Our Services
Expert Tree Care Tailored for You
Discover the difference that decades of arboricultural expertise can make for your landscape. Ready to see your trees thrive? Explore our specialized tree services today!
Tree Removal: Whether it's due to disease, damage, or landscaping changes, our tree removal services are carried out with precision and care. We ensure a safe and efficient removal process, minimizing the impact on your property and the surrounding environment.
Tree Trimming: Keep your trees healthy and your property safe with our professional tree trimming services. Our skilled arborists meticulously shape and prune your trees, enhancing their natural beauty while preventing potential hazards.
24-Hour Emergency Service: Storms and unexpected events can cause immediate tree hazards. Our 24-hour emergency service provides rapid response to address any urgent tree-related concerns, ensuring your safety and peace of mind.
Bracing: 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. Bark, co-dominant stems, and cavities are just a few of the 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 the structural issues that can occur with trees. Many different defects, factors, and circumstances can compromise a tree's 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, or “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 a sign of bark inclusion. A union with excessive swelling is a sign of reactional growth. We also check for signs of oozing sap or pockets of decay that would further increase the probability of failure.
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, or “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 a sign of bark inclusion. A union with excessive swelling is a sign of reactional growth. We also check for signs of oozing sap or pockets of decay that would further increase the probability of failure.
Cracks can develop in co-dominant 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 winds 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 co-dominant 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 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 the 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.
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 they may not be the best for mitigating a tree that has already begun to fail.
Bracing: Bracing is usually done near 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 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 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 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 at (229) 241-0146.
Crane Assist Removals
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 of 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 also decreases the impact on 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 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 by 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 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, fed by their root systems. New growth on a stump is neither healthy nor aesthetically pleasing and is often very difficult to control. Bennett’s Tree Service Inc. tries to remove all the stumps and feed roots so your lawn will thrive.
Connect with Expert Arborists Near You
Need expert tree care? Call us at (229) 241-0146 for professional, reliable tree services tailored to your needs.
Email: bennett5390@bellsouth.net