Tree Service

The tree service industry is statistically one of the most dangerous jobs on Earth. Although, research shows that injuries and accidents can be prevented by adhering to OSHA’s guidelines and ANSI Standards. The American National Standards Institute has safety guidelines (Z133.1) and performance standards (A300) for arboricultural operations. The State of Alabama regulates certain aspects of tree care with required licensing; Chris Francis Landscapes is licensed in Tree Surgery and Pesticide Application. Other aspects are self-regulated by the industry with certification of arborists through International Society of Arboriculture. Certified Arborists are specialists in the care of trees. Arborists are knowledgeable about the needs of trees and are trained and equipped to provide proper care.

Certification is a lengthy, difficult process that ultimately requires extensive examination. Chris Francis is the Certified Arborist on staff, and many others on the team are studying to become certified. We use various methods in arboriculture to access trees, including: climbers, aerial lift devices (boom / bucket trucks), cranes, Soil Picks, Bobcats, Dingos, stump grinders, saws, and more. We have the equipment and capability to perform tree care without damaging the turf, plants, other trees, or structures. And when we are done, we clean up our mess.

Planting and Transplanting
Although this service is primarily performed by the landscape division, proper planting and transplanting is essential in growing mature, long-lasting, healthy plants.

Consultation
We prefer to get involved in projects while being planned for future construction. This is the best way to protect desirable trees. The earlier we are involved, the more we can do to preserve desirable trees. Decisions must be made on desirability, and sacrifices may have to be made. Many times we are called in too late. Consultation can also be useful even when there are no plans for construction.

Risk Assessment
Risk assessment is the process of establishing a risk rating for trees based on species, decay, structure, root system, environment, and target. All trees pose some level of risk. The client ultimately decides what level of risk he or she is willing to live with comfortably. Not all trees need to be preserved, although attempts should be made where possible. Moderate to high risk can be remediated by certain arboricultural efforts. Defects can be identified, and recommendations will be based on several different factors.

Air Excavation
Excavating the soil away from trunks and roots using air allows noninvasive access for inspection and procedures. If your tree looks like a telephone pole, it could have major problems. Trees should have a flare where they meet the ground, and top-most roots should be visible. Many trees are planted too deeply or have soil spread over the trunks and roots. This causes major problems for the tree, including reduced nutrients, water, and air. When trees end up too deep in the ground, epicormic root growth occurs. These roots girdle either the trunk or other roots and will lead to death of the tree. Identifying and correcting this problem early is of utmost importance for tree health.

Fertilization
Because of the vast spread of roots, many times trees are fertilized as a result of lawn and beds being fertilized. It is important to know that outdoor spaces and activities overlap and integrate. Soil sampling will determine deficiencies in the soil. Maintaining Ph and the appropriate amounts of micro- and macro-nutrients in the soil is essential to tree health and vitality.

Pest Control
Pests will never be completely eradicated. Pests can be kept within tolerable thresholds through the use of pesticides and proper tree care. The focus really should be on plant health care because pests are generally secondary. Healthy plants do not get sick. All pesticides used in Alabama are regulated by EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and Alabama Department of Agriculture. Chris Francis Landscapes is licensed to control ornamental and turf pests.

Cable & Bracing
Tree life can be prolonged with the proper installation of cables, braces, and guys. The Tree Surgery License is required by the Alabama Department of Agriculture to install or maintain cabling and brace systems. Chris Francis Landscapes is licensed in Tree Surgery. Before installing a system, the client must understand the need for yearly inspections and adjustments. Guys may be temporary or permanent, depending on the situation. Most trees support themselves better without guying. In any case, hardware should never girdle the tree.

Lightning protection
All trees are susceptible to strikes from lightning, especially those that are extremely tall or standing alone. Lightning protection systems are designed to take the load away from the tree and into the ground. One lightning strike may severely damage or kill a tree. Lightning protection can safe your tree(s).

Removal
Tree removal is inevitable, especially in urban settings. Many things cause trees to die, but most of those things are done by people. If a tree is in decline or has major defects, it should be removed as soon as possible. Trees that are completely dead or contain major dead parts cannot be climbed and are more difficult to remove. We do not want to remove all of your trees. In fact, for every tree that is removed, we encourage planting another tree somewhere to reforest the area. Many underinsured, inexperienced “tree experts”, looking to make some quick cash, are injured, killed, or cause serious property damage. Use extreme caution when selecting a tree removal contractor.

Stump Removal
Stumps can be ground or removed. Different situations will warrant one or the other, or neither. If a stump is near a desirable tree, it may be better to leave it alone, as disturbing it could damage the other tree. Generally grinding of stumps is sufficient, but the decaying trunk and root system will settle in time. Removing the stump is usually more expensive, but is justified if construction is going to take place at or near the site, where settling needs to be minimized.

Pruning
Pruning is a very important part of tree care, yet it is often overlooked. Pruning young trees will have a major impact on the mature trees they develop into. All trees should be trained while young for good form. Proper pruning of young trees will minimize the amount and intensity of pruning at maturity. We prune according to ISA Best Management Practices and ANSI Standards. We do not wish to damage your trees; our desire is to help them by pruning properly. Topping is bad! If someone tries to “top” your trees, run! Also, if your “expert” thinks he will use spikes to climb your tree for pruning, do not let him. There are many ways to kill your trees; these are only a few. We will not “top” your trees and we only use spikes in trees that are being removed. We will use many different appropriate pruning techniques, including: thinning, reduction, directional, restoration, cleaning, raising, and dead-wooding. We are careful not to prune too much at one time. Proper pruning removes branches at the branch bark ridge, encouraging better, faster healing.