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VENTURA COUNTY TREE
SERVICE BLOG
Trees are beautiful. They add to your enjoyment and value of your property. But without proper professional care they might not live a full life, or pose an immediate threat to your family and home. Large branches can encroach on power lines or dangle over your house, or threaten your cars. Any issue beyond a very minor one and at low height requires the
attention of a trained professional tree trimmer. They will easily and safely tend to your trees and set them up for a long life and decrease the danger that a big limb or whole tree could fall on your property below.
If this is your first experience contacting and hiring a professional tree service, its an excellent opportunity to learn how to find “tree trimming near me.” Talking to friends and neighbors is a good first step to find names. If you like the way their trees look, find out what service they used for tree trimming and/or maintenance. Question them about how they liked working with the service and if they were satisfied with the final result. If you feel comfortable doing it, we would recommend asking for whatever pricing information they can give you.
Now that you have some names and information, you can browse the internet to find the websites of the recommended services. You may even find the tree services have reviews on their website, or on Yelp, or Google. Read these reviews to get a sense of how satisfied past customers have been.
Once you have narrowed down the choices a little bit further, you might want to call the companies on your “short list” to discuss tree trimming near me. While you have them on the phone take note of how helpful they are and how responsive they are to your questions. If you didn’t find it on the website ask if they are licensed and carry insurance. You don’t want anyone working on your trees on your property without the proper licensing and insurance.
While speaking with your “short list” of companies, choose one to three maximum and set up an on-site consultation. You should find out what the experts recommend for your specific situation or problem. Get a quote so you know what kind of financial commitment you might be under. Its not always best to choose the lowest priced provider. Your focus should be on value.
We view tree trimming as a specialized skill, If you are in Ventura County, California looking to find tree trimming near me, please reach out to us at Ventura Tree Services. We are experts at all kinds of tree services. Browse our website at http://www.venturatreeservices.com where you will find all sorts of useful information. Then give us a call at (805) 519-8881 and let us set an appointment to come out and give you a free quote.
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Strong winter winds winds can put a lot of pressure on all trees, but of most concern are those growing close to a house or power line. This is the time of year when winter storms and high wind events occur in Ventura County, California. After the storm has passed
(or during the storm for that matter) you may see damage to your landscape in the form of broken tree trunks and tree branches on the ground.
Storm cleanup time is when many untrained property owners (guys in particular) start up their chainsaws -- sometimes for the first time. To our dismay, this leads to messy results -- for both the landscaping and potentially for the property owner who can receive serious injuries or even death.
If you insist on handling things yourself, consider these points before you embark on your own private “Chainsaw Massacre: “
Most Importantly -- Downed Powerlines:
- Do not approach the powerline AT ALL. Always assume that the downed powerline is live with electricity.
- Call your local electrical utility company right away - they handle these situations all the time.
- Even go out of your way to avoid touching anything near the downed line -- branches, puddles, wet pavement, etc. can all result in possible electrocution.
- Remember that fallen powerlines can even be hidden amongst foliage. Son’t mess around.
Removing Downed Trees and Branches:
- Be mindful of the the tree or branch size and/or location. As a rule of thumb, if the removal work requires that you don’t have your feet on the ground, or if the subject 20’ feet tall or taller, you really need to be calling a tree care professional. In particular, don’t use a chainsaw on a ladder!
- Consider the size, shape, and direction the tree is leaning. You should check the tree trunk for decay, weak spots or hanging limbs. If you find any of these conditions know that the tree may be unstable.
- Be careful about other people being near the tree -- especially kids. Make sure they can’t wander into the danger zone.
- Trees that are under tension and possibly bent can be extremely dangerous. As a rule, don’t cut a tree under tension -- it may snap or whip out in an unexpected direction with unexpected force.
- Consider how you will escape from a falling tree branch of if need be.
- We don’t recommend that you personally use a chainsaw without training or long experience. Even as tree professionals, we risk injury using chainsaws. Very often the results of cutting a tree or tree branch can be unpredictable. You really don’t want to roll the dice.
- If you have any doubt at all that you can do this yourself, contact a local professional in tree care professional the situation.
Consider Hiring a Tree Care Professional:
- Professionals have the experience, expertise, and equipment to safely remove a downed tree or prune a damaged limb.
- A professional tree care expert should have liability insurance, in case something does go wrong.
We are happy to help with tree removal, trimming, stump removal and advice from a certified arborist under emergency situations or more calm circumstances.
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The County of Ventura rules for tree trimming and removal depend on where you are in the County -- coastal versus non coastal areas, or “zones.” Legally, the provisions of the of the “Tree Protection Ordinance” (TPO) within the Coastal Zoning Ordinance (CZO) are different from those in the Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance (NCZO).
Coastal Zone
Almost all trimming and removal of trees within the coastal zone fall under the 1992 TPO. The TPO prohibits the removal of, or alterations to most trees in the coastal zone. Under the TPO, trimming or cutting of most trees require a tree permit, and trees deemed as “protected trees” cannot be cut down for aesthetic or view-improvement reasons. In the coastal zone, the CZO protects species of trees including those that are considered within a Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas, any tree that is native, any historical tree, and those trees designated as “heritage trees.” A permit is required even to alter a non-native tree or a non-native invasive tree species that is located in the coastal zone. Alterations or removal of protected trees are subject to permits as defined in the Ventura County Coastal Zoning Ordinance (CZO) and the Ventura County Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance (NCZO)
Non-coastal Zone
In the non-coastal zone, the NCZO protects trees including: oaks and sycamores if they are 9.5” in circumference or larger (measured at 4.5 feet above ground), any trees with an “historical designation,” any tree 90” in circumference or larger, and most trees 9.5” in circumference or larger which are native species, and located in the Scenic Resources Protection Zone (SRPZ). In the coastal zone, protected trees include trees that are considered Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas, native trees, historic trees, and heritage trees. A permit is required even to alter a non-native tree or a non-native invasive tree species that is located in the coastal zone.
Trees covered by the TPO, required the protection (and permitting) of certain varieties and sizes of trees. This includes (1) any tree in an environmentally sensitive habitat area (“ESHA”). (2) trees that are native to Ventura County (or southern California, including: the Arroyo Willow, Big Cone Douglas Fir, Big Leaf Maple, Black Cottonwood, Fremont Cottonwood, California Ash, California Bay Laurel, California Juniper, Western Juniper, Catalina Ironwood, Santa Cruz Island Ironwood, Elderberry, Pacific Madrone, Oak, Southern California Black Walnut, Sycamore, and White Alder.
If you have concerns about the nature of you location or trees, please contact us and we can help. We obviously can’t give legal advice, so you may want to direct those questions to your preferred legal counsel.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED STUMP GRINDING QUESTIONS
WHAT IS A STUMP GRINDER?
Stump grinder machines are very powerful machines (tools) that look sort of like a small lawnmower combined with a circular saw Stump grinders are designed to be rolled up to the stump and then grind it into little saw dust like pieces.
HOW DOES THE STUMP GRINDER WORK?
A stump grinder chews away at the stump wood The stump grinding machine is used to chew away the portion of a tree that has been cut down. Stump grinders use a powerful, rotating blade that rips into the wooden stump as it turns. The teeth of the blade cut the stump wood into very small pieces. The operator will move the rotating blade back and forth over the entire stump as the blade’s action reduces the stump and roots to wood chips. The machine does take the stump down to well below ground level for a complete removal of the stump and the upper roots.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WOOD FROM THE TREE STUMP AFTER GRINDING?
Grinding a stump should result in lots of wood chips and saw dust. The grinding produces a lot of these, but they can be used as mulch in your yard or disposed of in your green waste bin. Since you will also have a hole where you’ve just ground out all the stump and root volume, the wood chips can be used to fill the hole and left to decay. With or without his fill you can use soil to fill the hole so that it’s even with the surrounding ground.
ARE STUMP GRINDERS THE SAME AS STUMP REMOVERS?
Stump grinders and stump removers are different things. A stump remover is auger-like and bores down into the stump from above, removing all trunk wood and anchoring roots.
CAN I RENT A STUMP GRINDER AND DO IT MYSELF?
Just be aware that stump grinders that are available for rent by homeowners will be smaller and less powerful than ones used by professionals. It’s unlikely you’ll find a range of rental stump grinder models to choose from. Usually stump grinders are used by trained tree-care specialists. As is the case with most heavy, powerful equipment, the chance for injury is high. Homeowners homeowners will have to be sure of their skills before operating a stump grinder.
In addition, operators will need protective equipment to protect them from noise and from flying debris. Debris thrown off the machine can be sharp pieces of wood. But the grinders can cut anything else that might be hiding in the ground -- buried old fence posts, old piping, bricks, glass, nails, or misplaced tools. Professional tree trimming and stump removal companies also have in place the proper insurance against accidental damage to your property from the tree removal and stump grinding operations. As a DIY’er, you should think about getting this kind of insurance and also additional insurance that will cover any damage to your neighbor’s property.
CAN A TREE BE CUT DOWN WITHOUT LEAVING A STUMP?
Any tree-removers will find it impossible to cut a tree down flush with the ground. There will always be a stump remaining to deal with.
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DOES A TREE STUMP NEED TO BE REMOVED?
It’s ultimately up to you, but you should consider what to expect if you don’t remove the stump. Many homeowners don’t realize beforehand how much a tree stump will stand out in your landscaping after a tree is removed. This is especially true if the rest of your property is tidy and well maintained. By grinding out the stump, you have a clean slate for future landscape design where the tree used to be. Because stump grinding eliminates the stump wood down to below ground level, grinding the stump will ensure that your tree won’t re-sprout with new growth around the perimeter of the stump. This reason is one that resonates most often with property owners. Leaving a stump in place can mean having to repeatedly prune sucker growth, a garden chore that offers little satisfaction, as it is unending.
Suckering sprouts are a natural response by the tree after the trauma of being cut down, and the natural response to survive, In reality, none of this growth is useful and won’t grow into a healthy new tree. Instead, what will result will be a lot of sprouts that turn into branches that will need to be cut down over and over until the tree exhausts its energy reserves. And this can take a long time.
It isn’t necessarily an imperative for the leftover stump to be removed. However, do you want to look at a tree stump for years to come, or deal with its suckering growth? Probably not! Depending on the size, height, and location of the stump, it may be an eyesore and a tripping hazard. The rotting stump will also attract pests, develop fungal diseases, and cause soft, sunken spots in the surrounding lawn or garden as it decomposes.
CAN I BUILD OR PAVE OVER THE AREA WHERE A STUMP WAS GROUND OUT?
You should consider whether or not you would want to build something where the tree stump is, such as a patio or paving. Since the tree stump is wood, it will breakdown over time. The decomposition means that the remaining stump isn’t a stable base material for construction. Any foundations, footings, or rigid materials will move or sag over time. So even if the stump is ground out, there may be root materials left underground ground that will decompose and settle, damaging any construction placed on it. Make sure all remaining stump and roots are removed and that the hole is in-filled with native soil (not bagged potting soil), and then compacted to the level required if any construction is planned.
WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES TO STUMP GRINDING TO REMOVE A TREE STUMP?
If you have a very small stump, you may be able to remove it with leverage and hand tools. This is strenuous physical work, but it’s not impossible to do.
You’ve probably seen chemical stump remover at your local nursery or hardware store. These products are generally made of potassium nitrate, and work by speeding up wood decay. They require that you drill holes into your stump, fill them with the chemical stump killer, add water, cover your stump, and wait. Potassium nitrate isn’t usually poisonous, but it might cause eye and skin irritation. Additionally, you’ll have to keep children and pets away from the chemically treated stump.
A 3rd way stumps can be removed is to pour kerosene over a stump and light it on fire. Most people don’t think that flaming tree stump is a good use of time and resources. Follow that lead.
IF YOU NEED TO HAVE A STUMP REMOVED
Call Ventura Tree Services first. We will be able to evaluate your situation and give you our educated recommendations as well as an estimate of how much it will cost to remove the tree stump. Generally, most people find it quite affordable. Stump removal is done quickly. Even large stumps usually take only a few hours.
We always offer our stump removal services when when cutting down and removing a tree. We will explain the benefits of having your stump removed professionally and describe the benefits of tree-stump mulch for your landscaping.
