favreau-forestry

Top 4 reasons to prune the trees away from your house…

technical@broadly.com — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 21:57:04 GMT

1. Why create a super highway to share your five-star dwelling with local critters?

Which is more comfortable? A hollowed-out hole in a tree or your climate controlled, dry, protected from the elements house? Clearly the answer is your house.

When branches are allowed to touch or be within a few feet of your house it gives critters a direct route to share your house! Prune branches back from your house creating a buffer zone to prevent an animal from crossing over or jumping onto the roof.

2. Rubbing and scraping hurts!

In New England wind is almost a daily occurrence whether it is a light breeze or gusting 50+ mph winds. Even just the tips of the branches rubbing vinyl siding, cedar shakes or brick will wear it down and cause damage. Color matching and replacing vinyl is a pain, cedar shakes take years to weather to the same color and replacing the brick is nearly impossible.

3. A tree needs water and will reach anywhere close by to get it…

A tree’s roots will split a rock to seek out water. The foundation of your house retains water. A tree’s root will seek structural deficiencies in your foundation and capitalize on them. Also known as penetrate and crack your foundation.

4. The house needs room to breathe or it will be moldy and slimy – yuck!

You should have a minimum of 10 feet vegetation to house clearance. If the vegetation is encroaching on the dwelling or building it shades the house and inhibits air flow.

Being proactive will save you money in critter removal, foundation repairs and siding replacement.

Trim the branches away from your house!

Call Favreau Forestry for a free quote (978) 706-1038 .

Why are you always hiring?

technical@broadly.com — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 21:54:20 GMT

Q. Why do you always have hiring ads on Indeed, Craigslist, TCIA, Social Media, etc.?

A. Favreau Forestry wants to grow our family!

We are a high production company with high expectations of our crew members. We have spent a considerable amount of time designing our ads often tweaking it to try to get the most qualified ambitious industrial athletes.

Favreau Forestry has a safety minded, production, positive, high energy culture. Unfortunately not everyone that applies reflects the culture of our company. Those people that do not meet our standards are filtered out throughout our four-part interview process.

The perfect candidate will have chainsaw experience, previous outdoor employment, a thirst for knowledge and a willingness to learn new things! Typically we hire for personality and train for skill.

Favreau Forestry is a drug-free environment. Our crew members agree to pre-employment, random, etc. drug tests. We also preform driving record checks, background checks, speak to references and previous employers and a gamut of other measures. The office has a list of certifications that have to be achieved within a specified timeframe.

We at Favreau Forestry set a very high bar for our crew members. We are constantly looking for men and women that can meet and exceed where the bar currently is therefore we are always on the search via social media platforms like Facebook, Craigslist, TCIA, ect.

You can rest assured when Favreau crews roll up to your house they have been thoroughly vetted to assure they will provide exceptional service to our valued customers!

Q. I saw Favreau Forestry trimming trees by the power lines. Why do you leave them so ugly?

technical@broadly.com — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 21:53:33 GMT

Q: I saw your company trimming trees by the power lines. Why do you leave them so ugly?

A: This is a question that we field from time to time. The answer is we adhere to ANSI Z133.1 safety work procedures and comply with OSHA Regulation specifications. Fast growing trees such as Poplar, Plicata Arborvitae or Eastern White Pine are pruned back 10-15 feet. Slower growing trees such as White Oak or Maple do not have to be trimmed back as much so they are pruned to 10 feet wire clearance. When our crews prune we look at requirements, tree heath and lastly aesthetics. As stated above we are required to trim to the electrical company’s specs. Often time we trim the trees back to the proper union which could be a scaffolding branch, parent branch or a lateral branch for the tree’s health. This prevents hydro sprouts that will interfere with the wires due to their rapid growth rate. To the right is a picture of hydro sprouts.

Q. Also, why do you only trim around the top wires on the pole?

A. To answer your second question – Favreau Forestry’s contract is typically with the electrical company. The top wires on the pole are the wires that carry electricity. Our mission is to clear a 10’ on either side of the pole and 15’ above. The bottom lines are cable and phone wires. Cable and phone companies typically have rental agreements with the Electrical companies for use of the pole but not the maintenance of the wires. That falls to the cable and phone companies’ respectively.

So in a nutshell our primary objective is to prune to prevent power outages from tree and branch failure for the electrical grid or circuit for which we have been contracted.

Preparing your trees for Winter Storm Damage

technical@broadly.com — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 21:52:37 GMT

Here in New England we are known for some harsh winter storms. Winter storms that bring in heavy snow and ice can cause damage to trees by breaking or bending branches. Larger trees with co-dominant stems are at most risk for damage from these types of storms. To avoid damage proper pruning of peripheral branches and co-dominant branches will reduce leverage of the tree therefore reducing the risk of storm damage by removing weak branch attachments.

Example: Make cuts at the union of the co-dominant branches and take off small peripheral branches bringing in the crown of the tree making the branches stronger for winter storms.

Favreau Forestry’s Top 4 Tips When Hiring a Tree Company

technical@broadly.com — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 21:50:29 GMT

Buyers Beware | Favreau Forestry’s Top 4 Tips When Hiring a Tree Company

1. Safety First! If the tree company does not value their own safety (utilizing proper personal safety equipment) they most likely will not value yours or your property.

2. Make sure they are licensed and insured—Anyone can by a chainsaw and pickup truck.

3. Get the estimate in writing and do not put money down. —There should never be a need for money in advance for a tree company. No materials need to be purchased in advance.

4. Google is your friend—Online research of the company can help you easily access their website and any reviews they have received.

A Disaster is coming – Did you build your fort?

technical@broadly.com — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 21:46:26 GMT

The emergency alert tones are sounding on the TV the hurricane is making a direct hit in our part of the state. The wind is howling, trees are bending, the rain is hitting the house sideways and the kids are building a fort to protect them from the disaster.

Even at a young age humans prepare for things that could go wrong. But are you preparing the correct way?

There is the standard list that is always broadcast:

Flashlights
Batteries
Candles
Water
Non-perishable food
Fuel in your car, etc.

What about the less common issues?

What if a branch goes through your car windshield?
What if a tree falls on your house penetrating the roof?
Do you have the equipment to remove the tree? A crane, bucket truck, chainsaw, Personal Protective Equipment and the knowledge and experience to work with tension filled piles of wood?
Do you have a tarp large enough to cover the hole to prevent water damage from the rain in your house?

Most people answer No. That is ok as long as you have Favreau Forestry on your team!

S o, what can you do as a homeowner to prepare for the above disasters? The first step is to be proactive.

Have an ISA Certified Arborist walk your property to evaluate the trees.

Based on the recommendations our crews can:

Remove mass from the tree to lighten the strain on the tree
Trim peripheral branches of the canopy to reduce friction and wind catch during a storm
Trim the tree to provide clearance for the building
Cable a co-dominant stem to reduce the risk of included bark failure
Remove the tree entirely if deemed a safety hazard or drama generator.

If the above scenario happens have Favreau Forestry’s contact information readily available. During a natural disaster or severe storm, we monitor all avenues to contact us as we know phone calls are not always and option. Our staff monitors our contact form on our website, email, social media accounts including Facebook and of course phone calls. Once dispatched our crews will arrive onsite remove the tree and tarp the area if needed.

G o outside your fort and look around to see if you can be proactive protecting your assets and the priceless things in your fort.

Favreau Forestry says “Leave the Leaves!”

technical@broadly.com — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 21:45:15 GMT

Skip the rake and leave the leaves for a healthier greener yard and trees!

Part of you is wondering why we would say such a thing and the other part is jumping for joy at the thought of being able to skip the annual ritual of raking, blowing, piling, bagging, trucking leaves off your property or over to the corner of your property creating an eyesore. All very time consuming!

S kip all of the above! We recommend to mulch (cut into small pieces) the leaves with your lawn mower and leave them on your lawn for the winter!

Why?

Let’s look at the biology of this – In nature the leaves fall, decompose and then are a great resource: rich, natural compost for the grass and tree. In our society, today we want to have perfectly manicured green lawns and trees BUT in reality, we are starving the grass and trees! How can we expect peak performance from an athlete that has not eaten in a week?

What is leaf mulching?

Leaf mulching is the practice of chopping leaves into small pieces and leaving it on the grass for the winter. Composted leaves reduce in volume more the 10-fold. Cut shredded leaves breakdown fast throughout the winter adding valuable organic matter to feed and retain valuable nutrients for your lawn, bushes and trees.

What this saves you…

• Time
• Money
• Exposure to harsh chemicals

This sustainable method of managing leaves is safer, more efficient, saves time and money, minimizes pollution and is better for your soil and plants. It is a win for the trees and lawns, a win for your time, a win for your wallet and a win for the environment!

People attempt to use fertilizers that can be expensive and only provide a short-term solution to the soil nutrition problem. Most fertilizers are not applied correctly and the excess chemicals leach into our waterways.

Additional ideas for fallen leaves

Enrich your compost pile – mulched leaves serve as great brown matter that you can mix with your green matter
Improve flower bed soil quality – shred the leaves and mix into your flower bed. Shredding them ensures they do not smother next year’s seedlings.
Protect plants from cold weather – if you have tender year-round plants that may struggle as the temperature decrease use fallen leaves as a protective layer over dormant plants.
Wildlife Habitats – Crisscrossed branches and layer leaves over the top of them. It creates a warm area for wildlife and essential habitats for butterflies and other insects.
Start controlled fires – use dry leaves as a starter material – only utilize in designated areas.
To ensure fallen leaves do not create a safety or fire hazard, clear them away from the foundation of your home. Additionally, keep fallen leaves from piling up on your roof or in your gutter where they and contribute to water damage, mold and corrosion.

Thank you for reading our blog!

Don’t forget to follow Favreau Forestry on social media!

We are in a drought – How can I help my tree out?

technical@broadly.com — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 21:41:35 GMT

As a child, we would sing:

“Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come back another day!”
If only we had realized how much we needed that rain!

As adults, what do we do when our trees need water and Mother Nature is not providing it?

How to spot a drought effected tree:

Drought injury can be sudden or take two years to be revealed. Symptoms include tree leaves wilting, curling at the edges and yellowing.
Deciduous leaves may develop scorch, brown outside edges or browning between veins.
Evergreen needles may turn yellow, red or purple. They may also turn brown at the tips of the needles and browning may progress through the needle towards the twig.
If continued drought leaves may be smaller than normal, drop permanently or remain attached to the tree even though brown.

Help the tree conserve the water:

Improve Soil Structure – remove excess soils burying the flare of the trunk, remove rocks and other impervious materials from beneath the tree canopy and aerate the lawn so that the roots of mature trees are better able to access water and oxygen.
Reduce Competition – Remove all weeds and grass within four feet of the base of young trees.
Mulch – Place mulch 4”-6” deep keeping it 4” away from the trunk. (Do not volcano the mulch!)
Monitor Soil Moisture – place a shovel, small spade or a screw driver into the soil 6”-8” (near the truck for a young tree and under the drip line for a mature tree). Squeeze a handful of the soil, if it feels dry and crumbly add water.

Mature Trees (15+ years) –

These trees vary widely in their need for water, depending on size, age, species, soil type, and slope. Some general guidelines are:

Apply water slowly and uniformly using low volume application equipment. An oscillating sprinkler head is good option. Place it below the dripline of the tree and make sure the rotation of water reaches a few feet beyond the drip line. The water should saturate 16”-18” of the soil under the tree.
Frequency of watering depends on temperature, shade cover and presence of mulch. Allow the soil to dry between watering as the trees need oxygen as well as water. For most trees 1 to 2 watering’s per month is adequate.

Young Saplings (1-3 years) and Maturing Trees (4-15 years) –

It is important that young trees receive water regularly.

Apply 5 to 10 gallons of water per week during mild weather. During hot weather, up to 15 gallons per week.
The best method is to create a well or berm around the tree. Fill it slowly.
Trees do not like soil that is always wet. It is best to let the ground dry out between waterings.

Bonus Tip –

If you’re still struggling with knowing how much you have watered take and empty 1 inch tall metal tuna can or cat food can beneath you tree, turn on your sprinkler and then turn it off the water once it is filled.

The steaks were sizzling on the grill then…

technical@broadly.com — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 21:38:43 GMT

Steaks are sizzling on the grill; the children are playing tag in the yard and your Mother-in-law gets up from the table walks over to the grill and falls. Everyone runs to her aid (if she is like Mother-in-laws that I know this will be a very dramatic event.) She is laying there oohing and awing, you get her upright and seated. To your relief, the only injury is to her pride. Now you focus back to the sizzling or should I say burning steaks. You walk over to serve the charcoal steaks only to find out that everyone at the BBQ is blaming you for her fall. Huh? What? I was at the grill…

If only you had been proactive this whole experience could have been avoided….

When you finish reading this I want you to walk outside and look at your trees through an Arborist’s eyes.

Look up! Are there dead, broken or hanging branches?
If so, they are at risk of falling and hitting your poor mother-in-law, child playing in the yard, or the precious family pet, Fido.

Look down! Do you have tripping hazards?
Rotting stumps, roots that stick out of the ground or branches that have previously fallen.

Think back to the last time the lawn was mowed…
Did it seem more like you were in a fight? Bobbing, weaving, and ducking? Trim the branches of the unruly trees, raise the canopy for clearance or grind down that root that bends your blade at least once a mowing season.

Walk closer to your trees…
Are there mushrooms growing on it or around the base? This is typically a sign Armillaria or root rot. Does it resemble the leaning tower of Pisa? If you answered yes, your trees need some attention before they become more of a risk.

Do I have you thinking? For the DIY people click here for our Tree Risk Assessment Form for more information.

Call Favreau Forestry, Brian Favreau, ISA Certified Arborist, will walk your property and discuss your concerns and his recommendations.

Don’t let the story above be you! There will never be another family holiday to pass with out hearing about the time your mother in law fell at your house.

Volcano of mulch – Don’t let this problem erupt in your yard!

technical@broadly.com — Mon, 01 May 2017 21:36:03 GMT

Q. I hear people talk about not making a volcano of mulch around the tree. What is it and why is it bad?

Great question that we get asked a lot! You will never see hot lava erupting from the top of your trees so no worries about that!

The danger of volcanoes of mulch around the trees is what you don’t see…

“It looks pretty! Why is it bad?” Just like your skin the bark of the tree is meant to breathe. If you wore wet socks for a year – what would your feet look like?

The constant moisture, lack of light and airflow cause ROT. Rot is bad! Especially at the bottom of the tree.

Mulch is supposed to achieve these main goals:

Retain soil moisture just not excessively
Suppress weeds
Moderate soil temperatures

The excessive piled mulch softens the bark of trees and invites insects, rodents and diseases to invade. The lower trunk, unlike the roots, cannot survive long-term with the constant moisture trapped by the collar of mulch. It is the equivalent of planting a tree too deeply. Mulch rings should be wide, not tall and deep.

A nother issue besides rot is if you pile mulch too thickly above the roots, the existing surface roots are suffocated and new ones grow into the mulch. Not only does that leave them at risk of drying and dying when the mulch decays, but the roots grow across the stem, potentially strangling the tree to death.

Basic Mulch Tips:

A one to two-inch layer of mulch helps suppress weeds and retain soil moisture. As it breaks down, it provides organic matter to the soil.
Organic mulch comes in many forms, including shredded hardwood bark, pine bark, pine needles, shredded cedar and cypress, wood chips and colored bark. Make your own mulch with shredded and semi-decayed leaves, known as leaf mold, or from rotted and screened compost.
Mulch can be ordered and delivered in bulk, which will reduce the cost of mulching large areas. Mulch merchants sell it by the cubic yard and may require a minimum amount for a delivery. A cubic yard of mulch, laid to a depth of two inches, will cover about 160 square feet.
Bagged mulch is more expensive but far easier to carry and spread than a huge pile of bulk mulch.
Mulch that smells of vinegar or worse has been improperly stored and contains harmful acids.
Mulch that smells of a rich molasses aroma has a healthy aerobic activity.

Concerned about your tree? Have our ISA Certified Arborist evaluate your tree. (978) 706-1038 .

Stumps and wiffleball games don’t always mix – we have the solution!

technical@broadly.com — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 21:34:48 GMT

Conversation with a customer: I am so tired of looking at the stumps in my backyard. They are a pain to mow around, they get in the way of wiffleball games and are attracting creepy crawly bugs! I can’t have the stumps ground because my yard is fenced in. I have no options…

Don’t let that stump stump you! Where there is a will there is a way!

Favreau Forestry has invested in the solution. Last year we added a Morkbark D-86 to our fleet. It is a great functional addition!

What makes it great you ask? The Morbark D-86 is a self, propelled tracked stump grinding machine. Basically, it is a giant remote controlled piece of machinery that has tracks that slide under the chassis to allow it to fit through 36” gates then expand out to stabilize the machine while it is grinding.

The cherry on top of this purchase was that we learned that one of our crew members raced RC cars semi-professional in his younger years! He is now our Morbark D-86 stump grinder operator.

Our fleet also has a more powerful tow behind Vermeer 1102A that we utilize primarily for municipal stump grinding.

Now imagine that wiffleball game being able to fully run the bases without bobbing, weaving and worrying about those skinned knees or the future big leaguers falling head first into the stump!

Do you have a stump you would like to see disappear?

Call (978) 706-1038 and we will provide you with a proposal.

Want to learn more about stump grinding? Check out our Stump Grinding page !

It is time! Time for what? Time to wake from your winter slumber!

technical@broadly.com — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 21:33:29 GMT

This is our favorite time of year! The days are warmer, the trees are budding and the birds are returning! The earth is coming alive!

Please exercise some caution before you jump right into sprucing up your yard. Some things may not have wintered over as well as others…

From a tree guy’s perspective, here are a few items to keep in mind:

Industrial Athletes– After a long winter’s rest, your physical abilities may have gotten rusty. Remember to stretch before starting to work and limit the amount of time as you do not want to overdo it. Even Favreau Forestry’s industrial athletes need to warm up in the beginning of the season.
Where has the snow been plowed to? If you sand, salt or treat your driveway all of that substance has been plowed to one spot. As the weather warms that concentrated salt is being absorbed directly into the trees roots. This will eventually kill half of the tree but in the meantime it will weaken the root system making it susceptible to the wind.
Look up at the trees. Do you see broken branches? The broken branches will eventually fall. Be proactive and have them removed before they block your driveway, fall on your car, shed or house or even worse a pet or person! Check out Favreau Forestry’s Favreau Forestry Hazard ID Checklist – 2017 for a list of hazards to look for.
Plant a tree! “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” -Greek Proverb

Thank you for reading our blog! Have an idea for a future topic? We would love to hear from you! Send them to Office@FavreauForestry.com

Tree Removal vs. Tree Trimming

technical@broadly.com — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 21:27:01 GMT

Should I have you take a few branches off or remove the whole tree?

This is a tough question to answer! Like the human body every tree is different. There may be general guidelines for each species of tree but the full picture has to be analyzed to make a final determination.

Let’s look at some of the questions we ask when evaluating the tree.

Condition of the tree – Is it dropping branches? Is there cavity rot? Is there sufficient foliage? Is it suffering from die back?
Surrounding area – Has there been significant root damage? Is the area prone to flooding?
Age of the tree – How old is the tree? Younger trees can recover from removing multiple branches better than an older tree. They can also be shaped into mature, sound trees.
Activity level around the tree – Is your patio under the tree? Do children play under the tree? Do you park your car under the tree? Is the tree in an area that if it fell or dropped branches it would not damage anything?
Safety/Drama – Does this tree pose a safety danger? Will you wake up in the middle of the night to a hole in your roof? Your morning commute will be over before it starts with the tree across your car?

Our general rule of thumb is if the tree poses a danger or displays signs of posing a danger, then we recommend removal but removal is not always necessary. We may be able to structurally prune or trim the tree to lighten the load it supports, along with installing cables to provide extra support.

Call Brian Favreau, ISA Certified Arborist to discuss your tree options and recommendations today! (978) 706-1038 .

Why is winter the best time to prune your trees?

technical@broadly.com — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 21:23:58 GMT

DORMANCY is the answer!

Scratching your head to figure out what we mean?

Dormancy of the tree

In our region the trees take a winter slumber. This means they are not actively in photosynthesis producing nourishment. This is a great time to prune because when the tree does awake it has full resources to heal the wounds.

Dormancy of the landscape

Along with the trees the landscape is in winter slumber. The annuals are cut back, the ground is frozen preventing root disturbance, and our cleanup will not disturb your mulch edging or hardscapes.

Dormancy of the insects

All the insects are in hibernation! The life cycle of the insects will not be disturbed in their critical stages. The bees, mosquitoes, ticks and other creepy crawly critters are inactive and the tree affected can begin to protect itself before pests can penetrate.

Dormancy of the tree company

No we will not be in winter slumber! But, our season does slow during this time which results in quicker availability.

Take advantage of all the dormancy!

Call today to meet with Brian Favreau, ISA Certified Arborist to review the scope of your project! (978) 706-1038 .