tall with a two foot thick trunk with a very pronounced flare at the interface between the ground and the tree. In other words, trees that are very nicely structured and very healthy.

To make matters worse, the companies that are removing these perfectly healthy trees are nowhere near compliant with current safety standards. Even the most basic things like wearing hard hats. One time, we finally decided to stop by after the fact to ask the homeowner about their former tree. And we found out that their landscaper and the tree guy they recommended declared the tree to be possibly rotten, because one of them saw an ant walking around on the tree last year. The mere presence of an ant is in no way indicative of a rotten tree. Also, the tree owner liked the tree. She almost called them to cancel the job the night before. It’s too bad she didn’t. The trunk was perfectly sound. No decay, or rot to be seen.

It’s OK though, the job was done really cheap. Although it was still money that the homeowner would probably had rather kept.

The moral to the story is that it pays in so many ways to call a consulting arborist before having work done on your tree. In this case the savings would have amounted to hundreds of dollars and the tree could have been preserved.

Real Customer Service at All About Trees

Where has the customer service gone in tree service nowadays?

Watch the video below on our customer service abilities.

We have noticed a common theme when we have answered the phones in our office. In today’s world of technology and instant email responses, we have found that customers are excited to actually talk to real people. Not just a computer or voicemail system.

Now we are a busy company and sometimes both of the lines in our office are busy, but the difference with our company is that if you leave us a voicemail, you’ll actually hear back from us in a timely manner. And, in addition, you will always be greeted with a friendly voice. That is real customer service.

Our tree service company looks forward to talking to you about your trees and will schedule one of our real live certified arborists to come and meet with you face to face. You can view a list of our certified arborists at the following page: https://allabouttrees.com/about-arborist-springfield-mo/certified-arborists-springfield-mo/

However, All About Trees is flexible. If you want someone to swing by and look at your trees and email you an estimate, we can do that. We can even print you a physical copy of your estimate in our truck if you wish. If you want us to make recommendations for the most appropriate plan of action for your trees, we would love to do that.

Let All About Trees show you our brand of great service as we care for Springfield’s Urban Forest, one tree at a time.