Professional Tree Care Services
At Old Glory Tree Co, our mission is to provide the highest quality tree care. Whether it is planting a new tree, caring for an established one, or removing one that has become a hazard or interferes with infrastructure, we can help you out!
Tree Planting
Planting new trees is the second most important thing we can do in our urban environment (first is taking proper care of our existing trees!), and we at Old Glory Tree Co are happy to assist in the planning and installation for you. Whether you want one tree or several, we assess the planting site and make sure the new tree is suitable for the location. We believe in the motto "right tree, right place," and although we love seeing our clients, we don't want it to be because we're constantly pruning something to keep it contained in a space too small for it when we could've just planted the right one to begin with! All trees are planted properly by exposing the root flare and planted at the correct depth while keeping the roots cool and damp, a light layer of wood chip mulch is applied over the critical root zone (never directly against the trunk!), and stakes are added when needed for temporary stability until the roots get established and the additional support is no longer necessary.
Tree Pruning
My favorite! Did you know that every single defect in a tree's branch structure could have been prevented at one time with just a hand pruner? One of the most common failures in our urban forest is from co-dominant branch unions that fail, and we have extensive experience in pruning techniques that will promote proper dominant/subordinate branching to mitigate the risk of failure. Dead wood pruning is important to keep the area beneath the tree safe, and it can help get sunlight to live branches. We also provide pruning services to maintain proper clearance between your house or garage, and between the tree and sidewalk or road to keep you in compliance with local code enforcement. Pruning can also be utilized to keep an already established tree at a desired size, depending on certain conditions.
While our goal is always to keep trees healthy enough to retain them as long as possible, unfortunately there are times a removal is needed due to severe decline, major storm damage, or infrastructure interference. Whether you need a single tree removed or clear out a lot for construction, we provide safe, complete tree removals!
We have a variety of methods of safely removing your tree! Sometimes we can do a simple "notch and drop" if there is an abundance of room with no targets, we may climb it if it is still structurally sound, or we may use a tow-behind lift or tracked spider lift to remove it if the tree is deemed too unsafe for climbing. Where necessary, we use a variety of rigging techniques to safely lower pieces in a controlled manner. Whichever method we use, the utmost priority is placed on safety and leaving all targets undamaged!
Stump Grinding
After a removal, stumps can be cut flush with the ground, or they can be cut a little high to use it as a pedestal for bird feeders, planters, etc. Or, they can be ground out to remove the potential trip hazard a stump represents or to facilitate the planting of a new tree. We have access to a variety of sizes of stump grinder for any job ranging from a small stump in a flower bed to a large stump from an old shade tree!
Cabling and Bracing
There are times when a tree has a co-dominant union with large leads that poses a risk of splitting in an extreme weather event, but the tree has significant value due to its age, size, or a sentimental attachment and it's beneficial to add supplemental support through cabling and bracing. Cabling involves either a steel cable in a static situation or a rope system for a dynamic application connecting the two leads together high above the union, and large rods can be added in the branch union in addition to cabling (never in place of!) for additional support. Props are another form of supplemental support that can be beneficial if the tree has a large horizontal limb low to the ground that could use a little extra support. Cabling, bracing, and propping must always be accompanied with pruning to reduce the load on the questionable branch union, and annual inspections of the system as well as periodic adjustments are necessary.
Construction Site Tree Protection
It's inevitable that various types of work will need to be performed around our trees. But, did you know there are steps that can be taken to minimize the amount of damage incurred while that work is performed? Examples of protection methods we've used include - pruning to provide clearance for work such as roof installation, gutter installation, siding replacement, etc., to minimize damage to branches and provide room for the workers; installation of a temporary fence around the tree to give a definitive boundary of the critical root zone to keep vehicles, equipment, tools, supplies, etc, from being placed under the tree and adding to the compaction of the soil; building a thick, temporary layer of mulch under the crown of the tree if driving or placement of equipment or tools is unavoidable; using an air excavation tool to prune roots in the event any digging, trenching, or planting will be taking place within the root zone.
Tree Risk Assessment
As an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified arborist, occasionally we're called just to come do a risk analysis on a tree; sometimes one that's still standing, sometimes on one that has failed. The level of assessment can be as simple as a Level 1 to look at several trees on a property to identify any that may need further inspection, up to a Level 3 that can include aerial inspections and other techniques.
Not sure what’s wrong with your tree? Call us today and schedule an appointment!