​Tree trimming may seem like a simple task, one you can easily handle yourself. After all, you’re capable of clipping branches, right? 
 
If that’s all you needed to know to trim trees properly, we’d say that anyone could complete the work. In reality, however, many northern Utah homeowners who try their hand at trimming end up doing more harm than good. Here are a few mistakes people commonly make, any of which can compromise tree growth and diminish the beauty of your landscape.

For some situations – such as trees with dead or damaged branches, or lighter trimming – trimming can be done at any time. But in most cases pruning between late fall and early spring or when they’re dormant allows the tree workers to take alot more out than they normally would in spring or summer and not cause any more stress. Get the timing wrong, and you’ll not only put undue stress on your trees, but you’ll also make them more vulnerable to pests and infectious disease.

Tree trimming is a task that requires careful thought. Start cutting down random branches, and the end results could look less than ideal after the leaves grow in. And, if you trim away too many limbs or remove too much of the canopy, you could permanently damage or even kill a healthy specimen.

​Think that cutting branches off right where they connect with the trunk is the right way to go about trimming a tree? Slicing through this spot – called the branch collar – is actually a blunder. Make your cuts too close, and you may affect how nutrients pass through the branches and the trunk, which could result in future growth problems.

Given the time and effort involved – and how easy it is to make a mistake – tree trimming is best left to a professional. Certified arborists have the knowledge and skill to do the job properly, while also adhering to the best safety practices.
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Trimming can help keep your northern Utah landscape looking beautiful, but going it alone may have the opposite effect. Why risk that happening when the highly skilled professional team at Rivendell Tree Experts is ready to help? Our arborists can give every specimen on your property the care and attention it deserves – and with us, trimming comes at an affordable price.
 
For more information on our services, or to schedule a free, no-obligation Utah tree pruning consultation, contact our office in Lehi today.

​Here at Rivendell Tree Experts, we get a lot of questions about tree stump grinding from Cottonwood Heights homeowners. But the number one thing people want to know is why the service is worthy of consideration. Can’t stumps be left in place?
 
In many cases, stumps can be left in place, and sometimes that’s the right answer, especially if yours is out of the way or in a mulch area. The best way to determine what’s best for you is to consult the experienced team at Rivendell Tree Experts.
 
Here, our certified Utah arborists share several reasons to grind down old stumps.

​No one ever says, “Wow, that old, rotting stump is beautiful!” In most people’s eyes, stumps are just the opposite – and leaving one in your lawn is sure to detract from the curb appeal of your Cottonwood Heights home. Hire a professional for tree stump grinding, and you’ll no doubt improve the aesthetic value of your landscape.

​You might never trip over a tree stump in your yard, but the same might not be true for children playing or for neighbors, visitors and delivery drivers who walk through the lawn. Someone could fall and hurt themselves – and you could be held liable. If you have one that’s located in the grass, stump grinding can help keep your property safe for everyone.  

Some types of old, rotting stumps have the potential to attract beetles, termites, ants and other pests. This may not seem like a big deal, but the bugs could go on to infest other portions of the landscape – and they may even find their way into your Cottonwood Heights home. If this is applicable to your situation, talk to an arborist about whether it makes sense to have stump grinding done, so your property won’t be vulnerable to destructive insects.

​While Utah arborists are capable of treating many tree diseases, but in severe cases, tree removal is often the only option. But removing a diseased tree doesn’t eliminate the problem – the stumps of certain types of trees can harbor the same disease, which could sometimes put the surrounding landscape is at risk. If that’s true in your case, stump grinding could remove the potential for the disease to spread.

After tree removal, the stump left behind may not decay all that quickly – it could continue to generate sucker growth, sending up new shoots around the base. Left alone, these sprouts could grow to become bushy, unattractive trees that stick out like blemishes in the landscape. After stump grinding, new growth is no longer a concern.
 
Do you have a tree stump that needs to be removed? If so, it’s important that you approach the situation with care. DIY stump grinding is rarely a good idea, as the process is complicated and someone could easily get hurt. You must also call Blue Stakes before you undertake any type of digging, to ensure you don’t accidentally hit an underground utility line.
 
The safest and best approach is to find an experienced contractor that you trust. In Cottonwood Heights and the nearby northern Utah area, homeowners rely on Rivendell Tree Experts for practical, cost-effective tree services. We routinely grind down old stumps, and we can shred yours into mulch that you can use elsewhere around your property.
 
The certified Utah arborists at Rivendell Tree Experts offer free, no-obligation consultations and estimates for homeowners and commercial clients in the greater Salt Lake and Utah County region. To discuss tree stump grinding at your Cottonwood Heights property, use our online contact form or give us a call today. 

​Most trees will benefit from fertilization, but the type and quantity needed can vary depending on the type of tree, soil, water source, and the condition of the tree. If a tree is too severely stressed from drought, for example, it would be wise to stabilize its watering for a few months before fertilizing. Doing it too soon can cause stress and should be done judiciously under the care of an arborist.
 
There are, however, several benefits to fertilizing your trees.

​Fertilizer provides trees with the nutrients they need to grow. In the first several years after planting, saplings achieve greater growth with proper fertilization. Fertilizing also helps mature specimens maintain their vigor, as having the proper nutrient levels makes them better able to stave of adversities.

You could choose to make fertilizing a do-it-yourself project, but turning to a Cottonwood Heights company that offers professional fertilization services – like Rivendell Tree Experts -- makes better sense. 
 
Certified arborists know how and when to apply fertilizer, and they have the expertise to determine exactly which nutrients are needed. Plus, arborists have the special equipment required for deep root fertilization, which improves soil structure, stimulates root development, reduces damage from pests and disease and allows for strong growth.
 
Let a certified arborist handle the fertilizing, and you’ll help ensure the health, vitality and longevity of every specimen on your Cottonwood Heights property. Periodic tree fertilization is an investment, one that can add considerable value – and, arborists offer other services, including pruning, planting and removal, to keep your yard looking its best. 
 
If you’re a homeowner in need of specialized tree care, call on the Rivendell Team. Based in Lehi, Utah, we offer a range of affordable arborist services, and we only recommend solutions that are both practical and cost-effective. We’re known for our integrity, our workmanship and our dedication to customer service. For a free consultation and estimate for tree fertilization in Cottonwood Heights, contact our office today.

While experts consider tree removal to be a last resort, there are circumstances when homeowners in Cottonwood Heights need to take that step.
 
If you suspect that one of your specimens is past its prime, consult with a certified Utah arborist before making plans to have it removed. Preservation techniques like cabling and bracing or the injection of a pesticide, fungicide or antibiotic solution can work to save many at-risk trees.
 
That being said, for specimens that show signs of having significant issues, removal may be unavoidable. When deciding if tree removal is necessary, arborists take the following into account.

Generally speaking, when 50 percent or more of a specimen has substantial damage, Utah arborists may advise on removal.
 
Trees that aren’t in good shape can survive for quite some time, but their growth is typically limited – and that results in an irregular and, often, unsightly appearance. For that reason, if one of your specimens isn’t too healthy, removing it may be necessary to preserve the beauty of your property.

Trees that are growing beautifully add to the value of your Cottonwood Heights home – and those that develop problems can have the opposite effect. If you notice any of these warning signs, schedule a tree removal consultation with a certified Utah arborist:

• Large wounds, vertical cracks or a hollow area in the main trunk
• Numerous dead branches or patches where the bark has fallen off
• A significant lean that has exposed or compromised the root system
• Crown dieback and leaves that are discolored or abnormally shaped

 
Location may also lead to the need for tree removal. If one of yours is too close to your house or another structure, or if one is growing into the utility lines, an arborist might recommend removing it to prevent future property damage.

You might prefer to take a do-it-yourself approach to landscape projects, but when you need to remove a tree, hiring a professional is a smart move.
 
Utah arborists have the training, skills and equipment to safely and efficiently remove trees. Watching a few videos or reading a how-to guide won’t give you anywhere near their level of expertise – and if you make a single misstep, your tree could come crashing down and cause costly property damage.
 
Sure, that may not happen. But should you really take the risk? Getting professional help may cost more than handling the project on your own, but the peace of mind you’ll get with a certified arborist is worth every penny. Plus, some Utah arborists – like the team at Rivendell Tree Experts – remove trees for a surprisingly affordable price.
 
For more information on our services, or to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss tree removal in Cottonwood Heights, contact us today.

A number of professionals offer tree pruning in Cottonwood Heights – you could, for example, find a landscaper or handyman who is more than ready to take on the task. When it comes to tree care, however, it’s a good idea to play it safe and hire a certified Utah arborist. Here are a few reasons why.

To obtain certification from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), arborists must work full-time for at least 3 years under another Certified Arborist, or work for 1 year under a certified Arborist and obtain a relevant 4-year degree. A demanding exam follows, and once certified, arborists must participate in ongoing education.
 
As part of their training, Utah arborists acquire knowledge of tree biology, growth patterns and best practices for preserving tree health. Professionals who lack ISA certification typically have less formal education and, therefore, a limited understanding of how to care for trees.

The health and beauty of a tree depends largely upon how it is pruned. Certified Utah arborists receive extensive training in proper tree pruning techniques, and their expertise ensures that dead, damaged and weak branches are removed in the right manner.
 
Other professionals who offer pruning services may not know the methods that provide the best results. They might over prune or, worse, employ harmful practices like topping, lion’s tailing or rooster tailing. And by not following the ISA standards on tree pruning, they could seriously damage or even kill an otherwise healthy specimen.

Certified Utah arborists can frequently identify signs of tree disease before they’re easily visible. They also understand how to spot weak limbs that may suddenly fall. Arborists are qualified to assess the potential risks of pruning, and they take care to use the proper safety procedures.
 
Any professional who isn’t a certified arborist may not have the ability to recognize risk factors or less obvious signs of disease and decay. In addition, a landscaper or handyman may fail to use the right tools, or they may not complete the work in the safest manner. To reduce the chance of injuries or damage, call a Utah arborist instead.

If you’re looking for a professional who offers tree pruning in Cottonwood Heights, do what other residents of Salt Lake County, Utah, do – turn to Rivendell Tree Experts.
 
Our team of ISA-certified arborists have the skill, knowledge and expertise to properly prune your trees, and we’re known for providing services that are both practical and affordable. The Rivendell team offers free, no-obligation consultations and estimates, and we’d love to discuss how we can meet all of your tree care needs.
 
For more information, or to meet with a certified Utah arborist and get a free estimate for tree pruning in Cottonwood Heights, contact us today.

When you’re ready to plant a tree, taking the right approach is crucial. Here’s what experienced Utah arborists say you’ll need to do in order to start your sapling off on the right foot:

• Dig a hole roughly twice the width of the sapling’s root base, making it as deep as necessary to accommodate the length of the roots.
• Remove the container or basket containing the sapling, then use your hands to gently pull the roots apart.
• After placing the sapling, add the soil, lightly tamping or hand-packing it in to collapse any air pockets.
• Spread a layer of organic mulch on top, taking care to leave a few inches of space around the sapling’s trunk.
• If necessary, temporarily support the new tree with stakes, pounding them through the root ball and tying them loosely to the trunk.

 
Are you in need of professional stump removal? Is tree planting your next project? The certified arborists at Rivendell Tree Experts, based in Lehi, are here to meet all of your tree care needs. We offer free, no-obligation consultations and estimates – and we’re committed to both superb customer service and affordable tree services.

For more information, or to discuss Utah tree planting or stump removal with an experienced Utah arborist, contact us today.

When’s the last time you thought about tree preservation?
 
As a homeowner, you want the trees that enhance your northern Utah property to remain healthy and stable for decades to come. However, our part of the country is vulnerable to severe storms in the spring and summer, and harsh weather events have the potential to result in damaged and uprooted specimens. Fortunately, using the right tree preservation techniques can lessen the impact and help ensure that your plantings are well-protected from storm damage.

Planted any saplings recently? If the sapling begins to shift, consider using stakes to make sure they stand strong during heavy storms. Leave the supports in place for no longer than 6 to 12 months, though, as doing otherwise can stunt growth.

Pruning isn’t just about making trees look more attractive. Proactive trimming of the canopies -- along with any dead, diseased or deteriorated branches, of course – dramatically reduces the risk of storm damage.

Tree stability begins with the root system, and while year-round watering goes a long way to ensuring healthy growth, deep root fertilization goes further. By suppling the roots with greater quantities of air and nutrients, you can help your trees grow stronger.

Knowing what you can do to prevent storm damage is one thing, but understanding how to get the job done correctly is quite another. Identifying at-risk specimens and taking the right steps to ensure healthy growth are no simple tasks, and without expert knowledge, you could inadvertently cause more damage.

Certified arborists have the training and skills to limit damage caused by spring and summer storms, while also giving your trees the best chance at long-term structural integrity. If you believe maintaining the beauty of your northern Utah property is important, you’ll want to hire a certified arborist with extensive experience in tree preservation – like the professional team at Rivendell Tree Experts.

​We offer practical, cost-effective services to homeowners throughout the Salt Lake City area, and we’re known for both exceptional customer care and affordable pricing. To schedule a free, no-obligation tree risk assessment with an experienced certified arborist, contact our office in Lehi, Utah, today.

If you're planning for tree removal, you'd be wise to consider professional stump grinding as well.

Sure, you could opt to leave the stump in place and save some money. However, going that route can take away from the appeal of your landscape. Plus, getting rid of a stump means you won't have to worry about tree sprout growth, insect infestation or having a potential hazard in your yard.

Grinding isn't the only method of removing a tree stump, but it is the smartest approach. Here's why. 

A skilled professional can typically grind up a stump within just a couple of hours. Digging out a stump with an excavator or backhoe takes quite a bit longer, and the technique requires much more work.

​After professional stump grinding, the yard area is ready for replanting – you simply need to put down some topsoil and smooth it out. Dig up the stump instead, and you'll have a massive hole to deal and, potentially, damage to the surrounding landscape.

​The tree stump grinding process produces no waste, as the wood chips created can be used to fill the spot where the stump was and as mulch elsewhere on your property. Compared to the other options, grinding is far less damaging to the environment.

You won't pay an arm and a leg for stump grinding – the average cost is just $200, though professionals do charge more for extra-large stumps and those that are hard to access. Digging can cost as much as $350, and you'll pay about $38 an hour for labor.

You could rent a grinder and take on the work yourself, but why would you want to? Rental costs can range anywhere from $150 to $365 per day, and operating the equipment may not be as easy as you think. Also, if you're not careful, you could run into underground utility or plumbing lines – and doing so could threaten your safety and cause major property damage.

At Rivendell Tree Experts, based in northern Utah, we offer free, no-obligation professional consultations and project estimates to homeowners and businesses in Salt Lake City and the greater Utah County area. Our highly skilled arborists have years of experience, and we're known for providing top-notch tree care services and stellar customer care at an affordable price.

For more information on Rivendell Tree Experts and the services we offer – or to schedule an appointment to discuss professional stump grinding with one of our certified arborists – contact us online or give our office in Lehi, Utah, a call today.

To the average Utah homeowner, there’s little difference between arborists and landscapers. Both handle various types of yard work, so it doesn’t matter which professional you hire. Right?
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Wrong. Arboriculture and landscaping are unique professions – and specialists in one are not qualified in the other. To determine whether you need to hire an arborist or a landscaper, take a look at the following.

Landscapers complete a range of yard work tasks with the goal of ensuring plant health while creating an attractive outdoor environment. You can call on a local landscaping company for expert assistance in:

• Lawn care
• Lawn irrigation
• Garden bed preparation
• Planting flowers and shrubs
• Hardscape installation

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As you may have noticed, tree care isn’t on that list. For that, you’ll need to hire a local certified arborist.

Arborists are licensed professionals who have earned certification from the International Society of Arboriculture. As such, they’re experts in tree care. A local certified arborist has the training, knowledge and skill necessary to keep your trees healthy and beautiful.
 
If you’re in need of any of the following services, hiring an arborist is the right move:
 

• Emergency tree care
• Tree planting
• Pruning and trimming
• Cabling and bracing
• Tree removal
• Stump grinding

 
Local certified arborists have not only expertise in tree care, but also the equipment and tools to perform tasks safely and in the proper manner. When you hire an arborist for tree care services, you can feel confident that you’re preserving the health and beauty of your outdoor environment without risking the safety of your family or your property.

​When it comes to deciding between a landscaper and an arborist, consider the scope of work that needs to be done. If your lawn and gardens are in need of attention, call a landscaping company. And if you need an expert to care for your trees, hire an arborist.
 
Is your home located in northern Utah? For professional tree care at an affordable price, turn to Rivendell Tree Experts. Our ISA-certified arborists are licensed and fully insured, and we have what it takes to handle any tree care task.
 
The Rivendell team has served thousands of homeowners and businesses in northern Utah, and you can count on us to care for your trees as if they were our own. We always complete our work in a careful, professional manner, and our arborists are happy to answer questions and offer advice.
 
Would you like to learn more about our affordable tree care services? Or are you looking to hire an experienced local certified arborist? For information on Rivendell Tree Experts or to schedule a free, no-obligation Utah arborist consultation, contact our Lehi office today.

Tree removal, while typically a last resort, is sometimes necessary. And if one of your trees has to go, you’ll want to know how much to budget for the project.

We’d love to tell you the cost right here, but without seeing the specimen ourselves, that’s not possible. We can, however, give you an idea of what to expect in terms of price and share strategies for saving money on tree removal.

The cost of professional removal varies widely, and Utah homeowners may pay anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. Height plays a large role in determining the price, with shorter specimens being less expensive to remove. But the overall cost is also based upon the following factors:

• Trunk diameter: The wider the trunk, the higher the price of removing the tree, as the process takes more time and effort.
• Condition: Trees that are leaning, dead or severely decayed are costlier to remove due to the additional safety equipment required.
• Location: The complications of removing a tree that’s near a building, close to utility lines or otherwise difficult to access drive up the project cost.

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Extra work – such as log splitting, limb chipping and stump grinding – generally add to the total project costs. Most Utah arborists don’t include these services in estimates for the removal of a tree, so be sure to ask.

You can’t do anything about the size, condition or location of the tree you need to have removed. But, by taking any or all of these steps, you may be able to bring down your out-of-pocket costs:

• Get advice from a certified arborist. Instead of removal, you might only need strategic pruning or treatment for pests or disease, which are less expensive.
• Plan the project during the off-season, when Utah arborists are more likely to offer reduced rates. As a general rule, avoid spring, summer and early fall.

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Handle part of the project yourself. If you’re willing to tackle the cleanup and woodcutting, your arborist may be willing to drop the price of removal.

Removing a tree isn’t a task you should attempt on your own. The work is hazardous – and watching a few videos isn’t enough to learn the proper techniques to ensure everyone’s safety and prevent property damage.
 
Instead, turn to a local certified arborist. In Salt Lake City and the surrounding northern Utah area, homeowners trust Rivendell Tree Experts. With us, you can count on cost-effective solutions, friendly service, quality workmanship and affordable pricing.
 
For more information on the qualifications of our Utah arborists, or to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and estimate for tree removal, reach out to our Lehi office today.