BC Tree Service - Providing quality tree services to the Greater Vancouver area for over 25 years

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PROFESSIONAL & AFFORDABLE

Our trained staff of arborists are committed to providing professional, safe and cost effective services.

If you are interested in or have questions about any of the services that BC Tree Service offers. Give us a call at (604) 908-3000 or contact us.

TREE REMOVAL

For a variety of reasons, it may be necessary to have a tree removed. Should removal be the best option. BC Tree Service has successfully removed trees for over 25 years. We have the expertise, tools, and coverage necessary for any job, large or small. Don’t take chances when it comes to protecting yourself and your property.

You may need a tree removed due to it;

being located in the path of infrastructure development (e.g., a roadway)
being in poor condition or in a stage of decline
being a hazard, and removing the entire tree is the best option
causing an obstruction that is impossible to correct through pruning
being in need of replacing with a more suitable specimen
being diseased or the host to a pest that may spread to adjacent trees
competing with other trees considered to be more valuable or more important in meeting long-term objectives
interfering with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

If you are considering having a tree removed, you may want an arborist’s assistance in the consultation and decision-making process. As in any tree removal situation and arborist can assess the possibility for damage to the site, adjacent trees, and property during the removal process.

When considering tree removal, liability is also an important consideration. In some cases, a written contract specifying penalties for damage to landscape and infrastructure is be recommended.

BC Tree Service has successfully removed trees for 15 years. We have the experience and equipment to address both small and large sized tree removal requirements.

Don’t take chances when it comes to protecting yourself and your property – get the experts and BC Tree service to help.

Remember to check your local tree removal bylaws in our resources section.

Care, pruning & maintenance

Whether your young trees need training, your mature trees require attention, or your hedges can do with some shearing. Call in the experts when you need them. BC Tree Service follows the pruning guidelines set by the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) which requires specific tools, cutting techniques, and pruning methods.

Timely maintenance can improve the health and longevity of your trees, as well as reduce hazards, and increase the value of your property. Tree maintenance can include:

Proper application of mulch
Hedge trimming and shaping
Appropriate watering and incorporating irrigation systems (if needed)
Weed control using safe herbicides
Trimming and training of young trees
Cleaning up and rejuvenating older plants
Keeping crowns free of weak and crossing branches
Pruning of branches affected by storm damage or disease
Removal of co-dominant leaders and weakly-attached branches
Ensuring appropriate nutrition through use of slow release fertilizer
Monitoring for disease and insect problems
Pruning to control size and to guide direction
Removal of hazardous branches or trees

BC Tree Service provides a range of services to address your maintenance needs. Any recommended work is impartial and performed in accordance to industry-accepted practices at professional standards. Prior to beginning any project, we provide you with a written fixed-price quotation so there is no guesswork when it comes to cost.

Don’t settle for a second rate job. Let our experienced staff get your trees into the best shape of their life.

Stump grinding & removal

Once a tree has been cut down and the wood removed, consider having any stumps professionally removed. If performed improperly the procedure can cause damage adjacent trees and root systems. A BC Tree Service arborist will evaluate the location of stumps and large surrounding roots for safe removal.

Once a tree has been cut down and the wood removed, a sizable part of it remains firmly in place in the form of the stump and root structure.

These can be unsightly, take up significant space, and interfere with planned changes to the property. Additional work can be performed in order to remove the stump to or below the grade. A special machine called a “stump grinder” can be used to systematically reduce stumps and large surrounding roots into woodchips.

The process is normally performed to a specified depth, usually 25 to 30 cm (10-12 inches) below grade. Following the grinding process, chips can either be cleaned up or put to good use as mulch under trees and shrubs.

As part of our tree removal estimate package, a BC Tree Service arborist will evaluate the location of your tree with respect to nearby plants and property. This, coupled with the knowledge of local policy is used in recommending the depth and extent (distance from the trunk) of grinding necessary.

At BC Tree Service, we have the tools and experience to get the job done right.

Arborist reports

Whether you require an arborist report as part of a large development proposal or you would just like to keep up top date on your tree assets. BC Tree Service can provide you with both an Arborist Report and Hazard Tree Risk Assessment from one of our ISA Certified Arborist and Certified Tree Risk Assessors

Arborist reports are commonly used for insurance claims, adjudication, municipal inspections and permits. They are required for development permit applications. We can provide professional arborist reports including:

tree risk assessment
tree risk management
tree valuation
tree relocation assessment
cost estimate to replace a tree of the same size
cost estimate to repair the tree
cost estimate for stump and/or root removal

At BC Tree Service we provide an unbiased, expert opinion on the health and safety of trees for your home, business or property.

Tree emergencies

Sudden storms occur in the Lower Mainland on an intermittent and unpredictable basis and can cause trees to break branches or fall. At BC Tree Service, we’re always ready to lend a hand during times of crisis. You can reach us day or night, 7 days a week at (604) 908-3000. Our experienced emergency crews have the equipment and experience to safely and efficiently resolve your tree-related problem.

There are things in life that we can’t control. Damage to trees by storms is one of them. High winds place enormous stresses on trees. Limbs may break and trees may be uprooted leaving behind a wake of debris and property damage. Following any storm, we suggest you perform a visual assessment of your trees and property. The amount of damage a tree sustains is greatly affected by the size and type of tree and how it has been trained, maintained, and/or pruned. Most damage to properties is the result of poor pruning, which sets up structural weaknesses in your trees and makes them potential hazards. If a dangling branch is near electrical wires or is especially heavy, be sure to contact professionals assist with a safe removal. At BC Tree Service, we’re always ready to lend a hand during times of crisis. Our experienced emergency crews have the equipment and experience to safely and efficiently resolve your tree-related problem. Remember to add our 24/7 phone number (604) 908-3000 – to your list of emergency contacts.

Planting & transplanting

Planting the right tree or shrub in the right place can make all the difference, while greatly reducing frustration and maintenance requirements. Whether you are looking to add new plants or move existing ones, BC Tree Service offers the tools and expertise for any size of project.

Planting
At BC Tree Service, we offer our customers assistance in the critical planning and installation stages for planting new trees. We follow up with detailed instructions for routine maintenance during the establishment period.

Transplanting
At times a tree out-grows its space, as a consequence, you are faced with the need to transplant the tree to a new location.

One of the critical factors involving transplantation is the physical size of the tree in question. The larger a tree, the more difficult it is to transplant. Deciduous trees taller than 2 m (6 ft) and evergreens taller than 1 to 1.5 m (3 to 5 feet) can present a serious challenge if they are to be dug out by hand. Any tree substantially larger should only be moved using professional equipment, normally a truck mounted tree spade.

Your BC Tree Service arborist and affiliate partners are more than happy to assist you with the transplantation procedure.

Our trained staff will evaluate the property and provide you with a strategy that ensures a safe transplantation while limiting distress to your tree in high-risk circumstances. We take the time to increase the chances of success by performing a root pruning before preparing the future site. Following relocation, we firmly stake and add supports to ensure the well being of your tree during the recovery period.

Contact BC Tree Service for your tree and shrub planting needs. We have the experience and equipment to get the job done right.

Cabling & bracing

Cabling and bracing may be used to improve and/or restore the structural integrity of a tree that is worth preserving. This will involve attaching ropes or chains as fasteners to the weakened limb and the main trunk of the tree. The enforcement process requires a great deal of technical expertise and specialized equipment. Let the experienced staff at BC Tree Service help you in protect your trees and ensure the safety of everything around it.

In most circumstances where a tree’s structure is in question, we recommend that your tree be pruned in order to remove any potentially hazardous limbs. The crown may also need to be thinned out to help improve tree structure and air circulation. Should the tree still remain susceptible to further stress and/or continue to present an increased risk of personal or property damage, then cabling and bracing should be performed. Cabling and bracing involves attaching fasteners to the weakened limb and the main trunk of the tree. Using ropes or chains, tension is applied to the weakened limb. Heavy-duty cables are then prepared and attached to each fastener to provide the correct amount of support for the weakened limb. After cabling and bracing is completed, deep root fertilization may be required in order to encourage and maintain healthy growth. While it sounds like a relatively simple process, the practice of cabling and bracing requires a great deal of technical expertise and specialized equipment. At BC Tree Service, we have the tools and experience to get the job done right.

Tree structure analysis

Trees are structurally designed to not fail at any given point more than any other. But they can crack, lose limbs, lean or even fall over. Our knowledgeable experts can perform tree structural analyses in order to appropriately determine current and potential future risks to you and your property.

There are three classes of trees in the landscape related to levels of risk:

Hazard tree: one having a major structural fault that could lead to a loss and has an identifiable target (people or property)
Tree at risk: one considered to have the potential of failure or with a significant target profile that may lead to great injury and harm
Minimal risk: trees present with known risk assessments, or with undetermined associated risks

Careful observation is needed for all parts of a tree to effectively summarize risk levels. If you are unsure of the state your trees are in and their associated potential risks, give us a call. Our knowledgeable experts will perform a tree structural analysis in order to appropriately determine current potential and future risks to you and your property. The analysis will incorporate numerous inspection elements and includes close examination for:

large vertical (longitudinal) cracks
large decayed areas
included bark zones
narrow crotches or forks
dead wood and branches
large cavities
large leans
major root damage
horizontal (tangential) cracks
poorly connected living branches
pest damaged or modified areas
disproportioned crown / root ratio
stem strength for the given wind and gravity loading conditions

Following the inspection, we will provide you with a complete report along with recommended remedial action should it be required. At BC Tree Service, we provide the trusted quality service you deserve to keep your property safe.

Insect & disease control

When defoliation and death of plants and trees occurs, pests and disease are usually to blame. With a strong knowledge in control practices, BC Tree Service will help you to identify and eliminate the cause.

The odds for defoliation and death sharply increase as a tree’s health suffers and declines, giving you more reasons to invest in proper tree health. Diseases and pests are often interrelated, by controlling one you control the other. The most important aspect of controlling pests and disease is the appropriate and timely identification of the source of the problem. Remediation normally requires an integrated approach. A common tactic and (often times) quickest solution involves the application of chemical spray. However, this may not be optimal solution in the long run. These sprays can also kill beneficial bacteria and insects that help to control the population of more harmful ones through predation or parasitism. It is in your best interest to keep these beneficial ‘bugs’, so caution should be used when choosing a pesticide solution. Killing off beneficial insects and bacteria can stress in trees and plants. Stressed plants attract insects (especially ants) and diseases. At BC Tree Service, we promote natural solutions to common infestations and discourage the overuse of chemical sprays and pesticides. Not only is it important to prevent the spread of harmful insects and devastating diseases. We feel that it is our obligation to preserve the overall health of our environment. You can assist us by lowering your overall to disease and pest infestation by regularly inspecting your trees and taking some simple, preventative measures including;

Cleaning up around your area around your trees and shrubs
Ensuring proper watering and nutrition of your plants
Appropriately applying compost and mulch
Placing ant cafes around trees for long term ant control
Applying suitable natural repellents

BC Tree Service is proud of our commitment in keeping our community green and healthy while ensuring your trees are healthy and disease free.

Fertilizing & aeration

All plants need nutrients and must exchange gases in order to live and thrive. Many products are available to provide support to your plants in both organic (naturally occurring) and inorganic (synthetic) formats. The experts at BC Tree Service can ensure your plants get the right fertilizer to reach its full landscape potential.

Tree roots grow where the physical and chemical environment is right. They require the correct nutrient supply, temperature, moisture, aeration, pH, and soil structure. The lack of these essential nutrients can result in a tree not reaching its full landscape potential and can shorten its lifespan. Many fertilizer products are available to provide trees with the appropriate nutrients. Determining the need for fertilization including selection of the appropriate remedy, timing, and quantity of application requires a strong arboriculture background. Gas exchange allows air, moisture and fertilizer down to the root zone to improve aeration. Aerating is usually performed with a power aerator or coring machine to remove small cores of soil. We recommend you consider using a specialist for this procedure. Power aerators are very heavy machines. If rented, they typically require two people to transport and require some degree of physical strength to operate. Don’t take chances with the health of your plants. Let the experts at BC Tree Service ensure that your trees, shrubs, and plants fertilization and aeration requirements are properly met.