Spring has arrived and it seems like ages ago that we were summoning nominations from the Omaha community for our 5th annual Gift of Beautiful Trees program. Each year we select at least one nominee to receive up to $2,500 in FREE tree trimming or removal services. Over the course of the last five years, we've donated more than $30,000 in tree work to families in need. We all know trees can add significant value to our lives and homes, but they can require costly maintenance and we understand that proper tree care is often not budgeted for and is a luxury for many families. During the holiday season, we can't help but think about the stress some families might be enduring - trying to make ends meet and providing a memorable holiday for their loved ones. That's where we come in. Sure - it's just tree trimming, but we like to think of it less as a gift of manual labor and more as a gift of peace of mind and the comfort that you are seen and cared for by your community in times of need.

As always, I'd like to start by saying nothing gives me more faith in the power of community than watching nomination after nomination roll into my inbox every holiday season. Jeff and I read through each nomination and consider the degree of urgency of the project (is the tree dangerous?), whether or not the work can be completed within one day, the difficulty of the project (do we have the right resources?), and how dire the situation is (what is the person or family going through?).

This year we selected two families to receive the Gift of Beautiful Trees. We always respect the privacy of our recipients, which means we aren't always able to share their personal stories or identities. This year we asked only to share before and after photos of the projects with the public. No matter - we were grateful to be able to share our gifts and resources with these families, lighten their burdens, and spark hope by removing some dangerous and troublesome trees from their properties.

We are already looking forward to 2020 and our six year of giving back to our community! Follow us on Facebook for updates on next year's projects!

Hey, lookie there! March's Tree Care Industry Association magazine shines a light on the magic WOMEN are bringing to this male-dominated industry. It's not terribly uncommon to see husband-wife teams working together in the tree care world.

​Jeff and I have been running the business together for six years and while every marriage is a work in progress 'til death do they part, I've obtained some wisdom over the last several years about working with your spouse. I shared my thoughts below. Check it out! ~ Amy

Omaha, NE, 2020 - Arbor Aesthetics Tree Service is proud to announce that it has earned the home service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award (SSA). This award honors service professionals who have maintained exceptional service ratings and reviews on Angie’s List in 2019.
 
“Service pros that receive our Angie’s List Super Service Award represent the best  in our network, who are consistently making great customer service their mission,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “These pros have provided exceptional service to our members and absolutely deserve recognition for the exemplary customer service they exhibited in the past year.”
 
Angie’s List Super Service Award 2019 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include maintaining an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade and review period grade. The SSA winners must be in good standing with Angie’s List and undergo additional screening.
 
Arbor Aesthetics Tree Service has been listed on Angie’s List since 2007. This is the 10th year they have received this honor.
 
Service company ratings are updated continually on Angie’s List as new, verified consumer reviews are submitted. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in multiple fields ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality.
 
For over two decades Angie’s List has been a trusted name for connecting consumers to top-rated service professionals. Angie’s List provides unique tools and support designed to improve the local service experience for both consumers and service professionals.

​What are you looking for in a tree service? At Arbor Aesthetics, we're punctual, smart, strong, smooth, we clean up well, and we'll never leave you hanging. At Arbor Aesthetics, we love trees, we love each other, and we love our customers. We're the tree service of your dreams!

With ice forecasted in the Omaha area, it's likely your main concern is how your commute  might be impacted. Trees generally aren't at the forefronts of our minds until something bad happens - a broken branch, a split trunk, or in extreme cases, a tree lying on a roof.

While you're out salting your sidewalk and notice your tree's branches are coated in ice, there are more "DO'S" than "DON'TS" involved in keeping your tree healthy. (Hint: Prevention is key!) Let's get the short list out of the way first:
​

Simple. Trees coated in ice can be brittle and you'll do more harm than good. You can even damage a tree's circulatory system. While you might think the ice is weighing the tree down and should be removed, the branches are flexible and bent slowly to accommodate the extra weight. They should sustain this pressure without issue. Younger generally trees fare better in ice storms than older trees.

Now let's talk about what you can DO to increase your tree's resilience in an ice storm. Prevention is everything!
​

Yes, they might be called "evergreens," but not even conifers keep their needles forever. Why are they called evergreens? Because the tree holds onto its needles for longer than a year before letting them go. With new needles coming in, the tree appears to always be keeping its needles. It's not unlike your hair. Your hair is constantly falling out, but new hairs are also constantly growing in (thank goodness!) Needle drop sometimes happens without us even noticing, since it's the inner needles that fall. Needle drop in Eastern White Pines, like the one pictured above, tends to be more obvious than other species.

Here is a handy chart from the University of Nebraska's Backyard Farmer of how long common pine trees grown in Nebraska hold onto their needles:
​

If a tree is stressed from things like drought, root damage, insects or diseases, needle drop will be exacerbated and you'll want to work to reduce those stressors. That's what we're here for! A Certified Arborist can diagnose the issue or simply give you the reassurance you're looking for that your tree is healthy and happy just doin' it's thang. 

If your tree is starting to look like the photos below, you'll definitely need to investigate further. The trees below are suffering from Diplodia tip blight and Dothistroma needle blight - both of which can be remedied with a series of fungicide sprays in the spring. If you aren't sure, it never hurts to set up a free consultation to put your mind at ease when you're trying to protect your trees.
​