Tree Services Blog

Trees are one of the most vital living things on the planet. They provide oxygen, filter the air, provide habitat for wildlife, improve soil composition, and protect us from harsh winds, among many other functions. Trees are made up of various parts, from the roots to the crown, that allow them to provide these endless functions. Familiarizing ourselves with the anatomy of a tree will help us gain a better understanding of how they operate and how we can better take care of them. Below, we have listed the most vital anatomy terms that are commonly used in the tree care industry.

Roots Are the Foundation of Trees

Roots perform vital functions to keep the tree thriving. The roots are found below the ground where they absorb nutrients and water from the soil. The tree then uses these essential nutrients to promote its growth and store food to produce foliage. Aside from the uptake of nutrients and minerals, roots also provide structural support for the tree.

A tree's root system can grow as deep as seven feet. One common misconception about tree roots is that they grow deep in the ground. Roots actually extend mostly outward so they can have a good grip on the soil. The strength and growth of a root system will always depend on if it has adequate space and optimal soil conditions.

Tree Trunks Are Vital For Nutrient Delivery

Tree trunks start at the root collar (the area where roots converge with the trunk) and hold vital functions to ensure robust tree...

Palm trees are tall perennial trees with leaves that drop over their long trunks. Palms are ornamental and thrive well in a variety of sun and shade conditions. A thousand varieties of palms grow in the United States, with some of the most common species found in Florida. Continue reading to learn more about palm trees and their terminology, as well as the types of palms that are native to Florida.

General Terms of Palm Trees

• Frond - A frond is the leaf of the palm tree that grows from the crown of the plant. You can identify a palm tree by looking at the fronds alone. Fronds come in different leaf styles such as pinnate, palmate, and bipinnate. They have green to brownish-green colors and can be thick or thin, depending on the palm tree type.
• Leaflet - The fronds are separated into leaflets, which are attached to a single stem. The leaflets are often V-shaped, either upright or inverted.
• Sheath - A sheath is the leaf structure closest to the palm tree’s trunk. The sheath holds the leaf to the trunk.
• Fruit bunch - A fruit bunch grows on an oil palm tree and is harvested to process palm oil. Oil palm trees bear fresh fruit bunches every three years.
• Spathe - A spathe is a large, woody bract covering the flowering portion of the palm.
• Petiole - This is the leaf stem of the palm frond. It is found between the leaf sheath and the leaflets.
• Bulb - Palm plants have bulbs, also called pups, that look...

Trees are absolutely beautiful and can add character to a property. However, trees can also become the nemesis to any homeowner, particularly in southwest Florida. We experience hurricanes and other storms that come with high winds that can cause branches, limbs, and full trees to come down and damage your property.

So does homeowners insurance cover tree damage? The short answer: it depends. Learn more about homeowners insurance when it comes to tree damage in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and other nearby areas of Florida.

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What does homeowners insurance cover?

Every policy is different, but insurance typically covers building damage caused by fire, storms, and even acts of vandalism. Your policy may also cover damage to outbuildings and structures like sheds, garages, fences, etc. Tree related damage is one factor where it depends on the circumstances.

In some cases, insurance will cover debris cleanup, but often only if there is damage to buildings or structures.

How can trees damage your property?

Trees can cause damage to fences, roofs, sheds, and other structures. Hurricanes and high winds can knock over an entire tree or cause numerous big limbs and branches to potentially break off and fall onto your property.

Storms aren’t the only things that can cause trees to fall. Diseased trees can decay on the outside and inside, making them weaker and more susceptible to falling. Trees with signs of rot...

If there is one thing that all of southwest Florida is familiar with, it is the damage that hurricanes can cause when they pass over us. Along with destroying buildings and damaging roofs, they can also completely knock trees over, blocking roads, driveways, or crashing into your home.

When a tree falls on your property, there are some steps you should take to ensure it is removed safely and properly. Obviously, the first step is to ensure that you and your family get to safety if the tree fell on any part of your home. There could be some issues with the structure and you should not stay in the building until an expert assesses the condition of the building. Learn what else to do when you have a fallen tree after a hurricane strikes in Cape Coral, Lee County, Fort Myers, and surrounding areas of Florida.

Contact your insurance company to learn about what they may or may not cover.

Sometimes, insurance companies may or may not cover storm damage--it depends on your home or auto policy. You will need to contact the company to see if they will cover the damage that was incurred by the fallen tree. If they determine the tree was already weakened and you should have had it removed already, they might attribute that to negligence and say that you should have had the tree removed on your own. Always call to see what they will cover for you.

Next, call a tree company to safely remove the tree for you.

If a large tree falls, then it could take...

When you hire a professional tree company to work on trees of all shapes and sizes, it is important to make sure they have the right equipment for the job. Any professional company that claims to be experts in providing tree services will have the correct equipment, while non-professionals will more than likely show up unprepared for the task at hand.

Learn about the right equipment a tree company in Cape Coral, Lee County, Fort Myers, and nearby areas should have for any task working with trees.

1. A bucket truck is needed to reach tall trees and tough spaces.

In order to reach the tops of tall trees and properly trim or remove them from the property, a tree company will need a bucket truck. This is by far the safest option vs. climbing up into a tree to cut down branches or prune away dying branches from the tree. Our tree surgeons can expertly manuever the bucket around the tree to safely trim off branches or remove the tree. It is also an essential piece of equipment to use when you have a large tree in a space that is tough to reach, such as a small side yard or an alleyway.

2. A grapple truck carries off large logs easily.

Larger logs can be hard to haul off without a grapple truck, which provides a way to move them around on the job site or haul them off. Without this, crews will have to cut the logs into smaller pieces and carry them. This will take more time and labor, which ends up being more expensive in the long run for...

Removing large trees is no easy task and is something that should always be left up to a licensed professional. There are many safety risks involved and you run the risk of damaging any nearby buildings as well.

Large tree removal in and of itself is difficult, but when the tree is in a small, tight space, it becomes an even more complicated process. Learn about how our licensed and trained tree surgeons will safely remove large trees from small spaces in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Lee County, and other surrounding cities and communities in southwestern Florida.

Removing Large Trees from Small Spaces with Bucket Trucks & Other Equipment

When we are contracted to remove a large tree, our crews always take the utmost safety precautions to keep ourselves safe as well as our clients and their property. Working within the confines of a smaller space to remove a large tree can raise the stakes of safety risks even higher. Here are the steps we take to remove large trees:

• We raise a crew member in a bucket truck and maneuver it to an area where they can reach the first part of the tree to be removed.
• Once the bucket truck is situated, the tree surgeon will then slowly and methodically cut off small pieces, one at a time. Before they are removed, a rope will be tied around each section so that it can be lowered safely to the ground without hitting any buildings, people, or vehicles. We do this part over and over again until there are no more...

Hiring a tree service company is a big decision, so before you make that final decision, make sure you do extensive research on the company. At Tim's Tree Service, we are always available to answer any questions you may have.

Here are seven questions we recommend you ask before you hire a tree service company to do any work on your property in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lee County, and the nearby communities in Florida.

1. How long has the company been in business?

When it comes to tree services, especially larger trees, you want someone with lots of experience. Trimming and pruning trees requires a lot of training in order to do it properly. Make sure the company has many years in business or that the owner of the company has a lot of industry experience.

2. Can they provide a certificate of insurance with adequate coverage?

Any time you hire anyone to work on your property, you need to ensure they have adequate insurance coverage. Ask them to provide you with a copy of their certificate of insurance so you know that they (and more importantly, you) will be covered in the event that someone is injured while working on your property. If they do not have insurance, you could be held liable if something were to happen.

3. Do they have a list of references or reviews, or can you verify their experience?

Reputable companies will often have several reviews on Google, Facebook, Yelp, Angie's List, or other sites. Look them up to see what other...

From June to November, the state of Florida has to deal with hurricane season, which brings a general feeling of unease and uncertainty to homeowners and business owners throughout the state.

One way to mitigate property damage during this time is to inspect your trees for any signs that they could be vulnerable to storm damage. Here are some signs to look out for in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Lee County, FL.

Trees have been weakened due to tree disease or insect infestation.

When tree diseases and insects attack their intended targets, they cause the tree's overall structure to weaken, along with large branches and small limbs. A hurricane-force wind can easily knock these trees over or blow the limbs and branches off, turning them into flying projectiles. If you know that a tree on your property has had any tree diseases or problems with insect infestation, then you need to have a professional tree surgeon come to examine it to assess its weaknesses.

Branches of the tree are growing too close to structures on your property.

When a tree starts to grow too close to homes or buildings, it's already a hazard, but during a hurricane, it can be much worse. A category 3 hurricane can have winds anywhere from 111-130 miles per hour, which can easily knock over a tree and cause it to fall into the building, possibly injuring those inside or causing catastrophic damage to the walls and roof.

Work incidents related to tree care may be more common than you think. In 2016, the Tree Care Industry Association reported that there were 153 incidents in the United States, and 92 of them were fatal. Tree care is an incredibly dangerous field due to its scope of work and the use of heavy machinery. If an unlicensed tree professional is injured on your property, you may become liable for their medical costs.

Also, those who perform tree care without a license likely don't abide by safe practices. Not only will your property's aesthetic appeal suffer, but your home or business may also be more susceptible to fallen tree damage.

To help you avoid the harm that an unlicensed tree professional can inflict, our team at Tim's Tree Service is fully licensed to perform comprehensive tree care on your property in Cape Coral, Lee County, or Fort Myers, FL. Learn some of the reasons why you should avoid hiring unlicensed tree professionals.

Unlicensed tree professionals often don't abide by industry standards when it comes to trimming and pruning.

Trimming and pruning are essential services that your trees need. This way, they will maintain manicured appearances, positively contribute to your property's curb appeal, and achieve their full growth potential.

Unlicensed tree professionals often don't abide by industry standards when it comes to trimming and pruning. They partake in detrimental practices like tipping and topping, both of...

Not all trees grow at the same rate. Some will reach up to 100 feet in their lifetimes, while others will never grow taller than 20 feet. No matter their height, all trees have the potential to enhance the look of your landscape. However, keep in mind that poorly-maintained trees can pose a safety risk to your property.

Here at Tim's Tree Service, we specialize in caring for your trees regardless of their size or age. We perform tree trimming services to increase your trees' exposure to sunlight, water, air, and nutrients and cut away excess branches. When necessary, we will also perform stump grinding and tree removal services to haul away unwanted stumps and trees from your property in Lee County, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and the surrounding areas.

Here, we'll explore what differentiates the different sizes of trees, which are small, medium, and large. We'll also cover some examples of each kind present in Florida and specific spacing requirements to think about when you have these trees in your landscape.

What Is a Small Tree?

Small trees tend to be 15 feet in height or less. They need to be spaced anywhere from 6 to 15 feet apart to have access to the proper nutrients. Make sure small trees are placed between 8 to 10 feet away from the wall of a one-story building or 6 to 8 feet away from the corner of a one-story building.

Some examples of small trees that can be found in Florida include:

• Crabapple
• Yaupon holly
• Sweet acacia
...