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

We're honored to again be featured in the 2019 edition of Faces of Omaha. This publication, by Omaha Magazine, introduces the "faces" of local industry leaders and experts who stand ready to serve the Omaha community.

Can you think of other reasons to vote us Best of Omaha? Comment below - we'd love to hear your thoughts!

Remember the Archer family? They were one our three 2017 Gift of Beautiful Trees recipients, and we recently cut their split maple tree down that was heavily damaged in last June's tornadoes. (You can read more about their story here). Not long after we removed that tree, Cub Scout Troop 1885 was looking for an opportunity to plant a tree for a service project and they heard about the Archers through our Gift of Beautiful Trees charity program. The perfect match!

What to plant?
When clients and friends ask us, "What should I plant?" we always refer them to the ReTree Nebraska's list of 17 Trees for 2017. This is a great list of native or regionally adapted trees that do well in the Great Plains. And, when we can, we send our clients over to our good friends at Great Plains Nursery in Weston, NE where they have an amazing selection of high quality trees, most of which are grown from local seed sources. They take incredible care in ensuring their trees grow fibrous root systems, which lead to the best planting outcomes. Great Plains Nursery was so generous to offer to donate a tree to the Archer family. They chose a Northern Catalpa (my personal favorite!) which will be provide good shade over their house and their lovely June flowers will not only beautify their neighborhood, but also attract pollinators. What's not to love about a Catalpa? (Can you tell it's my favorite?)

Call in the troops!
With summer fast approaching, we needed to beat the heat and get the tree in ground soon. On May 8th, Troop 1885 met at the Archer's house, ready to dig! Okay, maybe Jeff did most of the digging. But we had plenty of helpers to move soil back into the hole and to water it in!

The scouts learned many tree planting tips and techniques. They got to see and feel the difference between fibrous roots (which take up water and nutrients), and structural roots (which give the tree stability). They got to see what a high quality tree looks like from a nursery that uses RootMaker bags, which prevent circling roots and encourage fibrous root systems. They learned how to plant a tree at the proper depth so as not to bury the root flare. They even learned how to properly mulch around the tree, and why mulching is important for protecting the trunk from weed trimmers and mowers, and regulating soil temperature and moisture. (Remember, Troop 1885: No mulch volcanos!)

There's no better way to teach the next generation of tree huggers than to give them hands on experience. We're honored that our community has continued to bless the Archer family with their generosity and kindness, and this new tree will continue to give back for decades to come. ​

We wrapped up our third annual Gift of Beautiful Trees program this month, providing tree trimming and removal services to THREE families in need this year. We were overwhelmed this year with the number of applications we received, and we couldn't just pick one family. We enjoyed reading each and every story that came through and were inspired and touched by how our community is full of so many good people seeking to care of their neighbors, friends and family. Trees truly are a living, breathing component of our community that tie us all together. Keep up the good work, Omaha! 

Another holiday season has passed, and another Omaha family has been given the Gift of Beautiful Trees! This is the second year of our charity program where we ask the community to submit nominations for their deserving neighbors, colleagues, families and friends to receive up to $2,500 in free tree trimming and removal services. While it may not seem like much, we truly believe that, "the meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away."

​Our 2016 Gift of Beautiful Trees recipient, Jill, was nominated anonymously by a neighbor who new of Jill's recent battle with thyroid cancer. Jill had a declining ash tree in her front yard that needed to be removed, and two red oak trees that had storm damage that were in need of a good trim.