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How to Choose the Right Tree For Your Landscape

Colorado blue spruce too close to building

This Colorado Blue Spruce was planted too close to the building.

With spring just around the corner, people are getting ready to head out to the yard to plant flowers, trees and shrubs. While everyone has good intentions for planting trees, all too often we see the wrong tree in the wrong location.

Right Tree, Right Place – Or Not …

Every year we get tons of calls to prune trees away from houses, sheds and wires. Many of these jobs require us to push the limits of pruning standards and/or remove a perfectly healthy tree because it was planted too close to a building, under utility wires or next to a septic system.

While these trees look great in their sapling stages, they start to encroach on nearby structures within a few years as they grow towards their mature size (which can be as much as 75 feet!). In some cases, simply planting the tree 15 feet further away from objects would have ensured that the tree was fine through its complete growth cycle.

So before you buy a tree, here are the things you need to do and the factors to consider in deciding which tree is best for you and where to plant it.

Do Your Homework

Read up on the tree species you’re looking to plant or ask your nursery for details. Before you even buy the tree, make sure you know the following:

  • Mature Size – When it’s fully grown, what is the tree’s height, diameter or spread, and shape?
  • Growth Rate – Many people want a fast growing tree but be careful since they are prone to insects, disease and decay. Fast growing trees also have shorter lifespans.
  • Does the tree fruit? – You might not want the dirty mess from fruit falling on walkways and driveways.
  • Hardiness Zone – In CT we have zones 6b, 6a and 5b so make sure the tree is hardy to those zones or lower (e.g., zones 4 and 3).
  • Soil – Most trees need a certain type of soil (e.g., sand, loam, clay) and pH level to thrive.
  • Sun Exposure – Should the tree be planted in full sun, full shade, or a bit of both?
  • Moisture Requirements – Be sure to meet the moisture requirements with either an irrigation drip line or water bag system, especially as we head into summer. If you have no easy way to water a tree that requires a fair bit of moisture, look for a different tree.

Get a Soil Sample

It’s recommended that you do a soil sample where you want to put your trees. This will tell you if your soil is compatible with your tree selection and whether any soil amendments are required. Poor soil conditions contribute to 75% of tree health issues.

Here in Connecticut you can get your soil tested inexpensively through the UConn Soil Testing Laboratory.

Look For Potential Damage

Will your proposed planting location lead to a tree that causes damage, especially in 20 years from now? Consider how the mature tree will look and where it will grow. Below are some of the things to think about:

  • Cracked foundations
  • Tree limbs touching the house, which can cause rubbing damage, gutters full of debris, and rodents gaining access to attics.
  • Heavy shade over the house, which leads to moss, mildew and wood siding decay.
  • Sewer lines or septic clogging with roots
  • Storm damage to your house, cars or utility wires
  • Blocking a scenic view
  • Cracked pavement or sidewalks
  • Dropping of seeds or fruit, leading to slippery or dirty walkways, driveways, decks, etc.
Tree fallen on house and car

Trees planted in the wrong location can cause extensive property damage.

Plant the Proper Distance From Your House

The recommended spacing from a mature sized tree to a building is 8-foot minimum for small trees and 20 feet for large trees.

So, for example, if you’re planting an oak sapling (which will eventually become a very large tree with a 50-foot spread – or 25 feet out from the trunk) you should plant the tree a minimum of 45 feet from a building (25 feet of tree branches plus 20 feet spacing). Keep in mind that this is a MINIMUM value.

Consider Overhead Utility Wires

Trees under utility wires

These trees are too close to the utility wires and will need to be drastically trimmed or removed

Before planting, look up! Is the mature height and spread of the tree going to encroach on your wires? If it does, the utility company will top your trees or cut a large notch out of it later. That’s not a pretty sight and is detrimental to the tree’s health. Not to mention there is now a tree that can rip down your wires in a storm.

Be Wary of “Dwarf” Trees

We’ve seen lots of so called dwarf trees grow much larger than specified. I would make sure you’re dealing with a quality nursery so you can have higher confidence that the dwarf trees really are dwarf. Reputable nurseries sometimes cost a little more but the quality and the fact that they have horticulturists on staff that can guide you is invaluable. Plus, most nurseries guarantee their tree stock.

Look for the Sun

Consider the path of the sun in your planting layout. Depending on the sun’s location, trees will cast a shadow on your house. This can be great for controlling summer AC costs but if there’s too much shade (such as with a very dense tree or too many trees) you might have moss issues on the roof and possible siding decay.

Think About Maintenance

Determine if your location might require a pruning regimen to maintain the tree at a certain size or form. It’s always better for tree health and visual appeal to be proactive.

Prune every 1-2 years to maintain the tree to your requirements instead of going in after the tree is overgrown and having to structurally prune it back. If you’re not prepared to do this kind of maintenance pruning, consider buying a different type of tree.

Buy Healthy Trees

Lastly, when purchasing your trees don’t buy problem trees. Avoid trees with wounds and damage to the trunk (this is often caused by machine handling in the nursery).

Also, depending on the species, you generally want one single trunk – avoid co-dominant trunks (you will see a ‘V ‘with two almost equal sized stems going upward rather than one trunk). These are very prone to splitting during storms. While a tree is young you can prune it for shape (including removing a co-dominant stem) but it’s best to avoid defects or poor shape at the point of purchase. Again, this is where a reputable nursery will steer you in the right direction.

Ready to Plant?

Use the above info to determine how your selections will fit into your location. And think 20 to 30 years out.

All to often, we see good intentions of planting a tree executed very poorly and it leads to decline or death of the tree. Please refer to How to Plant a Tree so to not kill your new landscape plantings.

If you currently have trees that you think might be too close to infrastructure there are possibilities to transplant and move the tree depending on size, health and location. Call Barts Tree Service and we can assess the situation for you and lay out any options.

If you would like a licensed and certified arborist to assist you with recommendations and any layout possibilities for your site, just give us a call.

 

Protect Yourself: What You Need to Know About Tree Care Company Insurance

Insurance for tree care work

Many people are unaware that the tree care industry is one of the most dangerous professions out there. Tree care employees work at extreme heights (up to 120 feet here in the northeast) while using dangerous tools, such as chain saws. The danger is compounded by working near power lines, busy roadways and other infrastructure obstacles. These working conditions place urban tree work in the same category as logging, which is rated as the second most dangerous job in the USA and has a high risk of serious injury and/or death.

With all these risks in mind, you can see why having a company that’s properly insured should be at the top of your list. This is also why you should make sure that a tree care company has up-to-date industry certifications and licenses. This ensures that employees are properly trained and that they use the latest industry standards to mitigate the risks involved in tree care.

In most cases, consumers tend to lump tree care companies in with landscapers – after all, they both do “tree work,” right? But there’s a big difference – landscapers do not usually work in the high-risk situations listed above and are certainly not insured properly to cover these risks.

Two Types of Tree Care Companies

It’s important to understand how proper tree service will protect the health and safety of your trees, but it’s just as important to know how the tree care company is going to protect you from potential liability.

For this reason I generalize the tree companies into two categories:

  • “Tree Guys”
  • Arborists

“Tree Guys” will state or advertise that they are “Fully Insured” with liability and workers comp while not truly understanding what coverage is actually required. In most cases when we see “Fully Insured” advertised, it means nothing. There are only a very small number of tree companies in our area that have proper liability and workers compensation insurance.

Arborists work very closely with industry associations, such as the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) and CT Tree Protective Association (CTPA), to stay at the forefront of the tree care industry while meeting or exceeding safety and tree care standards. Arborists are passionate about their industry and delivering a level of care and professionalism that greatly exceeds the “Tree Guy” scenario. Additionally, Arborists commit to a level of training, certifications and licensing that is ongoing and shows a commitment to being an industry steward that best represents consumers and their landscape needs.

About Insurance Policies for Tree Care Work

Insurance policies usually have a working height clause that for landscapers can be a maximum of 8 to 10 feet. So, in some cases, if they perform work in a tree above that height, the insurance policy is null and void.

This means that if a “Tree Guy” with a landscaping policy has an incident while working 40 feet up in tree, there might not be insurance coverage and you will be next in line for coverage.

About Workers Compensation

Workers compensation is legally required in Connecticut for companies with one or more employees (the owner isn’t required to have workers compensation, although it’s always a good idea to have it). It covers injuries that tree care company employees or owners suffer while at work. This is really the only protection you have from the liability of someone being injured while working on your property.

Without workers compensation, tree companies are legally required to take responsibility for work injuries. However, as the property owner you are next in line. If you hire a tree care company that has no workers compensation coverage, you will be required to pay the bill if an employee is injured and the company owner cannot pay. You can sue the company to recover damages, but you have to pay for the injured person’s medical bills, lost wages and costs associated with the injury in the meantime.

So if a contractor states that he has less than 5 employees and is not required to carry workers compensation, be aware that you are liable for coverage in the case of an incident on your property.

There is also the option for a company owner to opt out of workers compensation coverage. This could result in the same scenario above if the owner (or an employee) is injured on your property.

How to Protect Yourself

When requesting tree care quotes there are a few items to look for to ensure that you are covered in the event that something happens while the company is performing work on your property.

Certificate of Insurance

Request a Certificate of Insurance (COI) from the company. This should list their policy number and limits.

Example:

  • General Liability $1 million each occurrence and $2 million aggregate
  • Automobile Liability $1 million each accident
  • Umbrella Liability $1 million minimum
  • Workers Compensation $500,000 per accident

The contractor should also be able to add you as an additional insured or the certificate holder. The insurance company generally will do this for free. In some cases when doing work on a property line, both property owners should be listed.

Call the listed insurance company to confirm the policy is real and in good standing. Some ‘Tree Guys” have been known to produce fraudulent insurance certificates or use expired insurance certificates..

If a company takes offense to requesting this information. you probably shouldn’t be doing business with them.

Accreditation and Licensing

You can also look to see which companies are TCIA Accredited, which means that they have passed a rigorous industry audit to confirm they meet or exceed best practices for a tree care business. Part of this audit includes insurance requirements.

Search for Accredited tree companies in your area on the TCIA website.

Ask if the company has certified employees. These credentials can be validated at www.isa-arbor.com.

In Connecticut, most tree care work can only be done legally by licensed Arborists. Check the CTPA website to make sure the company is licensed.

References and Reviews

Reputable tree contractors should also have no problem providing references. Call them.

Lastly, engage the Internet. Check the BBB and social media for complaints and reviews. Some great sites are Yelp, Angies List, Google+ and YP.com.

Q&A: Will Snow Banks Damage My Trees and Shrubs?

Snow banks piled up around evergreen treeQuestion: We’ve had a lot of snow this winter and it’s piled up along the drive and walkway. Are all these snow banks going to damage my trees and shrubs?

Although Connecticut seems like the new arctic right now, spring is just around the corner (at least I hope so). With all the snow piled up from this season there are some preventative measures you can take to help your trees and shrubs get a healthy start to the growing season before the snow melts.

The Problem With Snow Banks

First, a good majority of the snow banks that are pushed up against your trees have large amounts of salt, sand or de-icing chemicals in them. As the snow melts, all these chemicals will leach into the soil and can poison your trees and shrubs.

Younger trees and shrubs are at a higher risk than mature trees since the roots are contained in a smaller area. In most cases, this results in salt damage, which stresses the tree but probably won’t kill it. However, in high concentrations the chemicals can kill your trees and shrubs.

Second, large mounds of snow piled up against trees and shrubs will start to melt and turn into blocks of heavy ice. As the spring melt progresses, these piles will get lower and lower. If there are branches encapsulated in the snow bank then all of this weight will break them. This is more common with evergreens and shrubs since they have branches from ground level up.

Snow piled on shrubsSteps You Can Take to Protect Your Landscape

This is the time to break up those snow banks left from plowing, particularly those that are around young trees and shrubs. Move the snow elsewhere so as it melts the runoff will flow away from the tree.

Focus on snow that was removed from walkways and paved surfaces where deicers were used. Clean snow melting off will not pose any chemical risk to your landscape.

Also look at runoff areas from paved surfaces. If all the melt water is going to flow towards your tress and shrubs look at redirecting the flow. You can buy sand bags or long socks full of sand from a hardware store or you can literally fill an old sock with sand. Lay them on the ground to direct melt off away from trees.

Take note of melt off flow this spring. If it’s problematic then change where snow is piled next season. It’s best if you can keep these piles away from trees and shrubs and down hill from them. This way, it will leach these chemicals away and make for a much healthier landscape.

As the ground thaws start a weekly watering regimen for a month or so. This may seem strange given that the ground is already wet but it will help to flush salt and chemicals from the ground and ensure healthy trees and shrubs for spring.

For more information, see our article on salt damage to trees.

 

Q&A: How Do Trees Protect Themselves From Freezing Temperatures?

How trees protect themselves in freezing temperaturesQuestion: During the cold winter months, when temperatures dip well below freezing, what prevents trees (and shrubs) from turning into a giant icicle?

Trees basically have three ways of protecting themselves from freezing temperatures.

Dry Out

Most trees remove water from their tissues to enter a dehydrated or dormant state for the winter. That way, there is less water to freeze and expand.

Sweeten Up

Some trees produce more sugars in their sap to increase its “antifreeze” capability (the more sugar in the sap, the less likely it is to freeze). Maples do this and that’s why you get sugar-rich sap flowing at the end of winter which becomes maple syrup.

Apply Pressure

Some trees use super cooling. This allows a tree to keep water in the trunk even at below freezing temperatures without the water freezing. It does this by not allowing ice crystals to start forming in the sap. How? By adding pressure which, in turn, doesn’t let the molecules expand and form ice crystals.

Preventing Winter Rodent Damage on Young Trees

Winter rodent damage to bark of a young tree

Winter rodent damage to the bark of a young tree

Mice, voles, rabbits and rodents can cause damage to young trees, saplings and shrubs during the winter months by feeding on bark, twigs, buds and foliage.

As snow accumulates around tree trunks and lower branches, it provides a great environment for little critters to tunnel around tree trunks. By tunneling under the snow, they can create a protected habitrail network for feeding, especially when deep snow on the ground is persistent.

This feeding can create small nibbling wounds in the bark and deeper layers of the tree which allow fungal and parasitic attacks come spring. In some cases, the damage can be severe enough where the trunk is girdled (eaten away entirely around the circumference) and cuts off vascular flow, killing the tree or shrub.

If the snow has a nice hard crust you will also see tree damage two or three feet off the ground – just above the snow level. Since rabbits and the like can stay on top of the snow pack while foraging, they have access to bark higher up the tree.

How to Prevent Winter Rodent Damage

Before the snow starts flying, wrap ¼ inch wire mesh around the bottom 24 inches of the tree. Be sure to sink the mesh 2 inches into the ground so the critters can’t get under it. Ensure the mesh is not too snug around the trunk and consider removing it each spring. There are also plastic tree guards that work well.

During the winter, shovel snow from around your small trees so as to eliminate the rodent habitrail feeding opportunity. This also allows predators, especially owls and hawks, to have a clear sight line to these rodents if they are going for a snack so it will naturally reduce the likelihood of rodent damage.

Q&A: Why Do Trees Make Cracking Noises in Winter?

Popping sounds from trees during winterQuestion: My trees make all kinds of popping and cracking sounds during really cold winter weather. What’s all that racket??

When temperatures dip well below zero, trees will make all kinds of popping and cracking noises, especially if the temperature drops very quickly. These sounds are typically caused by frost cracks.

What is a Frost Crack?

When water freezes, it expands in volume. The sap in trees is made of water diluted with carbohydrates (sugars) and minerals, which acts like antifreeze. The higher the sugar content, the lower the freezing point of sap.

But there is always a point where even sugar-rich sap will freeze. Depending on how much sap is in the tree, its sugar content, and the temperature, it can result in a vertical cracking in the trunk, called a frost crack.

Frost cracks also form when the temperatures heat up. On sunny winter days, tree bark will warm from solar energy. This causes cells to expand in the bark and the sapwood under the bark. When the sun goes down, the temperature drops very quickly causing the bark to contract. However, the sapwood under the bark doesn’t cool as fast, causing the bark to crack.

Since sun exposure can be a key driver, the south and southwestern side of trees are where you will see many of these cracks.

Effects of Frost Cracks on Tree Health

Trees are similar to the plumbing in your house; they have xylem and phloem tubes in the interior of the tree, which transport fluids up and down the tree. When the sap freezes, these tubes burst just like the copper pipes in a house.

Frost cracks can be small and internal (so you don’t see them) or large and external (so they break through the bark). These larger frost cracks are the ones you usually hear – they tend to make that loud crack or pop that wakes you up in the middle of the night. Some cracks can be severe enough that they crack almost anytime the temperature plunges, year after year.

During the spring, the tree will try to grow over the crack with a special type of wood called “reaction wood” (kind of like a scab). Unfortunately, in most cases it cracks again the next winter.

This cycle of annual cracking and reaction wood growth leaves a large vertical seam, which is an indicator of a weak tree that, in many cases, has compromised strength and internal decay.

So while popping sounds don’t mean that your tree is going to fall down any time soon, take a good look at your trees in spring to see if there are any vertical seams. Keep an eye on them from year to year and if you have any concerns, call in an arborist for a hazardous tree assessment.

 

Shoveling Snow Off Roof Tops

Barts tree service safely shoveling snow from roof

Jeff tied off with his harness shoveling snow off the roof last winter

With “Snowmageddon 2015” heading our way, we remind all home owners to stay safe – including when it comes to removing heavy snow loads from roofs and tree branches.

It’s difficult enough to shovel snow on a driveway or path. Add height and unstable, slippery surfaces to that, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Snow removal from a roof or tree should always be left to the professionals.

Safety is the number one consideration when shoveling snow off roof tops. We strap on our climbing gear before getting up on a roof and ensure that we’re properly tied in; that way, if anyone slips there’s no chance of falling off the roof.

While we’re up there, we’ll also remove ice dams that are backing up into your walls and windows from all the snow.

Don’t try this yourself! We only get up on your roof when we’re fully protected with all the necessary safety gear.

As for trees that are weighed down with snow or ice, don’t stand underneath and poke at the branches with a broom or shovel. All of that snow can easily cause the branch to snap and land right on top of you. You’d be surprised how many people do this! So leave it to the professionals if you’re worried that the snow load will damage the tree.

How To Protect Trees and Shrubs From Winter Weather

Winter tree assessment
Tree in winterHere in Connecticut we face a whole range of threats to our trees and shrubs during winter, both from the weather itself and from animal pests. Here are just a few of the things that can injure your plants during the cold months of winter:

  1. Heavy snow loads can break branches, especially if snow is shoveled or falls off your roof onto your plants
  2. Cold dry winds will dry out trees, especially conifers
  3. Sun reflecting off snow can scald and blister tree trunks and branches
  4. And of course deer will munch away on anything they can get to

The good news is that all of these things can be prevented. Here are our recommendations for how to protect trees and shrubs from the harsh winter weather.

Protection From Snow Loads

We recently got this client ready for winter by setting up frames to protect shrubs close to the house.

We recently got this client ready for winter by setting up frames to protect shrubs close to the house.

Build an A-frame over plantings and shrubs near the house so when snow comes off the roof they are shielded from the impact. This is a great use of some scrap plywood or planks. Cut them so as to form an A over the shrub, then either screw the pieces together at the top or install a couple old hinges so you can tuck it away for next year.

Protection from Wind, Sun and Deer

Build frames around shrubs next to the house where snow loads may come off the roof.

Build frames around shrubs next to the house where snow loads may come off the roof.

The most effective winter protection for trees and shrubs is burlap. Eco-friendly, biodegradable and strong, burlap is the MacGyver of protecting your landscape.

This functional fabric is ideal for protecting newly planted trees, late-planted trees with underdeveloped root systems, and trees subject to powerful winter winds, sunscald, and damaging hard frost.

How to Apply Burlap

There are two trains of thought on how to apply burlap.

Option 1 – Wrap the Plant

The final step will be to wrap burlap around these frames.

The final step will be to wrap burlap around these frames.

First, wrap the plant directly with burlap and tie it to itself with string or zip ties. This helps to mitigate the winter concerns previously mentioned but I don’t like that it’s in direct contact with the tree, shrub or conifer. My concern here is that the plant can’t breath and could trap moisture against foliage (especially on conifers). However, it’s a quick and easy way to provide protection and is better than no protection at all.

Option 2 – Build a Tent

The second option is a little more work but I believe it’s a better system. Instead of wrapping the burlap around the plant, use metal or wood stakes like you’re creating a fence around your bushes and/or shrubs. Try to close off deer access if you can and at a minimum put up one straight row to create a wind break.

Make sure to beat the stakes into the ground before frost sets in!

The key here is to keep the burlap 6”-10” from the plant and foliage so it breaths a little. Make sure the burlap is high enough to keep deer away. Also, if you use wood stakes you can just go crazy with the staple gun when securing the burlap. When you remove the burlap in spring, just roll it up and label a stake so you know where to put it next fall.

Fall Tree Care Tips for Connecticut Homeowners

Fall tree care tips connecticutFall is the perfect time to help your trees recover from the heat and lack of water they probably experienced over the summer. Stressed trees are more susceptible to pests, disease, and winter damage so now’s the time to make sure your trees enter the harsh winter months in the best health possible.

Below are the activities we recommend you do before the snow starts flying.

And don’t forget to download our Fall Tree Care Tips!

Water and Mulch Your Trees and Shrubs

  • Give all of your trees and shrubs a good drink, especially those that were recently planted. Place a 2 to 3-inch layer of high-quality, organic mulch around young trees and plants. Mulch helps keep organic matter in the soil around the tree, conserves soil moisture, and provides weed control. Don’t over-mulch! For tips on how to do it right, see our article on Mulching Trees.

Clean Up

  • Remove fallen leaves from beneath trees and shrubs that are susceptible to diseases such as anthracnose, fire blight, and cedar apple rust. Leaving the leaves on the ground over winter will spread the disease and weaken your trees. Be especially vigilant around trees such as dogwoods and crabapples.
  • For leaves that aren’t prone to disease, consider mulching them in place or turning them into leaf compost rather than disposing of them. Check out our article on what to do with fallen leaves.

Evaluate Trees for Weaknesses

  • Evaluate trees for weaknesses that can be susceptible to winter weather. Contain heavy ends on limbs too long to support snow and ice loads. Install temporary or permanent rope, cable or twine in plants (multi-stem) susceptible to snow and ice loads (do not forget to remove temporary support in the spring).
  • After the leaves have fallen you’ll be better able to see the branch structure and condition of your trees. If anything looks unsafe (see our article on Identifying Hazardous Trees), give us a call. Fall is the best time to prune, remove, or cable your tree to protect you and your property over the winter.

Protect Trees and Shrubs

  • Protect plants susceptible to winter injury by spraying them with anti-desiccants or covering with a breathable burlap type material. You can learn more about using burlap to protect your plants in our article on How to Protect Trees and Shrubs From Winter Weather.

Check for Deer Damage

  • Check deer susceptible plants for evidence of grazing. Look for things like thinning of a plant’s foliage at the 5 ft level and below (deer head height) or droppings near preferred plants. If you notice deer damage, fall is the best time to spray deer repellent that will protect your trees over the winter. For more information, check out our article on How to Prevent Winter Deer Damage.

Plant New Trees

  • Fall is a great time to plant new trees and shrubs. The ground is still warm (so plant before the frost starts freezing the soil!) and there’s plenty of moisture, both of which will get your plants off to a quick start. For more details and some planting tips, see Fall is Ideal Tree Planting Time. You might also want to choose one of our recommended 10 Best Trees for Fall Foliage Color in CT.

Emerald Ash Borer Update for Connecticut

Emerald ash borer

Emerald Ash Borer

We just attended a great Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) workshop put on by Connecticut Tree Protective Association (CTPA) and the town of Southbury, CT where we met with our state experts and entomologists to review the latest information and best practices for dealing with EAB. Then we had a little field trip and visited local infested sites where we peeled the bark off to see the EAB larva.

About Emerald Ash Borer

EAB infests only ash trees. Ash makes up approximately 4% of Connecticut’s trees and up to 20% in urban areas. An EAB infestation can kill a tree in 3-5 years. In some areas where ash yellows disease is also present this can result in a huge increase the rate of mortality for ash trees.

Emerald Ash Borer has destroyed over 100 million ash trees so far and over the next several years will threaten every ash tree in the Connecticut area.

Emerald Ash Borer was first detected in Prospect, CT July 16th of 2012 and has spread quickly. Although EAB generally travels only ½ a mile per year, it is easily transported on logs and firewood from infested trees. With people moving wood around (e.g., taking firewood to your summer camp, removing dead trees from your yard) the spread of EAB is usually greatly accelerated.

EAB Firewood Quarantines in Connecticut

In efforts to limit the movement of infested ash wood, the DEEP implemented a quarantine for New Haven County so logs and/or firewood can not be transported outside of the county without meeting certain criteria (kiln dried, debarked logs, etc.) and obtaining permits. Because of recent EAB findings, the quarantine has been expanded to include New Haven, Fairfield, Litchfield and Hartford Counties.

What Connecticut is Doing to Combat EAB

Parasitic Wasps – DEEP has released parasitic wasps as a biological control at four locations in CT. These wasps attack only the EAB and can kill them quite effectively  although it is still too early to know the impacts on the EAB population in Connecticut.

Increased Enforcement – DEEP has submitted changes to update the quarantine laws so that local police can implement fines on the spot for people caught moving wood, whereas now they can only write a promise to appear for court. Hopefully, this will increase police enforcement. Additionally DEEP has started to implement spot checks with DOT on certain main access ways.

EAB Traps – You might see purple square traps hanging out of trees along roadsides; we call them “Barney Traps” for the color. These traps help DEEP detect and track the EAB population as it migrates across Connecticut.

How You Can Manage EAB

The keys to managing EAB are to fully understand your options and to take a proactive approach. Now that EAB is just starting to be detected in our area, we’re doing our best to provide you with education on EAB best practices. This will help you make informed decisions that fit your budget and will benefit your trees.

The best thing you can do right away is to assess how EAB has or will impact your property. Ask yourself the following questions:

  1. Do I have any ash trees? How many do I have?
  2. What’s the condition of my ash trees?
  3. What are the associated risks?
  4. Should my ash trees be treated or should I plan for removal?

There are some treatments to help prevent EAB damage (we use a special systemic tree injection process) but if you have a lot of ash trees, you may want to proactively remove some of them instead. We’re happy to help you figure out the best options.

>> See our Emerald Ash Borer Treatment program.

More Information on EAB

www.Emeraldashborer.info

CT DEEP Resource Page on EAB

 

 

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Testimonials

Polite, Prompt & Professional

Every time we use Barts we are more than pleased. Professional and knowledgeable. The crews are so polite and they leave the work area clean and undamaged. Matt responds very promptly to requests and does exactly what we ask him to.

Suzi D.
Brookfield, CT
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
 
Careful & Reasonably Priced

I have used Bart's tree service and was extremely pleased. The crew was very conscious of the fact huge trees were near the house and carefully took down leafed trees without falling on the house or ruining what little lawn I do have.

This time cleanup of falling over trees and an a large dead ash and cedar were removed. ... In (...Read More...)

Catherine M.
Ridgefield, CT
Monday, April 18, 2016
 
Very Professional

Last fall we had many large pine trees cut down and the stumps have been an eyesore ever since. I found Barts online at random, read the reviews, then called. Matt called back the next day, stopped by to see the work, gave a very good price to remove the stumps, and I gave him the job. Matt also recommended to remove 2 other very (...Read More...)

Ken H.
Brookfield, CT
Sunday, May 1, 2016
 
Went Above and Beyond

We highly recommend Barts Tree Service. They were respectful, very hardworking and went above and beyond, exceeding our expectations. They removed 5 large trees plus saplings and wood chipped them all - arriving early morning and all finished by late afternoon. We were at the start of having a new house constructed and advised by (...Read More...)

Tina M.
Sandy Hook, CT
Thursday, October 6, 2016
 
Did a Fabulous Job

We live on a lake front property with a steep topography making tree and landscape work difficult. Barts gave us a fair estimate, arrived promptly and on schedule and did a fabulous job removing trees, shrubs, large limbs with a perfect clean up. We have used three other tree services over the last 11 years and Barts far exceeds t (...Read More...)

Ken K.
New Fairfield
Thursday, September 21, 2017
 
Efficient & Well-Organized

I live on a property with many trees, and I contacted Bart's Tree Service this month (January 2017) when I noticed a damaged tall white oak on my property. The first time I used Bart's Tree Service was in the spring of 2015, and I was impressed with Bart's good service at that time--so I contacted Bart's again to get help with my (...Read More...)

Eloise Swenson
Brookfield, CT
Sunday, February 26, 2017
 
Easy To Work With

Barts Tree Service is very easy to work with. Matt is quick to respond via phone or email and provides an accurate estimate. I have used them for two projects now and Matt and his team have done a great job both times and stayed on budget. If you need any type of tree service call Barts!

Andrew S.
Wilton, CT
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
 
WOW!

This company is by far one of the best experiences we have ever had as home owners! Matt, the owner came to give us an estimate for pruning our apple orchard. He pointed out that it had been done wrong in the past and explained what needed to be done. He spent time showing us what we could do to save money in the future. He is ver (...Read More...)

Scott F.
Danbury, CT (Review from Yelp)
Friday, April 3, 2015
 
Thank You!

Thank you for the beautiful work at our house in Danbury!! The trees have never looked better. We appreciate your eye, and your team's thoroughness and tidiness - not a stray leaf left behind. THANK YOU BART'S TREE SERVICE!!!

Maura Newell J.
Danbury, CT (Review from Yelp)
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
 
Expert Tree Service

Matt and crew showed up exactly when they said they would and did precisely what I asked them to do. They're real pros and I'll call them next time I need expert tree service.

William G.
Review from Yellowpages.com
Thursday, June 26, 2014
 
Skilled Crew

Bart's Tree Service offers a skilled crew with access to all the equipment and techniques to efficiently do the largest jobs. They have a bucket truck, crane, wood chipper, several tree climbers and are skilled with ropes and pulleys. They carefully removed several large trees which were precariously over my house. I watched in aw (...Read More...)

Rosemarie M.
Review from Yellowpages.com
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
 
A Great Experience

Asked around and got Matt's name. He came right out for a free estimate, very courteous and knowledgeable. He gave me tips on things that I could do myself to save money and explained all his ideas and thoughts. Gave me a great price and came out to do the work very promptly. The crew was very courteous as well. When I had a coupl (...Read More...)

Melissa K.
Sandy Hook (Review from Yelp)
Monday, July 8, 2013
 
The Epitome of Professionalism

Fabulous company! Matt and the rest of the company are the epitome of professionalism. They try very hard to keep the cost reasonable and are flexible in setting up work times. They leave the site in great condition. I highly recommend them!

Megan F.
Review from Google+
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
 
Absolutely Fantastic

Matt and his team are absolutely fantastic. They went above and beyond, were fast, polite and professional. They cleaned up beautifully and they listened well.

Matt knows his trees, shrubs and bushes and he is not out to rip you off. In fact, he gives a very fair price and gets to the job quickly and with safety in mind.

MaryAnn M.
Danbury, CT
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
 
Very knowledgeable

I've worked with several tree firms in the four homes I've lived in, and I can honestly say that Bart's Tree Service is extraordinary.I am very pleased with the efficient and professional work performed by Matt and his servicemen. I needed a variety of work, from pruning to removal throughout the property. As a couple men were i (...Read More...)

Lorraine R.
Ridgefield, CT (Review from Yelp)
Monday, March 31, 2014
 
Did An Excellent Job

I first used Bart's Tree service in 2013 to take down a large catalpa that was splitting at the base. Matt understood our concerns about the septic and his team carefully took down the tree without having any of the trunks go near the septic. They cleaned up the property after the job and did a great job.I contacted Matt again thi (...Read More...)

Justin D.
Review from Google+
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
 
Very Impressed

When Matt came to take a look at the work I needed done, he gave me several options and also made suggestions for taking care of some other issues that I hadn't noticed. There was no pressure and he was very patient with my questions. He gave me an estimate on the spot and stuck to that estimate when all the work was completed. Wh (...Read More...)

John B.
Redding, CT (Review from Yelp)
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
 
Super Responsive

If only ALL contractors were as easy to do business with as Barts Tree Service! The owner, Matt, has always been super responsive to my calls, provides quotes quickly and gets all work done to my quality standards in the time he promises to get them done. His business is highly qualified to do the work and his staff is always ve (...Read More...)

Jessica G.
Danbury, CT (Review from Yelp)
Monday, February 24, 2014
 
Quick Response

Called Bart's Monday morning after my wife heard a bad cracking noise coming from a large maple tree that towers over our kitchen. We were both worried the tree would fall on our roof. Matt came over that afternoon, examined the tree and recommended that a cable be installed to stabilize the tree. A few days later, his crew instal (...Read More...)

Jerry S.
Ridgefield, CT (Review from Yelp)
Thursday, November 6, 2014
 
Careful & Quick

The whole experience was really good.Part of it was luck: Matt was on his way past our neighborhood when I called about the work, and he was able to stop shortly after I called. The price was within the budget, and even though it was a busy time, he was able to get us into the schedule in under a week, which, since it wasn't an em (...Read More...)

Hugh M.
Review from Google+
Monday, October 27, 2014
 
Very Professional!

Barts tree service removed two trees and trimmed another very large tree near power lines at a reasonable price. They were quick responding when we had questions and provided proof of all licensing required. Barts arrived when they said they would and left the property in very good condition despite a difficult property to maneuver on.

Helder P.
Danbury, CT (Review from Yelp)
Friday, March 27, 2015
 
Exceeded My Expectations

Usually, when selecting a tree service, you start by asking friends, relatives, etc. Well being new to our house and area we had to take a shot on a firm we found online. I was not disappointed.

Matt, the owner was personable, Listened carefully to everything we wanted done and gave us a usable fair price on the spot.

Wh (...Read More...)

Gregg S.
Redding, CT (Review from Yelp)
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
 
Reliable, Fast, and Efficient

We've use Barts Tree Service twice for big trees on our property. and have recommended them to all our friends. Matt Bartelme and his crew are very professional, reliable, fast and efficient. They show up when promised, and clean up when done. We had both trees cut up, chipped and hauled away in no time. Their stump-grinding mac (...Read More...)

Meg B.
Ridgefield, CT (Review from Yelp)
Sunday, June 23, 2013
 
Very Responsive

Job was to Clean up 2 trees of hanging dead branches; Take down 2 large trees and 1 smaller tree; Cut and stack wood; Leave wood chips in pile

Matt was very responsive when called for a quote. He took the time to review not only the trees we had called him for a quote as well as reviewed any needs and suggestions for others wi (...Read More...)

Gayle C.
Southbury, CT (Review from Yelp)
Saturday, May 18, 2013
 
Did a Great Job!

Matt came out and gave us a free estimate after reviewing the work we were requesting to be done. He sent us a detailed proposal for work to be done and cost for each separate item.

His crew arrived within the the time frame and did a great job! Very courteous and before leaving made sure we were happy with the work and left no (...Read More...)

Frank D.
Bethel, CT (Review from Yelp)
Monday, December 15, 2014
 
Excellent Service

Bart's Tree Service provide an excellent service. They were prompt, did what they said they would do and left the yard impeccable after completing a big job. Bart's charged a fair price. I will use them again.

Cindy C.
Ridgefield, CT (Review from Yelp)
Friday, October 31, 2014
 
Prompt, Reliable, and Professional

Great company. Matt is thd best tree guy around Danbury. I used him last year during a snow a snow storm had a tree hanging over my roof he came the next day, Durning the summer we were installing a pool and a large tree was in the way he came took down the tree and ground the stumps and roots that were in the way. Was here this (...Read More...)

Bruce B.
Danbury, CT (Review from Yelp)
Saturday, April 12, 2014
 
Professional Work

I recently used Barts Tree Service for stump grinding and for delivery of premium hardwood firewood. I was impressed with Matt's professionalism, ability to provide a prompt and complete estimate, and his crew's quick completion of the job. It is clear Matt's team is conscious of appropriately completing the job, but also keep (...Read More...)

Brian K.
Weston, CT (Review from Yelp)
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
 
Careful Attention to Detail & Safety

Barts Tree Service is as good as it gets!!!

The owner, Matt is easy to communicate with and spends adequate time listening to the client's needs, explaining the services and answering questions. No surprises here. Everything is done as discussed. The crew is well briefed before they start working.

The level of expertise of e (...Read More...)

Amazing G.
Danbury, CT (Review from Yelp)
Monday, June 9, 2014
 
Trustworthy, Respectful and Talented

We highly recommend Barts Tree Service.

We have used Barts Tree Service a handful of times and have been sincerely impressed every time. The crew, including the owner, are all professional, trustworthy, respectful and talented workers who put care and skill into every job they do.

They are the kind of business you recommend (...Read More...)

Alicia D.
Danbury, CT (Review from Yelp)
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
 
Pleasant and Efficient

We first met Matt, the owner, during Hurricane Irene. A huge pine fell on our house and our neighbor recommended Barts. We called - and he was there before the hurricane was out to sea...no exaggeration. Since then we've had Matt back several times. He is great to work with, his crew is pleasant and efficient, and the prices are great.

A.P.
Ridgefield, CT (Review from Yelp)
Monday, March 4, 2013
 
Very Professional

Cut down 4 trees - a storm-damaged tree leaning on another, and 2 small ones in close proximity. Left the wood, in fireplace-sized logs in the woods; chipped branches and blew them in the woods. Cleaned up debris.

The job went very well. Barts was the only provider who said they would not need to get a truck on our lawn, and (...Read More...)

Customer in Bethel, CT
Saturday, September 14, 2013
 
Hurricane Sandy Clean-Up

Removed trees damaged by hurricane Sandy and ground several stumps on property. Provided an estimate that was very fair, came on the date we had set and did the work promptly and efficiently. This was the third time I had used Barts Tree Service. They are by far the best in the state!

Third-time Customer
Sunday, November 3, 2013
 
Large Tree Removal

Removed two 80′+ Hickory and Oak from front yard, ground stumps below grade, removed logs/braches, removed two smaller 8″ diameter trees and pruned low tree branches in backyard. Repaired lawn expertly where needed.

Fantastic Professional crew, prompt service. After the removal you couldn’t tell any work done – the area was le (...Read More...)

Customer in Sherman, CT
Monday, November 11, 2013
 
Great Stump Grinding Job

I happened to see a sign for Bart's Tree Service stump grinding. I called and got a call back and a visit for an estimate THE SAME DAY. That is almost unheard of....I got an estimate for them to grind two large stumps and also for some tree trimming. Within a week all of the work was complete. Everyone on the crew was great. Nice (...Read More...)

Renee M.
Danbury, CT
Thursday, March 24, 2016
 
An Excellent Job

You did an excellent job. The clean-up was appreciated too. The price was right. You went over and above my expectations. I will highly recommend you to anyone I know, who needs tree removal.

Patti F.
Danbury, CT
Monday, February 29, 2016
 
Bart's Tree Service is Great!

Matt Bartelme, owner of Bart's Tree Service is a qualified professional who knows trees and his crew is excellent and well trained. Bart's has done work for Aspetuck Land Trust for years and I would highly recommend them to any homeowner or business. Bart's also has a heart and has donated services to the Land Trust to improve h (...Read More...)

Aspetuck Land Trust
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
 
Reliable, On Time, Precision Work

We recently used Barts to remove two large trees on our property. This appeared to be a complicated endeavor as the trees were adjacent to the house. Barts assured us this would not be a problem, a crane was brought in to assist with the removal. Highly recommend this service, they are reliable, on time and performed the removal w (...Read More...)

New Customer
Ridgefield, CT
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
 
Thank You

I thank you for your conscientious and dedicated team, a job well done. I will definitely use your company again for my next job.

Peter J.
Friday, August 10, 2018
 
Great people and great service

I called Matt because I wanted some trees taken down in our yard. I was concerned about the health of some of the trees and wasn’t sure which ones to have removed. One tree in particular was damaged in the blizzard and I was worried it would come down on power lines or the street if it wasn’t removed quickly. He and his crew came (...Read More...)

Lisa F.
Friday, August 10, 2018
 
Read more about what customers are saying >>

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Barts Tree Service

WOODBURY OFFICE
115 Flanders Rd,
Woodbury, CT 06798

DANBURY OFFICE
8 Rose St,
Danbury, CT 06810

in**@**************ce.com

203-240-1302

Serving Ridgefield, New Fairfield, Redding,
Bethel, Brookfield, Newtown, Weston, Danbury, Wilton, Westport, Woodbury, and surrounding areas

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