Storm Damage Tree Removal Ottawa
Whenever there are major storms, the potential for the trees on your property to cause damage increases and the majority of the damage is caused by falling limbs or when the entire tree (or parts of it) fall onto vehicles, homes and occasionally on people. The reason that summer storms are soo dangerous for falling trees and limbs is because the soil is more saturated with water creating a situation where the tree roots can fail and also the high velocity winds can knock off weaker branches and even the entire tree with the right conditions.
On the flip side, the winter storms are equally dangerous because the accumulation of snow and ice on the branches creates an off-balance that makes the tree more susceptible to being knocked over.
If you have an older, weaker tree on your property then you may want to consider removing the tree before a major storm comes that could turn into a dangerous situation causing damage and destruction. If your tree has been impacted by a passing storm already, we can help with tree and limb removal after the fact also. Hopefully there wasn’t any damage (aside from what happened to the tree) but either way we are here to help with your Ottawa tree removal.
Most of the time it is hard to determine if there is a hazardous tree in your yard if you have an untrained eye. If you are unsure, it is best to call us to have a professional tree removal specialist take a look to see if your tree poses any danger during the next storm that sweeps through Ottawa. The tree would be assessed during a climbing inspection and analysis of the decay and strength of the branches, stems and of course the roots of your tree.
Depending on our findings, we may recommend a complete tree removal or a tree limb removal to make sure that you and your property are safe during the next storm. We would never recommend tree removal in Ottawa without reason. We love trees and appreciate the benefits they provide us in the world well beyond just the aesthetics and a cool place to swing from.
After more severe storms, one of our first priorities is always to handle the emergency calls we receive to remove trees, clear roads and driveways. While we are available for the emergency tree removal moments, it is important to have your trees inspected periodically to determine if a danger is present and assess the strength of the tree so that you know if tree removing is required or if everything is good to stay as is.
If after a major storm you see one of your trees leaning then it is very important to call us so that we can take a look and possibly remove the tree because a leaning tree is a sign that there is root damage and the tree will no longer be able to support itself. If it hasn’t fully fallen down then there is a good chance that the next storm (even if minor) can be the final nail in the coffin and knock down the tree. It’s a good idea to have these trees removed right away in these situations to ensure that you and your property are safe.
So when it comes to storms and tree damage, there is a lot to consider and it is better to be proactive with the tree removal rather than waiting for the major storm to knock down your tree and risk damaging your property. Give us a call to have a look at the trees on your property today to keep you and your family safe.
How to Hire Professionals for Tree Limbing or Tree Removal Ottawa
Trees can be a great addition to any yard as they offer shade from the hot summer sun as well as an aesthetically pleasing part of nature in your yard. Perhaps this is a place where your kids or grandkids swing and play throughout the day. These are all great aspects of having trees in your yard however there are times when these tall Goliaths can pose a serious danger if they are at risk of falling down on your house, car or even a person!
There are certain times where tree removal or at least tree limbing is necessary to ensure safety for all those around and property nearby. You may be wondering if this is a job you can tackle on your own. When thinking about this picture a loose branch flying through a window and shattering glass or the potential dangers of falling from the tree. These examples may seem dramatic but they are very much real scenarios that can happen during the tree removal process.
Deciding to hire a professional tree removal specialist in Ottawa is a good move. Tree removal in Ottawa is not something that just anyone can do so you should be wary of John the Handyman promising that he can remove your tree for you at a cheaper price because there are techniques and equipment needed to do the tree removal properly and most importantly the tree removal company in Ottawa should have good insurance to cover anything that gets damaged since accidents do happen. Our tree removal team has decades of experience working with trees and tree removal and tree limbing to get the job done right. We’ve seen and heard a lot of horror stories to know that this is not a task for just anybody to tackle.
For example, if the appearance and health of the tree is important to you then insist on the tree removal team using ropes or ascend with an aerial lift rather than using the harsh tree climbing spikes. If the tree is to be completely removed then this is not an issue of course but if it is just a tree limbing that is to be performed than this is the way to go.
It is also a good idea to make sure that the tree removal service in Ottawa has good references. We have many so just ask and we’ll gladly share with you. We handle each tree removal job with care and consideration to ensure that the tree is removed without damage to your property or anyone present. When it comes to tree removal and tree limbing it is best to hire a professional tree removal and tree limbing company to ensure the job is done right!
Perfect time to trim a hedge
The green space on your property, including your trees, supports and shrubs, make a living space that is simple on the eyes and enjoyable for some great summer gatherings. Studies show that homes with a lot of green space close-by give a psychological boost to members of your home. Plants create a pleasurable space to have some fun and the benefits are greater than just the visual appeal. Ensure you trim your hedges at the best time to guarantee that your green space remains flawless and beautiful for all to enjoy.
Before having your hedges trimmed in Ottawa, it is important to know the kind of plant that you have on your property. Our professional hedge trimmers in Ottawa will be able to take care of your hedges for you however if you are venturing out on your own, make sure you know which type of hedge you are dealing with.
Deciduous hedges, which tend to shed amid the cool season, require diverse pruning patterns compared to evergreen fences, which keep up their foliage all year long. Additionally, trimming relies upon the sort of pruning that you need to perform. Formative pruning, which makes the particular shape that you need to hedge to frame, is not quite the same as upkeep pruning, which disposes of excess development and branches.
When it comes to different types of hedges, the two different types should be pruned and maintained each summer,
ideally as the season approaches before the winter months. Formative pruning for your evergreen hedges should be done in the spring after planting. Formative pruning for deciduous hedges should be done similarly, but the pruning should be completed during the inter instead.
The pruning that you have done for your hedges may follow general guidelines based on the type of hedge that is being maintained, however different species respond better to trimming and pruning that is carried out more frequently and others respond better to a few trims only during the growing season. Furthermore, there are some species of cedar hedges that should have their flowers trimmed as soon as they start the flowering process. One important note is that you should avoid pruning or trimming your cedar hedges during the nesting season of birds because the cedar maintenance may actually damage bird nests and/or scare off some birds.
Maintaining your cedar hedges is something that you can tackle yourself if you have the time and are a real DIY person however there are many benefits to hiring professional cedar hedge pruning and trimming companies to ensure that your cedar hedge investment is protected and your yard stays beautiful and healthy.
We have been trimming and pruning cedar hedges for a long time and our experience shows. Give us a call for affordable, reliable, and timely cedar hedge trimming and pruning in Ottawa.
How Much Will It Cost To Prune and Trim Your Hedges?
The costs associated with trimming hedges in Ottawa varies depending on your property and the particular variables however this article should give you an idea of how much it costs to trim hedges with our Ottawa tree removal and hedge trimming services.
To give you an exact cost on your hedge trimming job in Ottawa we just need some details from you regarding your property and hedges which you can send to us by email or over the phone if you prefer to call. To give you an idea of the hedge trimming costs, keep reading below.
There are a couple of variables that can add to the cost of pruning your hedge.
Your Hedge Height
How tall are the hedge fences? If they are more than 6′ tall then we’ll have to utilize a step in order to prune them. Whenever the stepping stool is required for hedge fence pruning then the time required to trim your hedges increases dramatically which means that the price increases due to the extra time required to complete the job.
Climbing up, down and moving the step takes extra time during the hedge trimming job so we account for this added time with a surcharge added to the total cost. Additionally if your hedges are extra tall and we have to go to the top step then we may even need a partner on site to hold the hedge trimmer from falling.
The Length of Your Hedges
Is your support just a couple of feet long or does it traverse the whole length of your property line? We’ve pruned supports that cost as low as $200 to as high as $3000 or more. Factors affecting cost are the tallness, length and availability of the hedge that needs to be trimmed.
How Open Is Your Hedge
If we have free access to your hedge then the hedge trimming is much easier and will cost you a lot less. If however, we have to work around vehicles, boats, sheds or other obstacles then the cost of your hedge trimming will increase due to the additional time required for your hedge trimming job.
When was the Last Time Your Hedge was Trimmed?
If you haven’t maintained your hedge for several years then there will be more work required to trim your hedges to a level you will be satisfied with and we want to ensure you are happy with our work. So if your hedges have been neglected then the cost may be more due to the additional work required for your hedge trimming.
Clean Up and Dump Fees
There can be a lot of waste created during the hedge trimming process and this waste has to go somewhere. If there are a lot of hedges to trim or the hedges have not been trimmed in a while and there ends up being a lot of waste to discard then there may be dump fees that would be added to your hedge trimming cost and also if there is a lot of waste then there would be more time required to clean up your property to finish the job.
All in all it is hard to give an accurate hedge trimming cost without some details from you first so the best thing to do if you are looking for hedge trimming services in Ottawa is to give us a call or send us an email and we’ll be happy to help you right away.
Cedar Hedge Care in Ottawa
A cedar hedge is a relatively simple way to provide privacy for your yard, and these easy-to-grow plants also add a lovely, formal look to a landscape. The evergreen foliage provides year-round color and interest but requires some pruning and maintenance to keep the trees looking sharp.
Varieties of Cedar Hedges Ottawa
Several species of cedar trees can be used for hedges, but the most common is Thuja occidentalis, commonly known as American arborvitae, Eastern arborvitae, Eastern white cedar or Northern white cedar, which can thrive as a perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 7. Thuja occidentalis “Sudwelli” can tolerate the climate in USDA zone 8, while T. occidentalis “Hetz Wintergreen” does well up to zone 9. T. occidentalis “Holmstrup” is a dwarf cultivar discovered in Denmark that reaches 5 to 8 feet tall over the first 10 years.
Site Location of Your Cedar Hedges Ottawa
You must choose the location for your cedar hedge wisely. The non-dwarf cultivars can eventually reach 15 feet in the case of Thuja occidentalis and up to 60 feet with cultivars such as “Sudwelli” if not pruned. Avoid situating your cedar hedge close to a walkway or roadway where salt is used in winter; salt can damage these plants. Don’t plant a cedar hedge on or near a steep gradient that can cause moisture loss. For optimal growth, plant in a location that receives full sun to part shade. A cedar hedge lives for 30 to 60 years, depending on the variety and location.
Cultivation
Cedars prefer an organically rich soil, to help maintain moisture, with a pH of 6 to 7.5. When planting white cedars, place individual plants 12 to 18 inches apart. Denser pyramidal cedar cultivars, such as “Emerald” or black cedar (“Nigra”), need to be spaced 18 to 24 inches apart. Add a mixture of soil plus manure, compost, triple mix or peat moss around plants, and water the cedars deeply and regularly throughout the summer and fall to allow root systems to develop. Mature cedars are heavy feeders and need fertilizer every spring or fall.
Pruning Cedar Hedges Ottawa
Cedar hedges won’t need to be pruned the first year or when they are under 3 feet. As hedges mature, start pruning your cedar hedge in early spring. Use the shortest plant as a guide, and trim off tops to match, then do a light trim on the sides. If your goal is to encourage more height, don’t trim the the leader, or topmost, shoot, or just prune a few inches of growth to encourage both height and fullness. Continue pruning throughout the summer, but avoid pruning in temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit or after July, to prevent winterkill on newly-pruned branches. To keep plants healthy, never cut more than one-third of the plant in one season.
Pests and Diseases Affecting Cedar Hedges Ottawa
In general, cedar hedges don’t have serious insect or disease problems. Potential fungal infestations include canker, root rot and keithia blight, and the most common insect attacks come from leaf miners, bagworms, mealybugs, scales, spider mites, cypress tip moths and root weevils. Animals like rodents and dogs can chew lower branches and strip bark from trunks. If necessary, an appropriate fungicide or insecticide may be used, although damage from infestations is usually minimal.
Why Tree Removal is Not a Good DYI Project
Do you like doing some work around the house? Consider yourself a handyman? It’s great to have a do-it-yourself spirit but sometimes it is a good idea to hire a professional and in other instances it is more than just a recommendation but rather crucial to hire a professional to make sure the job is done properly and that you avoid injuring yourself.
When it comes to tree removal in Ottawa, this is definitely one of those situations where you want to hire a professional to do the tree removal properly. If you try to remove the tree on your own you could end up damaging property or even worse you could damage yourself. Each year there are hundreds of professionals that hurt themselves performing tree removal not to mention the non-pros that decide to take up the tree removal task on their own. Many of us have even seen YouTube videos where people fall from trees or trees crush property and while some may laugh at these videos, it is no laughing matter and you can seriously injure – even kill – yourself if you try to remove a tree without knowing what you are doing.
It’s much better to leave the risk to the professionals and hire us to do your tree removal in Ottawa. We have the team and the experience to remove your tree within your budget and to do it the right way making sure that nothing and no person is injured in the process. Even once a tree is down the risk is not gone because you can still injure yourself even when the tree is horizontal. This can happen in a number of ways such as the tree rolling on you or injuring yourself when cutting off limbs etc.
To perform proper tree removal there is much more involved than simply cutting at the perceived right angle. There is an undercut and a backcut, which are techniques that are tailored to the particular tree’s condition, weather elements and conditions as well as the landscape surrounding the tree and much more.
When it comes to having the perfect and safe yard you will want to make sure that any unwanted or unhealthy trees are removed. Before you attempt this task on your own it is highly advised that you contact us to discuss possible tree removal options so that you can get professionals involved to prevent injury and remove the tree properly.
When should you remove a tree?
When it comes time to remove a tree, it can be quite the emotional endeavour in many cases as this may be a family tree the kids used to play on or swing on or it may just be the perfect compliment to your yard creating a summer oasis. Since trees have very long lifespans ranging from 50 to even 1000 years, they become an embedded part of the community with sentimental feelings from neighbours even if the tree isn’t on their own property.
Even though trees can be an emotional part of nature, they can also become safety hazards, especially during weather events such as high velocity winds and storms. Especially in the winter season when heavy ice builds up on branches, the same beloved tree can become a dangerous element to have in your lawn.
Eventually all trees will become dangerous and a risk to safety but how do you know when it is the right time to remove a tree from your yard? Usually there are some signs such as broken branches, or an unhealthy trunk. It is best to have the tree inspected if you have some concerns over whether or not you need to contact a tree removal company in Ottawa.
One of the most important things to check for is the structural integrity of the tree to see if it is compromised. This is determined by a hollow trunk and if you notice that the tree has become hollow then it is a very good idea to call and have the tree professionally removed. Additionally, when considering the overall health of your tree you should inspect the roots to see if they are healthy or if they are showing signs that the tree should be removed. A good sign of this is if the tree has a lean then this could mean that the roots on the other side are damaged. Tress should be upright for the most part if they have a healthy root system. Of course another sign would be if there are dead branches because this is a clear sign that the tree is unhealthy although this wouldn’t necessarily mean that the tree should be removed and it may just need to have some of the branches cut off or trimmed.
Aside from the health of the tree and root system, one of the main things that would determine if your tree should be removed is the location of the tree’s growth. So if your tree is near hazardous hydro lines or a building structure such as your house then the tree may need to be removed depending on the size and direction of growth as well as the potential for the tree to impact the hydro lines or fall onto your house during a storm.
So the takeaway from this article is that there are some health related issues that could prompt concern about removing the tree as well as the potential for your tree to take down hydro lines. If you feel a tree on your property may be falling into one of these categories then it’s important to give us a call so we can inspect the tree and provide a recommendation on next steps to either wait and leave the tree alone or if the tree should be professionally removed by our expert tree removal team.
We love nature just as much as you do and we will always provide you with honest suggestions and affordable estimates if it is determined that removing the tree is the best course of action.
Trees are being destroyed through the transportation of invasive insects & diseases in firewood.
One of the most important things we can do to protect trees is stop moving invasive pests and diseases to new areas on firewood. It’s really that simple- don’t move firewood, and keep trees healthy and alive.Forests are great places to play, but they also keep our air clean and our water pure. We must protect them by not moving firewood, so our kids, grandkids and great-grandkids can enjoy these amazing places like we do.
Need more reasons not to move firewood?
New infestations of tree-killing insects and diseases often are first found in campgrounds and parks. Why? Because people accidentally spread these invasive species when they brought firewood along with them. Don’t risk it. Leave your firewood at home, and then buy new wood near to where you’ll burn it. Protect the places you love by not moving firewood.
The trees in forests clean our air. Every acre of healthy forest cleans pollution out of the air and reduces greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. But invasive foreign pests are killing several million native trees every year. For every tree that dies, that’s a little bit more pollution that we have to deal with. And when several million trees die, that’s just scary.
A snowflake falling in the mountains passes through trees and forests before ending up in our drinking water. Trees filter groundwater, prevent erosion, and help ensure that our lakes and streams aren’t filled with harmful pollutants.
Forests are places where one generation teaches the next about nature and life. A place of traditions and continuity down through the generations. We must protect these places before our treasured customs like fishing, camping, hunting and hiking, are gone for good.
