Services
Tree & Shrub Pruning
As trees grow, they need direction. This may be in the form of pruning, thinning or removing deadwood. The Care of Trees professional arborists have specialized training and equipment, as well as an “eye” for what needs to be done. Pruning enhances the appearance and value of landscaping, but its importance is more than cosmetic.
Proper pruning is important because it:
- Removes weak, dead, storm damaged, diseased, or interfering branches
- Can be used to train growth patterns of young trees
- Minimizes the risk of storm damage
- Provides clearance for streets, sidewalks, driveways, structures and overhead lines
Planting & Tree Replacement
When would you ever replace a tree? Maybe you’ve had a tree shading your house for as long as you can remember, virtually an old friend, that no longer healthy. Perhaps it was a stately specimen that has arched gracefully over your neighborhood for decades, offering a cathedral-like canopy of green, and now all it offers is dried branches. Trees enrich our lives in so many ways, replacing a tree today can enrich your life now and in the future.
Replacing a tree can have economic benefits as well. Besides your house, trees and shrubs are probably the most valuable asset on your property. A well-maintained landscape with mature trees can account for 15 percent or more of a home’s market value.
Contact your local certified arborist to find the best options for your planting and tree replacement needs.
Tree and Stump Removal
Although we consider every option to preserve your trees, sometimes due to generally poor condition, inappropriate location, unacceptable risk or other criteria, removal is simply the best management option. Some removal projects are quite routine, while others require highly technical skills including working around utility lines, complex rigging or the use of large cranes. The Care of Trees crews include arborists and tree workers with all the skills necessary to safely complete the most difficult and hazardous removals.
We are also equipped to grind out any size stump and assist with species selection and planting of a replacement tree where appropriate.
Cabling and Bracing
Often, a tree with structural weaknesses can be pruned to correct or at least minimize the risk of breakage, uprooting or other failures. In other cases, usually in combination with pruning, artificial supports are appropriate to effectively mitigate a threat while preserving your tree.
Cabling and bracing techniques can be an effective means of extending the life of a tree that might otherwise require removal. Our professional arborists are trained to identify such conditions, and design and install support systems where appropriate.
Lightning Protection
Each year, thousands of trees are struck by lightning. When a lightning strike injures one of our prized trees, the results can be devastating. After a valuable tree is hit, we often wonder what could have been done to prevent the injury. Installation of a lightning protection system in prominent, high value trees can help reduce the threat of lightning damage.
Insect and Disease Management
The first line of defense against pests and diseases is plant health. The healthier a tree or shrub, the better able it is to naturally fend off insects and diseases. Our primary focus is preventive pest management through overall tree care.
Even with preventive maintenance, sometimes serious maladies can affect your trees. When this is the case, our Arborists will evaluate the specific pest and overall tree condition and recommend the most effective and environmentally sensitive management approach. State-of-the-art biological and low-toxicity materials, such as horticultural soaps and oils are among low-impact tools we use to manage pests.
SoilCare℠ - Our Organic Soil Management Solution
Healthy Trees Start with Healthy Soils.
The soils around trees in natural surroundings (like the ones in the forest) contain diverse populations of microorganisms and available nutrients that feed off one another. Because of these organisms, these trees tend to live much longer and stronger lives.
The soils of “urban” trees are often neglected. As a home and tree owner, you can assist in promoting a healthy tree by maintaining your trees’ soil. We have developed various methods-customized to your property-to help promote a healthy soil environment.
Our SoilCareSM program was designed to provide the healthiest, nutrient-rich soil for your trees. The healthier a tree or shrub, the better able it will be to fend off pests and diseases. Before pest problems occur, we can restore your trees’ natural health with state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly approaches.
ArborTeaSM is a biological component of our SoilCareSM program. This program is an organic, environmentally friendly approach to promoting the health your trees by applying a compost of teas and organic management. This is how it works: Trees have a natural Soil Food Web (SFW) – an interaction of tree roots, microorganisms, and organic matter in the soil. The diversity within the SFW has a direct and indirect impact on the health of your soil and trees. Adjustments can be made with applications of microorganisms not readily present in the soil. We analyze the soil, develop a brewing tea to enhance the quality of the SFW (based on the needs of your trees’ biological requirements), and then apply these teas to restore the soil to favorable conditions.
Tree Protection during Construction
So, you are thinking about adding a deck or a pool to your backyard, but concerned about losing that special tree or shrubs? Construction on your property can cause damage to your existing trees, but proper planning to protect your trees can minimize damage and add years to your tree’s life.
Establishing a Tree Protection Zone with barriers (fencing) around valuable trees to keep equipment as far away as possible, proper pruning for required clearance and preventing or mitigating soil compaction, excavation or trenching are some ways The Care of Trees can help your trees thrive during and after construction.
You’ll be glad you took preventative care as you relax on your new deck under the shade of your 150 year old oak. Call The Care of Trees to make recommendations and provide the services that can protect your trees during your next construction project.
Mulching
We are often asked, “What is the best single thing I can do to help my trees and shrubs?” In many cases, the correct answer can be stated in one word – MULCH. Why? Because mulching restores a critical feature of the natural environment of trees.
Mulching is simply the addition of organic materials in the are beneath your trees and shrubs. Many suitable materials are available, including barks and composts, but one of the most cost-effective and convenient are the shredded brush and wood chips produced by The Care of Trees. Wood chips are readily available, inexpensive, long lasting and attractive.
Organic mulches provide many benefits, including retaining soil moisture, cooling of summer soil temperatures and warming of winter soils, improving soil structure and restoring nutrient levels.
Replacing turf beneath your trees and shrubs with mulch can also prevent “mower blight”, which is the damage to roots and tree trunks resulting from impacts from mowers and string trimmers.
24-hour Emergency Service
Storms may cause limbs or entire trees to fall, often landing on homes, cars, other structures or other trees. The weight of storm damaged trees is great and they can be very dangerous to remove or prune. The Care of Trees offers a 24-hour emergency service to assist in performing the job safely, while minimizing further risk to your property.
Christmas Décor Holiday Lighting (Chicagoland only)
Bring the holiday spirit to light with professionally designed and installed holiday lighting!
We are delighted to offer a new Holiday lighting service featuring premium quality lighting products that provide long life and lasting beauty holiday after holiday season. Our residential territory is currently the greater north shore and commercially we serve the entire Chicagoland area.
These professional-grade lights utilize state of the art fasteners and hardware that will protect your property and can be used year after year. Besides becoming the envy of your block, perhaps the best part of professional holiday lighting is that we design, install, take down and store your holiday decorations in our secured, clean and dry storage facility.
Call us today and our professional design specialists will provide you with all the details you need on how you can bring the Holiday spirit to light at your home or business! Please contact your local office for a design consultation.
Speakers for Garden Clubs or Group Meetings
At The Care of Trees, we offer our knowledgeable staff to speak on tree related issues for your club or other group meetings. Our subjects range from everything to do with tree health to landscape related subjects such as butterfly gardening.
Tree Preservation & Land Restoration (Commercial Properties)
The Care of Trees is the only national tree care company that has a division specializing in tree preservation and land restoration. We’ve been working with national developers and contractors for over 40 years to help make trees a differentiating element of their design. Learn more about how we can help your site.
How do we make it easier?
We know your process and understand your challenges. As a regular member and attendee to such groups as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), we understand the barriers and objectives trees can bring to a site. We make it easier for you to achieve your objectives by understanding the impact trees have on the landscape.
These are just some of the services we provide to help you achieve your site objectives:
Planning Site Visit and Assessment
The Care of Trees excels in initial feasibility studies. We can assist in assessing the existing vegetation and evaluate options for key tree preservation.
Removals
We can assist with the supervision of tree and brush removals for right-of-way, utility corridor and construction projects as needed to minimize damage to adjacent tree canopies, root systems and natural areas. When needed, debris may be removed from the site and accessible stumps over 6 inches in diameter will be ground below ground level.
Soil Modification
Promoting plant vigor is the key to minimizing stress during construction activities and limiting insect and disease susceptibility. We recommend our SoilCareSM program to improve soil structure and encourage root development for significant trees that need to be preserved. Sub-surface soil injections benefit trees by reducing soil compaction, a problem noted for construction site trees. We take great care in adhering to manufacturers’ label instructions and applicable state and federal laws.
Pruning & Cabling
All pruning techniques performed by The Care of Trees conform to ANSI A-300 Part 1-2001 industry pruning standards. The majority of significant, preserved trees as marked on the tree preservation plan receive crown cleaning by pruning dead, diseased and broken limbs and stubs greater than 2 inches in diameter in order to reduce falling limb hazards, improve structure, create clearance and limit the advancement of decay. Installation of cables, if necessary, will follow specifications found in TCIA Standards.
Site Monitoring
The Care of Trees’ certified arborists conduct periodic site visits to ensure compliance with tree preservation requirements. Prompt response to client requests can effect the survival of trees to be preserved.