Trees!

Trees can definitely add value to your property. If they are healthy, well-maintained and vibrant, they can be a great selling point for your home. But if they are damaged, overgrown or in bad shape, they can make your home look less-than-desirable. This could make your home not sell as quickly or at the value that you want.

Hire a certified arborist to come and assess and care for your trees before you put your home on the market can reap you rewards in the long run. An arborist can prune, clean and spruce up your trees (so to speak).

While you might be tempted to DIY this task, it IS worth hiring professionals to come do the work for you, for the following reasons:

Ensure Safety

Caring for your trees can be a dangerous task. Hiring a certified arborist, however, will eliminate the dangers of getting struck, falling, shocked, or cut among many others. Not only will a certified arborist ensure your safety, they can remove any dangerous trees or tree limbs hanging over roofs, powerlines, and other nearby structures.

Avoid Property Damage

When you don’t know what you’re doing, you can easily cause damage to your home, vehicles or other outdoor structures. Our certified arborist knows how to provide preventative tree care services without causing property damage in the process. Not only that but we won’t leave you with a messy yard or potential accidents when you are trying to sell your home. Hiring a certified arborist is the best way to ensure your trees are properly pruned and cared for while preventing the potential for property damage.

Maintain Beautiful Trees

Preventative tree care isn’t as easy as you think. A certified arborist will properly care for your trees in order to keep them healthy and looking their absolute best. If you are selling your home or trying to increase the value of your property, maintaining healthy, pruned trees will give your home the extra boost that it needs.

If you are selling your home in Central Oregon, considering contacting us before you list your house on the market!

Our team of certified arborists is happy to help you care for your trees in Central Oregon. Call us at 541-846-8018 or send us an email to get started.

The post Should You Hire a Certified Arborist When Selling Your Home? appeared first on Arbor 1 Tree Service.

So, trees are great for homes. But what about businesses and commercial properties?

Businesses and commercial property owners and managers that choose to have vibrant landscaping, including healthy trees, gain an immediate increase in aesthetic value and appreciation—and that usually means more business revenue. Tree laden retail areas are more attractive to shoppers and diners and entice people to stay in the area longer. In areas with tree-lined streets, customers say that they would pay up to 12% more than in areas without trees.

Commercially leased buildings that have healthy trees are also more likely to be completely full or leased out, with happier renters that stick around for longer terms. Apartments with surrounding trees have longer tenant terms and experience less vandalism or property damage than apartments without trees.

Furthermore, trees increase happiness and productivity for employees. Businesses (and incidentally, schools) that have views of trees from the windows see increased happiness and productivity from their employees (and students). Providing outside areas that have trees allows workers to take lunch breaks outside in a shaded environment.

It is important that trees on commercial properties get the love and care that they need. The number one reason for businesses to take tree care seriously is one word: liability. Businesses need to be aware of any compromised, unhealthy or dead trees on their property to make sure all is good and safe. Proper and regular pruning should be done to ensure that there are no unstable limbs or branches that can break. Be cautious about tasking custodial or maintenance staff to attend to trees. Tree work can be dangerous, and a liability to your workers, and improper pruning or care can damage trees in the longer term. Trees should also be assessed for pests that can impact nearby buildings.

Lastly, commercial property owners and managers gain long-term financial savings by hiring a Certified Arborist to handle tree care. Professional arborists can help you not only maintain your trees today, but can help you develop a plan over time to care for the trees on your property. Give us a call to answer any questions about tree care for commercial properties.

Our team of certified arborists is happy to help you care for your trees in Central Oregon. Call us at 541-480-4223 or send us an email to get started.

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Post-winter clean up. Back in January, it was hard to believe we would ever see the earth again under all that snow. But alas, dirt! So go ahead and remove twigs, leaves and other detritus that may have piled up beneath your trees.

Inspect trees for damage and disease. Look for obvious signs of tree disease, including broken branches, holes, molds, and fungi. Also notice which branches do not put out blossoms or leaves—these are likely dead and ready to be pruned away, ideally by a certified arborist. Winter desiccation, also known as “winter burn”, can occur when plants dry out in cold winter conditions. Winter sunscald is another challenge and is seen in cracks in the tree bark. Discoloration is another clue that something may be amiss. For instance, some plants will yellow if they receive too much water, which isn’t likely here, but take note of it. If you have questions about damage, give us a ring and we can come take a look.

Plant new trees. Okay, don’t get too excited just yet, but you can start thinking about planting trees. The MOST IMPORTANT thing is to plan, plan, plan. We say this over and over again, but putting the right tree in the right place will save you dollars in the long run. We’ve seen many instances of trees being planted, only to outgrow their space within a few years. We can help you figure out the right trees for the right place!

Consider adding mulch. Mulch does a few things: it provides protective cooling during the hotter summer months, it helps trees retain moisture, and it minimizes weed growth. Younger trees definitely benefit from mulching.

Turn on the water. We’ve got a few months before we really need to water here, but remember how quickly things dry out here. Again, those younger trees need more water than more mature trees.

Our team of certified arborists is happy to help you care for your trees in Central Oregon. Call us at 541-480-4223 or send us an email to get started.

The post Spring Tree Care in Bend, Oregon appeared first on Arbor 1 Tree Service.

We talk a lot about our urban forest and the importance of a healthy urban forest—for many reasons. But how does a community manage their urban forest in a way that is sound and fair? This is a question that is arising right now in Bend, with a small amount of controversy (like any concerned community, right?) Recently a group of Bend residents has decided to help the City of Bend regain its status as a Tree City USA.

So, what does that mean? A Tree City USA is a designation from the Arbor Day Foundation that shows that a community is committed to the health of its urban forest. Specifically, Tree Cities must adhere to the following four core standards of sound urban forestry management:

1. Maintain a tree board or department. By doing this, the city delegates a body to be legally responsible for the care of all trees on city-owned property. This way city leaders determine who will professionally perform necessary tree work and the public will also know who is accountable for decisions that impact community trees. A tree board usually consists of citizens, tree professionals, business people and government employees.
2. Have a community tree ordinance. A basic tree care ordinance forms the foundation of a city’s tree care program. Ideally an ordinance can provide clear guidance for planting, maintaining and removing trees from streets, parks and other public spaces as well as activities that are required or prohibited. Beyond that, a tree ordinance can be specifically tailored to the needs of the particular community.
3. Spend at least $2 per capita on urban forestry. Our urban forests give us a lot—clean air, clean water, shade, beauty—and economic benefits. So, in order to care properly for city trees, a Tree City USA requires that at least $2 per capita be allocated towards the planting, care and removal of city trees. While this may seem like a valid barrier, keep in mind that most cities already spend this amount, or even more on their tree care.
4. Celebrate Arbor Day. An effective program for community trees would not be complete without a little celebration, so a Tree City USA must commit to an annual Arbor Day ceremony, which would include an official Arbor Day proclamation by city officials. Arbor Day an also include activities for kids and families or education initiatives for homeowners to learn about proper tree care. We think this is a good idea, but hey, we are arborists, so we spend a lot of time thinking about trees!

We feel pretty lucky to live and work in communities that have a good start in caring for their urban forests. We try our best to educate property owners and city officials alike to care for our trees.

What do you think about Bend becoming a Tree City USA again? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

The snow is melting! Are you ready to get some tree care? Call us at 541-480-4223 or shoot us an email to get an estimate.

The post Bend, Oregon: Tree City USA? appeared first on Arbor 1 Tree Service.

This achievement is particularly significant as Angie’s List experienced unprecedented member growth in 2016. More than 1.6 million consumers, many of whom were eager to quickly hire highly qualified service pros, joined Angie’s List after the company added a new, free membership tier.

“Companies that can meet higher demands without missing a beat in their exemplary performance standards truly do stand apart from their peers,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “Only a fraction of the landscaping and tree companies in Central Oregon were able to do it.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2016 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade. The SSA winners must also be in good standing with Angie’s List, pass a background check and abide by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

“Once again, we are honored to be recognized by Angie’s List with the Super Service Award. We take great pride in providing the best tree care services for all of Central Oregon,” says Arbor 1 Tree Service co-owner Mike Donahue.

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List as new, verified consumer reviews are submitted. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality.

For more than 21 years, Angie’s List restricted access to its verified reviews to consumers who paid membership fees. When the company removed that barrier, some companies worried that the new, non-paying members would not be as engaged as members of the past. Experience has shown, however, that these newly added members are just as engaged – across all age groups – as prior members. Also, because the company continues to adhere to its review verification process, there has been no degradation of review quality.

“The biggest change at Angie’s List is that we are connecting even more consumers to high quality service professionals,” Hicks said. “And that’s good for everyone.”

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 Angie’s List helps facilitate happy transactions between more than 4.5 million consumers nationwide and its collection of highly rated service providers in more than 720 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to health care. Built on a foundation of more than 10 million verified reviews of local service, Angie’s List connects consumers directly to its online marketplace of services from member-reviewed providers, and offers unique tools and support designed to improve the local service experience for both consumers and service professionals.

The post We Won! Angie’s List 2016 Super Service Award appeared first on Arbor 1 Tree Service.

From staying healthy to managing stress, you may be surprised how some of our most common resolutions are similar to what our trees want in the New Year too! Here are 6 New Years Resolutions for your trees!

Resolution 1: Plan for the New Year

As you map out the year, make sure evaluating your landscape is on your to-do list. Take the time to determine the current state your landscape is in and the goals you have for its future. With your goals in mind, contact your local arborist to help create a fresh slate for your New Year’s plans. Your trees may need an inspection to check for winter harm such as tree damage or disease.

Also, consider expanding your landscape by planning for tree planting. New trees come with a number of benefits from decreasing energy bill costs to improving property value and curb appeal.

Resolution 2: Lose Weight

Properly pruning your trees and shrubs helps promote good structure, allows proper air flow or light penetration through the canopy and discourages insect and disease issues. At times a tree may have dead or weak limbs that could pose future hazards. Taking a few hundred or a thousand pounds off this year might just do the trick and help the lawn below at the same time.

Resolution 3: Eat Better

Fertilizing your trees and shrubs will make them healthier and more prepared for this year. Trees and shrubs in the urban forest see their fallen leaves raked up. When they aren’t raked up, leaves normally break down into the soil to provide food and an environment rich in microorganisms that protect the root system of the trees. Fertilization helps to replace what’s lost in the leaf removal. Microbes may be added to free up what is already in the soil to promote healthy root growth.

Resolution 4: Be Well Grounded

It’s good to be firmly rooted when the wind picks up or to have access to water in a drought. Putting down an adequate layer of mulch helps to promote root growth by holding in moisture, regulating soil temperature, creating digestible organic material and providing a place where roots like to grow.

Resolution 5: Manage Stress Better

As our daily duties pull us in all different directions, we can all benefit from any opportunity to lower stress. After enduring winter’s elements, our trees need to de-stress themselves. A tree assessment, done by a properly trained arborist, can determine if you tree is living a stress-free life or if it needs a little tender love to increase health.

Resolution 6: Give Back

We sound like a broken record, we know! A healthy mature tree can: save up to 30% on cooling costs, prevent soil erosion, reduce storm water run off, increase property value by as much as 15%, save water to thirsty lawns, clean the air, clean the water, etc. We could go on and on…

Our job at Arbor 1 Tree Service is to help YOU have healthy trees. Contact us by calling 541-480-4223 or by email. 

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It’s that time of year when we bring a tree inside to celebrate the holidays. If you haven’t picked out a Christmas tree yet, here are a few pointers to get you started. Lucky us, living in Oregon, we have lots of choices here, right? So don’t get stuck with a Charlie Brown Christmas tree, unless that’s your thing…

Measure twice, buy once.

Does this sound familiar? You head out to get a tree and find the most beautiful grand tree that calls to you. Upon getting it home, you realize you can barely get it in the door, let alone put it in a room in your house. Before you start shopping, measure the height of your ceiling and be sure to subtract the height of your tree stand and the topper, if you have one. Also clear the space for where your tree will stand and see how much room you have. Write these measurements down and stuff it in your pocket for when you go tree shopping.

Test your options.

Whether you are buying from a tree lot, or hunting for a tree in the woods, there a few things you can do to get a healthy tree. Picking out a tree is a little like picking out fruit at the grocery store—you should smell and touch!

1. Test the branches. Grab any branch on the tree between your thumb and forefinger. Gently clamp down and pull towards yourself. If you end up with a handful of needles, the tree might be past its prime.
2. Crush the needles in your hand. Do they smell good? They should. If you can’t smell that fresh tree smell, then take a pass and keep looking.
3. Look at the trunk. Unless you have a good corner in your house where you can prop up your tree, you want to make sure that it has a straight trunk. Also make absolutely sure that the trunk will fit in your tree stand!

Make your tree part of your family.

Freshen the trunk. Once you get home, you’ll want to make a fresh cut at the trunk (you can also have the tree lot do this for you.) The fresh cut will absorb more water, so the tree holds its needles longer and stays fresh and green.

Make a drink—for the tree.

Once the tree is upright in your stand, add clean water—a lot of it—as soon as possible. In the first few days, your tree will drink a lot, even up to a gallon of water. Never let the water drop below the cut trunk. And be smart about where you put your tree. As tempting as it may be to put it near the fireplace for a cozy look, your tree won’t be too happy there.

Make a drink—for you!

Now you can take a step back and plan to decorate your Christmas tree!

Need winter tree work? Give us a call at 541-480-4223 or email us. We can come take a look, give a free estimate and consult on your trees.

The post Getting the Perfect Christmas Tree appeared first on Arbor 1 Tree Service.

Few of us would disagree that greenery, especially trees, makes urban environments more “livable”. Trees cool the air, break the monotony of concrete and asphalt, reduce crime, increase property values and provide many other benefits. But can trees actually improve your health, just by being near them?

Turns out, that may be true – trees, particularly in urban and suburban environments, are being recognized for their benefits to public health and wellbeing.

New research says the closer you live to trees, the better off you are. It is becoming increasingly clear that trees help people live longer, healthier, happier lives—to the tune of 6.8 billion in averted health costs a year.

The most incredible data comes from the spread of the emerald ash borer from 2002 to 2010, mostly in the upper east coast and Midwest states. The emerald ash borer is a beetle native to East Asia that hitched a ride to North American in packing materials in 2002. Between 2002 and 2010 the borer claimed the lives of over 100 million trees in the U.S. Infected trees died within 2 to 7 years of infestation.

Here’s the interesting part. Within a short time frame, residential streets that were once lined with mature trees were now bare. A huge study conducted at that time showed that across 15 states, the tree die-off was associated with an additional 15,000 human deaths from cardiovascular disease and an additional 6,000 deaths from lower respiratory disease. Poor air quality and stress are risk factors for both diseases, and trees can improve air quality and reduce stress.

Another medical study found that women recently diagnosed with breast cancer were better able to focus their attention if they spent two hours a week in natural environments. This was largely attributed to stress reduction from being in the trees.

If you can’t be in the trees, does it help to just look at trees? One famous study from the 1970s researched patients who had gallbladder surgery in Pennsylvania. Those whose rooms had a view of trees recovered more quickly than those looking out at another building. Now, it seems that even looking at trees can improve health!

Air pollution alone kills around 7 million people globally EACH YEAR! Can trees help this staggering number? Yes. Trees are absolutely proven to help mitigate air pollution, especially in urban environments. Because urban forests play a significant role in improving air quality, they may prove to be an effective intervention for reducing health care costs.

But that’s not all! Trees can reduce thermal heating in urban areas and they help establish green spaces where people want to be outside, promoting active and passive recreation to combat obesity and obesity related diseases. Trees truly do make us into healthier humans.

This winter, take some time for your trees. Give us a call at 541-480-4223 or contact us by email for a tree assessment, estimate, or advice.

–Mike D.

The post The Direct Link Between Trees and Human Health appeared first on Arbor 1 Tree Service.

Take a little time to look at your trees to see what kind of shape they are in for this winter season. Follow our guide for a fall tree check-up!

Look for dead branches. Before all the leaves turn, look for dead branches, which are often leafless or have very thin leafing. Missing bark or large fungi can also signify a dead, or dying branch. Dead branches that are still attached to the tree can pose a significant hazard from breaking and falling.

Look for extra heavy branches. Even on a healthy tree, very heavy branches (often laden with leaves or fruit) can be dangerous because they cannot bear the extra weight of snow or ice. A good pruning job can take care of those heavy branches.

Check for cracks. In early 2016, we removed one of the largest ponderosa pines in Drake Park, because it cracked, then broke, then rotted, then became a hazard tree. You see what we’re getting at. Cracks are a telltale sign of failing health in a tree. In most cases, it is beneficial to have a certified arborist take a look at a cracked tree.

Identify cankers. Cankers are open sores or dead tissues on the bark of a tree. Small cankers are typically not a problem, but if the canker is more than half the circumference of the tree, it’s time to take a closer look at it.

Assess root heath. Of course, this one is tricky because most of the roots are underground where we can’t see them. Root health can degrade from a few things including poorly installed irrigation, nearby paving, and soil compaction from vehicles or equipment. Note any unusual erosion, bulging or mounds around the root area.

Take special note for your pine trees. Our native ponderosas and other pine species have had a rough few years, particularly with very dry, hot summers. If you can stand a fair distance from your pine, you’ll be able to see if there is any major needle discoloration. Brown needles can signify numerous stressors on your tree, such as beetles, drought and fungus. Take those brown needles seriously. Also check the trunk and bark for a proliferation of beetle holes that could be the result of damaging pests.

Be proactive with your tree health this year, so you and your trees can have a great winter. Call us at 541-480-4223 or shoot us an email for a tree assessment or advice. Until then, pray for snow!

–Mike D.

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What is the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification? It is a program that trains arborists how to use the methodologies outlined in the ISA Best Management Practices for Tree Risk Assessment. The qualification promotes the safety of people and property by providing a standardized and systematic process for assessing tree risk.

Simply said – a tree risk assessment can provide tree owners and risk managers with the information to make informed decisions about their trees to enhance tree benefits, health and longevity.

In the middle of summer, sometimes it is hard to remember that our urban trees withstand a fair amount of stress throughout the year—mostly from windstorms in the fall, winter and spring. If you’ve been out on our mountain biking trails lately, you have likely seen a lot of downed trees this summer. The trees in the urban and suburban environment also feel the effects of wind, but our job as Tree Risk Assessors is to determine if some trees have a high risk of failure.

How do we determine if a tree is “at risk”? Assessing tree risk is systematic process that includes looking at:

• Site factors surrounding the tree, such as a history of failures, topography, slope, soil conditions, prevailing winds and common weather patterns.
• Tree health and species profile, including potential pests, diseases and/or decay.
• Load factors such as crow size, density and wind exposure.
• All parts of the tree – the health of the trunk, crown, branches and roots.

From there, we systematically record all of the data for that particular tree and formulate a risk assessment based on all factors. When this is finished, you may be given a written or oral report detailing recommendations for mitigation of risk.

And remember—preventative tree care can save thousands of dollars in potential damage or expensive removal services.

Here at Arbor 1, our job is to preserve the health of our urban forests and we do this in several ways. We can help you protect and preserve your “green” investment!

Contact us by email or give a us a ring at: 541-480-4223.

Don’t be afraid of the surly look. Mike Donahue is here to help you care for your trees!

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