Services
Technical Tree Removal
Often our job takes us into back yards, over houses, near infrastructure or around prized landscapes. Trees that grow in close proximity to these features arent always small or trivial to remove. When this is the case they require professional expertise, intricate rigging and the proper equipment to manage the wood and branches as the tree is sectioned down. Our staff has formal training on how to safely and effectively get this job done. We are equipped to manage the removal process as well as the cleanup to leave your site looking tidy and clean. We have a 75’ bucket truck, heavy rigging, two large chippers and an excavator to feed them. With two chip trucks we can quickly haul the material away to get the job done safely and efficiently. Let us safely do the work so you can enjoy the results.
Risk Assessment & Consultation
Risk assessment provides a standard for arborists to evaluate trees and inform their clients with substantiated advise about the risks their trees present to their property. The risk assessment qualification is based on the latest ISA standards. It is a 2 day course and tested with a 1/2 day exam. The course is both classroom time and field work. It provides an arborist with the tools they need to evaluate a tree based on visual clues and other data that can be derived from testing. This can often be a huge cost savings for a client who learns they do not need to take a tree down they thought was a hazard. This can also make people confident they are removing the tree for the right reasons – safety.
Heavy Brush Mowing & Mulching
Many of our customers have large parcels of land, driveways or impassable areas choked with heavy brush. We have a mower attachment for our mini excavator that makes quick work of heavy brush – we can mulch up to a 8” stem. The mower works well for heavy field grass and tight areas where other plants need to be saved or worked around. The mower is similar to the mowers along county roads for heavy brush and tall grass. The mower mulches the brush to tiny wood chips and leaves a site tidy and clean for future landscaping or access. This tool can also be used to thin smaller stands of trees – with the reach of the excavator we can select defective trees and promote healthy ones.
Land Management Services
Often customers need advise and cleanup services for large parcels of land. We offer low impact trail construction, slash burning, road improvements, drainage and replanting. We have multiple sites around the Olympic peninsula that are ongoing projects with management plans we have created for our customers. Accessing these beautiful parcels of land with walking or driving trails is important for the homeowner to experience their property. We can help you make informed decisions of how to route trails, what to plant and how to clean it up.
Canopy Reduction
Canopy reduction refers to pruning the foliage (crown or canopy) of the tree to achieve an objective. This general term for canopy work can improve aesthetics of the tree, reduce hazard, structurally benefit the form of the tree and direct proper growth. ALL pruning work on ALL trees we work on is performed to ISA standards and the tree is not damaged from climbing spurs.
Limb Tip Reduction
This form of pruning occurs at the end of the limbs. Also referred to as end weight reduction. A good solution to reduce risk on heavy failure prone trees or limbs. This is the most healthy way to perform pruning on a tree. This can be used to save old trees by shortening weak branches or main structural scaffold limbs. Cuts are small and frequent at the end of the limb. This allows rapid wound closure and decreases the length of the lever arm (limb) and substantially reduces the risk of failure.
Crown Raising
This form of pruning occurs at the lower third of the tree. Often a good solution for increased light exposure to gardens, yards or houses. Often lower limbs block the view, by raising the crown of the tree we can provide better aesthetics for landscape and allow better air circulation for the canopy above.
Crown Cleaning
This form of pruning occurs throughout the entire canopy. The pruning focuses on removal of deadwood and failure prone limbs. This provides risk reduction of limbs suspended in the canopy. It also has an aesthetic benefit: clean lines throughout the tree allow the trees look much more attractive without the redundancy of deadwood. This image is of a heritage Black Walnut tree in Port Townsend. The tree was over 150 years old and is on the heritage tree register. We did light pruning around the home and eliminated deadwood and decreased the risk of failure.
View Enhancement
This form of pruning typically occurs on multiple portions of the canopy. The pruning treatment goals focus on improving the view while maintaining the health of the trees. Through the practices mentioned above the trees compliment the view they look better, and provide access to your beautiful view.
Storm Damage
Part of living around trees is living with the inherent risk they pose. Often this risk can be mitigated using proper tree care techniques as well as proper professional advise. However the forces of nature are unpredictable. When tree failure does happen it can often be catastrophic. However drastic the damage is, we have the appropriate rigging and equipment to safely and efficiently get the problem solved and the site cleaned up.
Crown Restoration
There are times when trees have been pruned mechanically or naturally in an improper way. Environmental failure, tree topping or other improper techniques can have dramatically detrimental, long-term effects on a tree. Working with trees that are in this condition is one of our specialties. The restoration process can occur on a small fruit tree, a massive broad leaf or an evergreen. We employ multiple different techniques to develop a treatment tailored for the specific needs of the tree in question. This is done to ensure the tree remains healthy and safe. It is an investment in your trees – typically treatments usually require multiple pruning sessions to accomplish the goal.
Habitat snag
Often clients are attached to their trees and it is painful to see them removed. Habitat snags can be a good compromise to retain the architectural value the tree provides to the site and add habitat for wildlife. Habitat snags are created from a tree that we remove to a short stem. The top of the tree is carved to appear as if it has naturally failed – broke from the stem. This creative process takes time and skill to get the tree to appear as it actually snapped off. Snags are not for everyone but some of our clients really enjoy being able to retain some of the tree on site while providing habitat for wildlife.
Cabling
Occasionally we are able to save trees and retain their safety by using cables to support them. Often when a defect in the canopy exists we can utilize the remaining structure of the tree to reduce the risk of failure. By knitting the tree together with a cable, the weak unions or attachment points (defects) can be supported by using the other parts of the tree. There are two kinds of cables that we employ – Static and Dynamic cables. Both systems have their purposes and applications. We will advise you on what is best for your tree.
Tree Transplanting
Transplanting large trees is exceedingly difficult. A proper understanding of tree biology and how they grow is imperative for survival. This process can be expensive and takes heavy equipment and careful installation to get it right. We have an excavator to aid in both the site prep and the transplanting process. We can also help with species selection and can source the trees for you. An investment in a large tree brings long lasting benefits.
Snow Plowing
With heavy snow comes the need to get out of your driveway. We have a large 4 wheel drive tractor that can make short work of heavy snow. The machine will not damage your gravel, concrete or asphalt. The large tractor is great for tight access, steep slopes and heavy snow. We also have a strong team that can shovel sidewalks and decks so access to your home and yard can be restored.