Tag Archives: westchester tree

Tree Cable Inspection

Have you had tree cabling installed?  It might be time to call Westchester county’s leading tree care experts, Westchester Tree Life for a an inspection of cables in trees that were previously installed  to make  sure they are still in good working order.

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About Tree Cabling

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Cabling involves installing steel cables between major limbs, or leaders, to help support the tree and to reduce strain.  Cabling also lessens stress damage that can come from high winds, ice or snow weight.

Preventing Storm Damage

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Prepare for winter storms with help from Westchester Tree Life!  Asking a professional arborist to visit your property and inspect your trees to ensure they are healthy enough to withstand a storm can save a lot of stress.

Westchester Tree Life:  Tree Cabling Inspection

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A great way to prevent storm damage is with tree cabling.  Installing cabling can help reduce stress during strong winds and heavy snow; strengthening weak branches helps to ensure your tree’s longevity.  Made of extra high-strength steel, tree cables assist in limiting the movement of the tree’s supported branches, making them less likely to break and cause damage.

Stay safe and stress-free this upcoming season with assistance from Westchester Tree Life!  Call us today at (914) 238-0069 or request a consultation online here.

View all of Westchester Tree Life’s services here.

My “Farm to Table” Table

Original Article Featured in Inside Chappaqua

Article Written By:  Dana Y. Wu

01

In 2014, when my family and I moved to Kipp Street, two black walnut trees swayed precariously over the driveway and power lines of our farmhouse colonial built in the 1900s. Their roots were exposed in the shallow, allopathic soil and black walnuts the size of tennis balls rained down on us.

Reluctantly, we got the tree removal permit and called Bill Davies of Westchester Tree Life. He told us that the wood was valuable and offered to take the huge trunks to White Oak Farm in Yorktown for milling.

02

Jason Ballard (My Minds Design, Grafton, Vermont), a talented woodworker, had made built-ins and an antique barn beam mantle for our former house on Birch Lane. We asked if he could create an eight-foot dining table for the new house and he was thrilled to work with wood from our homegrown trees.

Bri Hart at White Oak Farm selected the best pieces for the table top for milling into nine foot planks. The wood was sawn to Jason’s specified dimensions and kiln dried for two months. When it was ready, Bri declared this was some of the best walnut he had ever seen. Serendipitously, another of Bri’s custom timber cuts was ready to head north and we happily piggybacked onto that delivery to get our 900 linear feet of walnut to Grafton.

03

Maggie Nielsen was helping us furnish our home, on land that was part of the extensive Kipp family holdings from the mid-1700s. She designed a casual dining room for daily homework, reading and meals by our busy family of six. It took several discussions and wood samples by mail to get the table’s vintage character, the stain and the finish figured out with Jason. Maggie had suggestions about the table’s base to match the tone we had set with the dining room’s new paint, windows and rug from Caravan Connection in Bedford Hills.

After hours of Jason’s expert craftsmanship, the finished table took up almost his entire workshop during the weeks to took to dry all 25 coats of his signature polish. He delivered it in January 2016, and we were so excited to see how its proportions, color and warm feel were all in perfect harmony with the 100 year old house.

The table had finally come home.

04

Our “farm to table” table soon will be joined with a beautifully handcrafted mirror, a sideboard and chairs, all made from this wood harvested from our property. They will become true family heirlooms. The organic, creative collaboration between Bill, Bri, Maggie and Jason brought the walnut trees that were growing outside into the heart of our home.

Dana Y. Wu, a Chappaqua mom of four, is an author, visual storyteller and local volunteer. Her not-for-profit management career includes experience at the New York Public Library. A life-long New Yorker, she graduated from Stuyvesant High School and Columbia University. She pursues her writing with the vibrant, creative community at the Jacob Burns Media Arts Center.

Read the original article here.  

Why Hire an Arborist?

Why hire an arborist?  Westchester County, New York’s tree care professionals at Westchester Tree Life are professionally trained to properly care for your trees.  Our team of arborists are properly trained to safely remove trees, provide an excellent plant health care plan and more!  Have a question about the safety and care about your trees in Westchester, New York?  Call Westchester Tree Life today:  (914) 238-0069.

Westchester Tree Life

Westchester tree photo submitted by Lauren Brois‎

Many people take the trees on their property for granted.  You may not really think about your trees on a day to day basis, or really pay much attention to them from one season to the next.  While you probably enjoy their shade in the summer or the privacy your evergreens provide, having your trees cared for or inspected by an arborist may not be at the top of your list of priorities.

Like most other aspects of home ownership, trees really benefit from a proactive approach.  Caring for trees properly helps avoid catastrophe down the road.  An arborist can advise you of trees that are in danger from rot, pests, or disease before these problems result in major damage.  That beautiful tree next to the driveway will certainly get your attention if it falls on your car during a storm or drops a large limb across the power lines.  An arborist will assess the health and stability of your trees and provide you with options for keeping your trees in good shape so they are less likely to succumb to violent weather or simply give way under their own weight and the effects of disease or invading insects.

Westchester Tree Life

Westchester tree photo submitted by Justin Cole Frawley‎

In addition to checking the health of your trees, an arborist can safely and expertly prune your trees.  Pruning helps contain the growth of trees, keeping them looking their best while ridding the tree of weak or dead branches.  Large trees can be risky to prune without the proper equipment or experience.  Rather than put yourself and your property at risk by taking on this kind of task yourself, trust the job to a certified, reputable arborist.

An arborist can also be an invaluable asset in planning your landscaping.  For the general homeowner, knowing which species of tree to plant and where to plan them can be a daunting task.  If your goal is to cut your heating or cooling costs, to have flowering trees throughout the season, to maintain privacy, or to enjoy fall colors, an arborist will be able to look at your property and help you choose the best trees to suit your needs.  In addition, an arborist will oversee the correct planting and placement of trees while also instructing you on their care and maintenance.

Westchester Tree Life

Westchester tree photo submitted by Alexander Fink

Sometimes, a tree on your property can interfere with structures or foundations.  This is another reason why an arborist is a good resource for planning what and where to plant.  If you find yourself with a tree whose roots are damaging your driveway or some other such issue, you may need to have the tree removed.  An arborist is ideal to consult for this task!  In addition to removing the tree, an arborist can assist you in choosing a more suitable replacement.

The trees on your property do much more than simply look pretty.  They provide shade and privacy for you and shelter for local wildlife.  Trees increase your property value and make your yard a more welcoming place to spend time.  Protecting and caring for the trees in your yard prevents larger, more expensive problems down the road and helps to maintain the value of your property.

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Submit your favorite Westchester tree photo to us here.

 

 

Reclaimed Wood DIY Projects

These reclaimed wood DIY projects are a great way to preserve a tree that meant a lot to you, reduce waste, and re-purpose old wood into a new, useful item!  Westchester Tree Life believes in always making environmentally-conscious decisions, especially when they directly involve wood!  Here are our favorite reclaimed wood diy projects:

Reclaimed Interior Design

1.  DIY Reclaimed Wood Headboard

Repurposed Headboard Westchester Tree Life

We love the idea of assembling pieces of wood into a beautiful new headboard!  This is a great way to give your bedroom an environmentally-friendly makeover without breaking the bank!

2.  New Shelves

Repurposed Closet Shelves Westchester Tree Life

Make your life a little more organized by repurposing that old wood into new shelves!  Not only does this project give your closet a new life, it makes storage simple!

3.  Rustic Kitchen Lighting

Repurposed Kitchen Lighting

Do you have wood from your old home that you want to work into your new interior design?  Recycle your wood into a rustic light fixture ideal for your cozy New England kitchen!

4.  Towel Rack

Repurposed Wood Towel Holder Westchester Tree Life

We love the idea of taking wood from an old palette and reworking it to create a towel rack!  This design is much easier than it looks to create; for a finished look, be sure to stain all of the pieces!

Repurposed Garden & Outdoor Design

1.  Garden Walkway

Repurposed Garden Path Westchester Tree Life

Repurposed wood gives a garden a personal touch.  Whether your wood is recycled from a favorite old tree that you had to have removed, or a wood pallet, this project is easy!

2.  Patio Swing

Repurposed Wood Swing Westchester Tree Life

Give your patio a fun swing crafted from recycled wood!

3.  Firewood Storage

Firewood Storage Westchester Tree Life

Prep your firewood for next winter with a firewood storage container!  This great DIY project will keep all of your firewood stacked and neat.

 

Check out more great DIY projects using reclaimed wood on our Pinterest board here.

March Contest

Have you entered Westchester Tree Life’s March Contest?  One lucky winner will receive our New York Nature Bundle!

Westchester Tree Life

The New York Nature Bundle includes:

  • Three bundles of split firewood

  • One pint of New York Maple Syrup

  • Local New York honey

 

To Enter:

Post your favorite tree in Westchester on our Facebook or Instagram page!

Westchester Tree Life

Contest ends Wednesday, April 1st, 2015!