Residential Tree Care Services

January 1, 2023 by Joseph Skibbie

Tree Care Services for Homeowners

Most homeowners want only the best for their property—and we understand. You want the lush lawn, the fresh coat of paint, the flowers in the window boxes and the sparkling holiday lights. You’re willing to do what it takes to keep your home looking great. Don’t overlook tree care. Whether you’re a seasoned homeowner or in your first home, there is a lot you can (and should) do to take care of the trees on your property. Advanced Tree Care can help with our residential tree care services!

A Homeowner’s Guide to Tree Care

Many homeowners don’t know how to properly care for the trees on their property—but not you, because you’re reading this. Here are our top five homeowner tips for tree care:

Water your trees. This is the #1 most overlooked aspect of tree care. Young and mature trees require regular watering with a low drip or sprinkler near the root line.
Prune but don’t overprune or top your trees. It’s difficult for trees to recover. In addition, some types of trees should only be pruned during the dormant season (winter).
Remove dead or damaged trees right away. They’re a hazard.
Anticipate the size of a mature tree when planting. Don’t plant too close to your home, garage, or utility poles or wires.
Consider cabling trees with two or more branches.

When to Call a Professional Tree Service

Wondering when (or if) to call Advanced Tree Care? Tree care is a science, and experts can mean the difference in the health and beauty of your property. You’ll want to call us for:

Tree removal
Damaged or broken branches
Pruning or cabling
Symptoms of damage or disease, including fungus or mushroom, blemishes, or insect damage and more
Planting and property management planning

Residential Tree Care Services

We offer a wide variety of residential tree services to help homeowners like you care for your trees. These include:

Pruning

Pruning produces strong, healthy, and attractive trees. Pruning trees properly requires an artist’s touch and a scientist’s mind, which is why our arborist chooses the best pruning methods for your specific trees. Pruning can stimulate proper growth as well as address health and safety concerns—for the tree, and for your property. Advanced Tree Care professionals conduct all types of pruning: Class 1 – fine pruning, Class 2 – general pruning, and Class 3 – safety pruning.

Tree removal

Tree removal can be dangerous and requires expert planning and execution. There are many reasons for tree removal, from storm- or wind-damaged trees to planned removal for construction or property maintenance. Our arborist and expert staff will assess the tree and your property to create a specific plan for removal, including full site cleanup.

Stump removal

After a tree or shrub has been removed, the stump is left behind. Stump grinding is the most effective, efficient way to remove the remaining portion of the plant. Our professional staff will determine which of the five available stump grinding options is best for your needs, including recommendations for backfill, seeding, and more.

Maintenance programs

Periodic care and monitoring of the trees on your property can enhance their beauty and extend their lives. Advanced Tree Care offers a range of maintenance programs ranging from weekly to annual, including managing catastrophic events like the aftereffects of storm damage. Our regular plans include pruning, spring and fall cleanup, and more. We can work with you to determine the best plan for your needs and budget.

Land clearing and restoration

Whether you’re building to suit or your property needs a fresh start, Advanced Tree Care can help. Clearing, planning, permitting, scheduling, and installation are our specialties, and we can help you from start to finish. All land clearing and restoration plans begin with a free consultation.

Tree inventory and evaluation

Do you know everything you need to know about the trees on your property? Species, condition, lifecycle, condition, and whether they are native or invasive? A tree inventory can provide this information and establish a basis for monitoring tree health. Our inventories include identification, location, and assessment on a standard grading system for every tree on your property.

Advanced Thermal Tree Imaging

Using the latest technology, we can see tree health in a new light. Our forward-looking infrared cameras (FLIR) see beyond the normal spectrum of human vision to identify areas of concern and proactively manage tree care. FLIR cameras make advanced tree maintenance easier and more cost-effective.

Protect the investment you’ve made in your property with expert service from Advanced Tree Care. Whatever you need, we can help.

Advanced Tree Care combines top-notch equipment, cutting-edge technology, and well-trained staff to provide emergency tree removal and tree maintenance services. With a presence in nine counties and two states, we work daily to provide unparalleled customer service, safety, and efficiency—as well as the expertise to beautify your landscaping and community. Advanced Tree Care isn’t just our name—it’s also our purpose!

Caring for Your Trees Over the Winter

December 1, 2022 by Joseph Skibbie

When winter arrives, your trees still need care. Although trees are dormant this time of year, what you do can help to protect them from snow, ice, and cold temperatures. Here are some winter tree care tips to help you this season.

Water until the soil freezes

Just because the warmest days of the year are behind us doesn’t mean you should stop watering. Fall can, in fact, be a dry season. What’s more, trees’ roots continue to grow and require water and nutrients until the ground freezes. One winter tree care tip we have is to water your trees throughout the fall and early winter until the ground fully freezes. In our area, this can be as late as the end of December.

Newly planted or young trees that still have a small root mass especially need continued watering. And, when it comes to watering, go for low and slow so that you deliver the water directly down to the tree’s root zone. How often and how long you should water depends on tree species, soil type, and our weather conditions. You can check the soil and your tree’s foliage to determine if your tree is over- or under-watered, or you can consult one of our experts for guidance.

Add mulch for protection

Winter Tree Care — Before the intense winter weather gets here, it’s important to protect your trees so they thrive in the growing season.

Before the heavy snows and ice arrive, mulch around each tree with two to four inches of wood chips, bark, or other organic material. This mulch insulates against temperature extremes while also nourishing the soil and preserving moisture levels. Be sure to keep the mulch layer at least three inches away from the base of the tree trunk to allow the tree to properly breathe. Mulch also helps to hold in moisture, from watering, rains, or melting snows.

Prune in winter

Winter is an ideal time to prune because trees are dormant. Pruning can help the health and
shape of your trees, and it can also reduce the risk of damage to the tree from a winter
snowstorm or ice storm. Pruning cuts should be left uncovered, and proper pruning cuts should
be made just outside the branch collar. Advanced Tree Care’s arborist and professional staff can
help with proper pruning of your trees and shrubs, including identifying which types of trees
can only be pruned during dormancy.

Prune, cable, or brace branches

Winter snow and ice can weigh tree branches down, stressing weak branches. If tree branches are close to your house, driveway, or sidewalks, err on the side of protecting your property. Consult with Advanced Tree Care on pruning, cabling, or bracing these branches to prevent damage. In addition, avoid parking under or near branches that are heavily laden with snow or ice. Falling branches cause a lot of damage.

Don’t shake

Trees and branches can sag under the weight of winter’s snow and ice. While it’s tempting to shake off your trees or branches after a heavy snow, resist doing so. You can damage your trees, contributing to weak spots or breakage.

Hold the salt

Heavy winter road salting can take its tolls on trees, especially those on parkways or near driveways. This is where plowed snow accumulates, and as it melts, the salt seeps into the soil and the tree’s root system.

You can protect these trees by moving some of the salted snow and distributing it more fully around your yard. You can also help these trees once winter is over by watering them thoroughly. Watering them helps to reduce the salt accumulated in the soil and lessen any damage.

Protect from rodents and deer

Hungry animals might turn to tree bark and branches when foraging in the lean winter months gets tough. Discourage nibblers with rabbit or deer fencing if you notice signs of damage on bark. Sometimes, mice can also take up residence in deep mulch around the tree base, so be sure that mulch is at least three inches from the base.

Tips for newly planted trees

Stakes or ties can provide some stability for newly established trees, but these items should be removed in winter. Trees will establish more quickly and develop stronger trunk and root tissue without these aids. Many trees, though, especially those that lose their leaves and have thin bark (like Japanese maples) can benefit from tree wrapping. This thin plastic layer protects trees from cold temperatures and sunscald, which is when warm winter sun heats up bark for a short time before temps drop back down at night or in stormy weather. If you have evergreen or arborvitae trees, you should wrap these in burlap, especially if fully exposed to the wind or went through a drought in the warm season. Advanced Tree Care can help with winter tree care, including preparing your young trees for the season.

Expert Gardening Advice for At-home Gardeners

February 11, 2021 by Carmen Malec

Gardening season is right around the corner. Late winter is the perfect time to plan your spring gardening—and spring is the right time to get started.

Here are some expert gardening tips to help you have a great growing season this year.

The right site

If you’re growing vegetables, herbs or flowers, you’ll want to choose the right site. Choose a location you can see from your home, so you’ll remember to water and care for your garden.

Start small

With more time at home these days, you might be tempted to go big when it comes to your garden. Here, the old adage of “don’t bite off more than you can chew” applies. Using concepts like square-foot gardening, you can actually fit quite a lot of plants into a small space. You’ll also be able to keep up with weeding, watering, and pruning in a small space.

Know your sun

Track how the sun moves through your yard as spring gets underway. You’ll want to know how many hours of sun your intended garden location receives, and what direction the sun comes from. A south-facing garden plot will get the warmer rays of the sun later in the day and may be better for tomatoes and bold blooms like sunflowers and zinnia. Partial shade is ideal for other kinds of plants like sweet pea and columbine.

Watch the last frost date

Spring can bring warm days but very cool nights—and an occasional late-season freeze. Be sure to know your hardiness zone (northern Illinois is Zone 5A) and use it to guide your planting. You want to choose plants that are hardy to your zone. A good rule of thumb is that cold-hardy seeds like lettuce and carrots can go into the ground in early April, but you’ll want to wait to plant vegetables like tomatoes and zucchinis until well after the last average frost date of April 30. This is why many people wait to plant flowers and fruiting vegetables until at least mid-May.

Water, water

Locate your garden near water. Make sure the hose can reach or consider a soaker hose system that allows you to drip water to roots. The easier it is to water your garden, the better you’ll keep up when the hot days of July and August roll around.

Plant in good soil

Good soil grows better plants. The soil in your yard may not be ideal for what you want to grow. In northern Illinois, there can be a lot of clay in the soil, which can lead to wet, poorly draining growing conditions. Unless you’re working with this—and native plants that like water are good choices here—you’ll want to improve your soil.

You can work in compost, topsoil, and other organic matter to improve your soil. Or you can opt for container gardens or raised-bed gardening, and you can customize the soil blend that you use. You might find that the investment pays off in a better gardening experience.

Gardening can be a great way to be closer to nature, spend more time outside, and beautify your yard. A little bit of research and planning can go a long way toward enjoying it more. Reach out to discuss how we can help you with your at-home gardening this season.

Commercial Tree Care Services

December 17, 2018 by Joseph Skibbie

Commercial Tree Services

As tree care professionals, we serve both residential and commercial property owners with their tree care needs. Our commercial customers include:

Municipalities, park districts, and other government agencies
Private businesses, business parks, and corporate campuses
Facilities, including golf courses and cemeteries

Many of our commercial services overlap with our residential services, only greater in scale—since commercial properties tend to be much larger and be home to a great number and variety of trees. Services include:

Tree pruning

Regular tree pruning creates stronger and healthier trees with attractive, pleasing shapes. Pruning is conducted, though, for both health and safety. While pruning can take place at any time of the year for most species of trees, certain types of trees should only be pruned during dormancy in late fall or winter. A certified arborist directs all pruning, which entails three types:

Class 1, or fine pruning, is a detailed process in which the full tree is pruned, tip to stem. All dead limbs are removed, and branches are thinned, shaping the canopy over time. This type is the most common type of pruning for residential projects.
Class 2, or general pruning, is the most common type of pruning for commercial projects. Only dead limbs are removed, so general pruning is less extensive, though does need to be performed more frequently.
Class 3, also called safety pruning, concerns the removal of dangerous limbs that could pose a safety hazard in high winds, intense storms, or with the added weight of snow or ice.

Commercial tree removal

This service is offered for both planned and emergency removal of trees damaged through disease, decline, weather, or other reasons. Because tree removal can be complex and dangerous, it is best conducted by a professional tree service led by a certified arborist.

Commercial stump removal

Commercial stump grinding is conducted following the removal of a tree or trees. There are five different methods for stump grinding, and a certified arborist will help determine which is the most effective way for a particular project or situation.

Government, municipal, and park district services

Commercial Tree Care Services — Commercial properties tend to be larger, with more variety of trees than residential properties, so many of the services are the same.

Public and government agencies want to ensure that trees and landscapes are safe, healthy, and cared for properly for the enjoyment of residents and the betterment of the community. As the exclusive contracted tree service provider for ten cities, multiple park districts, and other government agencies, Advanced Tree Care currently manages over 60 square miles of urban landscape trees and shrubs in 13 counties in two states—Illinois and Wisconsin.

Golf course and cemetery services

To enhance the beauty and ensure the safety of golf courses and cemeteries’ trees, Advanced Tree Care provides regular maintenance and care for these facilities’ treescapes.

Land clearing and restoration

Some commercial sites require a fresh start. New construction or extensive renovation often require planting a landscape from scratch. An experienced staff can remove old, dead, diseased, or unsuitable trees and plants and design a new landscape for a site.

Maintenance programs

Our programs give trees proper service and periodic care so they look their best and thrive at their healthiest. Our two primary programs are Advanced Gold and Advanced Silver. We work with our clients to determine the right fit for the budget and need.

Tree identification and inventory

A full tree inventory creates a baseline for monitoring and caring for the health of a treescape—in the most efficient way possible. It catalogs the species and condition of a property’s trees and notes the presence of any invasive species or problematic pests. Like a plat of survey, the tree inventory notes the position of every tree on the property.

Advanced thermal tree imaging

Commercial projects often benefit from advanced thermal tree imaging, which uses FLIR (forward-looking resonance imaging) to analyze areas of stress not visible to the naked eye. This data allows a certified arborist to make informed decisions regarding preventive care, treatment, or removal.

Residential Tree Care Services

December 1, 2018 by Joseph Skibbie

Tree Care Services for Homeowners

As a homeowner, you’re responsible for the health and care of the trees on your property. That includes not only emergency care or removal but also the ongoing maintenance that keeps your trees healthy and thriving. At a detailed level, what are the various residential tree care services—and what does service entail?

Residential Tree Care Services

Tree pruning

Simply put, regular tree pruning produces strong, healthy, and attractive trees. Trees are pruned for a variety of reasons, including for aesthetics—to create a pleasing shape—and for safety, so that weak or damaged branches don’t break off in storms. A certified arborist directs pruning, which can be conducted in most seasons for most types of trees (some species do best with pruning during dormancy).

Class 1, or fine pruning, refers to a very detailed inspection in which the full tree is pruned, tip to stem. All dead limbs are removed, and branches are thinned. Fine pruning contributes to canopy shaping and is the most common type of pruning for residential projects.
Class 2 is general pruning, which is a less extensive—and expensive—type of pruning for residential projects. Only dead limbs are removed. Though less costly per service, general pruning does need to be performed more frequently.
Class 3, also called safety pruning, concerns the removal of dangerous limbs that could pose a safety hazard in high winds, intense storms, or with the added weight of snow or ice.

Tree removal

Trees are removed for various reasons, including disease, decline, and damage. Because tree removal can be complex and dangerous, it is best conducted by a professional tree service led by a certified arborist. Experienced staff determine the best way to remove a tree to avoid property damage and minimize safety concerns.

Tree stump removal

Stump removal is conducted after the rest of the tree has been removed. Stump grinding is the most effective form of stump removal. There are five different methods for stump grinding, and a certified arborist will help determine which is the most effective way for a particular project or situation.

Land clearing and restoration

Some residential projects require a fresh start. New construction or extensive renovation often require planting a residential landscape from scratch. An experienced staff can remove old, dead, diseased, or unsuitable trees and plants and design a new landscape for a residential site.

Maintenance programs

Our programs give trees proper service and periodic care so they look their best and thrive at their healthiest. Our two primary programs are Advanced Gold and Advanced Silver. We work with homeowners to determine the right fit for the budget and need.

Tree identification and inventory

A full tree inventory creates a baseline for monitoring and caring for the health of your trees—in the most efficient way possible. It catalogs the species and condition of your property’s trees and notes the presence of any invasive species or problematic pests. Like a plat of survey, the tree inventory notes the position of every tree on the property.

Advanced thermal tree imaging

As trees grow, their structures need to be managed to preserve property safety. With the use of infrared technology, examining trees becomes a quick and cost-effective task. Areas that are not visible to the naked eye become very visible to a FLIR (forward-looking resonance imaging) system—and this information allows a certified arborist to make informed decisions regarding treatment or management.