At Steadfast Tree Care, we're proud to be the best. Our community has trusted us with critical tree removal and routine tree care jobs and we're thankful to be known as one of the most reliable tree service companies in the industry. But the removal of trees on the properties of local homes and businesses is not the only thing that we do. Here's why.
We believe that the mark of a great tree service company is a wide range of available services, all done with consistent quality and care. You shouldn't have to go with a different team for tree removal than you do for emergency storm cleanup. And you shouldn't have to settle for the first company you find when searching “tree service near me”.
At Steadfast Tree Care, we're thorough in our work and transparent in our service, with a team of well-trained technicians who are experts in their craft. Keep reading to learn about some of the additional arborist tree care services we offer.
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Why Tree Trimming Should Be Left To Professionals
The team at Steadfast Tree Care wants to make sure you can benefit from trees that are healthy, attractive, and present a low level of risk to your home, your family, and even the other trees on your property. Here's a rundown of everything you need to know about tree trimming services near you, including why it's important to choose a tree trimming company with experience and expertise, no matter the size of the job.
Trimming a Tree: What Does It Mean?
While trees are plants — not unlike the others in your garden — people don't tend to look at them the same way, and it's not hard to see why. Unlike many of the annuals in your flower beds, you don't have to replant trees every year. You won't have to water most trees (except when they're very young), and it's easy to just take them for granted. They change with the seasons, but they're always going to be there, right?
But that's not always the case. Sure, mature trees are more resistant than your other plants, but they still need to be cared for in order to stay lively and strong for years. That's why trees are pruned. At its most basic, trimming or pruning means cutting the limbs and branches back for a variety of different purposes.
Times When Tree Pruning Is Needed
There are a few different times when a tree needs to be cut back and some are more noticeable than others. Let's start with a few of the more noticeable times:
When Limbs and Branches Are Becoming an Obstruction
Depending on your place of residence, trees growing close to power lines may be something you need to worry about, or it may be handled by the city. However, when trees start to obstruct things on your property — most notably, the structure of your home — you'll certainly need professional help.
Tree branches and leaves that touch your house are generally not something you want to disregard. They'll keep growing and potentially cause damage to parts of your home. Trees that grow their limbs over a roof present the risk of falling on the home when damaged. In less severe cases, they may cause damage by dropping leaves and debris on the roof and clogging the gutters and rainwater systems.
When The Tree Starts to Look Overgrown
In this case, trees need to be groomed and shaped, by strategically shortening and cutting certain limbs and branches. Trees, of course, are always growing, so this type of “cosmetic” trimming needs to be done by experts with the experience to understand how to keep the tree looking great right after it's trimmed as well as a few years into the future. Because this type of pruning is intended to remove dead branches and overgrowth, it's commonly called “crown cleaning”.
There are also cases where you may not notice the need for trimming or other tree services.
When Something Is Threatening the Health of a Tree
In Virginia, like in all other regions of the world, there are diseases and pests that can threaten the livelihood of a tree. Generally, these affect one region of the tree at first and then spread into the rest and the surrounding trees, harming the viability of a variety of plant life on your property. The earlier they're detected, the better the chances to save the tree, at least in most cases. Here are a few examples:
The emerald ash borer is an insect that originated in Asia but has made its home in the Eastern half of the United States. Feeding on and eventually killing ash trees, emerald ash borers are difficult to detect until their damage has become substantial.
Oak wilt is a fungus that commonly affects trees in the oak family. It has been linked to improper pruning in some cases, highlighting a reason why hiring trusted professionals to handle tree trimming branches and limbs is the safest choice you can make when it comes to tree care.
When the Tree Becomes a Risk
As trees grow, they grow heavier in the upper limbs and canopy. Often, this isn't something you'll notice because the trunk gets stronger with age, but in some cases, this becomes a potential issue without you noticing.
In fact, the weakened structure of a tree is extremely difficult to detect before it's too late, meaning that it will be hard to identify the right time to have a tree pruned if you're not already planning on having it done on a regular basis. But, how often should that happen?
How Often Should You Have Your Trees Trimmed?
We hope it's clear by now that if you're not planning to have the trees on your property pruned on a regular basis, you may be opening yourself up to some risk. Most experts recommend a tree inspection every 3-5 years — this way, trained, certified, and licensed professionals can assess the health and safety of your trees, decide when they need to be pruned, and if needed, handle the process of trimming right then and there.
Can You Trim Your Trees on Your Own?
In some cases, technically, you can trim your own trees. But even you have the proper pruning tools, you won't be able to accomplish what a trained tree trimming company near you can in a safer, more thorough way:
You Won't Be Able to Detect Risk Factors
It takes a highly trained tree removal professional to detect the presence of insects, fungus, blights, or microorganisms that may be threatening your trees. You should have regular inspections, even if you don't think your trees are ready to be trimmed.
You Won't Know the Best Way to Prune Different Types of Trees
Different trees need different types of care at different times of the year, and trusting a local tree professional to do the job gives you the assurance that you need to know that it will be done right.
For example, trees that flower earlier in the year are healthiest when pruned after flowering, while trees that flower later in the year should be trimmed in the late winter or early spring. Trimming trees in the fall can cause fungus — like oak wilt — to develop and spread.
When Is The Best Time To Trim Trees?
This varies too depending on the tree species, but for most trees native to Virginia it is during the winter months (between November and March) when trees are typically dormant. This also makes it easier for the tree trimming company because proper pruning is easier when there's a clear view of the branches and limbs and foliage is typically sparse during this time.
Even Some Professionals Make Mistakes
Even among professional tree service companies, “tree topping” is a common practice. This is when trees are cut from the top-down, with little control or discrimination over where and what gets chopped off. Unless it's absolutely necessary, this is not the best way to handle a tree trimming job, and it may be harmful to the tree.
This example is meant to show that it's not always enough to hire just any “tree trimming service near me”. You need access to the best, most reliable tree services in your area.
Steadfast Tree Care uses tried and true techniques to safely prune trees and keep them healthy. Some of these trimming methods are:
- Crown raising raises a tree canopy by removing limbs from lower on the tree to provide clearance for vehicles, buildings and pedestrians
- Crown cleaning removes branches and limbs that may be dying or diseased
- Crown reduction helps to reduce the size of the tree while keeping it structurally sound
- Tree thinning allows more light and air movement through the tree’s crown
How Much Does Tree Trimming Cost?
There's no easy answer to this question. The average price for tree pruning in your area will depend on the size and type of tree (trees 60 feet tall obviously cost more to trim than an 8-foot sapling), the number of trees, and other factors. The best way to get an accurate estimate is with a free quote.
Why is professional tree removal important?
There's no overstating the importance that well-groomed trees can make on your property. Not only can they add a significant amount to the appraised value of your home — up to $10,000, according to some sources — they can save you a bundle on your home's energy costs, and ultimately, they make your neighborhood a better place to live.
With that in mind, many people don't realize exactly how a qualified tree contractor can make an impact on your property. After all, trees need regular care and attention to stay healthy, strong, and last a long time on your property not to mention the potential risks that trees can pose. Here are four top reasons why, when you need professional arborists you can trust, you can't simply search “tree removal near me” and choose the first one you see; you have to find a business you can trust.
- Professionals Have a Safe and Proven Tree Felling Process
One of the most important reasons to hire a tree company you can trust is also one of the most obvious. In some cases, the stakes of removing a tree are high. Why would you trust anyone to do it unless you're sure they're the best for the scenario at hand?
Imagine you have a tree that's dead on your property, and naturally, you're looking to have it removed. The difference between choosing an experienced tree removal company to do the job and choosing the first company you see could be life-changing. The tree care industry isn't an “anyone can do it” business, and unfortunately, that applies to many cut-rate, amateur companies in the market.
If you choose a company that isn't prepared to handle the job safely and professionally (or you attempt DIY tree removal), consider the possible consequences:
- Bringing the tree down the wrong way may damage structures and/or vehicles on your own or a neighbor's property
- Improper preparation, technique, or insufficient training may put your family or others at risk
- Damage can cause tens of thousands of dollars of liability that you may be responsible for
- Assess the Risk Level of a Situation
Not every job is as straightforward as it seems. You need a local tree service with the experience to ensure that each and every unique detail of a tree removal or cleanup project is taken into account before the job is started.
A certified tree removal service provides experienced teams that will ask important questions before starting the job, including:
- What's the optimal angle to bring this tree down so that the landing doesn't damage anyone's home or property? This may decide where cuts need to be made on the trunk when the removal begins.
- Are there any other risk factors in play? Understanding how tree removal will affect other trees or nearby power lines is important also.
- Who else should be involved in the process? This is especially important when hiring a tree service company to help with tree removal after a storm. Trees and tree limbs may be making contact with (or be dangerously close to) power lines something that may not have been the case before the storm. A certified arborist can help decide whether or not it would be safer to have your local utility provider with specialty equipment involved and at what point.
- A Qualified Tree Company Can Come Up Big After a Storm
While Virginia isn't necessarily in the country's natural disaster epicenter, during hurricane season, storms roll up the coast from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean and wreak havoc on the region. That's not to mention the heavy storms that happen during other times of the year. The point is, no one can see the future. If a tree falls on your home or threatens the safety of your family, you won't see it coming, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be prepared for it. Isn't it important that you have access to a tree service that can remove a dangerous tree and help you clean up effectively and start to put your life back together?
This is a perfect example of why you need a trustworthy emergency tree removal company that's only a call away. First, a more reliable company is generally better at managing their time. They may get a lot of calls because of their reputation, but their experience in the industry has given them the ability to effectively manage multiple projects at one time, meaning a quick response in an emergency.
Whether a fallen tree or tree limb has damaged your home or simply made your property difficult to manage, a tree removal specialist can minimize the impact, and in turn, the cost of potential repairs. They can remove limbs and parts of the trunk from your roof or other parts of your home with minimal additional damage and thoroughly remove all debris from your property so that you can start to rebuild as quickly as possible.
You should check with your insurance company to find out if emergency services are covered by homeowner’s insurance policy. It often will cover property damage and tree removal job expenses.
- A Reliable Contractor Does the Whole Job, Every Time
With professional tree removal services, there aren't any partial measures or at least, there shouldn't be. When you're hiring a service provider, you're paying for them to get the whole project done right. If the expectation is to completely remove a tree and clean up after the job, you shouldn't have to accept anything less.
Sadly, not all tree removal pros also offer tree stump removal services or clear the debris that comes down with a tree. That's why it's so important to distinguish the difference between cut-rate tree removal contractors and the companies who strive to do a complete, thorough, high-quality job every time.
What is the Average Cost of Tree Removal?
Basic tree removal can be inexpensive and is often quoted on a cost per tree basis. However, typically a company won't provide a total price until they have all the details surrounding the tree removal project, and that's the way it should be. After all, every situation is different, and no two jobs are the same.
The average cost of a tree felling project depends on the liability involved, the condition of the tree, as well as the size of the tree, and the number of trees (and tree stumps) that need to be removed and hauled away.
Other cost factors that affect the average price include:
- Tree species (type of tree)
- Average height (how many feet tall?)
- Is it a living tree or a dead tree?
- Does it have one or multiple trunks?
- Is it a single tree or many?
- Is it near utility lines?
Tree removal costs are adjusted for the density of the wood to be cut as well. Pine is a softer wood than oak, and pine tree removal typically costs considerably less than oak tree removal. Both of these types of trees are common in Virginia.
When you need an accurate removal price from a reliable local contractor in Virginia, request a free tree removal estimate from Steadfast Tree Care and be sure you're working with tree removal pros you can trust.
What Else Does an Arborist Tree Service Do?
While a qualified tree service near you can be crucial in minimizing the risk and liability associated with tricky or dead tree removal, people are surprised to find that they're also able to help with many things that go beyond the removal of unwanted or unhealthy trees from your property.
Extra services often completed for the average homeowner for an additional fee are things like log splitting or converting branches to wood chips for mulching.
Storm Prep and Cleanup
Storms can wreak havoc on your property and cause damage to your home. If you live in an area with a severe storm season, there are a few things you need to be aware of throughout the year.
First, storms can cause damage that isn't obvious right away. Your trees can be weakened by wind, constant moisture, and lightning strikes, but you may not be able to see it when it happens, especially if you live on a property that's more “dense forest” than “wide-open plains”.
An expert team of tree technicians from Steadfast can do a general inspection along with their annual tree trimming and pruning, letting you know which trees are in risky areas and if there are any on your property that is damaged or structurally weak in any way. This preventative care can limit the risk faced by your home, your family, and your property when storms roll in.
If your trees do sustain damage from a storm, we can come in, clean up, remove damage, and eliminate risk on your property. If a tree falls on your home or your vehicle, we'll safely remove it, limiting additional damage. If a large limb comes down, we'll take it away. Even if the only result of a storm is a yard littered with branches, we'll make it look like the storm never happened in the first place, giving you peace of mind at every turn.
Stump Grinding and Removal
Stump removal should be a given when you hire a tree service to handle a project, but for some reason, it's not. At Steadfast Tree Care, we don't think there's any reason why one should be an option without the other.
If we remove a tree from your property, we offer a comprehensive service. Once we fell the tree to the ground in a safe place, we'll cut it into sections and haul it away in our heavy-duty trucks. We have an industrial stump grinder that we use to pulverize the stump so we can break it up and dig it out — including the upper sections of any roots that extend into the ground as needed.
We'll haul away the pieces of the stump and even backfill the area so that you can easily take the first step towards repurposing the space to fit your needs.
Land Clearing and Brush Removal
The tree service experts at Steadfast Tree Care also offer clearing services for customers who own private homes and businesses of all kinds. When a large lot needs to be cleared of trees, vegetation, brush, and stumps to make way for a construction project, tree and clearing services are needed.
Brush and Debris Clearing
Priorities change. We offer you flexibility with your property. We can clear a larger section of your yard if you want to start at square one with a new landscape design plan, or smaller ones if you're thinking of expanding the footprint of your home. No matter what you need, we can help you get there.
Land Clearing Services
We've also handled larger jobs for businesses and real estate developers who need to be able to make better use of more expansive plots of land. We love trees, but we also understand that sometimes, they get in the way of your plans.
New real estate development and business expansion projects often need trees and other substantial growth removed from a swatch of forested land so that they can start the process of grading and mapping the area. We have the equipment and the expertise to handle the largest jobs.
Emergency Tree Service
Of course, it doesn't matter how skilled a tree service company is if you can count on them when in an urgent situation. If a tree falls on your home, or a broken limb is hanging dangerously close to a power line, the last thing you want to do is wait for expert intervention. And when we say wait, we mean it. The time between calling a tree service and actually getting them on your property can be weeks in some cases. You don't have weeks. You may not even have days. You deserve a tree care provider with the flexibility and commitment to be there when they're needed.
Steadfast Tree Care can often come out within hours of an emergency call, and when we get to your home or business, we'll deliver some much-needed peace of mind. Whatever a tree emergency on your property entails, we can handle it with the safe removal of any risks or damage. We can also work with local and municipal authorities to make sure everything is done in line with any existing regulations in your area.
The experts at Steadfast Tree Care are known for quality work, done right, at a price that you can work with. We've handled jobs of a wide variety of sizes, scopes, for a range of different types of clients.
Ready to get started on your tree project? Contact us today for a no-obligation free estimate and take the first step today!
Steadfast Tree Care Service Areas
Caroline County | Hanover County | The City of Fredericksburg |
King William County | Orange County | Spotsylvania County |
Stafford County |