While winter’s white blanket is often a sign that the landscaping season is over, Scott Black urges property owners to see the potential hidden in the snow.
“Winter provides a unique opportunity to assess and care for your trees with greater ease,” says Scott, owner of Lakeside Tree Experts.
A better view
Without a green canopy surrounding the branches, arborists like Scott can quickly assess the health of your trees and remove hazardous limbs while the rest of the landscape lies dormant.
“This really is the best time to cut your trees back. It’s less stressful on your turf, and isn’t likely to harm your flowers and plants, even if the tree is located in a garden bed.”
Greater savings
With shoreline properties, winter also allows for uninhibited access to trees that are often too close to the water. Better yet, the ice offers a time-saving route to the property, which can cut hours to days off a project timeline and add up to notable savings for homeowners.
At Lakeside Tree Experts, Derek Thompson, Certified Arborist and Crew Lead and his team won’t just look to save you money by shaving off project times. They also offer a 10 to 15 percent discount on winter work as a way to cut down on the summer rush and keep the crew busy through the winter.
A personal reviewBefore the snow piles up too high, Scott suggests taking a walk around your property and looking at each tree from top to bottom to identify dead and damaged limbs that may become hazardous if left until the spring.
As you look up at the tree canopy, keep an eye out for woodpecker holes, broken branches, and missing bark. And as you look down the trunk of the tree, look for stress growth and suckers, which can be a sign the tree is trying to compensate for the invasion of a pest, like the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).
“While the majority of our business comes from hazardous tree removal, at least 20 percent of our work is now related to ash tree removal, in direct response to the EAB,” says Derek.
While winter is a great time to remove ash trees that have been irreparably damaged by the EAB, it’s also a perfect time to have an arborist come out for a consultation, diagnose issues, and propose the best solutions for your landscape.
“Your trees are the largest plants in your landscape. Let us help you keep them healthy and strong.”
TEXT SHELANNE AUGUSTINE | PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
