How Does a Certified Arborist Help You?

A Certified Arborist knows how to trim, prune, remove, plant and care for your trees’ health — PROPERLY.  Many people wrongly think that anyone can prune a tree.  However, to allow for maximum benefits it is best to have a certified arborist perform the work.  The danger in caring for trees improperly can cause safety issues, detract from its beauty and can damage the tree’s health, causing it to die.

Tip Top Arborists is a trusted Certified Arborist serving Serving Southern California; Antelope Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, and Victor Valley Since 1976

Tip Top Arborists specializes in professional and quality tree care services. Our trained and experienced staff of Certified Arborists and tree care experts are committed to providing our customers with competitive pricing, quality service and professional advice.

Our broad range of commercial and residential services includes:

• Arborists Consultations
• Tree Pruning and Trimming
• Tree Removal and Stump Grinding
• Tree Planting and Fertilization
• Street Tree Inventory (GPS Mapping)
• Landscaping

Hiring a tree care professional is a decision that should not be taken lightly. There are several reasons why you should consider hiring a professional and certified arborist. An arborist is:

• A specialist in the care of individual trees
• Knowledgeable about the needs of your trees
• Trained and equipped to provide proper care for one of your most valuable investments, your trees.

The arborist you choose should be a licensed contractor with references. When you hire Tip Top you can rest assured that your trees will be given the well-deserved care of a certified and professional tree expert. We are:

• Bonded and fully insured to protect you and our employees
• A member of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
• Licensed by the California State Contractor’s Board (CA#821770)

Please visit our Tip Top’s Tips section to avoid some of the pitfalls associated with hiring an uncertified and self-proclaimed “tree expert.”

Our tree care professionals are available for consultations concerning all your tree care needs. We will provide you with a concise and comprehensive written estimate listing all proposed services and associated fees. At Tip Top there are never any hidden fees or costs.

Call us today at (661) 942-5501 to schedule an appointment.

We bring meticulous tree care to every job we service.  These organizations depend on us for a variety of important services such as:

• Tree size reducing
• Tree pruning
• Tree shaping
• Tree trimming
• Tree removal
• Emergency tree removal
• Stump grinding
• Electrical wire clearance pruning
• and more…

Over the years we have worked with many cities, such as:

• City of Lancaster
• City of Victorville
• City of Santa Clarita
• City of Palmdale
• City of San Diego

We also work with the Department of Water And Power (LA), BMAR and Associates (China Lake NWC), Southern California Edison, Pacific Bell, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena), Adelphia Communications, Pacific Gas and Electric.

We work with Antelope Valley College and Lancaster Unified.

It says a lot that we are a Certified Arborist and a contractor licensed with the State of California.  Many tree trimming services don’t have the credentials, training and certification to do tree services correctly.  Because so many government agencies depend on us to service the facilities, public areas, parks and streets, we maintain a very high rating for our customer service.

We are a well-established arborist company with a very strong reputation.  We have personal and property damage insurance as well as workers compensation insurance that we supply on demand to any customer that requests.  Additionally, you can look up our Contractors License Number at the State of California’s website to verify that current insurance and licensing requirements are met. Many homeowners have had to pay out large amounts of money for damages caused by an uninsured individual claiming to be a tree expert.  We are truly committed to providing our customers with reliable service and quality tree care.

Contractor’s License Number: #821770

State of California’s Website for Contractor look up.

We have the knowledge and education to care for your trees properly.  Our staff is trained in the art and science of planting, caring for and maintaining individual trees.  We are up-to-date on the latest techniques in arboriculture through continued education.

Multiple Certified Arborists on Staff

We have the training, experience and certification to best care for your trees.  We have three Certified Arborists on our staff:

• Tom Baal, ISA Certified Arborist #7566A
• Steve Finson, ISA Certified Arborist #3945A
• Jim Lewandowski, ISA Certified Arborist # 1413A

Multiple Certified Tree Workers on Staff

We also have experience and well trained ISA Certified Tree Workers on staff.  Here are our current tree workers that are certified:

• Jaime Lopez, ISA Certified Tree Worker, #423C
• Francisco Mora, ISA Certified Tree Worker, #649C
• Israel Hernandez, ISA Certified Tree Worker, #1693C
• Noe Menjivar, ISA Certified Tree Worker, #1737C
• Alberto Monterroso, ISA Certified Tree Worker, #1400C

Certification, training and experience mean we take care of your tree service needs much better than most other tree companies around.

Call us today!

We use our experience and training to properly care for all of your trees and landscaping.  More than just experience, we have experience in that trees found in the Antelope Valley, Victor Valley, Santa Clarita Valley and Tehachapi Valleys.  Our experience shows us how to make your trees look beautiful and to grow with maximum health.  Emergency clean up and tree removal expertise also allows us to prevent expensive and very inconvenient mistakes on your property.

The experience and training that our tree service personnel possess is very strong.   We are committed to providing our customers with professional advice, reliable service and quality tree care.  We understand that your trees are a important asset to the value and comfort of your property.

Trust our 35 year old company that is trusted by so many in the Antelope Valley, Victor Valley, Santa Clarita Valley and Tehachapi Valley areas.

We know the trees in Southern California and especially in the Antelope Valley, Victor Valley, Santa Clarita Valley and Tehachapi Valley areas.  We understand how to trim them properly to provide the highest beauty and safety.  We understand the issues that affect our trees intimately and work hard to maximize the benefits.

Experience also has allowed us to continue our education over the years to improve our capabilities and skills.  Over the years we have attracted and retained some of the best tree trimming talent around.

Also, over the years, we have also added equipment that allows us to perform you trees services faster, with more expertise and for greater safety.

Jim Lewandowski, President and CEO of Tip Top Arborists, started working for Tip Top at the age of fourteen as a grounds man. After a couple of years, he began trimming trees and learning every aspect of running a professional tree care service. In 1976, he purchased Tip Top Arborists and began overseeing the company’s daily operations.

We hope you see in this tiny snapshot of our company that experience translates to big benefits to you: beauty, safety, savings, speed and professional results.

Lace Bug:

Lace bugs target broad-leaf evergreens such as andromeda, azalea, and rhododendron. Early detection is the key to getting rid of an infestation. Look for yellow-silver stippling on the topsides of leaves.

Mites:

Mites pose a serious threat a wide variety of plants, and can seriously impact the visual appearance of a plant. Mites favor warm, dry climates, and are an extremely serious issue for many homeowners.

Tent Caterpillars:

Caterpillars can weaken many trees and shrubs, increasing the chance of a secondary infestation. Look for silken, yellow cocoons.

Borers:

Borers are attracted to unhealthy trees, burrowing in and laying eggs inside the trunk. The best defense against borers is to keep your trees healthy and unstressed.

Hemlock Woolly Adelaide:

One of the most common pests, these insects can cause the death of a tree if left untreated. They leave behind a telltale white wax and target primarily older trees.

Scale Insects:

These insects target primarily hardwoods and conifers. Some signs of an infestation include abnormal leaf and shoot growth, yellow or red leaves, and branch grouting.

Anthracnose Disease:

This fungal disease affects deciduous and flowering trees. Look for a spotting of foliage in spring and summer.

Winter Injury:

Even during mild winters, evergreens can lose moisture and not be able to replenish it. Thus, make sure your evergreens have sufficient soil moisture.

Weevil Insects:

Weevils are commonly found on flowers and fruits. Look for notches around the edge of leaves.

Aphid Insects:

Aphids are small and pearl shaped. An infestation can cause yellow discoloration and defoliation.

Trees beautify our surroundings, increase property values, and help save energy.  Utilities supply our homes with electricity, gas, telephone service and cable television.  Yet along our city streets, tree limbs and utility lines compete in the air, while tree roots, cables, and pipes vie for space below ground.  Resolving this conflict without resorting to practices that harm trees is the goal of Tree Line USA.

Study these 9 suggestions for properly planting and caring for trees.  This page is provided by the Arbor Day Foundation.  Here are the nine things you should know about your trees.

#1 – Don’t Top Trees!
#2 – 1/3 and 1/4 Rules of Pruning
#3 – How to Make a Pruning Cut
#4 – The Value of Mulch
#5 – Where Roots Really Grow
#6 – Girdling Kills Trees
#7 – How to Plant a Containerized Tree
#8 – How to Plant a Bare-root Tree
#9 – Your Street Trees May Be City Trees

The cultivation of trees is the cultivation of the good,
the beautiful, and the ennobling in man.
—J. Sterling Morton

1. Tree roots systems extend deep below the ground.

The large supporting root system near the base of the tree tapers rapidly into smaller roots, with the vast majority of all roots being concentrated in the upper few inches of soil. While a few roots may extend as deep as several feet, it is rare for many to exist at significant depths (more than a few feet). Therefore, protecting these upper layers of soil is critical to maintaining tree health.

2. I should buy the tallest or bushiest tree I can find at the nursery to get the most for my money.

The tallest tree may actually be weaker than smaller specimens in the same size container. While aesthetic features are important, tree trunk, branch and root system structure are far more critical to the long term success of the tree. Early structural ( trunk/branches) or root system problems are often the source of failure (breakage) of the tree many years later.

3. A good, strong, stake with strong ties is crucial when planting a tree.

While some nursery stock may require staking to remain upright, a tree that is capable of standing on its own should not be routinely staked. Improper or unnecessary staking can create problems that did not previously exist.

When faced with significant winds, or a weak specimen, proper staking may be necessary, and can make the difference in a success or failure. However, no type of support system can hold up a seriously defective tree indefinitely. Staking must be viewed and installed as a temporary assist while the tree develops its own strength, and then removed as soon as possible.

Pruning and Tree Maintenance

4. Pruning trees or shrubs invigorates them.

Pruning, particularly severe pruning, often results in the stimulation of dense, vigorous sprout growth. However, this production of vigorous growth consumes great amounts of the tree’s limited energy, weakening it’s natural defenses.

While the benefits of pruning are many, there is always some negative impact from the loss of foliage. Reduction of the foliage mass, however small, means a reduction in the tree’s capacity to photosynthesize, thus reducing the energy available for all its life processes.

Progressive techniques can maximize the benefits of pruning while minimizing the negative impacts. Conversely, improper or severe pruning maximizes the negative impacts while realizing very little, if any, of the benefits of pruning

5. Topping: (the removal of the upper portion of a main stem

• Topping reduces the hazard potential of tall trees.
• Topping can improve the health or structure of trees in poor condition.
• Topping healthy tree does no harm.
• Topping, performed “correctly”, does not damage trees.

Regardless of technique, topping is always a serious injury to the tree and usually results in serious, long-term structural consequences. A few of the negative impacts of topping:

• Serious decay at the topping cut and poorly attached re-growth rapidly resulting in increased hazard potential.
• Reduction of the tree’s energy producing capacity and thus its ability to resist insect and disease problems.
• Creates denser foliage crown through rapid re-growth requiring frequent maintenance for re-topping or restructuring.

6. Filling cavities in trees with concrete strengths and helps them heal

Filling cavities does not increase structural strength. The process may actually cause harm and increase decay. Generally, management of tree cavities is best left to the tree itself.

7. Making pruning cuts close to the trunk or parent limb will help the tree heal

Trees do not heal, in that they do not replace lost tissue, but only cover injuries (e.g., Pruning cuts) with new layers of wood. To minimize decay and promote closing of wounds, do not penetrate the tree trunk but retain the “branch collar” (the slightly raised areas surrounding the base of most branches.)

8. Installing cables, bolts or other hardware will render a hazardous limb or tree safe.

Sometimes, to preserve a substantial limb, trunk or entire tree it becomes necessary to provide additional support through the installation of hardware. The installation of cables, bolts and other hardware in trees is intended to reduce hazard potential only and does not permanently remedy structural weaknesses and is not a guarantee against failure. Such hardware must also be inspected periodically and adjusted or replaced as necessary.

Chemicals, Amendments and Other Materials

9. Tree seal/ paint (or other tree wound dressings) prevents diseases, decay, insect infestations, or will otherwise help the tree heal

Tree sealants (tar, paints, shellac, etc.; ) do not prevent disease, decay, insect infestations or promote closing of wounds. There is actually some evidence that such sealants may actually cause harm. Leave wounds open and allow the tree’s natural defenses to work as intended.

10. Applying a fungicide to a cavity or wound will prevent or stop decay.

Trees reduce decay by forming internal chemical barriers at the time of and after wounding. The effectiveness of this process depends on each tree’s genetic characteristics and health at the time of wounding. Treatments after injury (e.g., Tree paint, cutting out decay, chemicals, etc.) Do not assist this process or reduce decay and such attempts often result in additional injury.

11. Annual or regular spraying of my garden will control insects and diseases.

Both insects and diseases require timely, targeted efforts for effective management. The best management technique may not be complete eradication, as natural predators (birds, other insects, etc.) Require some food source to remain in the vicinity.

Routine spraying with board-spectrum materials not only will not effectively address most problems, but may kill many beneficial insects, fungi and may even effect birds and mammals.

12. If I use a strong enough pesticide or fungicide, I can cure any insect or disease problem.

There are no blanket chemicals or schedule that can control all the insects and disease problems your plants may encounter. In fact, many diseases of plants have no known chemical controls.

13. Adding good topsoil, soil amendments and fertilizers when planting or transplanting is crucial to a plant’s success.

To significantly improve poor soils, a very large quantity of amendment (additions such as sand, redwood mulch, etc.) would be required over a very large area. Amendments in the planting hole alone will likely have more negative effect than benefit.

It is far more critical to plant at the right depth, in the right location for the species and to provide adequate (but not excessive moisture. Dig a planting hole several times wider than the root ball, and cultivate (break-up) the native soil before backfilling.

14. I can add soil around my trees as long as it is good quality topsoil.

It is critical that the base of trees remain at the appropriate depth in relation to the surrounding soil grade. Excessive soil, grade changes and root loss from excavations or frequent cultivation all have serious consequences and can result in tree decline or death.

15. I must use citrus fertilizer on my lemon tree, rhododendron food for my ‘rhodees’, rose food for my roses and lawn food for my lawn.

The elemental make-up of fertilizers does not change according to promotional labels. The primary element in fertilizers is nitrogen, followed by potassium and phosphorus. Nitrogen is used in large quantities by all green plants and is the only element that produces significant plant response. The fertilizer with the largest proportion of nitrogen is the best buy, regardless of the name on the label (plant’s can’t read!).

16. If I apply enough fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides to my plants they will be healthy (all plant problems can be cured with chemicals).

All the chemicals, fertilizers and miracle plant drugs in the world cannot cause a plant to thrive in an inappropriate or inhospitable environment. Select a species that is appropriate for the climate and environment, with characteristics compatible with that environment, that will fulfill the desired functions as long as possible. Once established, concentrate on preserving that environment and protecting plants and locale from disturbances of any kind.

17. Trees flourish in the forest without maintenance, so they don’t need it in my front yard either!

Urban trees are required to contend with many negative influences not encountered by forest trees: limited rooting areas, confined spaces, pollution, soil compaction, asphalt and concrete over roots, etc.

Besides, an occasional dead tree in the forest is not noticed among the many, but the loss of one significant landscape tree can be devastating to your home.

18. If I prune and fertilize that massive pine tree in my font yard, it will be safe and live forever!

All trees of significant size that exist in proximity to people, structures, or vehicles or even other valuable landscape features represent some degree of hazard potential, regardless of their condition.

19. I can kill my neighbor’s annoying tree by driving a copper nail in the trunk when he’s on vacation.

Not only is a copper nail not only not going to kill the tree, but it is a primary components of many fungicides.

20. He advertised in the yellow pages as a tree expert, so he must be! Doesn’t some government agency monitor that sort of thing?

Anyone can put an ad in the Yellow Pages or call themselves a “tree expert”. Begin by calling only ISA Certified Arborists. Obtain at least several references and follow-up. Consider hiring a Consulting Arborist in advance for advice on what’s needed.

Always require insurance certificates and a detailed, written contract.

Summary: The worst enemy of trees is people! Damage to trees is only occasionally intentional, more often negligence, but most often occurs when intent is to provide conscientious care. Get progressive in caring for your trees!

For more information contact:

Western Chapter International Society of Arboriculture

235 Hollow Oak Drive

Cohasset, CA 95973

Phone: (530) 892-1118

FAX: (530) 892-1006

This information was reproduced with permission from the International Society of Arboriculture. Please visit their web site at http://www2.champaign.isa-arbor.com/ to learn more about tree care and Certified Arborists.