Ryan Rose

Tree Maintenance
Poor tree maintenance practices may encourage decay anywhere in the tree. Mechanical damage, including wounds from lawnmowers and grass trimmers, as well as poor pruning practices, often lead to damage and decay. Piling mulch several inches against the stem may lead to stem girdling roots and other dysfunctional root systems. Incorrect irrigation can over saturate a soil and can encourage shallow root systems, stem girdling roots, and unstable trees. Improper use of staking equipment (wires around stems) often girdles and weakens stems.

Poor pruning practices that encourage decay or the formation of weak branches include: flush cutting (pruning too close to the lead branch or trunk), leaving long stubs, “topping trees,” or stripping bark when pruning. Trees should have between 2”-4” of coarse mulch, none of which is resting against the trunk of the tree. Staking equipment that is not properly installed or is left attached to the tree too long will damage stem tissue and encourage decay. Never attach staking wires or ropes to tree stems. Use wide, padding materials around the tree stem and connect these materials to the tree wires or ropes. There are several types of padding available at many garden centers or hardware stores, but strips of carpeting, old belts, or inner tubes also work well. No staking or guying materials should be left on a tree for more than 1 year without inspection and adjustment for increased stem growth.

Keep In Mind
If you have multiple trees to remove or just don’t have the time to do it, we are here for you. We can handle all of your tree removal needs in the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Richland, Pasco) and even West Richland. We look forward to being your preferred tree removal service provider.

The key to preventing damage in the Tri-Cities is to predict the things that could result in damage and take action to correct these problems before storms, high winds, or other types of problems strike. Look at the shape of the tree, current decay and its extent, maintenance involving the tree, the presence of roots, and existing problems. There may be other situations, but these factors are some of the most common.

Tree Shapes & Imperfections
Trees come in different shapes and sizes. Many trees suffer from natural form imperfections that lead to damage under stormy conditions. Having bark at branch unions is a common weak point in trees. Branch unions should have a rough, protruding branch bark ridge where the branches meet. Without this proper union, branches have a tendency to separate during storm situations. Trees may also have codominant leaders. This occurs when a tree has two or more branches or stems that are trying to become the center point of the tree. Codominant leaders typically exhibit inclusion at their unions.

Tree Decay
As trees age, they will naturally decay. Decay is the natural degradation of tree stem, branch, and root tissue. Any part of a tree that has decayed has very little strength and is the most common contributor to its failure. Location of decay within a tree is critical in assessing the tree’s potential for failure. Decay located within a single branch is not always a critical situation since weak branches can easily be removed. But decay located within the main part of the trunk can be dangerous. Determining the extent of decay within the tree determines the tree’s decay and potential to fail. For every 3 inches of branch or stem diameter, solid wood should comprise at least 1 to 1.5 inches. Anything less than that often indicates a branch or stem that is more likely to fail during a storm.

Keep In Mind
If you have multiple trees to remove or just don’t have the time to do it, we are here for you. We can handle all of your tree removal needs in the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Richland, Pasco) and even West Richland. We look forward to being your preferred tree removal service provider.

There are many tools you can use to prune a tree. Depending on the size and scale of the job, you will want to use some tools more than others. One tool that is very versatile is a folding tree pruner. A folding tree pruner is a great tool for pruning a tree. Some of the best features of a pole pruner & lopper are:

• A folding tree pruner should be lightweight, easy to fold, and most importantly sharp.
• It should have a non-slip grip.
• It should be able to cut up to 1.25 inches.
• It should have its own sheath.
• It should be lightweight. Somewhere close to one pound.

A folding tree pruner is perfect for those smaller branches that don’t require the use of larger tools.

There are many brands to choose from. Your best bet is to do a little research. You can also call us to see what tools we recommend. You should always consult a professional (please think of us when you do) about the best practices of pruning a tree here in the Tri-Cities. It’s amazing how just one little piece of information that you might not have been aware of can save you time, trouble, or a dead tree.

Also, if you have multiple trees to remove or just don’t have the time to do it, we are here for you. We can handle all of your tree removal needs and tree maintenance in the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Richland, Pasco) and even West Richland. We look forward to being your preferred tree removal service provider.