Warden Tree Service

05/21/2026

Tenacious Resilient Enduring Ecosystem

04/28/2026

Nelson's Japanese garden is really showing off.

03/28/2026

We finished the first week of work of the 2026 season with this tricky Pinus contorta removal in Proctor. Welcome Sonny Telecky to the Warden team!

We are booking up fast this spring, with our next available dates now in May. If you have wood in a tight spot, don't hesitate to reach out! 😉

10/11/2025

This is why FireSmarting your property is critical. Cedar hedges pose a hazard to structures if planted in an inappropriate location and not properly managed.

09/12/2025

Spot the difference! Oftentimes the best tool in the arborist box is the humble tarp. Protecting precious landscaping (and the koi fish in this pond) can be as easy as a couple 2x4s and a poly sheet. Thinking ahead is always so key in this game. 🗝️

04/13/2025

Before deciding to hire a tree worker, homeowners should do their due diligence to ensure they are getting a professional. Anyone can buy a chainsaw; not everyone knows when to use it. The link below is a tool you can use to find a Certified Arborist.

https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/findanarborist

Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources sites eight reasons why trees should not be topped.

Starvation — trees need leaves to manufacture food. Topping removes the leaves and stems that transport food to the roots resulting in the inability to manufacture food. Proper pruning practices should not remove more than 1/4 to 1/3 of the leafy crown.

Shock — the canopy acts as an umbrella, shading the rest of the tree. The removal exposes the protected bark leading to sunscald. Keep in mind surrounding plant materials that depend on the shade will also suffer.

Large wounds created are a magnet for insects and disease. The large cuts prevent the tree’s natural ability to fend off pests that invite insects and wood-rotting decay. Once decay hits a tree, there is no way of stopping it.

One of the reasons people think topping is good is that it reduces the likelihood of limb breakage. In fact, just the opposite results. New limb growth, as a result of topping, is weakly attached to the remaining branch. Given the fact that many sprouts develop, these limbs overlap and the result is a minimal attachment of wood to the main branch. This regrowth is more likely to fail than the branches that were removed.

People believe that topping will control the height of the tree. In fact, a topped tree responds by sending out long sprouts that are weaker. The tree, if it does not die, may quickly return to its mature height with a bushier, less attractive appearance that’s more likely to fail.

Topping in some instances will lead to the death of the tree. All the factors mentioned are too much for the tree and it dies.

Let’s face it a topped tree is an ugly tree, disfigured even when it regrows. It will never provide the grace and beauty that a natural tree brings to the landscape ever again.

Topping costs you money. All it takes is a chainsaw, truck and no knowledge of proper tree care. Topping may seem like a bargain when compared to recommended practices, but in the long run, it will cost more. Topping reduces property values, increases liability risk and future pruning and increases replacement costs.

There are recommended alternatives to topping. A certified arborist will know how and where to make the needed cuts to reduce the crown and help develop a stronger and more beautiful tree. Before you undertake hiring an arborist this spring, be a wise consumer not only for your property and bank account but for the health of your tree.

Source: https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/programs/lawn-garden/agent-articles-fact-sheets-and-more/agent-articles/trees-shrubs/tree-topping.html

02/11/2025

Fruit tree pruning season is almost upon us!

Does this look daunting to you? Give us a call, check out our website (WardenTree.ca) and let us do the heavy lifting. We love challenges, and no job is too small.

Let's talk trees!

How to Prune Apple Trees for a Healthier, More Productive Harvest

Pruning your apple trees is a simple yet vital step toward boosting fruit production and keeping your trees healthy. The best time to prune is late winter or early spring—typically in March or April—once the risk of frost has passed.

Start by gathering the right tools, such as pruning shears, loppers, and a saw for thicker branches. Always disinfect your tools before use to prevent the spread of disease.

For young trees, aim to shape them into a pyramid-like structure with 4–6 strong scaffold branches. This creates a sturdy framework for future growth. Mature trees, on the other hand, benefit from removing dead wood, crowded branches, and any overlapping growth. Clearing these problem areas improves airflow, allows more sunlight to reach the leaves, and reduces the risk of pests and diseases.

Don’t forget to thin out young fruits early in the season. This helps the tree focus its energy on producing fewer but larger, higher-quality apples.

01/12/2025

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Although we may be deep in the heart of winter, and our minds may be on snow, stews and sweaters, don't sleep on your trees! Winter is actually one of the best times to get some maintenance completed, especially for fruit and ornamentals.
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Check out our website, give us a call, or shoot us an email and find out why! Our books fill up fast come Spring, so get ahead of your yard work, and put Warden to task.
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11/06/2024

Nasty rotten cedar removal, but those fall colours make it all worth it. 🍁

10/24/2024

This lovely, but mismanaged Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) had a bad case of a parasitic fungus affecting a large branch overhanging a fence. The fruiting bodies on the outside of the bark clearly show the boundaries of the infection, and a cross section of the piece shows the distinct battle lines in the sapwood. A fascinating insight into the decay process of fungus, and the attempt of the tree to combat.

Removal of the branch was the only realistic option when the infection had taken over 50% of the wood, especially with the frequent use of the yard. Thank you Anne, for allowing us to work on your tree!

09/28/2024

So very grateful to call this paradise home. Thank you for small business owners helping other entrepreneurs!