Check our Full Service Range
Specializes in Difficult Takedowns Residential and Commercial
- Removal
- Pruning / Trimming
- Crane Assisted Removal
- Stump Grinding
- Bracing
24 hours Emergency
Bennett’s offer FREE Estimates and will not charge more than Estimate unless other services were added and agreed upon.
We accept Cash, Check, Visa and Master Card
Looking for a tree service that operates in the Valdosta, Georgia area? Look no further! Here at Bennett’s Tree Service Inc. we aim to meet all your tree needs. Whether it be a large hazardous tree removal or a smaller tree that just needs a checkup, we can handle it! With years of experience in all aspects of tree work we can offer advice, suggest, and perform the work that is best suited for your exact situation. We pride ourselves not just on our work alone but how we operate as a business. The biggest issue is communication. When working with Bennett’s everyone is on the same page, the job and process are fully understood, and there are no confusions on what the finished product will be. Our goal is that the customer can have the most stress-free experience as possible. Bennett’s is in this for the long haul. We plan on being around for a while and hope to earn your recurring business and be a company that you can undoubtedly trust.
Bennett’s Tree Service Inc. offers the best value to customers. We have the equipment and manpower to handle any large or small job you might need completed. We have been in business for 36 years; you can count on whatever advice we give you to be unbiased and straight forward. It is in our best interest to make sure everything is done properly and to industry standards because our business is mainly built from repeat clients and referrals. This reinforces to us that we are doing something right! We have the resources of a big company but the hometown feel of the smaller guys to ensure satisfaction. Have any questions or would like to schedule a free quote? Call Bennett’s Tree Service Inc. today!
Removal
Sometimes removal is the only option. Trees have a life expectancy. They start dying out, hollowing in the limbs and rotting at the bases. It is important to remove them before they cause any damage to structures, other objects and even people. Our removal process minimizes the impact to surrounding landscapes and lawns. With Bennett’s Tree Service Inc, you know the project will be safe and efficient. With our state-of-the -art equipment and highly skilled team, we can handle any project big or small.
Tree removal is dangerous and can be complicated. With over 36 years of experience and a record of exemplary serve, Bennett’s makes sure that caution is taken with every cut. We take pride in our clean up and try to leave your property in pristine condition.
When you’re in the position of having to remove a tree, don’t make the mistake of hiring amateurs, or fall victim to the allure of a price that seems too good to be true. Hire a Professional to do the job right!
Accidents do happen! That is the reason we carry full coverage General Liability Insurance. If we cause any damage to your property, we are covered. We also insure every team member (employee) with Worker Compensation Insurance. That way we take all the STRESS out of someone or something getting hurt while on your property.
Pruning
It really depends in part on why you are pruning. Removal of deadwood and or light pruning can be done at any time. Here are some guidelines to follow but keep in mind different species may have special requirements.
Routine pruning improves the health of trees and prolongs their life. The removal of weakened, dead, diseased or insect-infected branches that might snap off during heavy winds or thunderstorms is beneficial in preventing storm damage. Pruning reduces the chance of breaking limbs by decreasing a tree's wind resistance enabling it to move with the wind.
Pruning of large shade trees by the homeowner should be limited to the branches that can be reached from the ground. Large tree pruning is a job that should be left to trained and experienced professionals at Bennett’s Tree Service Inc., since it can require climbing, the use of heavy chain saws, and other equipment. Personal safety should never be compromised when pruning a tree. Using improper pruning techniques can expose a tree to disease and can leave it in poor health or dead.
Timing is Everything
The best time to prune trees depends on the desired results. As a rule, late October to early March is the best and most appropriate time to prune trees, this time may vary from year to year depending on the weather conditions.
Generally, if pruning is done before the buds swell, in early spring, this will maximize growth. While the tree is dormant, pruning can minimize the risk of pest problems associated with wound entry. This allows the tree to utilize the full growing season to begin closing and compartmentalizing wounds. Pruning is usually not recommended during or soon after the initial growth flush, as this can reduce plant growth.
During the initial growth flush, the tree expenses a great deal of stored energy to produce foliage and early shoot growth, removal of many live branches at this time can stress the tree.
Pruning during the transmission period can allow spores access into the tree, which can spread diseases such as oak wilt. During freezing and near freezing conditions, transmission of disease is almost impossible.
We use pruning techniques based on the condition and site of a tree and the desired goal of each job. Pruning is always done at branch junctions and according to season and species. Our focus is on maintaining tree health, form, structure and appearance.
Some of the many benefits of pruning: • Improves a trees structure and helps maintain its health• Reduction in the level of insects and disease
• Tree defects can usually be corrected with timely pruning.
• Provides storm damage protection
• Keeps sidewalks and roadways clear
• Allows improved light penetration and water distribution
• Properly maintained trees are a valuable asset to your property.
Topping
A common practice called "topping" is a severe problem. It is used to reduce the height of trees around utility lines and homes. Topping is not the same pruning method as crown or height reduction and is the most serious wound you can inflict upon a tree. It drastically shortens the life of a tree by exposing the remaining bark to direct sunlight, which can permanently damage or even kill the tree. It removes the tree's main leader and branches, resulting in stubs and disfigured new growth. The initial large wounds never heal properly, and subsequent growth is very weak. Topped trees are eyesores that negatively affect the appearance of your landscaping.
Crane Assisted Removal
Using a crane in our area, makes it more expensive because we must hire a crane service. Bennett’s Tree Service Inc. has been working with a local crane service for over 36 years. We have great confidence in each other’s knowledge in the removal process. Sometimes you have no other option but to use a crane.
Removing trees with the assistance of a crane is hands down the best way to do it. Traditional tree removal methods are often time consuming and labor intensive. They require complex rigging and lowering to avoid obstacles and usually have inferior results compared to the crane assisted tree removal process. When a crane is used in the tree removal process it greatly reduces the amount of time that it takes to remove the tree and it also decreases the impact to the surroundings.
Cranes are the next best invention to the Chainsaw in our industry. They have been utilized by tree services for decades but have become increasingly more popular over the past 20 years. Although very popular to use, it’s not very common for a tree service to own and operate a crane therefore making it more expensive for removal.
Stump Grinding
Stump grinding removes the stump below the ground surface 6-12 inches. It takes a special machine that cuts away at the stump in back and forth sweeps. The debris that is left from the process is dirt and chip mix. The mix is filled into the void where the stump was, leaving it level or just a little higher than the lawn.
While it may seem obvious that stumps are an eyesore, there are other reasons to remove them apart from the beauty of your landscape. Rotting stumps become a habitat for wood destroying insects like termites and ants. Inviting termites and ants onto your property puts other structures at risk of damage.
Some trees don’t die once they are cut down. Certain trees will continue to grow, being fed by their root system. New growth on a stump is neither healthy or aesthetically pleasing and is often very difficult to control. Bennett’s Tree Service Inc. tries to remove all the stump and feeding roots system so your lawn will thrive.
Bracing / Cabling
The old saying “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link” can be true for trees as well. A tree is only as strong as its weakest union. An overwhelming majority of trunk, branch and crown failures are associated with a weak area at the point of failure. Include bark, co-dominant stems and cavities are just a few common problems that plague trees. Most everyone knows the exploding nature of Bradford Pear trees. The codominant nature of the Bradford causes the branches to grow together and as a result an area of included bark develops and creates a weak union.
This is a prime example of structural issues that can occur with trees. There are so many different defects, factors and circumstances that can compromise a trees structural integrity. We at Bennett’s Tree Service Inc. are experts in identifying these aggravating factors. Once a structural defect is identified, a tree can most often have a supplemental support system installed to mitigate the risk. Each situation is unique and will require the expertise and experience of a professional familiar with cabling, bracing, guying and other support systems. The following are some examples of common structural issues and types of systems that we install to alleviate the problem.
Common Structural Problems
Co-dominant stems
This is the most common structural defect found in trees. The word co-dominant is self-explanatory. Simply put it means two or more stems share or dominate the same base. This isn’t always a bad thing. When inspecting the union point, we check for several things. The first thing we look at is the shape of the area where the stems meet. If the union is in a V shape it is a sign of competition between the stems and poor development of adhesive wood. If it is a U shape, there is less cause for concern. When inspecting V shaped crotches or unions, we look at the marriage line “branch bark ridge” in arborist speak. An upturn on the ridge is a sign that there is no bark inclusion and an inward turn is signs of bark inclusion. A union with excessive swelling is a sign of reaction growth. We also check for signs of oozing sap or pockets of decay that would further increase the probability of failure.
Cracks in unions
Cracks can develop in codominant unions. They are hard to spot and can even go undetected for years. Scar tissue in unions is a definite sign of a crack that has begun to heal. This scar tissue only helps the vascular system seal itself off and is not a sign of the tree’s structural wood healing. High wind will often cause cracks in a union.
Cavities
Holes in branches, limbs or trunks are weak points. These areas can occur for a variety of reasons. Old pruning wounds that don’t heal over, winterization cracks, insect entry points and decay organisms are a few. When the interior wood of a tree is exposed it will begin to rot. This will cause a structural deficiency in that part of the tree.
Types of support Systems
Cabling
Tree cabling is used to support a tree that has a structural defect, such as a codominant union, crack, cavity or other aggravating factor. When wind pushes against the upper portions of the canopy it significantly increases the amount of force and stress on the weak area and could cause it to fail. Cabling prevents the increased force by securing the portions of the tree to others.
There are two basic types of cabling systems.
Static Cabling
Extra High strength (EHS) steel cable that has no give and is used in static systems. The cable is usually fastened to the tree with steel eye hooks, lag bolts or wire stops. Static systems are usually installed when little to no movement of the crown is desired.
The first step in installing a static cabling system is determining the exact point where the cables will be installed. Supplemental support cables are installed 2/3–3/4 of distance between the crotch and the top of the tree or the end of the branch. After the location is determined the fasteners are installed. There are three common types of fasteners. Eye bolts, threaded lag hooks and wire stops. We prefer the wire stop connectors. If a through eye bolt or wire stop is used a hole must be drilled and the rod or wire inserted. If lag hooks are the type of anchor used, they can simply be screwed into the tree. The cable will be measured cut and installed once the holes are drilled.
Eye Bolt
Lag Hook
Wire Stop
Wire
Dynamic Cabling
Dynamic systems use a braided specialty rope with elastic qualities to allow for movement. As trees move with the wind they build more wood. Dynamic systems are a great proactive system to prevent failure but may not be the best for mitigating a tree that has already began to fail.
Bracing
Bracing is usually done in close proximity to the crotch or union. It is a straightforward process. The first step is to determine the number and size of the rods needed to properly support the weight of the stressed parts. If the tree has a significant amount of separation a come- along or another tensioning device will be used to close the crack. Once that is done, holes will be drilled all the way through the trunk(s). The holes are usually 1/16 inch smaller than the rod that will be installed this will ensure a snug fit. After the holes are drilled, the threaded steel rod will be inserted all the way through the trunk(s) and secured with washers and nuts. Cabling is often done in conjunction with bracing.
This picture shows how trees react to cabling and bracing hardware. Over time trees develop new tissue and bark that encompass the hardware. The new wood provides a stronger anchor point and it improves the overall strength of the support system.
If you feel that your tree is a candidate for cabling and bracing please don’t hesitate to contact us.