Author: Brian Whitmore

Brian works at Big Foot Tree Service in Wayne, NJ offering a variety of services including tree cutting, trimming and stump removal.

How to Make Your Yard Look Great This Summer

Summer Landscaping Tips

How can you make your yard look great this summer? Well, it’s a good idea to do some trimming to tame nature a bit. For instance, if you have trees with dead hanging limbs on them, cut those off. Prune trees and bushes so they’re not out of control. You’ll especially want to pay attention… Read more »

An Interesting Use for Dead Trees

If you think about it, there are millions of dead trees around the world right now. What if those dead trees could be turned into renewable energy to power our homes, communities and more? Interestingly, an energy company in California is doing this– turning dead tree debris into renewable energy. Pacific Gas and Electric Company… Read more »

How to Make Your Lawn Look Nice After Winter

Winter was kind of mild, which is a good thing. That said, there were still times when snow and ice dominated the New Jersey landscape these past few months. And, as usual, many people’s lawns and yards look a little worse for wear because winter is, in general, a rough season. As spring comes along,… Read more »

How Does Freezing Rain Affect Trees?

If you lived in Buffalo, New York in October 2006, you’d have experienced “the October Storm” that saw hail and ice pellets hit trees with the leaves still on them. This early October “surprise” involved numerous downed trees and power lines. 400,000 people were left without power for several days. The National Guard had to… Read more »

Should You Prune Trees in the Winter?

Winter is coming and that means there’ll be ice, snow and slush on the ground. Though most people tend to spend a lot of time indoors each winter, especially in New Jersey when the temperature dips below freezing, some people choose to be outdoors for pursuits like cross-country skiing, sledding, and… pruning trees. Wait a… Read more »

Tips for Preparing Your Landscape for Fall

As the leaves change color on the trees and eventually fall off, it’ll soon be winter. What can you do to prep your landscape for autumn and the season that follows? First, consider aerating compressed soil in your yard. You can use a garden fork or a walk-behind aerator to loosen up the soil. This… Read more »

Methods for Removing a Tree Stump

Tree stumps are an eye sore and can get in the way of landscaping and enjoying your yard. A leftover stump might not bother some people, but if you prefer to have it removed, here are a few ways to do so. You can try several methods for removing a stump; some may not work… Read more »

Do You Need A Permit To Remove A Tree In New Jersey?

If there is a tree on your property that is a nuisance or a threat to safety, there are several options available to remove it; however, you often need to obtain permission to do so due to state regulations. As we all know, trees are vital to our environment and we risk great harm if… Read more »

Why You Should Hire a Professional to Remove a Tree Stump

Tree stumps in our yards can become real eyesores that we want to be removed as soon as possible. You could go out and try to remove it yourself but that can become very time-consuming, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s why you are better off hiring a professional to remove that… Read more »

Why Tree Stump Removal is the Smart Play

Trees come with many benefits, such as adding aesthetic appeal to a home, providing the comfort of shade and privacy from onlookers. However, there are many instances where trees in the yard are more burden than benefit, especially if all that’s left is a stump. If you have gotten to this point of being tired… Read more »

Caring for a Tree Before and After a Storm

Storms can cause a considerable amount of damage to trees and if they are on your home’s property, they can lead to home damage as well. That’s why as a homeowner it’s imperative to know what do to with a tree before and after a storm. Here are some tips to help. Before It’s a… Read more »

Things to Ask When Hiring a Tree Care Specialist

When we get work done on our home, we want to make sure we are getting the right people for the job. That’s why it’s important to ask the right questions before anything is made official. However, when it comes to tree care service, many of us might not know the right questions to ask…. Read more »

What is an Arborist?

There are many professions that work with trees, including loggers and foresters. However, not many people know of the profession, nor what it is they do. An arborist is someone who practices arboriculture, which is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, and other perennial woody plants. So where some professions might just… Read more »

How Often Should You Have A Tree Trimmed?

One component of landscaping that sometimes goes left untouched is tree trimming. Trimming trees not only keeps your yard looking great, it also preserves the health and longevity of the tree. Tree overgrowth and branches that hang loosely around a tree’s trunk pose a safety concern, especially for the little people in your home who… Read more »

Common Mistake People Make When Landscaping Their Lawn

Landscaping seems to be both an art and a science, doesn’t it? For most of us, we’re kind of lost when it comes to landscaping. We can choose to hire a professional landscaper or do it ourselves. There are common landscaping mistakes that do-it-yourselfers often make. First, people tend to have good intentions but they… Read more »

What are Cable and Brace Rods Used For?

When Big Foot Tree Service works on trees, it’s not unusual to see cable and brace rods used to help support their structure. Considering that trees have a lot of parts to them, some of which may be weak to the point of wanting to fall off or down, thus hurting somebody or something in… Read more »

Things That Could Go Wrong When Cutting Down Your Own Trees

Cutting down your own trees is something you could do, but do you really want to do it yourself? First of all, most of us do not have the time, tools or knowledge necessary to cut down trees on our property. What if some high-up branches need to be removed first? How are you going… Read more »

Make the Safe Decision When Debating Tree Removal

We humans certainly get attached to things, including trees. There’s something about trees that make them feel like part of the family. Sure, they don’t talk, walk or think, but they’re there for us, silently living nearby, giving us shade from the sun, protection from the wind, and, of course, a view of natural beauty… Read more »

Signs Your Tree has Expired

How do you know if your tree is dead? One way to check is to scratch the bark on the shoots of your tree using your thumbnail or a knife. Stems with green under the bark are still alive, while those with brown under the bark are dead. Other telltale signs of dead trees can… Read more »

An Interesting Tree Stump Vantage Point

As we recently celebrated Earth Day (April 22nd), it got us thinking about tree stumps. Did you know there’s a photographer named Joe Freeman who did a project called “Clearcut” showcasing aging tree stumps at the historical Snoqualmie Pass in Washington State? Why would a photographer want to take pictures of old stumps? Freeman discovered… Read more »

Will Tree Stumps Grow Back?

Oftentimes you’ll have that one tree or bush in the yard that annoys you. So, you cut it down as best as you can, to the bottom leaving just a stump. You think you’ve conquered it. However, stumps can and do “grow back.” Yikes! It’s NOT common for evergreen coniferous shrubs and trees to grow… Read more »

Tips for Getting Your Property Ready for Spring

Springtime is a time of new beginnings. Leaves sprout on formerly dormant trees. Flowers pop up out of the ground. Birds can be heard chirping among the trees and bushes in your neighborhood. After a dark and cold winter, Spring brings with it warmer weather, sunshine, and new life. If you’re like most people, you… Read more »

How to Get Your Property Ready For Spring

Springtime is a time of new beginnings. Leaves sprout on formerly dormant trees. Flowers pop up out of the ground. Birds can be heard chirping among the trees and bushes in your neighborhood. After a dark and cold winter, Spring brings with it warmer weather, sunshine, and new life. If you’re like most people, you… Read more »