Tree Service Blog Portland

Preparing:

Parking:  Reserving parking is the responsibility of the client unless otherwise stated in your estimate the crew will need about 3 regular parking spaces in front of the your property for their truck and chipper and will need any trees be worked on to be free of cars beneath them.  If work is being done in the backyard you will also need to move your cars from the driveway as debris can damage them on the way out to the truck.

Personal Property: Any pots, outdoor furniture, or other personnel items that can be damaged must be moved from the area in which the work will take place. If you have questions about what to move please call us, as the crew’s time removing personal items is an extra that can result in additional charges.

Dog Poo: Your yard must be free of dog poo when the crew arrives as they will be running ropes and rigging gear on the ground and when those items are contaminated it can cause delays and in extreme cases even cancellations of  work. The crew is willing to pick up one or two piles you may have missed but anything in excess of that is your responsibility.  

What to Expect:

Arrival: If your tree work is scheduled as a morning arrival the crew will arrive between 8:30-9:00am, if you are scheduled for any other arrival time the crew can arrive up to 3 hours before or after your scheduled time of arrival. If you would like a more exact ETA you can call the office within an hour of the scheduled arrival and we will do our best to provide an update. If you have special concerns such as you are leaving work at noon and the crew should not arrive before then or you are taking a day off of work to be there when the work is done you should share these with the scheduler David as the schedule can change due to many circumstances and the more he knows the better he can accommodate your situation.

Timing of Different Services: Not all of our services are done by the same crew. For example if you are having a tree removed a crew will come to remove the tree, another crew will come to remove the firewood, yet another to grind the stump, and another to plant a new tree. These services will be preformed over a period of several days (2-5 days). If you have specific deadline that you need to meet in your scheduling please share that information with our scheduler. We are required by call before you dig laws to wait 48 hours after a tree removal before stump grinding unless other arrangements are made ahead of time.

Being Home: It is not necessary for you to be home when your tree work is being done.  One way to significantly reduce the cost of getting tree work done is to be able to work while it is being done and to trust it will be done right in your absence.  But if you have very specific ideas about how far a certain tree should be lifted or how far back you want some tree pruned or other items like that where the work may require your personal insight it is better it you are home in those cases.  

Debris Left behind:  

1.       Leaves: If you are having tree work done in the fall and you would like us to clean up leaves and other debris already on the ground we charge an extra fee for that called a Fall Clean up.

2.       Firewood: If you plan to keep the wood off of your project be aware that wood is left where it lays in 16”-18” lengths. If you need another length or the wood moved and staked you will need to have your estimator add that to your project as changes after the fact can result in additional charges.  

3.       Stump Grindings: When having a stump ground a mound of wood shavings mixed with dirt will be left behind. If you are having a large stump removed it can be a large mound. These grindings need to be removed prior to planting in that area or to decompose for at least one rainy season, either way there will be excess material that needs to be moved. The grindings make great mulch in your planting beds. Also, we can remove those grindings for you for an additional fee at your request.

Completed Work: When the work is complete your yard should just as good as or better than before we came if it is anything other than that or you are anything other then 100% satisfied please give a call we would like nothing more than to make it right. If you have any questions about what was done an arborist in our office can answer those for you at your request.  Also if you have any feedback at all about how your service was delivered that could help us do a better job we would love to know about it.

Urban Forest Pro was called out to the scene of a large Oak tree on an office building on Thursday.  It was quite the mess. Our crew however were able to get the tree down and the mess clean up in a few hours so that workers could go back to work minus a few windows. See the news coverage of the incident on chanel 8 below.

Your GroupOn deal is good for up to 3 man hours of Tree Services. We do not offer that many sales or deals throughout the year and this is by far the best offer/sale we have ever run.  We hope that this offer will inspire you to get your outdoor spaces beautified and to insure the trees that are surrounding them are safe, healthy, and well cared for. In order to help you through this purchase we have provided some basic information below about our company and the process of using your coupon.

Our Company

Urban Forest Pro is a premier tree services provider. All of our tree services are done exclusively by International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborists. We only have the best of the best arborists, use the best equipment, and the latest techniques because our customers expect nothing less. We are a premium service and although our rates are competitive we are often not the cheapest. But we do often have most knowledgeable arborists, the best customer service, the safest work practices, and the highest quality results for the long term health and well-being of your trees.

The Process

Step1: After purchasing your coupon you will need to call our office to set up a consultation with one of our arborists to discuss your project or schedule one through our online system. The arborist will meet with you at a scheduled time. He will provide you with his best assessment of the condition of your tree/s and give you his recommendations of what needs to be done with your tree. If you are considering tree removal be aware that city permitting rules limit what you are allowed to do. If you are considering stump removal  those project can usually be arranged over the phone without an onsite estimate so please call our office.

Step2: Once you have decided which tree services to go ahead with you can call back into the office and to be placed on our schedule. Jobs are scheduled based on a variety of factors, size of the job, location, crew and equipment needed. For smaller projects we will group your project with other similar projects in same area this limits our drive time and allows us to spend the maximum amount of time actually providing services. Because of this your ability to chose the time and date of your service is limited, but any preferences can be communicated to us and we will do our best to accommodate them. For larger project you will provided a date and an approximate time for your service. We can generally arrange this for a day and time that fits your schedule.

Step3: Our crew will arrive to provide your tree services. If you are available the crew will go over the job with you before beginning. Once the crew has finished their work they will leave a work order form which shows what services were preformed. If there is any follow up or questions or concerns you have you should communicate them to the office at this time. You will receive an invoice be mail or email within a few days.

Any home owner who has gotten a notice from the City of Portland to repair their sidewalks or else knows how contentious of a battle it can be for trees and sidewalks to co-exist in the city. Not only are the quotes from concrete contractors enough to make you sick the thought that due to your street tree’s roots you may have to do this again in a few year is just about enough to drive you over the edge. I wish I had some miracle cure all solution to ease the pain, but unfortunately when it comes to controlling tree roots there is only so much that can be done.

What not to do:

-Do Not cut a tree root or let your concrete contractor cut one. Tree roots to be cut need to be marked by the city arborist prior to cutting. Cutting them without this approval is a sure fire way to cause permanent damage or death to your street trees and to buy yourself a hefty fine from the city. This includes the method of carving an X on the top of the tree root (which does not work by the way). Studies show that despite tree root pruning sidewalks will on average lift again within 5 years without the use of other root control methods.

-Do Not Heavily prune your tree or use tree growth inhibitors. Heavy pruning is expensive and most of the time does not work. When tree growth inhibitors are used energy that would normally go the development of the crown of the tree is often redirected to the root system when these methods are deployed therefore further aggravating the problem.

-Do Not Assume you need to replace your concrete. Concrete contractor have other options and it you are going to end up doing this again in a few years due to new root growth you may want to hold off if there are other options available to you such as concrete grinding and/or patching.

-Do Not Wait. If you get a notice from the city it usually gives you a extended amount of time to correct the problem. They do that for a reason, because it takes an extended amount of time to arrange all the permitting and the work to get done.

Prevention:

As with many things the solution starts with prevention. The type of tree planted is big determiner if you are going to have root problems in the future, as is if the tree is planted correctly. You can review our blogs posts under tree planting for advice on choosing and installing a tree correctly. Additional options such as root barriers can be installed when trees are young to direct the growth of roots. Sometimes it is better to remove existing trees, start over, and get it right the second time. Of course you will need the city arborist’s blessing to do this.

Repair:

Nothing will determine your success in dealing with the invasion of growing roots more than choosing the right concrete contractor when repairing or replacing your concrete. You need a contractor who is willing to use a complete arsenal of tactics to repair the current problem and prevent a re-occurrence. These methods include but are not limited to the use of pea gravel which allows tree root to expand, reinforcing concrete with rebar so that the tree root must lift several slabs at once in order to cause damage to the sidewalk, creating a meandering sidewalk or a side walk with cut outs to create more space for roots, and create slightly sloping sidewalks to allow elevation change due to root growth.The example to the left shows a slightly arching sidewalk with cut outs for tree work growth. Home owner should also explore the option of having sidewalk repaired or ground down instead of removed and replaced to limit their investment. A knowledgeable concrete contractor will explore all of these options with you including repair.

Spring tree fertilization is common as most trees have their greatest need for nutrients in the spring. In Portland this spring application usually happens in March or April as, rainy, cold weather wanes and sunny weather begins to show its face.

Trees in the city need fertilization because many of the natural processes that take place to add nutrients to the soil are disrupted. Leaves and other debris are cleaned up before they can be reincorporated into the soil. Soil is often compacted so many nutrients are washed away as urban runoff. Also, the presence of pollutants can strip nutrients from the soil or disrupt their absorption.

If your tree is having health issues, fertilization is likely an important part of getting that tree back into tip top shape, but you need to be sure that the problem that caused the tree to be unhealthy has been resolved. A Certified Arborist can help you identify and diagnose health issues. Trees are similar to humans in that when we are sick good nutrition can go a long way to getting us back on our feet, but in some cases additional medicine or other interventions are required to achieve and maintain our health.

In our practice, we utilize 2 basic types of fertilizers:

1.1.   Chemical:This is your basic man-made chemical fertilizer. There are several reputable brands which have developed formulations made specifically for either Deciduous or
Evergreen trees, and for application in either the spring or the fall. Two of the most popular brands are Jobes and Phc for trees. Jobes is a good quality one that has an organic option and is available at most Home Depot stores. Phc is a little harder to find but has excellent proven results and is what many professional arborists use.

2.2.    Natural Mix: For us this is a compost tea mixed with Mycorrhizal Fungi. This fertilizer combination is a more organic option that mimics nature. The Mycorrhizal Fungi helps with the absorption of the nutrients and, we have seen great results with their use of urban trees. This application is somewhat custom and cannot be bought off of the shelf.

Fertilization options for trees also come is several application options. Fertilizer in most cases can’t be just spread on the ground surrounding the tree. It needs to be inserted under the soil 6”-12” down into the root zone of the tree. Those application options are:

1.1.     Tree Spikes: These are the most common option for a DIY fertilizer application. Tree spikes are soil form fertilizer which is formed in a spike shape which can be driven into the ground by hand (of at least in theory they can).

2.2.    Deep Root Fertilization: This is a liquid fertilizer pumped into the soil using a long wand attached to a commercial pump. This method is favored by professional arborists.

3.3.    Injections: Fertilizer applications can be injected directly into the tree, but this is usually only done in extreme cases or when the tree is also receiving another type of injection.

When is come to fertilizing your tree there are many options for both the do-it-yourselfers and the folks in need of a little more professionals intervention. If you do fertilize your tree yourself be sure to read and follow the manufactures instructions. This is only a primer on the vast topic of trees and fertilization so achieving success in your project will likely require some additional research.Feeling a little overwhelmed don’t worry our certified arborist would be happy to help.

Trees in the city face a host of unique challenges that they would not face in their natural environment. Horticulturalists have been able to create some new tree varieties that have been able to overcome some of those challenges , but for the most part trees need our help to live healthy fruitful long lived lives in the city.

The average life span of a tree in the city of Portland Oregon is approximately 10 years. The 10^th year of a tree's growth cycle is usually just the beginning of its adult and most productive years. This is in contrast to the potential life span of these same trees, which is usually between 70-200 years (and always more than 10 years). It is fairly obvious by these statistics that our trees are failing to meet their true potential.

Why are they failing to do so? Well, several reasons. First, the Portland Metro continues to grow and with growth and development come the reality that trees must go in order to make room for people. Secondly, some people just don’t like their tree/s. It may be that it is the wrong tree for the wrong location or possibly their just tree haters. These tree hater situations are few and far between. As people learn more and more about the benefits of trees they are eventually won over by them. And if a tree is in a poor location it is not necessarily a bad choice to take it out and start over instead of continuing to propagate someone else’s bad idea. The third and most overwhelmingly common reason trees fail to meet their potential is that they have structural defects or diseases that causes them to decline and eventually NEED to be removed. In most cases these conditions are preventable.

Why so many defects and diseases in our city trees? Well that has to do with those unique challenges of city life we spoke of earlier. For instance, let’s say you plant a tree in the boulevard between the street and the sidewalk. That tree has less room to root in due to the compression of the soil underneath it by traffic on the city street. It also has less permeable soil for the root to absorb oxygen. And due to urban runoff from the lack of permeable soil the tree may become overwhelmed with rain water leading to root rot which can lower the tree's ability to fight off disease. Decomposition on the of leaves and other matter on the forest floor provides nutrients to a tree in its natural setting. In the city these nutrients are often lacking and urban pollutants often further exacerbate the issue. Also in the city a tree is likely standing alone in instead of being supported by surrounding trees as it would be in a forest setting and so it is not protected from storms. The tree is offered some protection from the surrounding buildings, but this does not protect the tree from heavy storms which are the most likely to lead to structural defects.

The straight fact of the matter is if you would like a long lived tree in the city or if you would like your already long lived tree to stay that way YOU NEED TO MAINTAIN IT. The same way your house needs painting and your roof needs new roofing your tree needs pruning and may depending on your situation also need fertilization, disease prevention treatments, and/or disease treatments. The bad news is that to have your mature trees pruned and maintained correctly by PROFESSIONALS (ei ISA Certified Arborists) is EXPENSIVE (but maybe not so much when you consider the benefits). It is important to hire a professional because incorrect pruning can send you in the other direction causing structural defects and shortening the life of your tree. But the good news is that pruning when done to a healthy tree over time can be limited to every 3-7 years depending on the variety and location. This gives you plenty of time to budget for this expense just as you would budget for a new roof or to have your house painted.

I hope I have done a good job of explaining the importance of maintaining trees in the city and I hope you will consider adding tree pruning and tree maintenance to your home maintenance budget. If you have any further questions you can Ask An Arborist under Contact above.

Now that you have a beautiful newly planted tree it is time to master the steps of keeping it that way. The bad news is that for the first 2 years this will take some time and attention on your part, but the good news is that after those 2 years of work your tree should be happy and healthy and not require much more them some pruning and fertilization by your arborist every few years. Below is a description of each of the subjects regarding your new tree requiring your attention.

Water Management

Young trees need adequate water to become established. Although rainfall may be adequate in some areas and in some seasons, additional water may be needed, particularly after planting when root systems are limited. After the initial watering at planting, deciduous trees do not need additional water until the first leaves have reached full size, but then will need water 3-4 times per week and everyday during the plus 90 degree days of summer. We recommend using a water bag or ring (shown in the picture) during the dry seasons for the first 2 years. The water bag will only need to be filled weekly or bi-weekly during the hottest part of the summer eliminating the chore of daily watering. After 2 years, most trees can survive with only one or no irrigations, although they would probably do better with monthly applications.

Soil Management

It is essential to maintain an area free of turf and weeds around tree trunks, because turf and weeds compete for water and nutrients, and some produce chemicals toxic to other plants. A small turf-free area around a tree also reduces the need for mowers to come close. This clear area must be at least one-foot in radius. Larger areas add little benefit. After four or five years, tree roots are extensive enough that other plants close to their trunks are not a problem, although mower operators should still exercise caution.

A three to four-inch-thick mulch, material placed on the soil surface, controls most weed seedlings. In addition, mulch protects the soil from compaction and erosion, conserves moisture, moderates soil temperatures, provides an all-weather surface for walking, and allows plants to root in the fertile and well-aerated surface soil. The mulch should not be added until 2-4 months after the tree has been planted so that it does not interfere with the root system obtaining oxygen. Keep mulches at least two inches away from the trunks of trees to minimize disease and rodent damage. A wide range of organic and inorganic materials can be used.

Pruning and Training

In years past, severe pruning after planting was thought to be necessary. However, newly planted trees grow quite well if they are pruned lightly or not at all. The key to pruning is to encourage the growth of several large permanent branches, called "scaffold branches," that will ultimately form the basic structure of the mature tree.

Pest Management

Most trees get off to a good start, but serious problems can be avoided or minimized if the trees are periodically inspected. Inspect trees for the beginnings of insect and disease damage. At the same time, take care of any staking problems, check on tree moisture status, and identify any other problems. The inspection should take only a few minutes per tree, but prompt action on any problems encountered will pay big dividends in healthier, stronger trees.

Below are step by step instructions on how to plant a tree like a pro and ensure that your tree gets off to a good start.

1. Choosing the Right Timing: The best time to plant a tree in Portland is from when the rain starts to a month before it stops and not during any cold snaps. More or less this is from October 15 to April 15th. If you need to plant a tree outside of this season that is ok, just realize that the tree will need regular watering until the rains begin again and try to avoid any particularly hot weather.

2. Choosing a Tree: choosing the right tree for the right area of your yard is the most difficult and time consuming part of planting a tree. You need to do your research. In some cases it may not be best to handle this step yourself. You need to consider: Light availability, mature size, growth rate, drainage, disease concerns, maintenance costs, clean up, city restrictions and of course aesthetics. You should try to avoid planting anything other than ornamental trees within 10’ of your home.

Probe your local nursery staff of information about tree you are considering. It also might be a good idea to have an arborist out for recommendation on what tree might work well in your space. An arborist will know the most about the characteristic or different trees and their maintenance and disease concerns specific to your location. Most arborists provide this service for a small fee ($50-$100). Spending a little money of this now could really save you in the long run if you plan to stay in the house.

3. Purchasing A Healthy Specimen: When purchasing a tree it is important to choose a healthy tree with good structure. It amazes me sometimes how many trees that should be in the burn pile end up for sale at retail nurseries. Here is a list of things to look for:

1. Unless your tree is a multi-stemmed your tree should have a single trunk that leads straightthe middle of the tree to the top of the tree. It is important that this single trunk be intact all the way to the tip top of the tree.
2. Your tree should not have any scars or damage to the trunk.
3. Your tree should not have any indication of bugs or other infestations.
4. Look at the roots of the tree. The larger roots should not swirl around the container. This is a sign the tree has been in that size pot too long. Also they should appear healthy will no signs of rot. This will require you get your hands dirty.
5. Stand back take a look at the tree from far away. Ask yourself: Is the tree appealing in its shape? Are the branches evenly spaced? Is the shape consistent with the variety? This is a lot easier to do when the leaves are off the tree, but work with your situation the best you can.
6. Choose a larger tree. If you are looking at a stock of trees and there are several that all seem like they are in good condition choose the large one. Large trees handle the stress of transplant better and root in more quickly. They are also lest prone to damage and vandalism. We recommend a 2” caliper tree in most situations.

It is a good idea even if you are having your tree delivered to go to the nursery and pick it out by hand as it most likely will be a permanent part of your landscaping.

4. Plating the Tree: Take the tree out of the container and score the sides of the root wad cutting trough the outer layer of roots 1-2” with the side of your shovel. Do the same thing to the bottom of the root wad in an X pattern. Dig your fingers into the root wade and loosen the outer layer of roots.

Measure the height from the bottom of the root wad to the top of the soil. Dig a whole this deep and twice as wide as the container the tree came in. You do not want to put more than a dusting of new soil over the top of the root wad. Any deeper can cause rot at the base of the tree. A wide hole helps the roots get established in less compacted soil. If your soil is clay you will want to make the hole narrower to stop water from collecting at the bottom of the hole (a couple of inches wider than the container). Also if the tree is in a high traffic area you may want to make the hole narrower so the tree can stand up on its own without being staked. Staking creates a long list of problems for developing trees. A tree should be able to hold itself up. While a wider hole is preferred you will need to do what is needed for your specific circumstances.

Put the tree in the hole lightly compact the soil around the tree. Do Not amend the soil. If you are adding soil, mix your own soil with regular top soil. Amended soil can cause the roots to want to stay in the nutrient rich area instead of rooting out and stabilizing the tree. Also if you had a tree removed do not plant the tree in the stump grindings. You will have to remove the stumps grinds and replace that soil with top soil.

I personally like to create a little raised ring around the tree at the outer edges of the disturbed area. What this does is stop water from running over the ground and away from the roots and traps it so it leaches into the soil and down to the roots.

Remove all tags, tape, bracing, and any other stuff that is not a natural part of the tree and enjoy your new tree.

A blog post on tree planting after care instructions coming soon.

Making the decision to remove a tree can be a difficult one and is at the very least an irreversible one. Trees add value to the enjoyment of our homes and neighborhoods. They also have many environmental benefits. At the same time trees can be dangerous. They can cause damage to our homes and infrastructure and maintaining a tree over time also requires additional funds in our home maintenance budget, so all those additional benefits come at a price. Because all of those negative and positive factors need to be weighed it is helpful to use a process to making your tree removal decision. The process we recommend is described below:

1. Consider Your Goals for the Tree and Your Yard and Rank Them:For example if you have a tree next to your home and you have safety concerns for your home and your children at play, but you love the look of the tree and the shade it provides. You should rank those factors ei 1. Safety 2. Shade 3. Looks. You might even get more specific about what you like about the look of the tree or what your exact safety concerns are. If your property is a rental property you might have completely different goals such as reduce maintenance and liability ect.

If you simply have a tree you don’t like it is important to think about why you dislike the tree. For example we had a customer who wanted a tree removed because it dropped too much sap in the summer making her deck unusable. It was going to cost her about $3,000 to remove the tree. It turned out all she needed really needed was a $200-$400 treatment in the spring to prevent the aphids that were the actual sap producers. She is now enjoying her deck and her tree.

2. Find Out from Your Arborist What Your Options Are: Be clear with the arborist about your goals and ask the arborist in order to achieve these goals what your options are. Under your particular circumstances your may have the option to prune the tree, treat it, fertilize it, or remove it. It just depends on your specific circumstances.

There are also many cases where customers call us about pruning a tree and are not even considering removal and we have to give them the unfortunate news that in order to achieve their goals their tree must come out. If the customer’s goal is to eliminate branches overhanging the house, reduce the height of the tree, or stop a tree from uplifting concrete there are many cases where the only true answer to those problems is removal.

Why we recommend removal of a tree is often difficult for customer’s to understand. We don’t necessarily like to cut down healthy trees, but trees are renewable and they can be replanted and most cases it is better to remove a tree and start over with the right tree in the right location where it will grow and prosper over the long run then to provide a band-aide solution that only further advances an unsustainable situation. In addition is most cases delaying the inevitable increases the cost of the removal. There are of course exceptions such as very old very significant trees where a lot is lost in their removal and so monitoring them and easing them into the grave becomes preferable.

3. Find Out About the Rules and Regulation Regarding Tree Removal: The ultimate decision to remove a tree may not be up to you entirely. In many cases the final word is provided by the city through a tree removal permit process. This can even be the case if the tree is on your private property. Your arborist can be helpful here also either submitting a permit on your behalf or pointing you in the right direction.

Many cities have begun to crack down on unpermitted tree removal and the fines in most cases are in the thousands of dollars per tree so it is important to make sure you have your paper work in order before the crew begins work.

4. Now that You Have All the Facts Make Your Decision: It is my experience that once customers go through this process they can feel good about the decision they are making. I think this is because they are clear on the fact that what they are doing is for the best and that although there is a loss in the short run in the long run they are doing what is best of them, the tree, the property, and the community.

Customers can also be comforted by the fact that every part of the tree in reused. The wood is either milled into lumber or used as firewood and the chips are used as mulch to fight invasive plants and rebuild native habitats. Most of these materials are donated by us to nonprofits and municipalities.