A tree service is an important aspect of owning a home or business. Trees are a crucial element of landscaping. We all know that trees help keep our air clean and help reduce our heating and cooling costs. In the wintertime, we rely on our trees to keep the outside temperature warm enough to prevent freezing. Trees also provide beauty around a home, by shading an open space, providing privacy, and providing essential wildlife habitat. In the summertime, shade provided by trees and plants can help reduce the harmful effects of the heat and sun on the home’s structure and furnishings.

Tree care is essentially the application of specialized techniques in the management of shrubs, trees, and plant life in outdoor settings. Thinning, pruning, and cutting are key strategies used to reduce the negative impact of trees on the landscape. Park grass, lawn care, and street verge material are all at the heart of tree service technicians’ jobs. This leaves a very important and pertinent position in the building or grounds maintenance industry: the tree service technician. However, many people have no idea what this job entails, how it differs from other maintenance activities, or how to go about getting started.

In order to understand what makes a tree technician different from, say, a landscaper, a walkthrough of their job will be helpful. Tree service technicians spend much of their day inspecting shrubs, trees, patios, decks, mulch, gazebos, driveways, sidewalks, roads, fences, driveways, and similar outlying structures. They check for branches that are out of place, assessing damage, and sizing shrubs, trees, or plants for optimal strength, space, and design. They are also trained to inspect tree damage so that they can determine whether to repair or replace a tree.

On top of inspecting and repairing damage, these professionals must also assess tree risk. A tree’s health can affect property values, aesthetics, and walkways. To meet insurance policy criteria, insurance companies ask that tree technicians perform standard practices for identifying and reducing tree risks. Among these:

Tree removal is by far one of the most challenging aspects of tree care. The most effective way to remove a tree, after scheduling a tree removal company, is to do it yourself. There are a few steps you should take before you actually dig up your yard and remove the stump. Identify the stump, know its placement relative to other trees and shrubs, and contact a tree specialist (if you don’t want to hire someone else).

Once you’ve located the stump, remove it, cut it down to size, saw it through with a chainsaw, or hollow out it for stashing in your backyard, garage, or other location. Once the stump is ready, schedule a tree removal technician to handle the rest of the job (or parts of it). Pruning high branches that are too long for a chainsaw and/or chipper is often a priority; stump grinding, tree trimming and pruning are often done by licensed contractors. After tree removal and stumping, a little maintenance will keep trees healthy.

The next step is to prepare for next steps, such as tree care cleanup, trimming, or pruning. A basic pruning plan will help ensure that your trees stay healthy and strong. It will also help keep them aesthetically appealing. To make things go even smoother, contact a professional tree care provider with a thorough tree care checklist. The top 10 tree care checklist includes everything from planting to digging, stump grinding, to mulching and more.

Trees require periodic care and attention, so that you won’t have to. If you haven’t already begun to do so, contact an expert today to discuss maintenance options and other steps. Tree service professionals can help you keep trees healthy, keep your property clear, help you determine your trees’ needs, and give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing your trees are cared for. Tree fertilizing, tree trimming and other related services are often provided by reputable tree care providers, so look for a provider with a solid track record and well-trained employees.