By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
Grafton??”Trees, both large shade trees and ornamental trees, are a crucial part of a home's appeal, and Templeman Tree Service works to keep those leafy assets healthy.
“The growth season is coming, and trees should be pruned. Otherwise the leaves and fruit can put too much weight on the branches and cause breakage,” noted Steve Stratton, owner and president of the company. If trees have large limbs hanging out like big levers, it's a signal they need to be pruned to take the weight off the ends of those branches.
Pruning large shade trees makes them look better, he said, but also removes dead wood and cross branches and thins out the branches, so that strong winds can blow through the trees with less chance of damage.
“Basic thinning keeps large trees structurally sound, and should be done as preventative maintenance every two or three years. That's especially true for the tall pines, which tend to break easily,” he said. While the Templeman Tree crew is pruning, it can also cable large limbs or trees with divided trunks where necessary to make them stronger.
Ornamental trees??”dogwoods, flowering fruit trees, Japanese maples and such??”also need periodic pruning to keep them nicely shaped and to remove dead wood and branches that are excessively long to prevent them from breaking.
Keeping trees healthy by careful pruning goes a long way towards avoiding attacks from disease and pests, Stratton added. “Pathogens and pests will seek out a weak tree before a healthy one.”
Templeman Tree focuses on tree removal, including stump grinding, pruning and cabling. “We also specialize in storm damage and other emergency situations.”
The company works in Grafton, Westborough and surrounding towns.
Templeman Tree does not spray trees for pests or diseases, but is happy to recommend reliable companies which provide those services.
Stratton has been climbing trees for over 30 years. He worked as a foreman for Templeman Tree since 1980, and bought the business in 1993. “We'se got the best guys ever,” working for the company and up-to-date equipment, he said.
“We still climb trees” to take them down, Stratton added, so that if a tree is not accessible with the bucket truck, the climbers can take it down without the need to drive a bucket truck up on the lawn.
“It's important to have someone who knows what he's doing work on your trees,” he added. Templeman Tree is a member of the Massachusetts Certified Arborist Association and the Tree Care Industry Association.
Elm trees, for example, must only be pruned in the winter when the beetles that attack elm trees are not active, he warned. “If you make even the smallest cut in an elm during the spring or summer, even just cut off a low branch, the beetles will find their way in and the tree will be dead in a year or two.”
Templeman Tree works on trees all year round.
“We actually like to work in the winter. The ground is frozen so our equipment doesn's damage the lawn, and the trees are dormant.” It's easier to see the branch structure and to clean up the pruned limbs when there are no leaves, Stratton said.
Templeman Tree is based in Grafton. Call 508-366-7693 or 508-839-5961 to arrange for a free estimate, or visit the website for additional information, www.templemantree.com.
Editor's Note: The preceding is not an endorsement and is presented for informational purposes only.
