Be Safe with These Tips for Proper Hedge Trimming

An important part of being a property owner is managing and caring for the landscape and vegetation. Without proper skills and training, it is easy to make a mistake.

According to specialists in hedge trimming Bellevue, Washington at Certified Arborist Tree Care, LLC, many homeowners are seriously injured while working in tall trees or hedge-trimming off of high ladders.

In addition to the increased risks of injury and accidents, lack of professional training may have someone remove trees needlessly and damage a tree by trimming and cutting improperly.

The good news is that with a bit of interest, it’s easy to learn many pruning skills on your own. Although they don't take the place of hiring a professional arborist, these tips can help you on your way to a healthy landscape.

1. Remove hanging branches immediately. These branches are already at the verge of falling.
2. Diseased and decaying wood can be removed at any time of the year.
3. Make sure to prune at the proper time of year. Professional can advise you on the correct time for different trees. some trees should only be pruned at certain times of the year.
4. Remove diseased or insect-infested branches.
5. Do not prune more than 1/3 of the canopy.

For more information on safe pruning and tree care see what this arborist report Seattle area expert has to say.

Three Tips for Hiring a Seattle Arborist

Hiring a Seattle arborist is an investment into your landscape that has has many factors to consider. While many just shop around for the cheapest bid, it is important to understand how the arborist business works so that you can make the best possible choice for the health the security of your property.



Property Damage
In an area like Seattle where the trees are large and heavy, tree pruning and removal can be a very dangerous task not only for the individual doing the job, but for the property surrounding the tree. Special care needs to be taken to protect the surrounding landscape and other structures such as your home and fence. Hiring a Seattle arborist who does not have the experience or skill can increase your risk for damage. Also, many companies do not have insurance – therefore any damage that is incurred will be you responsibility to fix. Well-established arborist Seattle companies such as Certified Aborist Tree Care rarely have mishaps, however if they do occur they will fix the damage for you under their own insurance policy.



Estimates
Any estimate given to you by an arborist should be in writing. This will serve as your contract in case there is any dispute about the work preformed. The estimate should include an itemized list of all work including the percent of canopy to be removed (if a pruning job) or exact measurement of how the canopy will be changed. Also, keep in mind that good quality companies do not add on fees, such as for waste dumping, after the estimate is complete.

Prices

While it may be tempting to shop around for the lowest price – remember you will probably get what you pay for. To many a tree is just a tree but to a Seattle arborist many factors such as fungal and viral infections of the tree and landscape, danger to surrounding vegetation and property, etc. are all taken into consideration when performing a job. High quality arborists do not cut costs and carry insurance, both of which will increase the cost of the job for you. However, this is a highly valuable investment that will be worth it should you run into any complications with your arborist.



For a complete arborist report Seattle visit CertifiedArboristTreeCare.com
Further reading: What is an Arborist and When Do I Need to Call One?