You come across a tree in your yard that is not doing well and ask yourself if it can be put back together, or is an axe the only option? Then you realise the one you have written off may be of considerably more value left standing.
We get such questions at Tree Specialists, Inc. on a regular basis. Our way of doing things has always been to preserve rather than remove, and we have been of service in the MetroWest Boston area for some time now (since 1981). Should you wish to discuss what is in store for your tree, our number is (351) 300-7964.
The truth is most homeowners do not give saving a tree enough credit; there are good reasons to make the attempt. We would like to put forward a few facts as to why keeping it is usually the better course of action.
A Mature Tree Is Hardly Replaceable
This will come as a surprise to some: you can not put a price on a large, well established tree and buy its way back. It has taken decades to get to where it is. Put in a young one and you are looking at 30 to 50 years before it is anywhere near comparable.
Then there is what an older tree does that a sapling can not. In the summer a mature specimen will put down the temperature of your home, it is a refuge for wildlife and holds the soil in place. Do away with it and those advantages are gone in a day, something you would need generations to put right.
Property Value Is Enhanced by Trees
It is easy to think of a big tree as a liability but in many ways the reverse is the case. What do you have in a healthy, mature tree?
- The kind of curb appeal a buyer sees right away
- Some privacy from the street and your neighbours
- A landscape that looks settled
- Natural shade to put a dent in cooling bills
- Something for the pollinators and birds to call home
Remove the tree and you have removed the value. We are loath to recommend taking one down without first exploring every avenue to keep it.
Do Not Write Off a Sick Tree
There is a difference between a tree in poor shape and one that is dying. Homeowners tend to see problems as fatal when they are amenable to treatment by way of plant health care.
Consider your own reaction to an illness: you do not just throw in the towel, you put it in front of a professional for a diagnosis. We take that same view of trees. As ISA Certified Arborists we look at them as living systems and apply the science of tree health accordingly.
What appears to be a death sentence could be any number of things:
- Storm damage worse for the look of it
- A pest issue to be put under control
- Leaves turning colour or dropping with the season
- Roots stunted by compacted soil
- A lack of nutrients
A sound diagnosis is everything. That is the art and science of it.
Make Removal Your Last Resort
Some in the business will remove a tree because it is the quick fix. We prefer to put some thought into a permanent decision. If a tree is a hazard, so be it, but our consulting arborist is here to do a formal risk assessment and put a name to it. We will separate the truly dangerous from those requiring a little attention so you have the facts for your property.
Your Yard Is Healthier for a Healthy Tree
Trees are part of an ecosystem, not isolated entities. From the soil up to the birds, a thriving tree is good for all around it. We also provide tick management as a distinct service since a balanced property is what a healthy yard is about.
Tree Specialists, Inc. is TCIA accredited (2004) and fully licensed and insured. With several ISA Certified Arborists on our staff we are committed to what is right for your trees in Wellesley, Natick, Holliston, Ashland, Dover, Brookline, Framingham and other parts of MetroWest.
Before you make up your mind a tree must be done away with, let us have a look. You can reach us at (351) 300-7964. We are in from 8:00 to 3:30 Monday to Thursday and 9:00 to 3:00 on Friday. Give us a ring and we will help you determine if the tree can be saved; in our books it can more times than not.
