Category: Tree Removal

Do you live in Seattle? Or in a nearby city? Does your city require tree risk assessment before you can cut down a tree? Give us a call!

Martin Macauley, owner, qualified as an ISA Certified Tree Risk Assessor on June 4, 2010 (cert# CTRA 822).

What does it mean to be a tree risk assessor? Martin can assess the risks posed to people or structures by a tree or trees. For many cities now, this assessment is required before you can remove a sizable tree on your property.

What are the requirements to become a tree risk assessor? Martin took an intensive two-day course in Spokane, WA, and passed a two-an-a-half-hour exam (with flying colors!). Here are some of the areas of knowledge Martin learned:

• types and rates of decay
• mechanics of tree failure
• risk mitigation actions
• ribs, bulges, and fissures in bark
• root and soil issues

By continuing his education in tree health and safety, Martin provides full tree care service to his customers.

One of our blog readers asked us, "I have a crepe myrtle tree that has limbs that are dead, can my tree be saved?"

Without examing the tree in question, there are some signs you can look for in your own trees and steps you can take.

First of all, dead limbs should be removed, and removed properly. Look at our blog post on how to prune to see how (or check out the website www.TreesAreGood.com).

Second, look for signs of your tree's overall health. 

1. Look at the base of the tree and the ground around it. Are there signs of upheaval? Has the ground been disturbed lately or soil added on? Is there grass that is fighting for the same nutrients? Keep the soil undisturbed around established trees, being sure to keep the root flare intact. The only acceptable addition is mulch, and that must be kept 2 - 3 inches away from the root flare.
2. Look at the trunk. Is there splitting? Are there signs of damage (such as something hitting it)? Is there a lot of sap running down? These are more serious signs of damage that could cause the death of a tree. If a tree can't heal itself, it will die. In that case, it's best to remove the tree and plant a new one.
3. Look at the canopy. Is there a lot of deadwood? Are there signs of a fungus or insect infestation? Are the leaves healthy or are they showing signs of stress? Depending on what you see, you could either treat the problem (such as an insect infestation) or acknowledge that your tree is in its death spiral.

Finally, when in doubt, consult a professional. In that case, you want to call in an ISA certified arborist because he or she has the training and knowledge to properly assess your tree (don't fall for the "I'm a tree surgeon" line or "I'm an arborist" sales line--those mean nothing). Someone with a degree in horticulture might also be able to offer professional advice, although it's surprising how little some horticulturists know about trees specifically. They are often experts in shrubs, flowers, and ground cover, but unschooled in trees.

We hope this information helps!

If you live in Shoreline, you might want to attend the upcoming community meeting focused on the city's tree code. Here is the information from their e-newsletter:

At this community meeting, city staff will talk about changes being proposed to the tree code, and answer questions and solicit feedback from the audience.

It's important that the city officials know how YOU feel about your trees and your authority over them. We've seen city after city restrict tree removals so much that homeowners cannot remove a too-large tree, for example, even if they want to replace it with several smaller trees. Let your voice be heard!

Our man, Andrew Cheney, just passed his rigorous ISA Certification test--on his very first try! This is quite an accomplishment since only 6% pass it the first time.

Drew has been with Blooma Tree Experts LLC since February 2008, learning the ropes, literally! Drew had years of experience as a landscaper, so tree and shrub identification was a breeze, but he had not worked in the tree care industry before. Blooma owner Martin Macauley saw potential in Drew immediately,  and he began to encourage Drew to prepare himself for the ISA exam.

ISA Certification means that Drew is now a highly trained professional in all areas of tree care. He knows the biology of trees, he knows which diseases and pests attack trees, and he knows proper pruning techniques, among many other areas of essential tree care knowledge.

ISA Certification is valid for three years; Certified Arborists must continue their education by earning 30 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by the end of each three-year period.

We are proud of Drew and his great accomplishment.

If a limb falls on your house, or, heaven forbid, a tree, you need help and fast. How do you make sure your job is handled in a responsible way? What to look out for:

1. NEVER, EVER DO THE WORK YOURSELF! Sometimes homeowners look at a limb fallen on their house, or a tree leaning on their house or fence and think, "Gee, I can climb up there and cut that down." Don't do it! If you think it's safe, look on YouTube for videos of people cutting down their own trees. (Sometimes it's even companies doing it.) People get killed every year trying to take down a tree--two men in the Seattle area were recently killed, and both were experienced. Here are links to the Seattle Times articles: DOT worker killed. Man killed by falling tree. Be safe. Stay on the ground.

2. Ask if the company is insured. This is MOST important. Licenses are easy to get--you just send your money to the state every year. A license tells you nothing. But insurance is essential. If someone gets hurt on the job, or if your property gets damaged (more likely in an emergency situation), you want the company insured.

3. Check to make sure the company is insured. Go to the Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries and find the company. (We have a link directly on our website so our customers can see we have a $1 million insurance policy through Penn Star, and a $6,000 bond through RLI Insurance Co.) Do your research before putting your home at risk.

4. Find out how much experience the workers have with emergency situations. All tree work is dangerous, but none is as dangerous as an emergency situation. Uprooted trees, especially, are unpredictable and deadly. Do the workers have emergency experience? How much experience does the crew boss have? Do they all follow safety procedures?

5. Never give a deposit until after you have met with the company representative. In our experience, most tree service companies do not require a deposit (we don't), so we were floored when a potential client called to say she had made a non-refundable $200 deposit over the phone with a company--just to get the rep to her house to bid on the job. That's ridiculous! If you sign a contract with a company, then it is reasonable to place a deposit with them, but certainly not before meeting with them and getting a bid.

Blooma Tree Experts do emergency tree work, and we are very experienced (remember the Dec. 14 storm of 2006? We were there!). Call us 24 hours a day: 206.714.9835. Our estimates are free.

Rolling through downtown Seattle are two Metro buses replete with brand new 15-foot ads for Blooma Tree Experts LLC. "We wanted to try something new, something different," said Martin Macauley, the owner of Blooma. "We aimed for an ad that was clean and simple, and hopefully memorable."

The two new ads feature an actual Heritage Tree of Seattle with Martin partially hidden in the branches, hand-pruning to maintain the tree's beauty. "I wanted a real tree that we've actually worked on," said Martin, "rather than some random picture from the internet. That picture shows that the homeowner trusted us to prune his precious Heritage Tree, and that's really special to me."

The rest of the ad includes a soft green background with Blooma's motto: We Make Your Trees Living Works of Art. "Having ISA Certified Arborists in charge of each job is one of the ways we set ourselves apart from the other tree companies around," said Martin.

"Passing the ISA certification test is very difficult, very demanding," Martin continued. "Then we have to maintain it with 30 education units every three years, and that's tough to do. The ISA Certification means we are well-trained in the very latest research about tree health, tree removals, and safety. When we prune a tree, we follow all ISA guidelines, ensuring a healthy, aesthetically pleasing tree."

The tree experts at Blooma are excited about this new move for the growing company. Even Martin's grandson is keeping an eye out for the new buses, asking, "Is Grandpa going to let other people ride his bus?"

So you've got a tree stump in your yard. Grind it? Or leave it? Here are three reasons to get it gone:

#1. Aesthetics!                  Fun but tacky.

Tree stumps are, at best, unattractive. At worst, they detract from your yard and property value. We've all seen people try to turn them into stands, placing a bird bath basin on top or perhaps a sculpture, but that really doesn't disguise the fact that it's a tree stump. It's much more beautiful to remove the stump and replace it with a beautiful shrub, tree, or flowers.

#2 Tree Shoots!

Some trees just keep sending up shoots, even after the tree itself has been removed. These shoots or suckers grow out of the stump, ending in an unsightly mess. If you didn't want the tree there in the first place, you aren't going to like scrawny suckers.

#3. Destructive Bugs!                       Carpenter Ants

It's just a short walk from a stump to your foundation. Stumps attract carpenter ants and termites. These hungry insects can move quickly to your house and move in. Most carpenters we know always remove stumps in their yards--they've seen the damage of these insects firsthand. In addition, wasps and bees like stumps. These insects will not destroy your house, of course, but you may not want to invite them into your yard!

Stump grinding is the answer to these problems. A stump grinder wielded by a professional can reduce your ugly stump into a nice pile of mulch, perfect for your garden. If there are large roots that have disrupted your lawn or raised the sidewalk, those can be "chased down" with a stump grinder, too. We've yet to run into a customer unhappy with their stump gone!

Call Blooma Tree Experts LLC for a price on stump grinding: (206) 714-9835

Removing a large tree is a tricky job best left to the professionals. Here is how the experts at Blooma Tree Experts LLC removed a large Port Orford Cedar that was right next to a house.

Before and After:

The large Port Orford Cedar had grown too large for its space; the final cut.

Martin cuts this large limb on his way up the tree, after removing much of its foliage. Note the rope in the upper left side of the photo. It is tied onto the limb and put on a pulley which is higher in the tree. This way, the men on the ground can direct its downward movement.
Removing a large limb requires patience, strength, and know-how.

	Martin repeats this procedure all the way up the tree to its top, using ropes and pulleys to let each limb descend slowly to a specific spot. This customer has a formal landscape that must not be damaged, along with a balcony that is in harm's way. Lowering each limb is the only way to ensure no damage to the yard and property.
Limbing a tree the safe way.

Once the tree is fully limbed, Martin works his way down from the top, removing chunks as he descends. As you can see, this becomes quite challenging as the size of the trunk increases. Note how the large piece has ropes tied on so the men below can pull it onto a safe landing site, out of the way of the customer's precious plants.

The trunk is nearly as tall as Aaron.          Definitely the largest spider we've seen.

As you can see from these photos, removing a large tree is challenging, dangerous work best left to professionals. So much can go wrong if you don't know what you're doing. That's why the Blooma Tree Experts always have an ISA certified arborist in charge on every job, ensuring the safety of our crew and the safety of our customers.

Martin Macauley, ISA Certified Arborist, spotted this Hemlock in Lynnwood, WA while giving an estimate. Martin was chagrined to see that a tree service employee—from another company—had used spurs to climb the tree. Spurs should NEVER be used on a living, healthy tree for pruning.

What are spurs?

Spurs are steel shanks that attach to a climber's boot and calf to allow him to easily ascend a tree. Essentially, he climbs by jabbing the spikes into the tree as he climbs.

What do spurs do to the tree?

Spurs make holes through the bark, the tree's protective layer, into the cambium. The cambium is the living tissue of a tree. The way it works is water and elements flow up through the root system through the cambium, which then distributes the sugars (food) from the leaves throughout the tree. It is essentially a pumping system. When the cambium is compromised, the tree is compromised. Spurs compromise a tree.

How does spurring harm the tree?

The holes left by the spurs allow an avenue for pathogens (disease-producing agents). If the spurs were used previously on a diseased tree, those diseases will be passed into the next living tree. This is equivalent to someone inserting a dirty needle into your body. Chances are, you will get the disease, too. Yikes!

When can spurs be used?

For tree removal only! Any other use of spurs is harmful and negligent.

ISA Certified Arborists are trained to understand the circulatory system of trees and the harmful effects of spurring a tree. Be smart: hire a tree service who has ISA Certified climber on the job (like Blooma Tree Experts). You will be happy you did, and so will your trees.