Advanced Tree Care Certified Arborists

September 7, 2018 by Joseph Skibbie

You’ve heard us tell you before: proper tree care can be complex. Caring for trees, treating or preventing disease, and safely removing a tree all take a significant amount of knowledge and experience. When considering which company to hire for tree care, you should always choose a service led by a certified arborist. Such a service—like ours—will always deliver superior comprehensive service.

But what does it take to become an arborist? And what does certification really mean? In this article, we take you behind the scenes, so you can truly appreciate what goes into that level of knowledge and care.

Becoming an ISA Certified Arborist

Advanced-Tree-Care-Certified-Arborists — To become a Certified Arborist, he or she must go through extensive training.

First off, when we talk about certification, we’re talking about qualifying as an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist. To qualify, an arborist must have at least three full years of full-time experience in arboriculture. This experience must be hands-on and typically includes:

Tree pruning
Tree cabling and bracing
Tree fertilization
Tree planting, or called installation and establishment of trees
Diagnosis and treatment of tree problems and diseases
And, not least of all, tree climbing

Why so much experience, across so many different aspects of the job? ISA certification means that an arborist is prepared to provide the benefit of his or her maximum expertise to the care of trees across a range of situations: from commercial or municipal properties to residential situations, through all four seasons (in our area), and in routine and emergency situations. That level of professional certification requires contending with every aspect of the job for full preparation.

ISA Certification Exam

Three years’ experience isn’t sufficient alone. After providing evidence of three full years of experience across all those functions, the arborist must study for and take an examination. The topics of the certification exam include questions on:

Soil management
The proper identification and selection of trees
Installation and establishment of trees
Safe work practices
Tree biology
Pruning, cabling, and bracing
Diagnosis and treatment of conditions and diseases
Urban forestry
Tree protection
Tree risk management

After successfully passing the examination, the arborist agrees to a set of ethics that will govern his or her professional behavior. The arborist then receives a certificate with the ISA seal, which designates him or her as an official ISA Certified Arborist.

Certification is valid for three years, and continuing education is required to maintain certification. Before the three years are up, the arborist must become recertified—which happens either through retaking the certification exam or by accruing at least 30 continuing education credits.

Now that you know what becoming an arborist requires, you’ll understand why our professionals can deliver an outstanding level of service for the care of your trees.

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!

Lincolnshire Homeowners Seek Lawn Care Service

August 18, 2018 by Joseph Skibbie

Lincolnshire Homeowners Seek Lawn Care Service

It’s inescapable and bittersweet: summer is on the wane. Slowly but surely, the pools will close, sunrise will come later, and local retailers’ shelves will overflow with back-to-school gear. In a few weeks’ time, temperatures will start to drop—and the new season will roll in. With that change, Lincolnshire homeowners seek lawn care services, but what are the best tips to care for your lawn as we transition to fall?

Give your lawn a cold, hard look

Lincolnshire Homeowners Seek Lawn Care Service — As the season changes, proper lawn care is vital to the success and beauty of your property.

Three-quarters of homeowners have a property with a lawn, and of those, nearly 70% think their lawns could be improved. That’s seven in ten homeowners. Are you among them? (Seven in ten readers will say: yes!)

If your yard could be improved—and be honest here—ask yourself if you need a full lawn renovation or merely some focused TLC.

Does your lawn have a few bare patches here or there?
Does your grass compete with weeds, like creeping Charlie or crabgrass?
Does it look a little thin?

If the answer to these questions is yes, you’re going to be able to see definite improvement with adherence to a few basic lawn care principles consistently over the course of the next season or two.

How about, though, if:

Your yard has a lot of dead patches in it
You see more weeds than grass

In those cases, you might consider a lawn renovation. A lawn renovation involves killing the existing turf and introducing—via reseeding or a combination of reseeding and sod—new turf that can take over and flourish.

Commit to a proper mowing schedule

Regular mowing keeps your lawn healthy, and it’s important that you create and stick to a mowing regimen. In our area, mowing typically begins the last week of April or the first week of May, depending on the weather. You should mow weekly during periods of rapid growth in late spring and early to mid-summer. Towards the end of summer and into the fall, you might switch to mowing every 10 days to two weeks. Continue mowing until grass has slowed its growth cycle completely.

Water optimally

Don’t overwater your lawn, as frequent watering and overwatering can acclimate your yard to an overdependence on water. In addition, some municipalities have restrictions on when you can—and can’t—water your lawns, because of water restrictions. Be sure to check with yours so you’re not in violation of any local ordinances.

Clear your yard of leaves before the first snow

Before the first measurable fall or winter snowfall, it’s important to have cleared the leaves from your yard. Decaying leaves can introduce mold or disease to your yard, which can affect the health of your yard next season. This situation can also affect the health of your shrubs, ornamental plants, and trees.

Even though we are a tree care company, we believe that a truly healthy property ecosystem reflects its interconnectedness. Trees flourish when your lawn is healthy and disease-free. As the new season arrives, be sure you’re caring for your whole yard.

Lincolnshire Homeowners Lawn Care Tips

August 17, 2018 by Joseph Skibbie

Your lawn is central to true curb appeal. A properly maintained lawn helps you feel good about your home—and can also boost its value, practically overnight. This is true whether you’ve just moved into a new home, are preparing to put yours on the market this fall, or simply are hoping to give the old homestead a facelift.

But where to start? July and August are hot, and by this point in the season, the lawn might be looking like it’s seen better days. What’s the priority, and what should you do for late summer and early fall lawn care?

Lincolnshire-Homeowner-Lawn-Care-Tips — Keeping your lawn in good shape makes a great first impression for potential buyers.

Mow—but not too short

Remember Goldilocks and the three bears? Goldilocks didn’t like her porridge too hot or too cold—but just right. The same is true for your lawn. A healthy, thick lawn is a thriving lawn with no space for the weeds to take off. To cultivate a healthy, lush lawn, don’t cut your grass too short when you mow. If you do, the grass blades can’t shelter the roots from the sun, and the grass can go into shock. Weeds start to take over. Aim to keep your mower blade 2 ½ inches from the roots, and never cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade. And, be sure that you’re always mowing with very sharp mower blades. Dull blades tear rather than cut the grass blades. (Pro tip: you’ll see white tips if your blades are torn rather than cut.)

Water—but not too much or too often

Water and sun drive the plant growth cycle. Grass that is overwatered gets overly dependent on receiving water from a hose or sprinkler system. It doesn’t develop a deep and healthy root system, which can protect it in times of heat or drought. Resist the temptation to overwater your lawn, and accept that at this time in the year, everyone’s grass is looking a little brown. When cared for properly, yours will be lush in the right part of the season.

Fertilize properly, whatever you choose

The proper time to apply fertilizer is early in the season when your lawn is growing rapidly. If your lawn needs a quick pick-me-up even at this point in the season, you can consider the application of an organic fertilizer, which is fast-acting and produces noticeable results. A longer-lasting option is organic garden manure. Less costly, organic garden manure can be far more labor-intensive to apply, and you’ll have to apply more per square foot than you would with fertilizer. However, organic garden manure does last considerably longer in the soil—and it’s better for the health of the soil (and your grass).

Be patient and vigilant with weeds

If you’re moving into a new home, and your lawn needs some TLC because it’s choked with weeds, your most important tool is your patience. Start by weeding, even if doing so requires you to break up the job into small chunks. Follow the advice above for fertilizing, proper mowing, and optimal watering. It may take more than a season or two, but eventually you’ll have the lawn of your dreams—and the lawn that is the envy of every other resident on your block.

It’s true that we specialize in tree care. Our philosophy, though, is that trees are only one part of your property’s ecosystem. Trees thrive best in a healthy, disease-free lawn. It’s all connected: when your lawn isn’t overly dependent on watering, it helps hold moisture in your soil, which also benefits your trees.

Tree Pruning Improves Curb Appeal

July 15, 2018 by Joseph Skibbie

Make a Good First Impression

Tree Pruning Improves Curb Appeal — Keeping your trees well maintained enhances the curb appeal of your home so you make a good first impression

Whether you are selling your home, renovating it, or simply looking to make a good first impression, your landscaping is key to your curb appeal. Landscaping is one of the first things potential buyers or visitors notice about your home. A home with a lush lawn, carefully chosen flowers and shrubs, and beautiful trees reflects a level of care and attention.

Your trees are a major part of your landscape—in a typical home, up to 15% of the landscape. As its largest flora, trees are often a focal point. Haven’t you ever remarked on a friend’s majestic oak, or slowed to admire a redbud or magnolia in bloom as you drive by? Ensure you provide proper care and maintenance for the trees on your property to boost your curb appeal.

If you’re selling your home this summer, you’ll want to show potential buyers your property is loved. Consider engaging a professional service led by a certified arborist—like Advanced Tree Care—to help you care for your trees.

Examine your trees

Check trees for hazardous limbs before you put your house on the market. Dead or dying limbs or weak branches can pose serious injury to both people and property, such as cars parked on the street.

Remove dead trees and branches

Dead branches—especially those too close to the house, garage, patio, or driveway—should be removed. Any weak or dead branches that overhang the sidewalk should also be considered for removal. If a tree on your property has died, it’s important that you remove it with the help of a professional tree service.

Clean up debris

Cleaning up fallen branches improves your property’s appearance, so plan to comb your yard before you put your home on the market and after each storm. You might also consider hiring a tree service to remove dead stumps on your property.

Prune trees and shrubs

Ornamental trees and young trees may need pruning to present a pleasing shape to visitors. Consult with us to see how we canensure your property looks its best.

Even if you’re not considering selling your home, improving its curb appeal can make you—and your family—feel better about your home. Have you ever dressed up your dining room with a vase of fresh flowers? Repainted a room for a fresh look? Caring for your property can help you elevate your outside as much as your inside.

And, if you’ve just purchased a new home, and you’re looking to instantly improve its curb appeal, engaging a tree care service may provide just what you’re looking for.

Summer Tree Pruning Chicago

July 1, 2018 by Joseph Skibbie

Decrease Summer Watering Stress with Tree Pruning

Summer is a wonderful season, especially here in Chicago. It’s our reward after months and months of winter. But the heat of high summer can be extreme. As temps soar, you can head for the air-conditioned house—but your trees can’t. They have to endure what Mother Nature has in store for them. As a homeowner, though, you can offset some of summer’s stress on your trees with pruning and maintenance.

Summer Watering Stressors

When temperatures rise—and they often top 90 in July and August—shade, ornamental, and fruit trees all suffer. The increase in heat prompts the plant to divert resources to its leaves. Why? You can slather on the sunscreen, but a tree can’t. Moving resources to its leaves is one way to reduce or prevent scorching.

Trees are also particularly sensitive to the water table in the ground. If we go through a period with little or no rain, the water table changes. As a result, soil moisture decreases. Put simply, your trees are thirsty, and there is less water for them to access to drink.

In addition, other plants around your trees are competing for resources in the summer. Spring and summer are intense periods of growth and reproduction for plants. All that flowering and fruit-bearing and growing puts a lot of demand on plants’ resources. The grass, shrubs, flowers, ornamental grasses, berry bushes, and vegetables in a yard are all competing for water. If water becomes scarce, trees—as well as other plants—will be stressed.

Finally, summer—as you know well—is construction season in our area. If you’re undertaking a home improvement project on your property, you could be introducing stress to your trees’ root systems. Damage to the extensive root systems from digging and construction could compromise your trees’ ability to reach essential moisture.

Summer Pruning and Care to Reduce Stress

arborist_tree_pruning — The summer can be very harsh on your trees, but with a professional pruning and maintenance, you can keep them healthy all year round.

So what can you do to offset these stressors? First—and most importantly—you should hire a professional tree service led by a certified arborist, such as Advanced Tree Care. Summer is not a normal season for tree pruning, so it’s important that you entrust this work to an expert.

Summer pruning can help protect your trees from stress by ensuring that all of the tree’s resources go into healthy, undamaged limbs. An experienced tree service will be able to ensure your trees are properly cared for all year long. When you hire Advanced Tree Care, our staff will:

Examine your trees for signs of stress as well as broken, dead, or otherwise damaged limbs
Carefully prune any trees requiring it during the summer season, giving them what they need to thrive as well as potentially protecting them from storm damage
Prune or shape trees that may be encroaching upon each other’s space
Recommend an optimal watering schedule to keep your trees healthy
Recommend further maintenance or treatment for pests to promote health