Lafayette Tree Service Bringing Sexy Back Into Your Yards

Category: Certified Arborist

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Meet the Team at Sexy Trees

Alamo tree service

Who are you going to call when you need emergency tree services? A certified arborist, that’s who. Sexy Trees has been providing your essential Alamo tree service since 2012. We love serving Alamo residents and surrounding Bay Area communities. We also offer estimates. Do you have questions about tree care? Let us introduce ourselves. You can learn more about Sexy Trees and meet the team below.

How it All Began

Sexy Trees was founded by Alex Llamas. During college at Chico State, Alex took up rock climbing as a hobby. Most people stop there, but his love of rock climbing eventually led to tree climbing and a deep appreciation for everything trees give us. To make some extra money during  those college years, Alex took on tree pruning work at a local ranch until he graduated with a Bachelor of Science. He really enjoyed working with trees, though, so he decided to become a certified arborist and learn as much as he could about tree care. In fact, he continues to take classes to further educate himself and offer the best Alamo tree service in town.

Taking on a Partner

As the demand for tree care services grew, Alex decided to take on a partner to help him expand the business and meet the tree service needs of more clients. His business partner, Sergio Lopez, moved to the United States from Mexico in search of a better life at the age of twenty. Later, a love of the outdoors drew him to the tree care industry. He joined Alex with a diverse background in management and sales. He values taking the time to build authentic relationships, and hopes to help Sexy Trees become the premier tree service company in the US.

Alamo Tree Service

Our team offers a range of tree care services. If you’re a property owner, it’s important to schedule preventive maintenance for a number of reasons. For starters, keeping your trees in good health greatly reduces the risk of injury or property damage from falling branches. A certified arborist can also assess the trees on your property to determine if they need any special treatment, such as fertilizer or tree pruning.

Here’s a list of the main services that we offer at Sexy Trees:

  • Tree removal
  • Emergency tree services
  • Mistletoe removal
  • Tree pruning
  • Wood chips
  • Fertilizer
  • Stump removal
  • Fallen trees

Get an Estimate

For an estimate, contact us at Sexy Trees. We offer Alamo tree service, as well as to the surrounding areas. Our team is standing by to help with all of your tree care needs. You can check out our testimonials by clicking here, or talk to a certified arborist today by calling 925-233-6877. Let’s chat!

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4 Reasons to Hire a Certified Arborist

Hiring a Certified Arborist

Is your landscaping looking a little rough around the edges? You’re in luck, a Hiring a Certified Arborist can help you with a variety of essential tree care services to beautify your yard. These specialists can expertly handle jobs like tree removal and tree pruning, as well as fertilizing, stump grinding and mistletoe removal. They can also safely clear away fallen branches, or diagnose ailing trees and what to do for them. A certified arborist is like the tree whisperer of landscaping professionals.

Read on to learn more about why this profession is so essential. Here are 4 reasons to hire an arborist…

1) The Threat of Injury

Tree pruning for large branches and tree removal are too dangerous for the untrained homeowner to try to manage on their own. While it may not seem that way, trees are denser and heavier than they look, and their branches can cause injuries. On average, over a hundred people die each year due to tree-related fatalities. According to OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the tree care industry is among the top most dangerous industries in America. Your safety is the main reason to call in a specialist who has the proper tools and equipment for the job.

2) Investing in Your Home

Proper tree care is a long-term investment. Beautiful, healthy trees increase the value of your property in the long run. Although, the converse is true as well. Neglected trees can weigh down the value of your home. This is something to consider if you ever plan to list your house on the market. A certified arborist can also help you prevent plumbing issues that are related to overgrown tree roots, which is never a cheap fix.

3) Avoiding Liability Issues

Without proper tree pruning services, your landscaping can become a liability. Trees can drop brittle, dead, or diseased branches at  any time, especially during stormy weather. We already discussed how heavy falling limbs can be. To figure out the exact weight of your trees would require a bit of math, but hardwood trees are always heavier. A lack of expert tree care can result in down limbs that cause injuries or property damage. It’s just not worth the risk. Hiring a certified arborist is the best way to ensure that your trees aren’t a hidden safety hazard.

4) Professional Tree Care

It’s also important to hire a pro to make sure that your trees get everything they need to thrive. A certified arborist has specialized training and the right tools. Most professionals also work with a team of skilled experts.

Anyone can offer tree pruning services, but only a licensed arborist has the necessary depth of knowledge to provide tree care. Unfortunately, someone with less experience may unintentionally harm your trees. This is another reason why it’s so important to consult with a local arborist when you need tree services for your property.

Criteria for Hiring a Certified Arborist

And finally, be sure to hire an arborist who is also insured, otherwise you’re liable for damages if any accidents occur during the tree service.

To speak with an  ISA Certified Arborist, please contact us at Sexy Trees. Give us a call at 925-233-6877 to schedule an appointment. If you aren’t quite sure which tree services you need, we’re always happy to answer questions.

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Tree Arborist vs Tree Surgeon: What’s the Difference?

berkeley tree service

Your yard is one of the most important parts of your living space. After all, it’s the first thing visitors see when they arrive at your home. Taking care of your yard is important to maintaining the appearance of your home and its value. If you need help with your trees, you may be wondering if you should hire a tree arborist or a tree surgeon. Although many people think both terms are the same, they aren’t, so homeowners should understand the difference in order to make the right choice.

Certified Tree Arborist

Arborists complete a formal program and testing in order to become certified in their field. This precedent was set by The International Society of Arboriculture. But just because someone says they’re an arborist doesn’t mean they’re certified, so it’s important to verify this information.

Of course, a certified arborist can focus on aesthetic services, but they can also identify any disease on the tree and give you recommendations about treatment. They can care for trees that are damaged by poor environmental conditions, and they’re also qualified to handle professional tree inspections.

Similarly, arborists have a vast knowledge of landscaping and know how to achieve the specific look that you want for your yard. Creating a beautiful yard isn’t about planting a bunch of trees and foliage and expecting them to look good together. An expert arborist will tell you about which trees and plants will thrive in your yard. They will consider the climate and soil type and help you achieve a healthy environment for your trees.

Tree Surgeons

Education is the main distinction between an arborist and a tree surgeon. It might seem like it should be the other way around, but a tree surgeon isn’t actually required to have any particular education or certification. For this reason, you can’t be sure how much knowledge someone offering these kinds of services may have because anyone can say they’re a tree surgeon.

For the most part, tree surgeons are hired to do things like remove trees or stumps. It’s always best if homeowners don’t handle the dangerous equipment these jobs can involve.

Tree Care For You

Do you need to take care of your trees? A trusted and qualified tree arborist can transform your yard and make your house look more beautiful. Contact us at Sexy Trees today by filling out this contact form on our site. It only takes a moment. Or, call us with your questions at 925-438-0805. As always, we’re here to help.

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What’s the Best Tree to Build a Treehouse?

Concord Tree Pruning

Building a treehouse is a fun and challenging project for the whole family, but it also requires some careful planning. Otherwise, you can run into safety risks, as well as damage the health of your tree. If you’re ready to build a treehouse, this article will help you make the most important decision— selecting the best tree.

Species of Tree

When considering your options to build a treehouse, remember you need a tree with deep roots and dense wood to hold your structure in place and withstand strong winds. Some species are simply more prone to having weak forks and brittle branches. In general, look to deciduous trees like apple, oak, or maple. It’s easy to recognize deciduous trees because, unlike evergreens, they shed their leaves in the colder months.

Ready to Build a Treehouse? Safety Comes First

While it depends on the design and its location in the tree, a trunk diameter of 12 inches or greater is the suggested starting point. Of course, another possibility when building a treehouse is to support the load between two (or even three) trees, instead of one. This would allow for smaller minimum diameters, especially if you select a tough species.

To determine diameter use a pliable fabric measuring tape, or even a piece of string. First, measure the circumference where you intend to build supports, then divide this figure by pi (3.14) to find the diameter. Remember, the size of the tree will ultimately limit the size of your treehouse.

If I Build a Treehouse, Won’t it Damage the Tree?

Eventually, a tree will compensate for the extra weight on its frame, but in the first few years, it’s most vulnerable during windy storms. Make sure you choose sturdy but lightweight materials that will hold up against the elements. Nails and screws just aren’t strong enough to be used for major supports and can cause health problems for the tree. Additionally, cables and ropes slice through bark. The trouble with these exposed punctures is that they provide an entry point for infections. For fixing supports it’s best to use a single large bolt that’s fitted properly into a drilled hole, but this isn’t a guide on the actual practice of building a treehouse, so it’s important for you to do your own research.

Getting a Professional Inspection

One common mistake homeowners make when building a treehouse is they forget the tree is alive and needs room to grow. To ensure you don’t overlook anything, and your treehouse lasts for years to come, it’s best to have the tree inspected by an arborist before you begin to build. Our trained professionals can help you assess your trees for any hidden signs of weakness that might put your treehouse at risk. We love a good DIY project. Please contact us at (925) 233-6877.

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Tree Removal: What Happens to a Tree After You Remove It?

Lafayette Tree Pruning

Cutting down a loved tree is a hard decision, but sometimes an essential one. When a tree becomes a trouble or a safety hazard, whether due to its falling fruit, fragile wood, or disease, the best choice may be to cut it down. After a tree removal job, you may be speculating what happens to the tree’s roots after the tree is cut down. What about the stump?

Always consult a proficiently trained arborist to inspect your trees for damage and to help you decide the best solution for your landscape.

 

What happens to a tree’s roots after it’s cut down?

Once a tree is cut down, the trunk is broken off into mulch and hauled away or cut into smaller logs or blocks for extra purposes, but the roots stay in the ground. Without leaves, the cut tree cannot make food for the growth of its roots. However, the roots might have sufficient nutrients left to allow the development of sprouts from the roots or the leftover stump. If a sprout grows enough leaves, it can eventually grow back into a tree. If a tree doesn’t create root sprouts, then it’s doubtful it’ll re-grow. Instead, the roots will ultimately decompose.

Once your tree is cut down, you are left with the tree base. Now you have to make one more important decision—let it settle or get it removed.

 

Does a tree stump and its roots need to be removed?

It’s up to you whether to remove a tree stump from your yard or not. There are many reasons why it could benefit your landscape and property.  Here are three things to think about when you make this decision:

 

1. Tree stumps can be hazardous

Stumps sticking out of the ground can spree children running around in your backyard, causing injury. Furthermore, yard work becomes harder, as you have to maintain the area around the stump, and avoid tree stumps and root areas while mowing your grass. If you don’t, you run the danger of ruining your lawnmower by running them over.

 

2. Tree stumps can ruin your aesthetic

Tree stumps scattered around a well-manicured lawn stand out like sore thumbs, ruining the aesthetic of your scenery. The aesthetic of your land, in turn, has a result on its real-estate value. A large number of tree stumps could force your property value down. Besides that, tree stumps take up a lot of valuable space in your yard. This space could be re-purposed into an outdoor porch or a space to entertain guests and hold family picnics.

 

3. Tree stumps can give access to pests and insects

Tree stumps are breathing systems that can be host to several pests and insects. During the long decomposition procedure stumps go through, they encourage insects like ants, termites, and beetles. These pests can increase to other plants in your lawn, or even your house, if not restricted properly.

 

If you have questions about tree removal in your yard, contact Sexy Trees, certified arborist.

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Why Hire a Professional Tree Service?

Lafayette Tree Service

When is it time to hire a professional tree service? For most of us, trees are a necessary part of our landscapes, and it’s essential for your property that you take care of them and keep them well. Tree removal is a proactive way to protect your house when storms come through and keep the wreckage a little more controlled. And when you need storm clean up, you should call in the pros to ensure that the work is done with complete awareness to detail.

Full Tree Service

What precisely does a tree service company do? Beyond just trees, they offer stump removal or grinding, tree trimming, firewood services, limb trimming, pruning and maintenance of trees and bushes. They can also recommend you on how to keep pests and diseases away from valuable landscaping. Some companies will also offer fertilization, soil ventilation, tree planting, removal of dust, tree cabling and bracing, and evaluations.

Tree Trimming Adds Beauty and Value to Your Landscape

Tree care is a brilliant way to tighten and improve the look of your landscape. An arborist service adds pleasant aesthetics, as well as improves your curb appeal. If you’re trying to sell your house, you’ll discover that your property makes an impression within the first few seconds, and you want that to be a positive one. If you plan on living in your house somewhat permanently, then guests and neighbors will love the gorgeous look of your trees, and you’ll appreciate being in your outside space even more. The professionals will also offer roof cleaning services to improve the look so that you don’t have to worry about leaves and branches cluttering your space when the work is done.

Time Saving

When you hire experts to do the job, you are hiring people who know what they are doing. They make a complex task look easy and do the work within half the time of what you might perform. This will save you a lot of time, and money, as they may complete the whole project in one day. Tree services take time and effort, and unless you have the gear, time, and means to get it done professionally, it is not worth the effort to do it yourself. Leave this to the experts.

It’s More Affordable than You Realize

When you understand it’s time to trim a tree, many people end up spending a considerable amount of money getting new equipment. However, when you bring in the pros, you’ll discover that it’s more reasonable than you realize and the best companies will work within your budget. Further than trimming trees, you’ll have access to base grinding services. A full-service company will offer everything from stump elimination to cleaning your roof to planned trimming techniques. Once you hire a professional tree service, you’ll wonder why you didn’t begin sooner!

Sexy Trees offers a wide range of services, including tree trimming, pruning, stump grinding, tree removal, and much more. To learn more, please contact us at (925) 233-6877.

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Adding New Trees

Tree Care Pleasant Hill

Can you imagine a community without trees?  There is a reason why cities invest so much in parks.  The effect that trees have is unbelievable.  So what are the benefits of adding new trees even when your city has some?

Breathability

Trees provide the air we breath while filtering many of the toxins in the air.  A single tree can provide the air for at least a dozen individuals.  At the same time, the trees will get rid of carbon dioxide and pollution in the air.  This is all done through the tree’s process of photosynthesis.

Cool

In the heat of the day, don’t you always wish to be under the shade of a tree.  More trees mean greater shade and cool sections around town to thwart the summer heat.  Similarly, this helps keep your home cooler so you save on energy costs.  In addition, the shade also reduces the need for water in your yard.  As a result, you can save on the amount of water for your landscaping when you have more shaded areas.

Water Runoff

A great way to prevent flooding and erosion of your yard is to add trees to your landscaping.  They act as a barrier and canopy to rain water.  Thus, the water runoff is prevented and/or slowed down.  At the same time, the impact on the runoff also slows down the rate of pollution in our water supplies.

Tree Care and Maintenance

As you are growing them, it’s important to take proper care and maintenance of them.  You should understand the soil and water needs for each type of tree.  Also, identify the best location to plant them to maximize the impact they have around your home and neighborhood.  We strongly recommend that you contact the certified arborist at Sexy Trees if you have questions or need help with your tree planting needs.

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Identifying Tree Hazards

Tree Service Walnut Creek

Going to a park or a natural park brings serenity and peace.  The trees in these areas provide an area of comfort and relaxation.  However, these trees can also pose a danger.  A fallen branch or even an incubator for pests could pose problems for you or your surrounding area.  So how does one go about identifying tree hazards?  Here are some ways to recognize them:

Separation

When you are looking at trees, it’s important to identify points where there maybe cracks or splits.  If these cracks or splits go into the branch or seem to be covering the entire part of a limb, then this would be a method for identifying tree hazards.  Should the separation be going down the middle of a trunk, this is a critical scenario that needs your attention.  A certified arborist would be the right person to help you identifying the tree hazards.

Dying

Over time, parts of a tree may start dying.  To protect from hazards, knowing areas that maybe failing and removing them promptly will help protect you and your surroundings.  If you do not address them, then they could cause a limb to fall or break off.

Disease

Trees that get diseased can be a huge problem.  Some diseases cannot be cured but others are solvable.  A common sign of disease is the loss of bark without any bark growing in its place.  Another indication of disease is the existence of fungus.  If parts of a tree have a mushroom, this could be indications that the tree is sick.  Should you see these signals, contact a certified arborist.

Leaning

When a tree starts leaning in a dramatic fashion, this is another sign of problems.  It showcases that the tree maybe structurally failing  This is another situation where a certified arborist should be called in to evaluate the situation.

If you have questions or need to speak with a Certified arborist, contact Sexy Trees.

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How Does Mistletoe Harm Your Trees

Mistletoe Removal

Do you have mistletoe on your property? If you have mystyldene, all-heal, bird lime, golden bough, or devil’s fuge, then yes. You have mistletoe.

It’s leaves are part of a fun Christmas tradition that encourages you to a kiss while standing under it. But it’s actually very harmful to your trees. Although the evergreen plant is quite beautiful with the fragrant flowers it produces in winter, this poisonous berry does more harm than good.

Mistletoe is native to Nevada, California, Arizona, Baja California, as well as Sonora and Sinaloa, Mexico. Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic pest that grows on branches of deciduous trees, which his why you’ll want to have it removed by a professional.

How Does Mistletoe Harm Trees?

Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant that sends out its root-like structure into tree branches. This small evergreen shrub then steals necessary water and nutrients from its tree host. The mistletoe then continues to grow larger as it continues to damage the tree.

Although mistletoe spreads slowly, when not stopped it can be harmful to trees. When a tree is infested with the plant, it can become stunted, less vigorous and even be killed if additional stressed from other environmental factors are present. Things like root damage, drought, insect infestation, extreme temperatures, disease and mistletoe infestation can all kill an otherwise healthy tree.

If you see that mistletoe is growing on your trees, you can prune out the infested branches. But just cutting it with the branch won’t kill mistletoe; it’ll only slow down its growth. You can’t get rid of mistletoe unless you remove all the infected limbs of the tree. Special care must been taken to avoid over pruning, which is why you want to hire a professional arborist to walk this fine line for you. 

A professional arborist prune in a way that balances your need to eliminate mistletoe with your trees need to retain branches. At the same time they can also aid the tree in it’s recovery. Removing other stressors from your trees can help ensure their recovery and resistance to future infections.