Letter from the CEO

This year we tried something new in the way we approached our company’s strategic planning for the future. We gathered our arborists, managers and key employees and got them involved in charting the direction of our company. It was the brainchild of my brother, Michael Almstead (VP), who also took the lead in planning, organizing and directing its execution. Our aim was to set yearly and long-term goals for our company and determine strategies for achieving them with input from our staff (see more on front page).

 

As I write this, we are finishing our lawn care applications for the year as well as performing annual seasonal inspections. It is a good time of season to detect various decay, fruiting bodies and structural defects in trees. If you haven’t scheduled a consultation yet, please do so at your earliest. It is a complimentary benefit we offer our customers. Your arborist will also assess on-going plant health care and lawn care programs to make any required adjustments for 2020.

 

As we move into winter, two important services we provide for your landscape are anti-desiccant applications (see article on back page) and winter pruning. There are several reasons to prune your trees during winter. Storms, as well as heavy snow and ice, can put a tremendous strain on tree branches so pruning (as well as cabling, bracing, and lightning protection) can reduce the risk of branch or tree failure (see article below). Pruning and tree removal can potentially take us less time in the winter when foliage is gone, and our equipment has easier access. We can pass this winter cost savings on to you. Please visit our web page at almstead.com/winterpruning for more information and to request winter pruning.

 

Finally, I am very pleased to say that the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) has renewed our accreditation for another 3 years. For customers, it is an important criterion for choosing a tree care company because it ensures an adherence to business ethics, technical competence and consumer satisfaction (see article here).

 

Have a wonderful holiday season!

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

Ken Almstead, CEO

International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist NY0335

Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ)

Organic Lawn Care Professional