The number of varieties of trees is extensive. In New Jersey alone, you can find about 80 different species of trees. It can be difficult to know what trees are best for certain situations. Certain species of trees are better for providing shade while others are purely for beauty’s sake. If you live in southern Jersey, one of the best people for advice on these decisions is a tree company in Ocean County, like us! When it comes to knowledge of trees, there is no one better to talk to. Even though many services a tree company provides are more in line with trimming and tree removal, it is essential to know about tree species in order to do those jobs properly. Just as all flowers have sun and water preferences, trees do too. In order to care for them correctly, you must know all about them.
Know Your Zone
Before you even begin to research trees, you need to know your zone. Specifically, your Plant Hardiness Zone. This map helps gardeners to find plants best suited for their environment. Most of Ocean County is in Zone 7. Zones are determined by average winter temperature and are divided by ten degrees. The higher the zone, the warmer the average soil temperature. The growing season for plants is about 7 months and goes from April through October. This medium-length growing season allows for a large variety of trees and plants to succeed in this area.
If you live in zone 7, the best time to plant trees and shrubs is in the late fall to early winter months. Consider planting in October, November, and December. This is because planting trees at this time of year allows the tree to absorb nutrients all winter long to ensure a healthy growing season in spring.
Tree Company in Ocean County Recommends White Oak for Shade
For one of the best shade trees, select a White Oak. There are many varieties of oak, but tree companies usually recommend the White Oak because it is less susceptible to wilt than other species. The limbs spread out horizontally making a nice large canopy with a rounded crown. The leaves of the White Oak are a dark green to blueish green in the summer changing to gorgeous shades of red, orange, and brown in the fall. While this tree can tolerate some shade, it thrives in full sun and has a slow-medium growth rate. Perfect for providing assistance in controlling extreme temperatures in summer by shading a homemaking it feel up to 10°F cooler, the mature size of this tree is 50-80’ tall and wide. These trees can survive for centuries and moving a mature oak can be difficult due to their strong, deep taproot.
For Fragrance Select the Sweetbay Magnolia Says Tree Company in Ocean County
When it comes to adding beauty and fragrance to your zone 7 yard, the Sweetbay Magnolia is the tree for you. The leaves of the Sweetbay Magnolia are a deep green on top but show off a silvery underside when the leaves wave in the wind. These trees grow best in full sun and can reach sizes of 10-20 feet high and wide in a column shape. In late spring, creamy white flowers bloom releasing a lovely lemon scent. These sweet trees also produce bright red berries that attract wildlife like towhees, flickers, and vireo birds. If you prefer red or pink leaves, don’t worry because there is an array of magnolia trees that flourish in Ocean County, NJ including the Jane Magnolia and the Ann Magnolia.
For Windy Properties Use These Trees
Just as a mature oak can help cool your home in the summer, there are certain species of trees that can be used to help protect your home from chilling wind. Trees planted in a row in an area that help to reduce the effect of wind on a home or structure is known as a windbreak. One tree that works well for this according to this tree company in Ocean County is the Eastern Redcedar. Despite its name, this tree is not in the cedar family, but is actually a juniper. These evergreens provide a light scent and grows grayish-blue fruit. These resemble berries, but just as its name, these are misleading as well. These fruits are actually collections of cone scales that fuse together to form the “berry.” They are perfect for many areas due to their ability to tolerate salt, heat, and other adverse settings.
Don’t Know Which Tree to Plant? Ask Us, Your Neighborhood Tree Company in Ocean County!
When you need a tree to fulfill a specific need on your property and don’t know which tree to select, speaking with people in the tree industry will be your best source of information. Contact us today if you have questions about trees on your property or about trees you want to plant on your property.
Selecting the right company to provide any service for you or your home is an important decision. When you are searching through tree companies in Barnegat, there are certain qualities and features to keep an eye out for. While neglecting care for your trees altogether is the worst-case scenario, hiring the wrong company to provide that care is almost as bad. Trimming, pruning, and delimbing are more than just cutting branches off haphazardly. It takes precise planning and thought. When done wrong, tree care can actually harm a tree. Furthermore, safety is a great concern when it comes to tree service. This means that not only are experience and knowledge are important, proper licensing and insurance are equally as important.
Tree Companies in Barnegat Need Experience
This may seem like something that shouldn’t need to be said. Hiring a company with no experience in any industry is usually not a good idea. However, when it comes to tree care, there is no replacement for experience. No two jobs are ever the same. Whether it is limited access to the project area or proximity to residences where tree removal is necessary, every assignment has some type of hurdle or difficult spot. Making the wrong decision about these complications can lead to property damage and more importantly, injuries. Always investigate a company on sites like the Better Business Bureau and multiple customer review sites to get a better picture of customers experiences. Even companies that have been around for a long time does not mean they have an equivalent amount of experience. On top of experience, knowledge and training are vital as well.
Licensing and Insurance are Imperative
Tree service can be a dangerous job and requires the use of heavy machinery. For these reasons and more, proper licensing and insurance for tree companies in Barnegat is necessary. Ben Bivins Tree Experts specifically is a NJ Licensed Contractor, a Licensed Tree Care Operator, and carry an NJTC (New Jersey Tree Care) number. We also employ the proper divers for our heavy equipment and conduct all our jobs according to OSHA safety standards. Companies without the appropriate licensing and insurance coverage are lacking more than just a certification. These accolades are proof of education, training, and experience. According to the New Jersey Board of Tree Experts “… individuals may become Licensed Tree Experts (LTEs) or Licensed Tree Care Operators (LTCOs) by passing an examination and demonstrating good moral character.” To even take the exam, professionals must have a minimum of three years of experience.
Honesty is an Important Quality for Tree Companies in Barnegat
We always want to give our clients accurate information. We do not give prices for projects until we see the location for ourselves. Once we have reviewed the property and fully understand exactly what the homeowner wants can we accurately provide an estimate. “Trimming a few branches” can mean very different things to different people. This is why it is important for us to speak with our clients in depth about exactly what is wanted. Only then can we give you an accurate estimate, but also decide if what you want is actually best for the tree. Simply because you would love to remove all the branches of a tree all the way up to the top does not mean that it is a reasonable request. Trees can only stand so much injury at one time to be able to heal well.
Trustworthiness, honesty, experience, and certifications are all valuable qualities to search for in a tree service company. We hope that if you select us to take care of your trees, you’ll find we do it with care, professionalism, and safety. Contact us today to schedule your free quote!