5 Reasons to Have a Hudson Valley Arborist Consultation Conducted

While you may think your trees are thriving and stress-free, there may be underlying issues you don’t have the knowledge and experience to detect. Even when a tree looks okay to the untrained eye, hidden problems may endanger the tree, your family, and your property. To avoid these unseen problems, an arborist consultation may be needed.

In this article, we’ll explain the many benefits of having an arborist consultation, the value it brings to your property, and what problems an arborist consultation can catch before your tree becomes a major headache.

Key Takeaways

• The primary difference between having an arborist examine your trees for a quote and an arborist consultation is the documentation you get from an arborist consultation. This documentation explains a tree’s condition as well as any safety or health concerns it may have.
• An arborist can help you preserve your historic trees during a construction project or advise you on caring for mature trees that add value to your property.
• An arborist consultation can catch the signs of insect and disease infections early and give you a better chance of saving your tree.
• Weak sections of your tree risk breaking in a storm; an arborist consultation can find these weak areas and suggest structural support or pruning.
• Hiring a local arborist will give you advice and recommendations directly applicable to Hudson Valley trees.

The 5 Key Benefits of Having a Hudson Valley Arborist Consultation

Arborist consultations can take on many forms and scopes, but generally, the term describes the process of an arborist coming to your property and examining your trees. This is different from a free assessment, which is often a quick overview to provide a rough estimate for specific services.

It’s important to note that a free estimate typically doesn’t include an in-depth arborist report or detailed construction planning advice. A paid consultation, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive assessment of your trees’ health, identifies potential issues, and offers tailored recommendations for their care.

Some of the benefits of a professional arborist consultation include:

A historic tree our team helped preserve after an arborist consultation.

1. Documentation of Your Trees

The primary difference between an initial quote and an arborist consultation is the documentation you’ll receive after we’re done with an arborist consultation. Our detailed arborist reports will have useful information you can use for insurance, valuation, and permitting purposes. And because it comes from the expertise of an ISA Certified Arborist, you can have peace of mind that you’re getting correct and accurate information and recommendations:

An arborist report will generally detail several elements, including:

• Tree’s location, species, age, and size
• An assessment of the overall health of the tree and any noticeable damage
• Recommendations for future care, such as pruning
• Documented risk assessment of any danger the tree poses
• Information on the impact construction will have on the tree and advice on protecting it

2. Maintaining Your Mature and Historic Trees

Trees are like us; they need some extra help to thrive as they age. Regularly having an arborist inspect your mature trees will lower the risk of needing them removed from your property as they decline and become unsafe.

An arborist consultation is also critical before performing any construction or development projects. An arborist can determine where a tree’s root systems are and recommend whether a tree can survive when you place a new walkway or structure nearby. If the plans involve removing a mature tree, they may suggest how to avoid interfering with the tree and allowing it to stand on your property.

Keeping a mature tree on your property isn’t just about aesthetics, as it provides real monetary value for you as well. Mature trees add anywhere between $1,000 and $10,000 to your property value when appraised, and you can save nearly 12 percent on cooling costs in the summer by having a mature tree on the western part of your property.

3. Catching Insect and Disease Problems Early

Many common tree diseases are only immediately recognizable with proper training. While your tree may look healthy at a glance, there are subtitle signs of it struggling to fight off a disease or insect infestation.

An ISA Certified Arborist will be able to notice these subtle signs and provide you with recommendations on how best to care for your trees to help them recover. The earlier you catch the signs of an insect or disease attacking your tree, the better chance you have of saving it and preventing the problem from spreading to nearby trees or shrubs.

PRO TIP: Want to learn more about some of the common insect and disease concerns in the Hudson Valley? See some of our previous articles on the topic:

• Are Your Trees Being Destroyed by Gypsy Moth Caterpillars?
• What are Those Spots on My Maple Leaves?
• Check for Signs of Hemlock Wooly Adelgid on Your Trees This Winter
• Frequently Asked Questions About Spotted Lanternflies in New York
• Beech Leaf Disease: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment Options
• Using a Dormant Oil Spray for Fruit Tree Pest Control
• Powdery Mildew on Trees & Shrubs: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment

4. Preventing Accidents or Damage

Large trees can have hidden problems that may lead to future damage. Weak or damaged parts of the tree, or areas where it didn’t grow correctly, are vulnerable to breaking during storms or under the weight of snow.

The keen eye of an ISA Certified Arborist is more likely to spot these problem areas and can suggest an effective solution. Typically, we will suggest pruning branches that are too weak to survive, or cabling and bracing to support other tree sections and give them a fighting chance.

5. Expert Advice for Tree Care

When you want to learn what kind of long-term care your tree might need, trust an arborist to provide it. They can examine your trees and give you actionable recommendations and advice on preserving them.

While some Hudson Valley homeowners think they can simply research any tree problem online, this will only get you so far. Every tree is different, and an arborist can give you personalized advice during a consultation rather than general advice that might not even apply to your trees or landscapes in the Hudson Valley.

Hiring a local Certified Arborist will help ensure you always plant trees that can thrive in the Hudson Valley.

The Importance of Hiring a Local Hudson Valley Arborist

Not all arborists and consultations are the same, and you should always look for a local arborist for your tree care needs. While arborists from other parts of the country have plenty of knowledge, they may not understand the specific concerns and needs for trees in the Hudson Valley.

Furthermore, what treatments and techniques work in other parts of the country may not apply to your trees. Hiring local is the best way to ensure your arborist consultation gets you the most accurate advice to care for your trees.

Hill Treekeepers Can Provide Hudson Valley Arborist Consultations

While arborist consultations may not be the most common form of tree care for many Hudson Valley residents, it is a vital service that more homeowners should consider. An arborist consultation will allow you to catch problems early, get customized and local advice for caring for your trees, lower the risk of accidents, and provide documentation to care for your trees.

At Hill Treekeepers, we take great pride in our arborist consultation services and offer them throughout Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster counties of New York. If you want expert advice on your trees, we’re ready to help. Call us today at 914-214-7045 or request a quote online.