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Customer Testimonials
“We appreciate the time and attention that your Arbor Patrol team takes to maintain the overall health and appearance of the trees, bushes and general grounds. As they say, you can only have one first impression and the impression the grounds make on both residents and visitors alike is always positive thanks to your caring maintenance. Just as the trees continue to grow and blossom under your care, we hope our relationship with SavATree does the same.”
William Toedter
Southampton, NY
“After four different unsatisfactory visits with so-called arborists, I found SavaTree... I was most impressed with the professionalism of David [my arborists] and his colleagues. They were most knowledgeable, fair with their assessment about what needed to be done, yet very attuned with what my concerns. I highly recommend them without any hesitation. In a field where there is an abundance of folks looking to take advantage of consumers, SavaTree, David and crew strike me as incredibly honest and proud arborists who do a fantastic job.”
Debbie Durkin
Silver Spring, MD
“I am a new and highly satisfied customer of SavATree. For 50 years I have lived in the same house in the Greenhaven area, and in that time I have never had a tree company that gave me such fine service.”
Joan Kleinbard
Rye, NY
“It is always a pleasure working with SavATree as your company provides the best plant, tree and lawn health care that we have experienced at the Ives. Always professional, courteous and responsive to our needs, SavATree’s services have provided our employees and patrons with pleasant outdoor experiences in an insect free environment for several years.”
Kathleen G. Gallagher
Executive Director
The Charles Ives Center for the Arts
Danbury, CT
“For over 14 years, I have entrusted the care of my trees, plants and orchard to SavATree. Their highly qualified arborists have exacting standards and understand how to maintain the health and form of the various species of trees on my property. I admire the artistic skill that goes into the pruning and love the colorful blossoms, fruits and foliage that flourish as a result of their impeccable care.”
Martha Stewart
Katonah, NY
"Efficient, high quality, professional competence — all at a competitive sum. At first [Alison] Pottage won me over by her solid knowledge as an arborist, then the crew did their job to her specifications on our 60 to 70 foot oaks within a remarkable period of time -- and left the grounds quite clean.”
Bob Busser
Philadelphia, PA
Click here to read all testimonials“You take on a job, call it a problem, gigantic or small, and you go to it. True Professionals. I am at peace for having found SavATree. Sometimes bills are paid grudgingly. I pay with respect to a company whose pride lives up to its logo. It’s love of what you do and I thank you.”
Sam Fink
Great Neck, NY
Tree Selection and Landscape Schedule
Trees are a critical element of any landscape; however, we often
take them for granted. Like many other useful things in our lives,
such as cars, we don't think too much about them until we need to
perform maintenance or repairs on them, or if we find ourselves
without one. Likewise, for many of us, we don't spend a lot of time
thinking about our trees until they require some sort of attention,
such as raking up leaves, or when we need to find an arborist for tree
pruning or tree removal. But certainly, we notice their absence. Trees
can boost the value of your property and improve curb appeal, but only
if you select the right types of trees for your landscape.
Tip #1: Determine the Purpose of the Trees
The first step to selecting the right type of trees for your landscape is to think about why you want trees. Do you want the trees to provide shade? Do you want the trees to provide privacy? Are they going to beautify your landscape by providing a focal point or a burst of color? Determining which of these purposes your trees will serve is the root of the tree selection process.
Tip #2: Identify Your Climate and Environment
Just like other types of landscape plants and types of grass, different types of trees thrive in different types of climates. A Massachusetts homeowner may see a picture of a magnolia tree in a catalog and decide it's the perfect type of tree for his or her landscape. Unfortunately, this tree is not hardy enough to withstand those beautiful snowy winters in New England. Hibiscus trees, however, will thrive — but only certain species. The best place to start is with a hardiness map. Simply find your location and follow the color legend to identify your hardiness zone.
Tip #3: Take Into Account the Properties of Your Landscape
Some properties may offer several bare acres, while space may be very tight in more urban areas where neighborhoods are thickly settled and lot sizes are smaller. For this reason, it is an important component of deciding the best type of trees for your property, since some types of trees can get very large, while others will remain more compact.
Location, location, location. Of course, we've all heard how important this is as it relates to the value of your property, yet it also is an important consideration when selecting the right type of trees and where to plant them on your property. Different locations on the same landscape have varying levels of sun and wind exposure. Be sure to take into account whether the tree will be located on a south-facing area of your house, where it likely will get far more sun each day than if it were planted on the north facing side of your home. Likewise, different areas can be far windier than others, and this is dependent on several factors, including the slope of your land as well as the surrounding environment — thick forest or ledge versus an open field, for example. Certified arborists are great resources in this case to help determine which trees will best thrive in various locations.
Consider the properties of different types of trees and their properties throughout the seasons when it comes to selecting them and placing them in your landscape. Some types of trees, such as dogwood, might provide a gorgeous explosion of brightly colored blooms, only to shed large petals shortly thereafter. It might be best not to plant one near a swimming pool, for example. Or the oak tree, with its large leaves, might be selected to provide cooling shade over the hot blacktop of the driveway, until it pelts your car with acorns in the fall.
Another consideration is the type of soil on your landscape. Different types of trees are more or less likely to thrive depending on soil properties such as drainage and pH levels. A certified arborist can provide the best insight regarding your landscape's soil properties.
Tip #4: Determine Your Timetable
Some very beautiful trees grow very slowly, while others tend to grow far more quickly. If you're eager to achieve some privacy from those new neighbors, you'll want to select a type of tree that grows quickly. If you've just built the home of your dreams and plan to spend your life enjoying your landscape, a slow-growing variety might be for you.
Tip #5: Consult a Certified Arborist
Once you've followed these tips, you're ready to consult a certified arborist. Having these factors clear before consulting an arborist will make for a smooth and efficient process for finding and planting the right types of trees for your landscape. While it may be tempting for do-it-yourselfers, planting trees can represent a significant financial investment, and certainly are long-term commitments. It's always best to consult an arborist, who can help to test your soil, provide advice regarding landscape layout and tree placement, and identify the very best types of trees which match your needs and preferences.
Certified arborists are the tree experts; they have the most experience sourcing the highest quality trees and expertly planting them to ensure that they grow strong and healthy for years of enjoyment to come.
Had that poor homeowner in Massachusetts consulted a certified arborist, he would not have watched his investment wither in the cold.
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