TREE, BUSH, & STUMP SERVICE FAQ

While the ideal time for tree trimming can vary from tree to tree, for most trees here in Colorado, it’s best to prune your trees as we come out of the winter season. Consider having your trees pruned every year around February or March to achieve the best results and the fastest recoveries from your trees. During this timeframe, your trees are likely still dormant, yet their growing season is right around the corner. This provides an ideal window for trimming, since lopped off branches will have time to heal before the growing season, and cutting these branches at the beginning of the growing season will aid better growth in the other branches of your tree. You’ll notice that your tree is healthier, full of new growth, and flourishing with bright leaves. Take note, however, that if you notice tree damage at any point throughout the year, it’s best to trim those branches right away. If, for instance, your tree has been struck by lightning in a summer storm, and you have a branch that is snapped and dangling, it’s best to cut the branch right away before it can fall and cause damage to your property.

It’s best not to cut too many branches off of a tree at a given time. Cutting too many branches can expose your tree to infestations, and it can damage the tree if there isn’t enough foliage to keep the tree alive (since the leaves of the tree perform the photosynthesis necessary for tree growth). We recommend that you don’t trim more than 25 percent of a tree at a given time. Give your trees at least a full year to recover from significant pruning.

While you may be able to perform a tree trimming or tree removal on your own, we don’t recommend it, especially if you’re dealing with a larger tree, or if you have to get up into the tree or even use a ladder to perform trimming or removal. Why? Well, tree care can prove to be unsafe, especially if you don’t have the right equipment and proper training to do the job. When you trust the professionals here at Lumber Jack & Jill, you can rest assured that we utilize safety equipment to ensure that we are safe, as well as your property and any passersby that are in the area. Plus, we have the right equipment to perform removals and trimmings both efficiently and safely. Finally, we have the training necessary to perform your tree care services the right way, so you can trust our tree care services will improve the health of the trees on your property, instead of damaging them.

If you’re worried about your tree, it’s likely that you should act right away to save it from further damage. Keep an eye out for these signs that your tree requires care (or possibly removal). Aging trees: Aging trees can exhibit a few signs that they’re near the end of their life. Keep an eye out for drooping branches, dead or blackened branches, branches that no longer grow foliage, and missing bark — all of which may be indications that your tree is dying of old age. Poor foliage: If you have any branches that no longer produce foliage, then it’s best to have them removed. Poor foliage is relatively common, and regular trimmings will help to ensure that the remaining tree branches receive plenty of nutrients, water, and the sunlight that they need to thrive. Discoloration: Discolored branches and tree trunks means that your trees are damaged. You may have a discolored (often darker) branch which can indicate that the branch is dead. Or, you may have a tree trunk that is discolored thanks to an infestation caused by bugs or fungus. Regardless, it’s best to act quickly to remove these branches, since your tree can further suffer from damage, and infestations can spread throughout the tree. Signs of an infestation/pests: As we just mentioned, the discoloration can be an indication that you have an infestation in your tree. Also keep an eye out for leaves with holes in them, missing bark, dead leaves, and holes or bored out paths on branches. If you notice any of these signs and act right away, you may be able to save your tree. Leaning trees: If you have a tree that is leaning, its roots no longer have enough traction in the ground, and it’s liable to topple over and wreak havoc. You may have a tree that has grown off-balance, or your tree’s limbs may have been trimmed incorrectly. You may also have soft soil, or your tree may have endured high winds. Regardless, you should take care of your tree. You may be able to save your tree with cabling and bracing techniques, as well as tree trimming. In some cases, it’s best to have the tree removed since it may fall at any time. Lightning strikes: Lightning strikes have the power to kill a tree. However, some trees can survive a lightning strike. Your tree will be scarred if it has been struck by lightning (often a vertical stripe that shows through the bark of your tree. Your tree may also have lost limbs, or it may have caught fire. When you notice a lightning-damaged tree, we can assess its health, and remove it or any damaged limbs, if necessary.

It’s wise to regularly care for your tree to ensure that it lives a long life. We suggest that your fertilize the ground around your tree, trim your tree yearly, ensure that you’re watering your tree adequately, and schedule regular tree assessments. Fertilization: If you have poor soil around the root structure of your tree, then your tree won’t have the nutrients it requires to grow. Regular soil tests and ground fertilization will aid your tree in growing full foliage, and living a long life. We can assess the quality of your soil, and perform deep root fertilization as necessary. Regular tree trimming: Trimming your trees isn’t just a good idea for the aesthetic of your landscape, it also aids in improving the overall health of your trees. We recommend that you have your trees trimmed at least once per year — usually in the late winter or early spring — in order to remove any damaged branches and to aid new growth in the coming warm season. Proper watering: Under- and over-watering your tree can damage it. While under-watering (which is more common in Colorado) will cause your leaves to dry out, killing off branches on your tree, over-watering can cause root rot, and it may saturate the soil enough to force your tree to fall over. Keep an eye out for wilted or dried-out leaves, and call on us for an assessment if you’re not sure about the best watering routine for your tree. Tree health assessment: It’s a good idea to have an arborist take a look at your trees every year. We know what to look for when it comes to the health of your trees, and a thorough inspection could prove to help the longevity and overall beauty of your trees.

Are we members of the International Society of Arboriculture (or ISA)? Absolutely. As ISA members we’ve received the training necessary to provide tree assessments and care services. We’ll put our education to use, monitoring the health of your trees and providing tree care services to ensure that your trees live a long life. We can provide tree fertilization services, tree damage assessments, and we’ll be able to advise you on the best plan to care for your tree (including when to trim your trees, when to fertilize them, how much to water your trees, and other tree care techniques).

Here at Lumber Jack & Jill, we’re proud to provide service for folks throughout Northern Colorado along the Front Range. We offer our services to those in Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, and the surrounding areas. If you’re curious about whether or not we can help you with your tree care, simply reach out to us and we’ll let you know!

Most tree removals can be performed in a matter of hours. While large trees may need to have their branches tied off and cut down in segments — which may take the better part of a day, or possibly a couple of days for extra-large trees — small trees can usually be cut down in minutes, especially if there are no obstructions nearby.

Absolutely. When we remove or grind down a stump on your property, there will be enough depth to add topsoil for planting grass, and possibly for new plants or a tree (if we perform a stump removal). With our stump grinding services, we grind stumps down to below grade, chewing up stumps several inches into the ground. After we’re done, soil can be added, so that you can seed or lay down sod (if your stump is in a lawn). With a complete stump removal (where the tree and its root system are nearly entirely removed), you may be able to plant where the old tree resided. You may even be able to plant a new tree to take its place.

Stump grinding doesn’t take long to perform. Depending on the size of the stump at hand, we can perform a grinding in a few hours or less. We use a heavy-duty stump grinder whose spinning teeth make quick work out of even large stumps.

We’re certain you’ll be satisfied with our efforts and services. As we’ve mentioned, we have an ISA certified arborist on staff, which means that we know proper tree care through and through. Plus, we have over a decade of experience serving our neighbors throughout Northern Colorado, and our expertise leads to safer projects, healthier trees, and a speedier turnaround. We also offer affordable, competitive prices on our tree services, and a 10 percent discount for our first-time clients, because we’re certain you’ll trust us with all of your future tree care needs. Find out the Lumber Jack & Jill difference for yourself, give us a call to get a free consultation for your upcoming tree service!

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