Guides
Tree care, explained straight
The questions homeowners around here actually ask, answered properly rather than in a way designed to sell you a removal.
Why these are here
A lot of what gets written about tree care exists to make you nervous enough to book something. These are here to do the opposite: explain what is actually going on with your tree so you can make your own decision, including the decision to do nothing this year.
Each one came out of an actual job. The Ash piece exists because Emerald Ash Borer has changed every property in Durham Region. The topping piece exists because so many failed limbs on older Maples trace back to a cut made decades ago. The storm piece exists because the same few mistakes get made in the first hour every time.
If your question is not answered here, call or text and ask. We would rather talk you out of unnecessary work than sell it to you.
Read
- Dead Ash treesWhy a standing dead Ash gets more dangerous and harder to remove every year, and how to tell how far gone yours is.
- Never top a treeWhat happens to a tree in the fifteen years after it is topped, and the honest alternatives when a tree is genuinely too big.
- After a stormHow to triage storm damage: what needs a call tonight, what can wait for an appointment, and the insurance sequence that protects your claim.
- When to pruneDormant season suits most trees, but Oak, Elm, Birch, Maple and spring bloomers each have their own timing. A month-by-month guide.
- Pruning guideWhat pruning is for, the main cuts, how much to take, and when the honest answer is to call.
- Prune a young treeOne central leader, well-spaced scaffold limbs, and small collar cuts while the tree is still young.
- Do you need a permit?The short answer for a normal lot is no. The four situations where that changes, and who to ask in each.
- Is my tree dead?The scratch test, the bud check, and the signs that separate a dying tree from one having a bad year.
- What does it cost?Why an honest price needs someone to see the tree, what sets it, and how we handle weekends, emergencies and travel.
What we actually do
Tree removal, pruning and trimming, stump grinding, hedge and shrub work, lot and brush clearing and 24/7 storm response, across Durham Region and Northumberland County.
The full list of services is on the services page and every town we cover has its own page on the service areas page.
Got a question about your tree?
Call or text, or send a photo. Free on-site assessment if it needs a proper look.