What should I look for in a tree company?

When you are looking for tree services, quality, reliability and experience are three key factors to explore. Look for most importantly, experience and reputation. It is also important to look
for a company with an active and aggressive safety program. Backyard Monkey employees are
trained in safety and employ the most up to date safety technology. Our employees are trained to look for and treat for pests and diseases. It is very important that any tree company you choose to do business with have all the correct insurance in place and should be available to answer your questions about any of these issues.

Why is it necessary for a tree company to have insurance?

By its very nature, tree work is dangerous and should only be done by a professional. Liability insurance is important because it protects you, the homeowner, and your property from potential risk and damage. Workman’s compensation insurance protects tree professionals while they are working on a job. When you are seeking to hire a tree company, be sure to request proof of comprehensive insurance from their insurance carrier before any work is started. If you have any doubts, call the insurance carrier for verification.

Why should I prune my trees?

Trees need to be pruned for a number of reasons including: safety, aesthetics and tree health. Broken or dead branches can be dangerous if they fall - oftentimes without warning, even on a calm day! If a tree’s branches grow too big for the tree or are too close to your roof or chimney, they need to be pruned and cleared to prevent them from damaging your home. From an aesthetic perspective, pruning can help make a tree look better or provide you with a better view of your property or horizon. If you are thinking about pruning a tree, be sure to use someone with experience. Unskilled and uneducated workers can damage your trees and property.

What if a tree needs to be removed, will my property be protected?

At Backyard Monkey, we take every precaution necessary to protect your property and minimize any impact to the landscape. For example, our crews lay down protective material over sensitive areas when necessary. Further, our foremen and crews are extremely experienced in all types of removals and pruning including hand work, aerial lift and crane work. Our clients constantly compliment us by mentioning that it is almost impossible to tell we were on their property other than to perform tree work!

Why is it important to have a multi-service company?

There is a lot of shared knowledge in a company that can provide clients with multiple services. At Backyard Monkey, we offer a full range of tree services, as well as plant health care and recycling through our divisions Natural Tree and Lawn Care and Forest Floor. Having a full range of services provides clients with a one-stop-shop for getting the most enjoyment out of your outdoor home. Our landscape installation crews build and plant beautiful outdoor retreats, our plant health care division keeps your yard pest free and our tree crews keep your property safe and beautiful for your family and guests. Multiple tree and lawn care services provides ongoing maintenance of your outdoor home and allows us to detect and resolve potential problems early on.

What are some of the benefits of keeping or planting trees on my property?

There are many. The natural beauty that a tree brings to your outdoor home is beyond measure. Seeing seasons turn through the changes in a tree, seeing the leaves emerge during early spring, enjoying the beauty of the blooming season and watching the tree as it prepares for winter reminds us of the natural cycles in life. Planting a tree can be a wonderful experience. As you care for the tree, as years pass and as you watch it grow it becomes a part of your outdoor home and will eventually become an old friend.

What are some of the best trees to plant for Shade/ Flowers/ Color/ Care free?

There are as many choices of trees to plant as there are people and places to plant them. Depending on the look and feel of your outdoor home there are beautiful flowering exotic varieties, evergreens which keep their green all year, trees that provide fall color, trees that will grow very large that future generations may enjoy, dwarf varieties that grow small to beautify special places; the choices are many.

How old are my trees?

Trees, like us, have a lifespan. Depending on species and environment, trees can live for hundreds of years. There are still many large trees alive today that were living when our country was founded. Knowing the history of your outdoor home will help you determine the age of your trees as some may be part of the original landscape and others added later on. Unfortunately, the best way to tell a tree’s age is to count the growth rings when it is cut down – something we want to avoid!

Will this tree fall?

Hazard assessment is one of the jobs of Backyard Monkey. As trees grow and age they become subject to many stress factors that may affect their structural integrity. It is important to have a professional visit your outdoor home and advise you of any possible danger from tree failure.