About Us
Consulting
Services
News
Links

Click to view Video

Pruning
Deep Root Fertilization
Removals
Cabling and Bracing
Planting
Commercial Arboriculture





Pruning
Advanced Tree Care specializes and prides itself in quality pruning. Pruning is defined as the removal of branches and shoots but sometimes fruits and flowers. There are various reasons for pruning of which some are detailed below:

1) Pruning to thin and shape and remove dead wood

Certain species of tree, particularly Coast live oak, can grow very thick dark canopies. This is specific to the tree's location and health. It is permissible to remove 15% to 20% of the trees living canopy to allow more filtered light into the area below the tree. During the process of thinning the larger dead wood is removed. This benefits the tree's health by removing decayed limbs which can harbor pests and diseases. It is also good to remove the larger dead wood because of safety issues. Shaping can also be carried out by pruning back limbs which extend beyond the canopy.

2) Pruning to lighten heavy limbs
In certain situations a specific limb on a tree may have grown considerably more than the rest of the canopy and consequently may be in jeopardy of "self destruction" and breaking due to its own weight. This is quite typical of cedar trees and liquidambers both of which are particularly vigorous trees given the correct circumstances and they both have very brittle wood. In this situation it may be necessary to lighten the limb by aesthetically removing pieces of wood. Thinning may be possible in this situation but, because a piece of wood is generally heavier than many smaller branches, removing wood is more effective.

3) Fruit Trees
Fruit tree pruning is species specific. We provide an annual service to prune fruit trees providing fruit trees which both look good but also provide good quality fruit. A general rule of thumb is that deciduous fruit trees such as cherries, apples, pears, nectarines, peaches are pruned in their dormant season-January and February; and citrus such as lemons and oranges are pruned during the summer after any potential threat of frost.


Deep Root Fertilizing
A very valuable service which we provide is deep root fertilizing. There are several situations where deep root fertilizing is recommended:

a) Pine trees are fast growing, short lived trees and cannot tolerate drought conditions. They require a large amount of water during the growing period and if the tree cannot find water they may become stressed and ultimately be attacked by bark beetles. We feed many of our clientsą pine trees at least once during the summer to ensure that their trees are in the best possible health during the summer. It is a relatively cheap service and a worthwhile investment compared to the cost of the removal of a dead pine tree.

b) During construction projects, trees can become very stressed whether it be by a change in irrigation, damaged roots or compaction of the ground. We recommend deep root feeding trees on construction sites, this provides extra nutrients to maintain the tree in good health during construction and, because the fertilizer is pumped at high pressure, the liquid breaks up the ground in the root zone which alleviates any compaction from construction machinery.

c) Trees that are stressed whether it be from construction, drought, insect infestation or root loss. In this situation it is important that the tree can put on new foliage to which can then provide energy for the tree. Deep root fertilizing provides nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and many micro and macro elements necessary to produce new foliage, roots and give the tree a hardiness to its stressful conditions.


Removals
There are times when a tree has to be removed. It may be dead, dying, dangerous or just unwanted. We are equipped to remove most trees of any size and in most situations in a timely and professional manner.

Cabling and Bracing
There are particular species of tree and certain situations which warrant the use of cabling and bracing to add extra support to a limb. We have installed many cables in trees to support limbs, this process usually coincides with some lightening of the limb. The cables we use are 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" diameter high tensile stress cables. The cables are spliced to previously installed J lags which are screwed into the limb and the trunk at the correct location.

Planting
For all the work we carry out in removing trees it is always a pleasure to replant new trees. Our trees are personally chosen from a variety of wholesalers ensuring that a high quality tree is installed. All trees are planted and staked according to our arboricultural professional standards.

Commercial arboriculture
We carry out work for several organizations on a monthly basis. Most of our contracts are for Home Owners Associations. Others include Industrial Parks, Hayward Area Recreational and Park District and Mobile Home Parks.