Las Vegas Tree Professionals Gear Up for Safety

    

Las Vegas tree professionals at First Choice Tree Service are "tying the knot" with safety.  The tree service company's crew, led by Safety Director, Leon Pera, has been undergoing a series of classes to aide them in their efficiency in tree climbing and safety.  Being accredited by the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), the company strives to maintain its safety standards and lead the way in Southern Nevada.

"Learning the names of the knots is as equally important as knowing how to tie them and use them," says Pera. "It's all about educating our employees and teaching them assessment techniques for emergencies."

The crew has undergone first aid and CPR courses and a series of hands-on training in the areas of aerial rescue training and advanced tree climber training.

"We teach them how to use the equipment that they already have with them, to perform tree rescues," says Pera.  "Let's say if a team member is suffering from dehydration and is unable to come down, our own on-site team is capable and equipped to put together a rescue team and efficiently bring the person down while medical help is on its way."

Training at First Choice Tree Service results in certification, but moreover efficiency on the job, skilled professionalism and confidence.

"Seeing our company grow to the next level of expertise is a place that we've wanted to be for years," says Tony Valenti, owner of First Choice Tree Service. "We've set high expectations to be the best in Las Vegas, and it feels great to know that everyone is on board to achieve success."

Planting a tree? Think location!

So you've found yourself at the nursery and spotted a tree you like.  Before you decide to purchase it, make sure you think about where you're going to plant it.

Similar to bringing home a new pet, you have to consider its long-term needs and whether you'll be able to provide for it.  The most common mistake is choosing a tree that is larger than the space which it is to be planted - much like bringing home a St. Bernard dog into your apartment complex with a small balcony.  You get the picture! 

Squeezing a tree into an area that would eventually need plenty of room to grow can create problems years down the road.  

Large-scale trees such as eucalyptus, ash varieties, Chinese pistache, cottonwood and pine require a tremendous amount of space to grow.  It is recommended to plant them 20 feet away from structures. Also, large deciduous trees can leave large amounts of leaves dropped each season that can affect the health and vitality of understory plants, which at one time received full sun and is now shaded from the tree's canopy.

Additionally, large deciduous trees drop a tremendous amount of leaves, leaving you with a more challenging issue of maintaining your landscape.

"Ample root space is going to be critical," says Sean Knapik, certified arborist at First Choice Tree Service.  "In addition, not all trees at your local nursery are suitable for your landscape based on soil and light requirements." 

Smart choices for smaller spaces that thrive in the desert southwest  include Australian bottle, crape myrtle, chaste, Texas mountain laurel and Japanese blueberry.

Be smart about the location of your tree and how it can benefit you  - besides beauty.  Planting deciduous trees with southern and western exposure provides shade during warm summer months and sun during the winter.

For more information about tree care, visit First Choice Tree Service and remember, it takes a lifetime to grow a beautiful tree and 10 minutes to ruin it.

Image courtesy of cinemaliberated.com