Today is Squirrel Appreciation Day! Squirrels are easy to love for their cunning personalities and cuteness, but they can just as easily become a nuisance when they turn to your trees for nutrition and habitat. Nevertheless, squirrels play an important role in our ecosystem and we can learn to coexist in harmony!
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The tender buds of a growing tree limb are a tasty treat for squirrels, but it can stunt the growth a tree and cause disfigurement. Generally speaking, this type of damage is only a nuisance and control is generally not needed.
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In the United States, it's best to trim your trees between November and January to avoid nesting seasons. Of course, if the tree trimming must take place during nesting, our arborists are careful not to disturb nests. Plenty of foliage should be left around the nests for their protection from predators and the elements.
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Are squirrels finding their way into your home? They can easily jump up to 10 feet from a tree onto your roof and find their way into attics, crawl spaces and chimneys to seek warmth and protection. Let your arborist know if your objective is to prevent this from happening and your tree can be trimmed to clear the house by more than 10 feet. Of course, our best advice is to find where the squirrels are entering and secure the openings.
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Check us out in the Midlands Business Journal talking about our growth in 2020 and our future plans. Regarding our customer experience, Jeff says, “From the first phone call into the office to the last twig raked from the yard, it is a beautiful experience because it is just so unbelievably the way it is supposed to be. It is friendly, it is timely, and there is communication all the way through.”​​

READ HERE:
https://issuu.com/mbj1/docs/mbj_december-25-2020-vol-46-no-52?fbclid=IwAR3dXJiz-GgU4UuouNpH484ZAq0rzk1DK24awqu62OYamvcfVMJ1WSDoW80

OMAHA TREE CARE COMPANY BECOMES SECOND IN NEBRASKA TO EARN ACCREDITATION
Program helps consumers find high-quality tree care companies
 
Arbor Aesthetics Tree Service, a residential tree care company located in Omaha, Nebraska has been accredited under a new Tree Care Company Accreditation program administered by the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) and built on the threefold foundation of ethics, quality, and consumer confidence.
 
The new program represents the only business practices and compliance audit process in the tree care industry. Under the process, businesses undergo extensive review of professional practices aimed at safeguarding consumers.  The review includes:
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► best business practices
► ethical business conduct
► formal training and certification of employees
► compliance with industry standards
► consumer satisfaction
► adherence to safety standards
► insurance coverage
 
TCIA Accreditation means Arbor Aesthetics adheres to all the accreditation standards and has undergone a rigorous application process.  TCIA verified this by conducting an on-site audit of Arbor Aesthetics.
 
TCIA Accreditation for Arbor Aesthetics is in effect for a period of three years, with renewal check-ups required every year.  The annual renewal ensures that the required number of certified arborists are still on staff, that the company is still properly insured and that the company has a good safety and consumer satisfaction rating.  The company is re-accredited every three years.
 
According to TCIA president Mark Garvin, “TCIA Accreditation provides consumers a way to find tree care companies that are trustworthy in their business and tree care practices.  Our TCIA Accreditation program is the only one of its kind in America and will give consumers peace of mind.”
 
The process of becoming accredited is no easy task, according to Amy Grewe, President. “The process is incredibly thorough. They left no stone unturned,” states Grewe. “Jeff and I are pleased that in our 15th year in business, we have finally been recognized as one of the best tree care companies around, joining only one other accredited company in Nebraska.
 
Garvin echoes that sentiment. “Arbor Aesthetics has made a commitment to excellence in all facets of its business. I applaud their efforts.”

Dear Jeff,
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It's been 15 years since you started Arbor Aesthetics with a handsaw, a ladder, and a borrowed pickup truck. With incredible courage, you followed a spark in your soul and abandoned the safety of your college education in pursuit of something more meaningful. The journey has not always been easy, and the growth has not always been linear, but your grit and determination have remained steadfast, and that is how your business became a "15-year overnight success."

You've proven that the American Dream is a real thing: turning passion into enterprise and creating opportunity with your own two hands. Aside from building a successful business, I am in awe of the personal growth that I've witnessed since joining Arbor Aesthetics six years ago. Day after day, you step outside of your comfort zone (and sometimes we have to push each other there), seek truth and understanding in the way you lead and show up for your people, and best of all - you drag every single one of us along with you to become a better version of ourselves. You are wise, passionate and inspiring. We are all better because of Arbor Aesthetics. Our company vision says it best: We're Better Together.

Thank you for trusting me and having me along on this journey and for going along with my crazy ideas. Thank you for being the captain of our ship.

Your wife and business partner,
Amy

Is it time to say goodbye to your ash tree? We are THRILLED to announce our new FREE ash tree replacement program! As the Emerald Ash Borer population ramps up over the coming years, many homeowners will choose not to treat their ash tree, and that's okay. Not every ash tree SHOULD be treated. Regardless, losing a tree is sad, and we're seizing this opportunity to increase the diversity of Omaha's community forest to enhance its ecological value and safeguard against future invasive insects and diseases.

If you plan to remove your ash tree, do it soon. Don't wait until it's dead or starts to decline. If we remove it for you, we'll replace it for FREE with your choice of eight native, locally grown species from our friends at Great Plains Nursery.

​Mimosa webworms are web-building caterpillars that infest honeylocust and mimosa trees. If you're seeing brown clusters of leaves covered in webs, and even worms coming down from the tree on strands of silk, you're seeing the season's first generation of caterpillars.

We recommend spraying NOW to address the second (often larger) generation of caterpillars that will feed into September and cause significant damage.
 
What trees are at risk?
Honeylocust and mimosa (the tree, not the drink).

How is it treated?
We apply an insecticidal foliar spray to the canopy of the tree at high pressure to penetrate the webs.

How can I prevent this next year?
Next year, we recommend a two-spray series: first in June to address the first generation, and second in August to address the second generation. The first spray in June is most effective, since it is applied before the webs are formed, and will also help significantly reduce the population of the second generation.

No, it's not because our kids are cute (but they kind of are, aren't they?), or for bragging rights. It's more than being able to put the Best of Omaha logo on our trucks.

We're asking for your vote so that you can help fellow Omahans find quality tree services performed by Certified Arborists who stand behind their work. It's hard to find contractors who care. We're a small, family-owned, grassroots business. We take good care of our staff so they can support their families. We do things the right way, not the easy way. We give back to our community, and we're always looking for ways to leave Omaha's urban forest better than how we found it. You can support our growth and our mission to create connections through trees by casting your vote.

Larvae are active June through August. Sprays are most effective when before the larvae are protected by their cases, so the earlier in the season, the better. 
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