Ape's Tree Service London Ontario - Professional Tree Care Maintenance

Proactive tree care and maintenance will insure your trees deliver long term property value.

Ape’s Tree Service is based in London, Ontario and offers professional care, maintenance, and tree removal services. On any given day, we can be found pruning tree limbs, chipping brush piles, hedge trimming, or cutting down trees. We also might be clearing a woodlot for a developer, stump grinding, or responding to emergency storm damage – for us, it is all in a good days work! Areas we service include: London, Woodstock, Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo, as well as other towns and rural areas across this region of southwest Ontario. Our knowledge, skill, and training, can help keep your trees and hedges, healthy and attractive. Call today to schedule a free quote!

Phone: 519-317-6493

Proactive tree management contributes to a tree developing a strong, healthy structure.

A lack of planning and care, early in a trees life cycle, can result in higher costs of maintaining tree health in the future. Timely pruning of storm damaged limbs, crossed or broken branches, co-dominant leaders, tight branch unions, and rotted wood is crucial. Improper pruning practices can permanently disfigure a tree – at times causing irreparable damage. For example: Cuts made while pruning a tree need to be made just outside the branch collar, or the wound will not heal optimally. They can also be the cause of premature disease or injury, resulting in an unhealthy or dead tree which has to be removed.

Tree care begins the moment the decision is made to plant a tree.

A stately, colourful tree on your property can be of great value. Alternatively, unsightly trees planted in the wrong location, showing little care, can be a significant liability. Careful consideration will determine a planting location which promotes a strong, healthy environment for your trees growth. Application of mulch around the base will provide protection for the trunk of the tree as well as conserving moisture within the root zone. Regular assessment of the trunk and canopy structure facilitates timely response to insects, disease, or necessary pruning, as may be required.

Would you like to know more about caring for your trees?

Continue reading to gain insight about where to plant, educational information about differentiating tree features, pointers on tree inspection and assessment, and more!

What is a good location for my tree?

A common reason for cutting down a tree is that it was planted in the wrong place. Sadly, in many situations, this could have been prevented with a little planning. Beautiful trees get installed into areas that are not suitable for them.

Examples of trees planted in a poor location:

(1) Planting a tree too close to a house can damage the foundation or cause damage to the trunk or branches of the tree as it matures.

(2) The roots of a large shade tree planted close to an in-ground pool can damage or destroy the concrete walkway, pool liner, and plumbing. Additional time and labour may be required to clean fallen leaves, flowers, and twigs from the pool surface. There could also be extra heating and chemical costs to keep the water in pristine condition.

(3) Canopy limbs and branches may grow into surrounding utility lines such as hydro lines or telephone or cable television wires. Electrical power lines can short into tree branches and pose a danger to anyone climbing or working around the tree.

There are many more aspects that should be taken into consideration such as: tree and root proximity to underground utilities, driveways, city streets, roadways, and sidewalks, etc.

A little forethought can significantly reduce future costs of tree maintenance and may save a tree!

What kind of tree should I plant?

This question about trees is not quickly answered. Primary considerations should include the purpose the tree will fulfill in the landscape, and the amount of space available for the canopy and root structures. The soil type, quality, compaction, and moisture content should be considered as well.

First – What is the role the tree will fill? Is it strictly cosmetic? Will it create privacy? You may want it for a windbreak, shade, or aesthetics. A cedar hedge can be a great option for privacy or an effective windbreak, but may take years to mature to the point where it comfortably does the job. In this case an alternative choice may be pyramidal Oak, Beech, or Hornbeam. Many Maple trees provide wonderful colours in the fall, but may produce such dense shade that it is difficult to grow grass underneath. Alternatively, a Honey Locust Tree will allow filtered sunlight through its canopy while still providing a nice yellow fall leaf colour. The variety of tree species available in south west Ontario allows for many alternatives, making it possible to find the perfect tree for almost every location. We have the advantage of a climate to which many trees adapt even if they are not native species.
Second – How much space is available? Assess the area available for the tree canopy and consider what amount of space the tree will need at its mature size. Tree roots must not be forgotten either. The root structure of a tree directly correlates to tree health as it supplies water and nutrients to the trunk, branches, and leaves. Not only can the roots of a tree damage surrounding infrastructure, but they can be injured and stunted by inadequate space in which to grow.
This brings us to the third point. What are soil conditions in the planting area? Most trees will not tolerate excess moisture in the earth around their root zone. Trees require soil structures that not only provide water, minerals, and nutrients, but also appropriate levels of oxygen. That is right! - Tree roots 'breathe'. Because of this, soils that are too heavily compacted or waterlogged, become death traps; slowly suffocating the tree, causing it to die. A strong, healthy tree is dependent upon a vibrant root system.

After these questions are taken into consideration you can proceed to find a tree which suites the purpose and has every advantage to enjoy a long life.

What kinds of trees are available?

Evergreen vs. Deciduous is a commonly noted difference between trees. Evergreen trees keep their foliage year round, through all seasons. For this reason evergreens like Spruce and Cedar trees are often used as windbreaks and privacy screening. Two principle distinctions between evergreens would be needle or scale bearing specimens, and broadleaf plants. In Ontario, broadleaf evergreens are mainly relegated to shrub and ornamental tree categories. Needle and scale bearing evergreen trees tend to grow much larger in height and breadth. Spruce, Pine, Hemlock, and Fir trees are evergreen conifers that commonly grow 50 to 100 feet tall. The Eastern White Pine Tree is Ontario’s Provincial Tree and is known to grow over 130 feet tall!

Deciduous trees predominantly bear broadleaf foliage. Extensive variations exist allowing you to choose between leaf colour and variegation, light filtration, growth habits, canopy dimensions, branching and structure, and the list goes on. As always, there are exceptions to the rule, so we also have trees known as deciduous conifers. An example is the Tamarack Larch - the only deciduous conifer which is native to Ontario. Take the time to do a little research before making your choice. The right tree, (example: a stately Oak or a colourful Maple tree), in a thoughtfully chosen location and professionally cared for, can contribute invaluable splendour and character to a property.

What can I do to care for my trees?

Watering, mulching, and regular inspection of the tree for health and structure, etc., are all things a homeowner can do to take care of their trees. Here are some pointers that may help!

· Regularly assess soil conditions within the root zone for adequate levels of moisture.

· Young trees should be supported with stakes and ties in such a manner as to offer protection from abnormal conditions such as high winds.

· Protect the trunk of your tree from being injured by lawn care equipment, like a mower or line trimmer, or other types of mechanical damage.

· A mulched area around the base of the tree trunk can help keep the roots cool and preserve moisture during dry summer months, as well as providing a buffer zone from mechanical damage. Be sure to keep mulch from being piled up around the base of the tree as this can damage the bark.

· Soil samples can be collected and analyzed for nutrient content, allowing a beneficial supplementation utilizing organic or industrial fertilizers.

· Regularly inspect your trees for health indicators. Discoloured or malformed leaves can be an early warning system, letting you know that something is wrong. Fall colours beginning earlier than neighbouring trees of the same species, is how a tree shows it is being stressed.

· Watch out for twin trunks or co-dominant stems and branches. These are a major cause of many catastrophic tree failures. As the two trunks or stems grow together, bark gets trapped in between, keeping the wood fibres from forming a strong union. The tree continues to mature, but the included bark is a harbour for pests, rot, and disease. Water filters down into these locations, and freezes during sub-zero temperatures. This creates a powerful, wedge-like force, forcing the wood fibres apart and guaranteeing structural failure.

· Keep an eye on branches and canopy growth that could become a problem in the future. The sooner these can be addressed, the healthier it is for the tree.

· Look out for crossing branches. These will wear away at each other until they have penetrated the bark and cambium layers of one or both limbs. Not only will this cause compromised structure, but insects and disease are always ready to enter when given such an opportune environment.

· A careful assessment of the canopy should be made following a storm event. Hurricanes and tornadoes are not the only time trees get damaged. High winds of any type always pose a risk to trees. Lightening can shatter an entire tree or merely leave scars in the bark as high voltage currents travel through to reach the ground. Ice storms overload limbs and branches more than they are structurally capable to bear. Wood tension fibres can delaminate from compression fibres causing a lateral separation along the length of the limb. Tension fibres can also fail completely resulting in parts of the tree being broken and falling to the ground. Remember that broken branches do not always fall all the way to the earth, and may still be aloft in the tree. These are called hangers or widow makers within the forestry industry. Safety should always be of primary importance! Be Careful!

While these tree care guide pointers are by no means exhaustive, they should get you started in the right direction. If we can be of service, please do not hesitate to send us an email, or give us a call. Ape's Tree Service is here to help you along the way.

Our email is: info@apestreeservice.ca

Call us at: 519-317-6493

Fill out our contact form here.

When do I need to hire an arborist?

There will be times when your tree needs pruning or other forms of care and maintenance that you do not have the desire, tools, or skill to provide. Often consideration for personal safety is the motivating factor in calling in a professional tree care company. Our climbing arborists have the knowledge and expertise that enable us to care for your trees and to insure that all aspects of tree maintenance, and care provided, are performed in a professional, safe, and responsible manner.

What if I have a tree which is dead or dangerous?

While we wish every tree could live forever, we understand that there are times and circumstances where trees need to be removed. Ape's Tree Service has proved that we are capable of removing even the most difficult and dangerous trees. You may want a large tree removed from a difficult location, but you also want to know that there will not be surrounding property damaged in the process. Ape's Tree Service personnel have the experience, the training, and the tools, to take down your tree by climbing a rope and utilizing advanced rigging techniques. We are also equipped to use a bucket truck and rig out branches, limbs, and tree trunks with a crane.

We own the stump grinding equipment we need to remove stumps and roots of all sizes, even in difficult areas, as efficiently as possible.

Call us today!

519-317-6493

Ape's Tree Service Employee interacting with customers

Ape's Tree Service seeks to continually earn the ongoing respect of our customers.

Customer reviews are a great way to educate yourself about your neighbor's experiences with tree service companies. Reviews customers have left on various websites like Google, show that Ape's Tree Service provides trained, expert, tree care services. From the first call, to the first cut, to the final cleanup, we seek to provide a professional, enjoyable experience with our customers!

Call us now: 519-317-6493