We are tree surgeons (for the most part) and that is a professional who specializes in the care and maintenance of trees. Our primary role is to ensure the health, safety and aesthetic appeal of trees. Here are some of the tasks typically performed by a tree surgeon:

Pruning: Tree surgeons prune trees to remove dead, damaged or diseased branches. We also shape the tree to enhance its appearance and promote healthy growth.

Tree Removal: When a tree poses a safety risk or is no longer viable, a tree surgeon may be called upon to safely remove it. We use specialized equipment and techniques to fell the tree and ensure that it doesn’t cause any damage to surrounding structures.

Tree Planting: Tree surgeons assist in tree planting initiatives by selecting suitable tree species for specific environments and ensuring proper planting techniques are followed.

Tree Maintenance: We provide ongoing care to trees, which may involve fertilizing, watering and protecting them from pests and diseases. We may also provide advice on tree care practices to property owners.

Tree Health Assessment: Tree surgeons assess the health of trees, looking for signs of disease, pests or structural issues. We can diagnose problems and recommend appropriate treatment or management strategies.

Tree Preservation: In urban areas or construction sites, tree surgeons play a vital role in preserving valuable trees. We develop strategies to protect trees during construction activities, such as installing root barriers and implementing pruning practices to minimize damage.

Emergency Tree Services: In the event of storms, high winds or other emergencies, tree surgeons are often called upon to assess and mitigate tree damage. We may remove fallen or hazardous limbs, stabilize damaged trees or perform emergency tree removal.

Tree surgeons require specialized knowledge and training in tree biology, pruning techniques, climbing and the safe operation of equipment such as chainsaws and wood chippers. We often work outdoors, at varying heights and may collaborate with landscape architects, property owners or local authorities to ensure the well-being of trees in their care.

What we see from our up-top point of view: here are some trends in the tree service industry. 

Sustainable Practices: With growing environmental awareness, tree service companies are increasingly adopting sustainable practices. This includes promoting tree preservation, advocating for replanting, using eco-friendly equipment and methods, and implementing proper waste management.

Advanced Technology: Tree service companies are incorporating advanced technology to improve efficiency and accuracy. This includes using GPS and GIS technology for precise tree identification and mapping, drones for aerial inspections, and specialized equipment for tree removal and pruning.

Safety Emphasis: Safety has always been a priority in the tree service industry, and it continues to be a prominent trend. Companies are investing in employee training and safety equipment to minimize risks and ensure compliance with safety standards.

Integrated Pest Management: As pests and diseases can adversely affect tree health, many tree service companies are implementing integrated pest management strategies. This approach focuses on preventing and controlling pests through a combination of techniques, including biological controls, cultural practices, and minimal pesticide use.

Urban Forestry and Tree Care: With increasing urbanization, there is a growing focus on urban forestry and tree care. Tree service companies are working closely with municipalities and property owners to maintain and manage trees in urban areas, including tree planting, pruning, and disease control.

Customer Education and Engagement: Tree service companies are recognizing the importance of customer education and engagement. They are providing resources and information to help customers understand the value of trees, proper tree care practices, and the benefits of professional tree services.

Collaboration and Partnerships: Collaborations between tree service companies and other industry stakeholders are on the rise. This includes partnerships with landscape architects, arborists, environmental organizations, and government agencies to collectively address tree care and preservation challenges.

Remote and Digital Services: The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of remote and digital services in various industries, including tree services. Virtual consultations, online scheduling, and digital payment options are becoming more common, providing convenience and reducing physical contact.

Sustainable Wood Utilization: Rather than disposing of trees as waste, many tree service companies are exploring sustainable wood utilization options. This includes repurposing wood for furniture, construction, and biomass energy, thereby minimizing waste and promoting circular economy principles.

Professional Certification and Accreditation: Professional certifications and accreditation programs are gaining importance in the tree service industry. Companies and arborists are seeking certification from organizations like the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) to demonstrate their expertise and commitment to best practices.

This is what we are seeing and managing? What do you see?

Pruning is the most common tree maintenance procedure. Although forest trees grow quite well with only nature’s pruning, landscape trees require a higher level of care to maintain their structural integrity and aesthetics. Pruning must be done with an understanding of tree biology. Improper pruning can create lasting damage or even shorten the tree’s life.

Pruning To Remove Dead Branches, To Improve Form, And To Reduce Risk.

Because each cut has the potential to change the growth of the tree, no branch should be removed without a reason. Common reasons for pruning are to remove dead branches, to improve form, and to reduce risk. Trees may also be pruned to increase light and air penetration to the inside of the tree’s crown or to the landscape below. In most cases, mature trees are pruned as corrective or preventive measures, as routine thinning does not necessarily improve the health of a tree.

Maximize Growth & Wound Closure By Pruning Before Spring Growth

Most routine pruning to remove weak, diseased, or dead limbs can be accomplished at any time during the year with little effect on the tree. As a rule, growth and wound closure are maximized if pruning takes place before the spring growth flush.
A few tree diseases, such as oak wilt, can be spread when pruning wounds provide access to pathogens (disease-causing agents). Susceptible trees should not be pruned during active transmission periods.

Pro Pruning Techniques

Specific types of pruning may be necessary to maintain a mature tree in a healthy, safe, and attractive condition.
Cleaning is the removal of dead, dying, diseased, weakly attached, and low-vigor branches from the crown of a tree.
Thinning is selective branch removal to improve structure and to increase light penetration and air movement through the crown. Proper thinning opens the foliage of a tree, reduces weight on heavy limbs, and helps retain the tree’s natural shape.
Raising removes the lower branches from a tree to provide clearance for buildings, vehicles, pedestrians, and vistas.
Reduction reduces the size of a tree, often for utility line clearance. Reducing a tree’s height or spread is best accomplished by pruning back the leaders and branch terminals to secondary branches that are large enough to assume the terminal roles (at least one-third the diameter of the cut stem). Compared to topping, reduction helps maintain the form and structural integrity of the tree.

Pruning Young Trees

Proper pruning is essential in developing a tree with a strong structure and desirable form. Trees that receive the appropriate pruning measures while they are young will require less corrective pruning as they mature.

A good structure of primary branches should be established while the tree is young. These limbs, called scaffold branches, are a mature tree’s framework. Properly trained young trees will develop a strong structure that requires less corrective pruning as they mature. For most young trees, maintain a single dominant leader growing upward. Do not prune back the tip of this leader or allow secondary branches to outgrow the main leader.

Don’t Top Trees!

Topping is perhaps the most harmful tree pruning practice known. Yet, despite more than 25 years of literature and seminars explaining its harmful effects, topping remains a common practice.
Topping is the indiscriminate cutting of tree branches to stubs or to lateral branches that are not large enough to assume the terminal role. Other names for topping include “heading,” “tipping,” “hat-racking,” and “rounding over.”

Alternatives To Topping

Sometimes a tree must be reduced in height or spread, such as for providing utility line clearance. There are recommended techniques for doing so. Small branches should be removed back to their point of origin. If a larger limb must be shortened, it should be pruned back to a lateral branch that is large enough (at least one-third the diameter of the limb being removed) to assume the terminal role. This method of branch reduction helps to preserve the natural form of the tree.

However, if large cuts are involved, the tree may not be able to close over and compartmentalize the wounds. Sometimes the best solution is to remove the tree and replace it with a species that is more appropriate for the site. Contact us to schedule a consultation on your tree care needs, and for more info on this topic.

• Check for increased pest activity — spring is the time when pests emerge, so it is important to look out for any significant changes to your trees and shrubs.
• Do a spring cleaning. Make sure wood chips aren’t piled on the trunks of your trees or shrubs and weed near your plants
• Consider the tiny creatures. Wait until the average temperature is over 50° before you deadhead flowers or remove last year’s plant debris. Many beneficial insects overwinter on dead plants.
• Look for dead or dying branches. These are easier to spot once plants start to leaf out — prune as needed.
• Start a compost pile. If you don’t already have one, it’s easy to build a simple frame using pallets or scrap wood. Start the pile with the spring cleaning material!
• Feed the soil! Add organic matter like compost or leaves to your soil instead of chemical inputs. Avoid traditional fertilizers.
• Refresh and replenish wood chips.
• Attract pollinators like birds, butterflies, and bees to your yard.
• Install birdhouses and birdbaths. Plant native wildflowers. Make a DIY bee hotel out of scraps of wood and bamboo.
• Begin to treat emerging insects — not all insects need to be treated, but many have a small window of time to get under control. Don’t wait to treat.
• Call us to schedule a spring inspection of your large tree.

Spring is officially here! At Long Island Lumberjack, spring is our most anticipated season. There are so many things happening in the world of trees including tree pruning, regrowth, pest management, mulching and soil improvement. Want to know more about what to look for in your yard? Check out our handy spring checklist to get you and your yard back on track after a long cold winter… Unsure of how to take care of your trees and shrubs once they start to bud? Here is a short checklist for spring. It is an excellent time to:

• Check for increased pest activity — spring is the time when pests emerge, so it is important to look out for any significant changes to your trees and shrubs.
• Do a spring cleaning. Make sure wood chips aren’t piled on the trunks of your trees or shrubs and weed near your plants
• Consider the tiny creatures. Wait until the average temperature is over 50° before you deadhead flowers or remove last year’s plant debris. Many beneficial insects overwinter on dead plants.
• Look for dead or dying branches. These are easier to spot once plants start to leaf out — prune as needed.
• Start a compost pile. If you don’t already have one, it’s easy to build a simple frame using pallets or scrap wood. Start the pile with the spring cleaning material!
• Feed the soil! Add organic matter like compost or leaves to your soil instead of chemical inputs. Avoid traditional fertilizers.
• Refresh and replenish wood chips.
• Attract pollinators like birds, butterflies, and bees to your yard.
• Install birdhouses and birdbaths. Plant native wildflowers. Make a DIY bee hotel out of scraps of wood and bamboo.
• Begin to treat emerging insects — not all insects need to be treated, but many have a small window of time to
• get under control. Don’t wait to treat.
• Call us to schedule a spring inspection of your large trees.