The ANSI Standards for Tree Pruning

Posted on March 17, 2021 by Completetree

Spring is just about here, and tree pruning is a critical part of spring tree care. Trees must be pruned to promote new, strong, healthy growth, as well as, to promote safety and security of landscaping trees. Not only is tree pruning a vital component to your tree’s overall health, but it is also a dangerous job that requires decades of hands-on experience and practice. It also requires specific tools, equipment, and most importantly, the right knowledge.

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The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

Improper tree pruning can kill trees, so the techniques and methods used to prune trees is very specific. In fact, the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) developed a set of standards for proper tree pruning that is used among true professional tree service contractors. This set of voluntary industry consensus standards was written by the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC), and is called the American National Standards Institute A300, or ASC A300. They are the generally accepted industry standards for tree care practices. They continue the initiative of developing consensus performance standards based on current research and sound practice for writing specifications to manage trees, shrubs, and other woody plants.

The Parts of ANSI A300

Tree pruning is only the first part of the ANSI A300. It other parts include soil management, supplemental support systems, lightning protection systems, management, planting and transplanting, integrate vegetation management, root management standard, tree risk assessment, and IPM (pest management).

ANSI A300 Tree Pruning Standards Cover:

☙ Pruning Objectives
☙ Pruning Systems
☙ Pruning Specifications
☙ Pruning Cuts
☙ Pruning Practices
☙ Palms and Similar Plants
☙ Pruning Definitions

*You can view the ANSI A300 in full, here.

Ready to schedule your lot’s seasonal tree services? Contact Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for Indianapolis Indiana tree services you can trust. We serve residential and commercial clients.

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4 Winter Storm Preparation Tips for Landscaping Trees

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Completetree

Winter storms can bring about a mixture of freezing rain, snow, ice, hail, lightening, and more. So long as you have strong, healthy trees, you can rest assure they will stand up to this type of inclement, seasonal weather that is to be expected. But if you have young, weak, newly planted, or vulnerable trees on your property, there is a smaller chance that they will thrive through a winter storm spell. If you do not do what it takes to protect your landscaping trees from winter storm conditions, you are at a much higher risk of waking up to storm damaged trees.

Continue reading to learn the top 4 winter storm preparation tree care tips, and how to get started with a professional tree inspection.

4 Ways to Stronger and Healthier Trees

❶ Routine Tree Care and Pruning

Trees with denser canopies, strong branches, and healthy roots are trees that will stand up to winter weather and storms. In order to achieve this for your landscaping trees, they should be serviced at least bi-annually by a licensed tree care provider for tree pruning, fertilizing, trimming, and inspection. Tree pruning is one of the most vital routine tree services that make for stronger, healthier trees, and should be the main area of focus in the fall or early spring. Talk to your Indianapolis tree service company to learn your recommended tree care schedule.

❷ Year-Round Mulching

Trees need to be mulched if you want any chance at success. Mulch plays many important functions for trees, and the roots below. With a wide perimeter of mulch around the base of your trees, the root systems are well-moistened, and the trunk is protected from potential lawnmower damage. Furthermore, mulch contains organic constituents that are pertinent to the nutrition of the soil and quality of the root system.

Mulch is a year-round necessity for trees, as it preserves the heat of the sun and prevents the ground from freezing in harsh temperatures. All of this helps promotes healthy tree growth come spring and summer. When mulching your trees in spring and fall, aim between 2 and 3 inches of mulch at the base, but be sure not to allow the mulch to “crawl” up the trunk of the tree.

❸ Protection Against Lightning

Although lightening is not a major threat during the winter season, you still need to protect your trees against lightening damage year-long. This way, your trees will remain strong and resilient when the winter weather is upon us. To do this, consider installing a quality lightning protection system. These devices will direct electrical currents away from the tree, sending them down a sequence of wires and into the ground.

❹ Tree Cavity Management

Tree cavities might not seem like they are a big threat, but they are a common influence on how well a tree can withstand inclement winter weather conditions. The more hollowed a tree, the less stable it is, and therefore, more susceptible to strong winds and rains, or heavy snow and ice. So, keep an eye out on all tree cavities, and monitor their progress. If you are noticing that one tree cavity is growing too large, you will need to have that tree inspected, and possibly cabled or braced for the winter.

A Complete Tree Care Offers Winter Tree Protection Service in Indianapolis

Call Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for trusted winter tree service in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. We are a family owned and operated Indianapolis tree care company that offers the most competitive prices for tree trimming and pruning, tree removal, stump removal, and more. Our tree service pros serve both residential and commercial clients all throughout the Central parts of the state. Request a free estimate or advice, today.

Essential Tree Care Tips to Get Your Spring Started

Posted on March 26, 2020 by Completetree

Be sure you know exactly how to manage your landscaping trees this spring with these vital tree care reminders!

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Critical Root Zone (CRZ)

The critical root zone of a tree is also referred to as a “tree protection zone.” Essentially, it is an invisible or imaginary circle that runs along or just outside the dripline of a tree. This area is important to a tree because it is where the most critical tree roots are located beneath the ground. That is why it is also called a “protection” zone. These are the roots that require the most protection and care. Adequate mulching is an effective method for protecting your tree’s critical root zone. In fact, in terms of tree health, mulch is just as important as fertilizer and water.

Watering

One of the most important parts of taking care of your trees is to make sure they have adequate water. This is especially true for newly planted trees and young trees. After a tree is planted, it is important to water it immediately, then continue watering it regularly over the next two years. Mature trees only require watering during periods of drought, when the soil feels dry to the touch. Keep in mind that too much water can be just as harmful. So, it is important to use just the right amount to keep your trees in good health. To check, use your garden trowel to penetrate the soil 4 to 6 inches deep, then pry the soil back and feel the dampness of the soil.

Mulching

Laying mulch around the base of your trees is a highly effective method of supporting healthy growth and prolonging their life. Although you do not need to re-mulch every week, it is important to check on your mulch beds every day to ensure they are still doing their job. Mulch helps retain moisture and block out excess heat and UV exposure. This helps to keep a tree in good health. If the mulch seems low, put down another layer. Apply new mulch entirely, every year. The rule of thumb when it comes to proper mulching is to keep layers between 2 and 4 inches deep, and at least 6 inches from the base of the trunk.

Staking

See our recent blog, “How to Prepare Your Trees for Spring Weather Conditions” to learn all your options for staking a tree. From there, you can better determine which type of supplementary structural support or protection your landscaping trees need to survive the season. Common industry methods include cabling and bracing, propping, guying, and of course, staking. Talk to your local tree care specialist about tree staking methods and advice when in doubt. They have the tools, training, and knowledge to guide you in the direction of healthy tree care.

Fertilizing

Tree fertilization helps to make up for any nutrient deficiencies that might be at play. It provides added nutrients, which in turn help a tree grow strong and healthy, and thus, live much longer. Not only does this help a tree look beautiful and deep in color, it gives the tree durability and an increased resistance to inclement weather, disease, pests, nuisance wildlife, and other forms of environmental bearings.

Trimming and Pruning

One of the most important tree services you can outsource for your landscape is pruning. Not only does pruning promote healthy growth, it also encourages flowering and fruit production, making prettier and more profitable trees. In addition to pruning, tree trimming is a highly beneficial, and often times quite necessary, tree service that is something to consider for your property. Tree trimming helps control overgrown limbs and canopies that can pose potential dangers and obstructions.

Professional Tree Care Service for Indianapolis

Call Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for prompt and professional Indianapolis tree service you can trust. We are experienced tree care technicians that can resolve your tree problems, regardless of your projects size or scope. We offer a wide range of tree removal and tree services, for both residential and commercial properties. We even offer free estimates and free tree care advice!

Can You Prune Trees in Winter?

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Completetree

Now that the holidays are all over, all that’s left until Valentine’s and St. Pat’s is the winter season. Fortunately, that gives us plenty of time to get around to our other homeowner duties, like tree care. Right now is the perfect time to prune your landscaping trees if you want to ensure strong and abundant growth next season. However, many are afraid to do too much with their dormant trees this time of year in fear that they may do some damage. The truth is, tree dormancy is the best time to prune trees.

Continue reading to learn why, and for some more winter tree care pruning tips you will need.

Trimming vs. Pruning

There are many reasons to trim a tree. Trimming down foliage and branches can eliminate obstacles and obstructions, improve look, produce ornamental appeal, and deliver certain functions, like privacy or shade. However, tree pruning is another story. The purpose of pruning trees is to jump start spring growth spurts, as well as, render fuller, brighter, more balanced growth.

When to Prune

The best time to prune a tree is in winter when they are dormant and have little to no foliage. Not only does this allow better manageability, bark and tissue wounds recover faster, far before new growth can begin. In spring and summer when tree growth is active, open wounds from pruning are at higher risk of developing infections, pest infestations, and more. These developments can quickly cause a full decline in tree health, even with treatment. Furthermore, trees require more water when they are healing, which can make spring or summer pruning problematic since the tree is active and already needs water. This might leave a tree without enough water.

How to Prune

Pruning is a delicate practice that requires astute knowledge and skill that is only achievable through years of experience. For this reason, you need a professional and seasoned Indianapolis tree care contractor to prune trees properly. A single incorrect cut can cause an entire tree to die, making professional service non-negotiable.

Indianapolis Tree Care and Pruning Service

Call Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for professional Indianapolis tree trimming and pruning services you can trust. We are an experienced and reputable Central Indiana tree care company that offers a wide range of tree services for both residential and commercial properties, including tree removal, stump removal, lot clearing, and more. We even offer free estimates and free tree care advice!

How to Hire a Reputable Tree Service Company

Posted on November 15, 2019 by Completetree

As a property owner, there are a few things you need to know before outsourcing professional tree service. Whether you need routine tree care such as trimming or pruning, or major tree work like large tree removal or lot clearing, you need a company that can be trusted to deliver safety, quality, and efficiency on every job. And to find the right tree care company, you need to know what to look for.

Continue reading to learn how to hire a dependable tree service company who can manage the size and scope of your tree service needs.

Real Experience

When it comes time to research tree care companies, it is important to look for signs of professionalism and skill. The very first thing you want to look for in a tree service company is experience. In an industry like this, hands-on experience is the key to perfecting the tree care craft. At least ten years of experience is a good start, and any more than that is an added assurance. This is especially important for larger or more complex tree service jobs, like stump removal and storm damage clearance.

Valued Credentials

Aside from experience, there are a few other credentials to look for in a tree service company. Licensing and insurance is key when it comes to any service-oriented company. So be sure your choice of service is licensed and insured. Not only does this protect you, it ensures that your property is in the hands of certified professionals.

Fair Prices

Request estimates from your potential tree service candidates to compare pricing and overall costs. Not only will this help you gain an understanding of the average cost of tree service, it will allow you to compare competitors’ prices and choose which ones seems the most fair and the least suspicious. Keep in mind that if the estimate is drastically lower than the average cost of the other estimates you’ve received, it could be an indication of unethical work. So take oddly-low estimates as a warning rather than a miracle.

Quality Labor and Equipment

Make sure your tree service company retains the proper equipment to provide safe and efficient tree work. But also be sure they are fully-staffed to manage the size and scope of your tree service needs. A fully-equipped and staffed tree service company is a sign that they are a reputable team to hire.

Indianapolis Tree Service at an Affordable Price

Call Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for Indianapolis tree services you can trust. We are highly trained and experienced tree care technicians that offer commercial and residential tree services at affordable prices. As professional tree specialists, we know precisely how to manage each and every tree service job requested of us. We only use quality equipment to carry out our tree care services and never neglect safety. And if you have a tree emergency after regular business hours, we offer two separate after-hours phone lines!

General Tree Care Tips for the Summer Season

Posted on June 12, 2017 by Completetree

Protect your trees this summer with the right knowledge!

Trees are one of the most admired seasonal attractions. People love watching young trees grow each year, blossom in the spring, flourish in the summer, and change color in the fall. But trees cannot thrive through these seasonal changes without proper tree care, and summertime is no different. In fact, the summertime is not always an easy time for landscaping trees. Harsh heat, drought, nuisance wildlife, pest infestations, and more, can cause trees stress and decline during the summer season.

Fortunately, there are ways to protect your beloved landscaping trees from summertime damage. Continue reading to learn some helpful tips for summer tree care.

Summer Tree Care

There are 3 primary areas of tree care to pay close attention to in the summer. These include tree inspection, pruning, and cabling. These are important aspects to tree care because they address the most important needs for a tree, which is growth and survival. Below is a closer look at the 3 parts of summer tree care.

☛ Have Your Trees Evaluated

Just like your home and your health, catching small problems early on in trees is the best way to prevent major issues down the line. For this reason, it is important to have your landscaping trees evaluated by a professional tree service contractor at the start of the season. They can assess the condition of your trees and suggest real, workable solutions that fit your schedule and your budget. Before your tree service contractor arrives, you can take a look for yourself to see if you notice any signs of pest infestation, bark damage, or illness.

☛ Prune Your Trees Regularly

Tree pruning and trimming are a vital part of tree care. Not only does this service promote new healthy growth for trees, it helps manage canopy growth, shape, and shade value. Pruning keeps branches strong, leaves colorful and robust, and much more. There is a strict method for tree pruning and thinning, so be sure to have your trusted tree care contractor handle the task for you.

☛ Prepare Your Trees for Harsher Weather

Once the end of summer nears, you will need to prepare your trees for the upcoming fall and winter months. This is done by cabling and bracing trees so they can withstand harsh winds, strong storms, and more. Usually, mature trees do not require tree cabling and bracing; however, younger or weakened trees are highly-dependent on the service. This prevents limb and branch breakage, split trunks, and fallen trees.

Indianapolis Tree Services

Call Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for Indianapolis tree service you can trust. We serve all of Central Indiana with a wide range of professional tree care services for residential and commercial properties. Whether you need simple tree trimming and pruning service, or major tree work like lot clearing, stump removal, underbrush removal, and large tree removal, we are the experienced tree care contractors to trust for prompt and professional service you can afford.

Need-to-Know Glossary Terms for Tree Care

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Completetree

If you are a new homeowner, or simply new to the landscaping and gardening world, you will soon discover that trees are an important part of your property, and require routine care in order to grow and thrive to their full capacity. One place to start when it comes to tree care is terminology. By reviewing some common tree care terms, you will better understand your research and be better prepared to discuss your tree care needs with a professional.

Continue reading and you will find a helpful glossary full of need-to-know tree care terms used for residential and commercial tree service.

Tree Care Terminology

Tree care is phrase used to describe the requirements and process for maintaining healthy, thriving trees. This includes routine inspections for pests, insects, and tree diseases, as well as, routine tree trimming, pruning, fertilizing, watering, and more. Already a bit confused? Don’t worry! These terms, along with a few others, will be covered below!

Crown or “Canopy” – This is the upper part of a tree. It is measured from the lowest branch to the longest, most outward branch, and again to the highest point of the tree. This includes all branches, leaves, and foliage.

Tree Trimming – Shortening the limbs and twigs of trees for the purpose of adding light and air flow, removing dead or disease branches, reducing obstructions, promoting new growth, and more.

Tree Pruning – Selectively removing branches or stems for the betterment of the whole tree. This is done for the same purposes as trimming.

Tree Thinning – This is a preferred method of tree pruning. Selectively removing interior growth and thinning out branch tips.

Tree Shaping – To selectively trim foliage and branches of trees to achieve an appealing or desired shape.

Tree Topping – To completely remove all top portions of a tree. It is considered by many to be an unnecessary and highly-detrimental practice.

Tree Pollard – This is a drastic means of tree pruning that involves the removal of all green growth and foliage, giving trees a “hat rack” appearance.

Shirt Raise – To prune only the lower branches and foliage of trees. This enables better access, reduces obstructions, and promotes more sunlight.

CODIT – Compartmentalization of Decay in Trees.

Dead-Wooding – Removing all dead, dying or diseased branches, twigs, limbs, and growth on a tree.

Root Prune – Severing sections of tree roots that pose hazardous or structural threats to its surroundings.

Stump Grinding – Shaving or cutting down a tree stump so that it is ground level.

Stump Removal – Extracting a whole tree stump from the ground.

Deep Root Fertilization – Inserting a probe (soil needle) 8 to 12 inches into the soil below the base of a tree, and then injecting a liquid fertilizer directly to the root system to provide additional nutrients for a tree.

Tree Spraying – To spray liquid insecticides and fungicides on trees to protect from pest infestations and tree diseases.

A Complete Tree Care – The Indianapolis tree care company to call for expert advice and tree service at an honest and fair price.

Call A Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for professional tree removal services in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding locations. Our tree care specialists have more than 30 years of experience, and retain the knowledge and skills needed to deliver quality tree service in a convenient time frame. We offer a wide range of residential and commercial tree services, from tree trimming and tree pruning, to lot clearing, stump removal, and much more. Call 317-783-2518 to request a free estimate for Indianapolis tree service, today.

Helpful Tree Care Tips For Spring and Summer

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Completetree

If you own a home, chances are you have trees on your property. And as a homeowner, protecting and preserving your investment is your top priority, and part of this initiative is proper tree care. Healthy trees can drastically increase property value since they provide such a wide range of benefits, including noise reduction, privacy, shade, improved energy efficiency, and much more. So keeping trees in good condition is in the best interest of your investment, as well as, your quality of life.

There are several things you can do on your own to care for your landscaping trees, but for some tree care needs, you’ll require the services of a qualified professional. Continue reading to learn some helpful tree care tips for this spring and upcoming summer.

Take Good Care of Your Trees

Having basic knowledge of proper tree care helps you understand the level of care your trees need to remain healthy and alive for a long time. This is the first tip for tree care. If you do not have any trees, and you wish to plant new ones, be sure to do so during periods of dormancy, such as early spring or late fall. This gives roots a chance to establish themselves before warmer temperatures promote top-growth. And always be sure to water newly-planted tree immediately, and often!

Trees need watered frequently, and even more so during hot drought seasons. Be sure your trees are getting at least 20 to 25 gallons of water each week. But be careful not to over-water. Too much water can inhibit the adequacy of oxygen in soil and drown the roots. Mulching is another valuable step in protecting the health of your trees. Mulch acts as insulation for the soil, providing a buffer from extreme temperatures. It also retains water, which helps keep the soil moist.

Fertilization is another important aspect to tree care. Trees require certain essential nutrients in order to function and survive, and they primarily acquire these nutrients from the soil. If your ground soil has insufficient nutrient supplies, then tree fertilization is necessary. Proper tree fertilization can greatly increase the health of your trees, allowing them to sustain a healthy condition all year long.

It is important to have trees trimmed and pruned at certain times of the year. This provides safe, directional branch growth, prevents obstruction issues, and increases the curb appeal of your property. Tree limbs can grow fast and disrupt power lines, rooftops, gutters, and more. Regular tree trimming and tree pruning can prevent tree branch structural damage. Talk to your local tree care specialist about the health of your trees. They can provide professional assessments and inspections, and offer suggestions regarding your tree’s individual needs. Be sure to hire an experienced tree care company for professional tree services you can trust.

Complete Tree Care

Call Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for professional tree service in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. We are highly trained and qualified tree care specialists that have decades of experience in the tree service industry. We provide a wide range of residential and commercial tree services for both residential and commercial properties, including tree trimming, tree pruning, stump grinding, stump removal, lot clearing, and much more. When you need quality tree removal services at a fair price, you have come to the right place! Call Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 to hear more
about our Indianapolis tree services, prices,
and availability.

Complete Tree Care Has a Brand New Website!

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Completetree

Complete Tree Care is a family owned and operated tree service company based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. We have been serving Hoosier communities all throughout Central Indiana for more than 33 years, and remain dedicated to being the best customer-oriented tree service business around. Our highly trained and experienced tree care specialists provide a wide range of tree services for both residential and commercial properties.

And now you can view all our professional tree care services and more on our brand new website!

Find What You’re Looking For FAST!

Complete Tree Care’s new website is not just informative, it is easy to navigate and find just what you’re looking for. Every link you need is listed right at the top of our home page! Instantly locate our contact information on our “Contact Us” page! And when you need tree service, simply hover over our “Tree Services” page to reveal a drop-down list of all the tree care work our company provides! Or you can simply click on the link. Then you can choose from one of the listed options, including tree removal, tree trimming and pruning, stump removal, tree care, tree diseases, and much more.

With the exclusive tree care pages available on their new website, you are sure to find the right information about the exact tree service you need in Indianapolis! Remember you can also call our office directly at 317-783-2518 and speak with a friendly office attendant about tree care and more, anytime!

View Our Credentials!

At Complete Tree Care, we are proud of our 30+ years of experience, steadfast reputation, and proficiency in the industry. This is why we list our most admirable credentials right on our Home Page! Review everything that makes us a good choice for tree service and tree removal in Central Indiana! Not only are we members of the BBB, we are also Angie’s List Approved and even received the Super Service Award in 2015!

Don’t Forget to Check Out Our Pictures!

Another fantastic feature on our brand new tree care website is our Pictures Page! You can look at several pictures of tree damages and tree work projects are team manages on a daily basis. You can see there is no job too big or too small for the highly trained and experienced team of tree service specialists at Complete Tree Care!

Indianapolis Tree Service You Can Trust

Call Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for professional tree service and tree removal in Indianapolis, and throughout Central Indiana. We offer tree removal, tree trimming, pruning, shaping, topping, crowning, and much more. Our teams are fully-equipped to provide stump grinding or stump removal services for any size tree trunk. We are happy to provide free tree care estimate and advice anytime. Call 317-783-2518 during regular office hours for information about tree services in Indianapolis, IN and its surrounding locations.