What is it that makes some trees in the Peninsula appear so unlabored in their beauty and others a tangle? You may be fond of the mature specimens on your property yet have misgivings about making a bad cut. Or perhaps you want to know the difference between a hasty chop and true tree care.

You will find the answers here. We at Maguire Tree Care, Inc. put in decades tending to trees all over the SF Peninsula and are happy to put our knowledge to use. For a conversation with an arborist about your trees, (650) 362-8918 is the number to put us on the phone with.

Paul Maguire started our family firm in 1999 with residential estates in the South Bay and the Peninsula in mind, to do fine pruning and preserve trees. In the course of doing so we have picked up a thing or two we like to share.

Fine Pruning: An Art Form

It is easy to think of tree pruning as nothing more than cutting away branches. A fine pruner sees it as something of an art; there is an intention to every cut, much as a sculptor would approach a piece of marble.

The results of good fine pruning are plain to see:

• New growth where it should be
• Better structure and form
• More light and air in the canopy
• Fewer weak limbs to fail
• The continued beauty and health of a mature tree

Precision is key since the tree will be living with the consequences for years. Do it right and it will heal without issue; a sloppily done job can lead to decay.

Centuries of Life Are Possible

A lot of homeowners are taken aback to learn that with the proper attention a tree can be thriving for well in excess of a century. Then there are the oaks and other heritage trees on a Peninsula estate that predate the house they put shade over.

Of course one does not get that kind of longevity by chance. Drought, pests and disease are a fact of life for any tree, as is compacted soil. Our certified arborists practice plant health care to counter those stresses and keep a tree in good standing for the next generation, examining everything from crown to root.

An Arborist Will Spot What You Cannot

Where you see a healthy green leaf, an ISA Certified Arborist will pick up on trouble in its early stages. It is the training that counts. All of our team members hold ISA certification and as a TCIA accredited company, Maguire Tree Care works to the industry’s standards of safety and tree health. We are fully licensed and insured for your peace of mind.

Pruning Is Not One Size Fits All

There is a notion you must prune in a given season. In truth it is not so simple. What you are trying to achieve and the species of tree in question will dictate when to do it.

For instance:

• Dormant trees in late winter are ideal for some
• With certain flowering trees you wait until after the bloom
• Hazardous or dead wood is no respecter of time
• Storm damage demands to be dealt with forthwith

Which brings us to our 24/7 emergency service in the Peninsula and South Bay. A tree is not going to hold off dropping a limb until business hours.

Preservation Is About More Than the Tree

An established tree is an asset in more ways than one. It puts value on a property, cools it down and in turn the bills, is home to wildlife and gives a place its character. And a heritage tree gone is not one you will see again in your lifetime. But with steady plant health care and a considered hand with the pruning shears, the trees you have can be with you for the long haul. That has been what we do in Palo Alto, Woodside, Atherton, Los Altos, Menlo Park and elsewhere since 1999.

We Make It Easy to Talk to an Arborist

Our certified arborists are at your disposal if you have questions on fine pruning or are looking to plan for the future. We give free estimates and are in the office 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday, though our emergency line is open around the clock.

Get in touch with Maguire Tree Care, Inc. at (650) 362-8918 and we will see to it your trees are in good hands for the decades ahead.