FAQs

What should I look for in a tree company?
Why is it necessary for a tree company to have insurance?
Why should I prune my trees?
What if a tree needs to be removed, will my property be protected?
Why is it important to have a multi-service company?
What is a Certified Arborist?
What are some of the benefits of keeping or planting trees on my property?
What are some of the best trees to plant for Shade/ Flowers/ Color/ Care free?
How old are my trees?
Will this tree fall?

What should I look for in a tree company?

When you are looking for tree services, quality, reliability and experience are three
key factors to explore. Maltby has over 60 years of experience in the industry and
provides the full range of services from tree pruning and removal to landscapes /
hardscapes and stump grinding. Natural Tree and Lawn Care and Forest Floor are
two divisions of Maltby and Company that provide plant and lawn health care and
recycling services for communities throughout New England. Utilizing third party
reporting agencies such as The Better Business Bureau and “Angie’s List” and
seeking input from your local Town Tree Warden or Forester can be helpful tools
when searching for a professional company. Look for professional certifications and
licenses and, most importantly, experience and reputation. It is also important to look
for a company with an active and aggressive safety program. Maltby employees are
trained in safety and employ the most up to date safety technology. Our employees
are trained and licensed to look for and treat for pests and diseases It is very
important that any tree company you choose to do business with have all the
correct insurance in place and should be available to answer your questions
about any of these issues.

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Why is it necessary for a tree company to have insurance?

By its very nature, tree work is dangerous and should only be done by a professional.
Liability insurance is important because it protects you, the homeowner, and your
property from potential risk and damage. Workman’s compensation insurance
protects tree professionals while they are working on a job. When you are seeking
to hire a tree company, be sure to request proof of comprehensive insurance from
their insurance carrier before any work is started. If you have any doubts, call the
insurance carrier for verification.
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Why should I prune my trees?

Trees need to be pruned for a number of reasons including: safety, aesthetics
and tree health. Broken or dead branches can be dangerous if they fall -
oftentimes without warning, even on a calm day! If a tree’s branches grow too big
for the tree or are too close to your roof or chimney, they need to be pruned and
cleared to prevent them from damaging your home. From an aesthetic perspective,
pruning can help make a tree look better or provide you with a better view of your
property or horizon. If you are thinking about pruning a tree, be sure to use a
Certified Arborist. Unskilled and uneducated workers can damage your
trees and property.

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What if a tree needs to be removed, will my property be protected?

At Maltby, we take every precaution necessary to protect your property and
minimize any impact to the landscape. For example, our crews lay down
protective material over sensitive areas when necessary. Further, our foremen
and crews are extremely experienced in all types of removals and pruning
including hand work, aerial lift and crane work. Our clients constantly
compliment us by mentioning that it is almost impossible to tell we were
on their property other than to perform tree work!
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Why is it important to have a multi-service company?

There is a lot of shared knowledge in a company that can provide clients with
multiple services. At Maltby, we offer a full range of tree services, as well as
plant health care and recycling through our divisions Natural Tree and Lawn
Care and Forest Floor. Having a full range of services provides clients with a
one-stop-shop for getting the most enjoyment out of your outdoor home.
Our landscape installation crews build and plant beautiful outdoor retreats,
our plant health care division keeps your yard pest free and our tree crews
keep your property safe and beautiful for your family and guests. Multiple tree
and lawn care services provides ongoing maintenance of your outdoor home
and allows us to detect and resolve potential problems early on.

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What is a Certified Arborist?

A Certified Arborist has a broad base of knowledge about tree and woody plant care, pesticides, planting safety and related technical matters. In order to become a
Certified Arborist in Massachusetts, one must pass a difficult and lengthy exam
administered by the Massachusetts Arborists Association. The International
Society of Arboriculture offers a similarly difficult exam in the United States and
abroad. At Maltby, we employ many Certified Arborists as part of our commitment
to industry expertise and standards. Insist on hiring tree and plant health care
companies with these certifications when you are seeking expert services.
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What are some of the benefits of keeping or planting trees on my property?

There are many. The natural beauty that a tree brings to your outdoor home is
beyond measure. Seeing seasons turn through the changes in a tree, seeing
the leaves emerge during early spring, enjoying the beauty of the blooming
season and watching the tree as it prepares for winter reminds us of the
natural cycles in life. Planting a tree can be a wonderful experience. As you
care for the tree, as years pass and as you watch it grow it becomes a part
of your outdoor home and will eventually become an old friend.
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What are some of the best trees to plant for Shade/ Flowers/ Color/ Care free?

There are as many choices of trees to plant as there are people and places to
plant them. Depending on the look and feel of your outdoor home there are beautiful
flowering exotic varieties, evergreens which keep their green all year, trees that
provide fall color, trees that will grow very large that future generations may enjoy,
dwarf varieties that grow small to beautify special places; the choices are many.

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How old are my trees?

Trees, like us, have a life span. Depending on species and environment, trees
can live for hundreds of years. There are still many large trees alive today that
were living when our country was founded. Knowing the history of your outdoor
home will help you determine the age of your trees as some may be part of the
original landscape and others added later on. Unfortunately, the best way to
tell a tree’s age is to count the growth rings when it is cut down - something we
want to avoid!
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Will this tree fall?

Hazard assessment is one of the jobs of your arborist. As trees grow and age
they become subject to many stress factors that may affect their structural
integrity. It is important to have a certified arborist visit your outdoor home
and advise you of any possible danger from tree failure.