Arborists Add Expertise to Tree Care

Canopy Tree Service is owned and managed by a certified arborist who has more than 17 years expertise in caring for trees in San Antonio, Texas. Shane Kelly has a BS in Resource Management from Southwest Texas (now known as Texas State) in San Marcos. Before starting his own business, he worked for an environmental company. Mr. Kelly is a member of the San Antonio Arborists Association. He is also a Certified Arborist, a designation from the International Society of Arboriculture.

Why use Arborists for your Trees?

Arborist Shane Kelly guides a crew that provides tree care to the Greater San Antonio area.

Did you know that arborists are trained and tested in the following areas:

Tree biology

Tree identification and selection

Soil and water needs of trees

Risk assessment for damaged or diseased trees

Tree nutrition and fertilization

Plant health care

Cabling and bracing and lightning protection

Tree diagnosis

Proper tree trimming techniques.

To be certified through the International Society of Arboriculture, arborists must pass a tree care exam. A certified arborist must also have a minimum of three years experience, take continual education classes to maintain the credential, and adhere to an established code of ethics.

How does this help our tree care customers? Many ways. For example, in the area of tree trimming, Canopy Tree Service used arborists that employ tree trimming methods that promote a sound tree structure. Our pruning techniques help trees resist pre-mature decline, provide clearance for pedestrians and vehicles, and improve canopy aesthetics, while promoting long life. Tree trimming can be dangerous and the right professional can minimize the risk to homes, vehicles, or people. Be wary of individuals who go door to door offering bargain tree work a few days in advance of the City of San Antonio curbside brush collection. The bargain prices may not be such a bargain if the trees are improperly trimmed. Poor pruning can take years to recover from and can impact the curb side appeal of a home that is offered for sale.

Thinking about having your trees trimmed?

If you are thinking about having your tree pruned, a Canopy Tree Service arborist will consider the time of year and whether it is even an appropriate time to provide tree trimming service to your residence. Other considerations will be the size, growth habits of the tree, and the overall vitality of the tree. Young trees can tolerate quite a bit of pruning, however removing more than one-fourth of a mature tree’s canopy can drain a trees energy and leave it vulnerable to insect attack or decay.

Be Wary of Unsound Tree Trimming Techniques

Inexperienced tree trimmers not certified in proper pruning techniques may “top” your tree. Tree topping involves cutting limbs back to a stub or bud. Initially you may be pleased with the look, but a short time later, you will notice vigorous new sprouts around the cuts and your tree will assume an unsightly appearance. At worst, topping can cause branch die back when large exposed wounds cannot close. Another practice that severely damages Central Texas trees is known as “lion tailing.” This practice involves removing the inner foliage branches and limbs of trees to create an unnatural shape of a giant umbrella. Lion’s tail tree procedures takes so much foliage from the tree that the tree is left without energy and the limbs may become weak and break. The increased sunlight on the tree interior can cause problems for the tree as well. Canopy Tree Service arborists use a selective method of branch removal that cleans the “crown” of the tree. This conservative removal of branches takes more time than a radical “topping” but the end result is a healthier tree that has improved wind resistance and a sound plan for future tree’s growth.

Trees can sometimes benefit from cabling and bracing systems. Canopy Tree Service installs cables in trees to limit the movement of limbs that are weakened or heavy. Trees that have split or are multi-stemmed may break under the stress of extreme San Antonio wind storms. Knowing whether a tree can be safely cabled or whether the tree poses a risk of falling due to inadequate root system requires specialized training and expertise. Tree care is one part science and one part art. For the protection of your trees and surrounding property, hiring a certified arborist is the recommended way to go. Call Shane Kelly today for a free estimate: (210) 441-7021.