Though it’s typically thought of as a spring or autumn chore, winter is a fine time of year for tree trimming in Brookeville, MD. In fact, some species do better if they’re pruned in the wintertime. This post will cover a few of the top reasons to get those trees trimmed right now:

• Prevent fallen branches: One heavy snowfall or a strong gust of wind can turn into a disaster if your trees have long branches that are either dead or dying. The branches can easily snap off and fall on top of your roof or your car. Instead of repairing your roof or car, have those branches trimmed today. Tree service is much faster, simpler and less expensive than going through an insurance claims process.
• Winter trimming can be easier: Without having to navigate through thick foliage, the experts are able to trim your trees in the winter once deciduous trees have shed their leaves. On top of that, cleanup is a much faster process if you don’t have to worry about all of those pesky leaves, too!
• Winter trimming is better for some species: As mentioned above, winter trimming is more beneficial than pruning at other times of year for some types of trees and shrubs. Experts recommend trimming crepe myrtles and chaste trees in the winter as opposed to the autumn. However, it’s important to note how much of the branch you trim—cutting too much could hurt the tree in the long run. For this reason, we always recommend hiring a professional to take care of tree trimming for you.
• Promote growth in the spring: Dovetailing off the last point, trimming trees ensures they come back looking healthy and strong in the growing season. Again, just be mindful of how much you cut while pruning—you’d hate to trim too much and accidentally kill some branches!
• Improve the look of your property: Do you think a property looks better if the tree branches are long and gnarly or if they’re kept nice and neat? Keeping your trees and bushes trimmed and pruned ensures a better-looking and more valuable property. Talk to a tree care professional today about boosting the look of your property by cutting down some old branches.

Should you trim your trees by yourself?

Many DIY-ers out there are probably more than happy to grab a chainsaw and start trimming their trees’ branches. However, it’s important to note that tree trimming in Mount Airy, MD is best left to the professionals. Trimming without proper gear or knowledge can lead to severe injuries and end up causing more harm than good for your trees. In addition to saving you from hurting yourself, hiring a reputable tree trimming service is often less costly than buying or renting all of the necessary tree trimming gear.

Be sure to choose Stabler Tree & Crane Services to trim and prune your trees. We have over 30 years of experience in the industry, ensuring the job is performed quickly and efficiently. Give us a call today to get a free estimate!

Do you have a tree trimming service in Dayton, MD sending over some professionals to work on your property? If so, a little bit of preparation can go a long way toward making the job run as smoothly as possible. Here’s a bit of information about the steps you can take to prepare before your tree trimmers arrive:

• Give them space to park: You’re going to need the street in front of your home to be kept relatively clear—you can estimate a need for about three regular parking spaces to fit the truck and chipper. In addition, any trees that are being worked on should not have cars underneath them. This may or may not be an issue you need to worry about, depending on where the trees are located on your property. If you have trees being worked on in your backyard, it might be necessary to clear out your driveway.
• Protect personal property: Any personal items that could potentially be damaged by falling tree debris should be moved away from the area where the trimmers will be working. Do this in advance—your tree trimmers will not do it for you.
• Utility interruptions: Be prepared for some potential interruptions to some of your services like internet, cable television, land line phones or even power. This doesn’t always happen, but any time you’re working on trees near power lines there’s at least a chance of an outage. Make sure you’ve got the number of your utility service providers so you can quickly call them out to restore the service.
• Clean up dog droppings: Make sure your yard is clear of dog droppings by the time the crew arrives, because they’re likely going to be running around your yard preparing to set up for the job. They cannot have their gear contaminated, and if they do, they’ll need to clean it off, which will only delay the work being done on your trees.
• Decide whether or not you need to be there: You are not required to be home while your tree trimmers are working. In fact, if you’re able to work while it’s being done this will reduce the cost of the job on your end, as you won’t have to give up a day’s wages. However, if you have specific ideas about how you want your tree trimmed or how far back specifically you want the trimmers to go, you are certainly welcome to remain at home and give your input to the people who have come out to work on your trees.
• Prepare for debris: There is always going to be some debris left behind from the job. In some cases, the tree trimming service will take it with them, either for a small fee or built into the cost of the job. There may be leaves and sticks to clean up. For more significant trimming projects, you might have wood left over that would make good firewood. Finally, for complete tree removal, there may be stumps left behind, which you’ll need to have ground up. The stump grindings can make great mulch, or can be dried and used as tinder in your fires.

For more information about how you can prepare for the work of a tree trimming service in Mount Airy, MD, we encourage you to contact Stabler Tree & Crane Services today.

It’s not at all uncommon for trees to grow in such a way that they begin to interfere with the path of power lines. When this happens, there are some specific regulations that apply to the way those trees can be trimmed, because the tree trimmers must take extra safety precautions to avoid electrocution or damaging utility lines. These regulations don’t just exist in federal and state law, but also in many power company policies.

A good company that will do tree pruning in Finksburg, MD will generally trim trees near power lines for two primary reasons:

• To ensure the safety of everyone in the area: Trees do conduct electricity, which means there are some potentially significant safety hazards that are present when their branches grow close to power lines. Trimming those branches back prevents the risk of electrical conductivity causing accidents and electrocution.
• To ensure reliable utility service to local residents: Beyond the obvious safety concerns that come with trees growing up against power lines, there’s also the issue of utility service reliability to take into account. Branches that come into contact with utility lines could cause outages or fires, especially if the weather gets windy. Trimming tree branches helps to prevent these types of outages from occurring.

The processes associated with trimming trees near wires

Our tree service is often called in to either trim or remove trees that are getting too close to power lines, whether they’re running from an electrical pole to a home or business or in between poles. Exactly how much of the tree gets trimmed depends on a variety of factors, including the growth rate of the tree, where the tree is located, the kinds of trimming practices that have previously been used on the tree and the types of watering methods in place for the tree.

Keep in mind that it is good for many types of trees to be trimmed on a semi-regular basis. While trimming for the purposes of electrical wires might not result in as good of an appearance for the tree as just letting it grow, you can be sure that bringing in a team of experienced professionals to get the trimming done will keep the tree healthy and safe for years to come. You do not have to sacrifice the health of your tree simply due to power line interference.

Once the tree has been trimmed or removed, we’ll turn the debris into chips that can be used for mulch and other purposes. This helps to decrease the amount of waste that might otherwise be put into landfills and just take up space.

If you’re keeping potential tree and power line safety in mind, you can always plant trees that are power line friendly. If you know what a tree will look like once it’s mature, you can get a better sense of whether or not it will end up interfering with the power lines in your area. For more information about trimming and planting trees, or to schedule tree cutting services in Finksburg, MD, we encourage you to reach out to Stabler Tree & Crane Services today.

To the uninitiated, tree trimming might look like a fairly easy task. After all, the job is essentially just lopping off some branches that look a little long, right? Actually, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Tree trimming is tough work that can also lead to serious injuries if you don’t know what you’re doing. This post will teach you more about the hazards that tree trimmers in Mount Airy, MD face, as well as cover why you should always leave the job to the pros.

Dangers of tree trimming

Not only is it a tough job, but tree trimming can be incredibly dangerous. The points below are a few of the risks that tree trimmers take when they’re working on your property:

• Electrocution: Power lines are a tree trimmer’s number one enemy. Any contact with an electrical line can be a death sentence, which is why tree trimmers always keep their distance. As a general rule, all power lines should be treated as if they’re live and dangerous.
• Falls: Climbing up into a tree or getting up in a basket crane isn’t exactly the safest job out there. If a tree trimmer isn’t being careful, he’s likely to fall to the ground and seriously injure himself.
• Falling limbs: Thanks to gravity, all of those limbs that the trimmer cuts off will fall to the ground. All of the employees on the ground need to keep their head on a swivel to ensure they’re not directly underneath a falling branch!

Necessary safety equipment

You can’t just climb up into a tree wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. All tree trimmers in Mount Airy, MD need to wear the following safety gear when performing their jobs:

• Hard hat: As mentioned above, all of those trimmed limbs are bound to come crashing to the ground. Every tree trimmer on the crew needs to wear a hard hat to ensure their head is protected when those branches come down.
• Gloves: As you can imagine, puncture wounds, scrapes and cuts are common when you’re working up in a tree. Tree trimmers have to protect their hands with heavy-duty gloves.
• Non-slip boots: Sturdy boots are a must when you’re climbing up in a tree. Non-slip footwear helps ensure that you don’t come toppling down while climbing.
• Climbing gear: Safety harnesses, belts and ropes are just a few of the things tree trimmers wear while they’re climbing up in a tree. Not only do these help prevent falls, they also make the job much easier overall.
• Face shield: Sawdust and wood chips fly out in all directions while limbs are being cut. Face shields protects trimmers’ faces from all of that debris.
• Goggles: In addition to a face shield, goggles or glasses should always be worn to protect the eyes from that flying debris.
• Hearing protection: If you’ve ever been near a chainsaw, you know that they’re not quiet tools! Tree trimmers need to wear ear plugs or ear muffs to protect their hearing while using their tree trimming equipment.

Don’t hire anyone else but Stabler Tree & Crane Services if you need to have your branches trimmed! Our competitive prices and safe practices make us some of the most requested tree trimmers in Mount Airy, MD.

Tree trimming in Glenelg, MD is one of the most crucial aspects of tree care. Without proper trimming, branches are more likely to break off, and your tree is less likely to flourish. As you may imagine, tree trimming isn’t exactly a DIY job, and not just because you can hurt yourself while doing it. Improper trimming leads to a variety of problems for the tree, which is why it should always be performed by a pro. This post will cover a few of the main issues that arise from a poor trimming job:

• Marred branches: Tree trimming would be a much easier task if you could just cut off branches wherever you want, but that’s not how it works. You’ve got to be careful when making cuts, as cutting off too much or too little of the limb can permanently damage the branch, and make the tree look less attractive. A professional knows just how much of the branch to cut off and will ensure that the whole tree is trimmed evenly.
• Disease: Trees can contract diseases that spread throughout the tree, and may even be fatal. Many times, these diseases are the result of injuries sustained from improper trimming. If a branch is cut at the wrong spot, pests and other organisms can penetrate the tree and start the initial infection. Only a pro knows where to make cuts that won’t harm the tree.
• Weakened trees: As you can imagine, a tree that’s damaged from an improper cut won’t be as strong as it should be. When trees and branches are weak, they won’t grow to their full potential, and may even topple over in a storm.
• Injuries: Last, but certainly not least, trimming your trees by yourself can lead to falls or other personal injuries. Our advice? Stay on the ground and let a professional trim your trees for you!

Why choose Stabler Tree & Crane Services?

There are plenty of tree care services in town that you can call to trim up your trees. That being said, here are a few reasons why our customers choose us time and time again when they need help in their yard:

• Licensed and insured: We’re fully licensed and insured to perform all sorts of tree services throughout the state. You can trust that we’ll perform an A+ job and be safe while doing so.
• Prompt service: Do you need your trees trimmed right away? If so, be sure to call us first! We provide the fastest service in town to ensure your tree branches look great and your trees are as healthy as can be.
• Quality results: Hiring a less-than-reputable tree service to trim your branches often leads to less-than-desirable results. You can rest easy knowing that your trees will look as good as possible after we’re done trimming their branches.

Don’t choose anyone but Stabler Tree & Crane Services the next time you need tree trimming in Glenelg, MD! Give us a call today to receive a quote or to learn more about all of the services we can provide.

There are many rules and regulations regarding trees in Maryland that you may not be aware of. If you find yourself burdened by a tree on your property or along your commute that you want to do something about, it’s important to be familiar with the rules that govern what you’re allowed to do about them. You can also always call a professional for tree removal in Hampstead, MD to take care of your tree problem. However, it’s a good idea to be familiar with the rules regarding trees and trimming in Maryland.

Roadside trees

What do you do about a problem tree that’s not on your own or a neighbor’s property? Sometimes, trees along the side of the road have become a problem, whether they’re dead and decaying or just blocking important traffic signs or signals. A good citizen might be tempted to do something about the problem themselves and call for tree removal in Hampstead, MD. However, you might want to think twice before immediately taking action.

The law states that you cannot cut down, trim, mutilate or injure the tree without a work order issued by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Instead of trimming the tree yourself, you’ll want to call the DNR or Bureau of Highways to alert them to the problem and avoid breaking the law. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources provides a number of services for roadside trees, including trimming, removal of dead wood, elevating limbs blocking traffic, removal of dead trees and removal of stumps. If you find a tree that seems to be dead, damaged, blocking streetlights or other important signs, call the Bureau of Highways or DNR to have them take a look at the problem.

Emergency assistance

There are times when the problem can’t seem to wait for the Bureau of Highways or other far-off people to notice and do something about it. Sometimes severe storms may create so many tree issues that the DNR can’t get to all of the problem trees in a timely manner. Residents who are concerned about the state of problem trees can do something about the tree themselves if they obtain a valid tree removal permit from the Maryland Forest Service. In cases where a resident has obtained the proper permit, they can hire a licensed company that provides tree removal in Hampstead, MD. For other, non-emergency tree problems, call the Bureau of Highways at 410-887-3560 to inform them about problem trees or inquire about the timeline for removing them.

If you’re in need of tree removal in Hampstead, MD on your own property or on the roadside and have obtained the proper permit, contact Stabler Tree & Crane Services. We have been a premier service provider for all tree and stump needs since 1986. We focus on getting the job done quickly and as safely as possible. We are licensed and insured, and equipped with the tools and expertise needed to care for trees at every state of their lives, from planting and maintenance to removal. Call us today for a consultation.

Proper tree maintenance in Hanover, MD

One problem many tree owners have is a lack of nutrients in the soil. In the natural world, trees have access to nutrient-dense soil from the plants and vegetation growing around them. However, in urban and suburban settings, your tree might be the only one around, especially if you typically remove fallen leaves and twigs that could add necessary nutrients back into the soil. Plus, grass tends to outcompete trees for necessary nutrients. Thankfully, the solution is simple: properly fertilizing and mulching your tree. If you’re not sure how or when to mulch and fertilize, contact a tree service for advice on tree maintenance in Hanover, MD.

Another issue that homeowners find is that their soil is too compacted for healthy tree growth. When we work and play in our yards constantly, the foot traffic as well as other lawn maintenance tools, like lawn mowers, compact the soil, which creates a restricted environment for roots to grow. You can solve this by mixing organic matter into the compounded soil and practicing vertical mulching, which replaces the compacted soil in the root area of the tree.

Combating pests and other damage

Sometimes, it’s not the failure of proper tree maintenance in Hanover, MD that is the root of the problem. Pests will often target stressed trees. Your tree may already be struggling for proper nutrients or may just be planted in the wrong environment, which makes it a prime target for pests. It’s important to monitor your tree for signs of pests and disease so you can catch the culprits early, then talk to a local arborist or tree specialist about how to attack and eliminate the pests.

Watch for other signs of damage as well. Lawn equipment that is used too close to the tree can damage tree trunks, as can rabbits and rodents. Roots can also run into obstacles such as sidewalks, roads and your foundation, which will cause long-term damage. Contact an expert in tree maintenance in Hanover, MD for advice on these issues and more.

Stabler Tree & Crane Services can help you with all of your tree maintenance needs. We have the tools and expertise needed to care for your trees at every state of their lives, from planting and maintenance to removal. We focus on ensuring that we do the job in the safest way possible and in the best interest of your trees and your property. Call us today to learn more.

If this all sounds a bit complicated, you may want to hire professional tree services in Fulton, MD. They’ll know exactly how to negotiate any legal issues regarding tree maintenance and removal. Here’s how the state is regulating tree removal and trimming.

Roadside tree regulations

It’s illegal under state law to trim, mutilate, or otherwise injure any roadside tree without first obtaining a permit or work order issued by the county or the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

The state provides a number of services for roadside trees to ensure their maintenance:

• Removal of stumps
• Cutting down and removing dead trees
• Moving or elevating limbs that are blocking sidewalks or the road
• Trimming and removing limbs blocking streetlights, traffic signals, or traffic signs
• Removing dead wood and debris resulting from storm damage
• Cutting down and removing live trees that are subject to a valid work permit or order

How to get trees removed the right way

If you’re in a situation where you need a tree removed in a public right of way, it’s best to contact state officials. You can look up how to do so with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources or with your county agency. State and county agencies will use certain criteria to determine if the tree you want removed is a valid request.

There are some cases where tree crews may fall behind schedule due to high demand. This includes following severe storms and during other busy times. During these times, residents are allowed to bring in third-party tree removal services to help, so long as they’ve obtained a valid tree-removal permit.

Finding the best tree services in Fulton, MD

When you’re looking for a one-stop shop for all your tree removal and maintenance needs, choose Stabler Tree & Crane Services. For more than three decades, we’ve been a premium service provider of tree services in Fulton, MD for both commercial and residential clients. We have all of the equipment necessary to provide complete oversight for your trees, including bucket trucks, cranes, bobcats and stump grinders.

At Stabler Tree & Crane Services, we provide reliable, thorough, and speedy work. We’re fully licensed and insured, bringing the expertise and know-how to tackle every job. We care for trees at every stage of their lives—from planting, to maintenance, to removal. We also rent cranes (and drivers), in addition to providing storm cleanup and firewood. Contact us right now to learn more about our services and receive a free estimate!

There are many valid reasons for maintaining trees on your property. It’s more aesthetically pleasing to have trees that are cared for and pruned. It can also be important for safety to remove dead branches or limbs that could fall off. In some cases, trimming a tree may help it survive by pruning away infected branches or limbs.

If you know the basics of tree trimming, you may be able to handle some of this work yourself. Of course, it is a smart idea to learn about the process before attempting to do this work as it can be dangerous. You also want to make sure you know how to care for the tree without damaging it. There are many common trimming techniques, and familiarizing yourself with a few of them will help in maintaining your property.

For more complex jobs—or just ones you’d prefer the experts take care of—you’ll want to hire a professional tree trimming in Frederick County, MD. Read on to discover our top tips for tree trimming.

• Know the season: The best time to trim a tree is during its dormant season. You can prune a tree during any time, but really the only reason to do so outside of a dormant season is when it poses a safety hazard.
• Inspect the branches: Removing smaller limbs and branches is advised. Those that are less than five centimeters in diameter are okay to remove, but bigger branches are more difficult to deal with and shouldn’t be removed without a good reason to do so. You also want to make sure that you’re removing only weaker branches that are at V-shaped angles. Stronger branches with U-shaped angles should be left alone. It’s also best to trim younger branches to avoid scarring.
• Thinning the crown: For pruning, you’ll want to maintain even spacing with lateral branches, especially in the case of younger trees. Remove those branches crossing other branches or those running against them. You don’t want to eliminate the whole crown, either—usually, only a quarter of living branches are removed.
• Trimming methods: You’ll want to cut outside the branch bark ridge and maintain an angle to cut away from the branch’s stem. You can use the same technique to remove both living and dead branches.

If this all sounds a bit complex, then leave it to the experts in tree trimming in Frederick County, MD. Stabler Tree & Crane Services has served the region as a premium service provider for all your tree and stump needs since 1986. We specialize in the removal of trees after storm damage or rotting trees, tree trimming and pruning, stump grinding and removal, lot clearing, tree planting, and heavy brush clearing.

Stabler Tree & Crane Services is a fully licensed and insured company, ensuring a high-quality job, whether we’re trimming trees or removing stumps. No job is to big or too small for our expert tree technicians. Give us a call today to book an appointment for tree trimming in Frederick County, MD!

Spring is here, and many gardeners are excited about the beginning of planting season. This may include fruit or shade trees. However, planting trees is not like starting your vegetable garden. There are important considerations to make when you decide how to plant new trees. Here are six mistakes your arborist in Ellicott City, MD recommends you avoid:

• Choosing an unhealthy plant: Your tree starts should be healthy. Choose a single trunk with multiple lateral branches. Bark should be free of cracks and discoloration. Before you take the tree home, check for parasites or weaknesses in the root system. If the start barely survives in its pot, it is unlikely to survive when you place it in the ground.

• Small root ball: The root ball of a healthy tree start should be 10 to 12 inches in diameter. If the roots are pot-bound, girdled or spiraling away from the ball, it has failed to develop a healthy root system. There is good news, thought—most of these roots can be trimmed away if the plant is otherwise healthy. It will resume good root growth when you plant it. But if there are other signs that the start is weak, the lack of root ball growth will only add to its problems.

• Digging the wrong hole: Your planting hole needs to be the right width and depth. Otherwise, your tree will fail to develop. Trees planted in too-deep holes suffer oxygen deprivation and root rot, often due to pooling water that is never absorbed by roots or soil. If the hole is narrow, the roots will not expand adequately. You need to dig a hole that is twice as wide and deep as the root ball—and no larger.

• Wrong spot: Trees need to be in a spot where they can expand. Some species are picky about soil as well. Order a soil test and match the species to your yard conditions. If your soil is clay-based, you need a moisture-tolerant tree in that area. Sandy soil requires drought-tolerant trees.

• Poor handling: Tree starts come in one of three forms: bare root, bailed and burlapped, and container grown. All types need to be handled gently; if you transport them in a trailer, make sure they are secured and do not throw them around. Also, never pick up any type of tree start by the trunk; that can damage it. Pick it up by the root ball or container. With the container grown trees, do not just pull them out of the pot. Cut the pot away if it is hard to remove, rather than wrestle with it and risk killing your tree.

• Improper watering: It is tempting to overwater trees when it is a warm day and they are still young. However, you need to be careful. Overwatering leads to root rot, and underwatering causes improper growth. Burlapped trees normally only need watering every seven to 10 days, but your container trees dry out quicker and need watering more frequently, especially on hot summer days.

Stabler Tree & Crane Services is an experienced arborist in Ellicott City, MD. Call us today if you require assistance with tree removal or trimming.