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"It's best to get your trees looked at by an ISA Certified Arborist. They carry the credentials to properly diagnose your trees and develop a plan that may or may not always include pruning." (Photo: www.superiornw.com)

Tree care for the Pacific Northwest

June 15, 2012 @ 9:35 am (Updated: 11:09 am - 6/15/12 )

In an attempt to spruce up your home this summer take a look outside; notice anything? Trees! Living in the Pacific Northwest comes with its share of greenery, and maintaining trees and shrubs on your property can not only help beautify your home, but also help keep you safe when winter storms eventually roll around.

Let's focus on the safety aspect first. Rotten or damaged branches and trees occur frequently in the wet environment we live in, and can quickly become a problem during high winds, snow, or heavy rainfall. To avoid having one of these come flying through a window or come crashing down on your car Anthony Moran of Superior NW says, "It's best to get your trees looked at by an ISA Certified Arborist. They carry the credentials to properly diagnose your trees and develop a plan that may or may not always include pruning." Our experts at Superior NW Tree and Shrub Care Inc. offer some advice in you do need to get pruning done: "Because each cut has the potential to change the growth of (or cause damage to) a tree, no branch should be removed without a reason. Removing leaves reduces photosynthesis and may reduce overall growth. Understanding how a particular tree responds to pruning is essential when selecting branches for removal." Choosing a professional to help you with your trees and plants can help reduce the chance that you accidentally hinder the growth of your favorite trees or plants.

One of the other reasons we recommend going with a professional arborist such as Superior NW is to avoid harm to you. When it comes to maintaining mature trees there is a particular danger involved- we don't need a reenactment of that famous scene from Sometimes a Great Notion for those movie goers out there. There is a reason that loggers refer to hung up branches as "widow makers." A lot of people forget that this kind of pruning may require special equipment that will set you back a considerable amount of time and money if you try to do it yourself. Tools like a climbing saddle, chainsaw or handsaw, ropes could put you out several hundred dollars. Another important factor to consider is whether or not the tree you want to trim is close to a power line, your neighbor's property, or another obstacle that might require special consideration of legal codes or standards. This is where professional arborists like Superior can help; they have certified climbing arborists which have been trained in these areas, and help keep you from becoming liable for damages.

While professional arborists can help with these difficult situations you should check out the other helpful services that they provide. Thinking about preservation of rare trees, light enhancement or view obstruction, and storm assessment can go a long ways toward making your life easier. One last thing to consider is that when you go with a professional arborist they should be licensed and insured. Do not let them put you at risk; your safety, neither physical nor fiscal is worth it. To find out more about Superior NW and their services, you can contact them at http://www.superiornw.com.

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Comments (2)


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  • 2112 wrote...
    Those certified aborists
    June 24, 2012 4:47 pm
    Very seldom come up with a plan to save trees. Their objective is to tag trees that you will need to hire their crew to remove. How do you treat anthracnose other than cutting down the trees at an exorbitant cost? Good luck finding an arborist who will tell you the answer.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 2112 wrote...
    I re-read the story
    June 24, 2012 4:49 pm
    Is it a paid advertisement masquerading as journalism?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }