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RTEC Treecare

RTEC Treecare

Expert Tree Care in the DC Metro Area | Call 703-573-3029 to talk to a Tree Care Expert.

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Trees Vs. Power Lines

Resources: Tree Trimming

power linesHave you ever seen a tree that looks like this?

Trees and power lines tend to mix like oil and water. They coexist, constantly bumping each other. The lines burn the trees, making them susceptible to insects and diseases. And during storms, the trees can tear down the power lines inconveniencing you with power outages and a large bill. In some senses, talking about power lines and trees almost sounds like a description of a bad relationship. But unlike a bad relationship, RTEC can help to fix your tree problems.

Most of us have seen trees hacked up and butchered around our neighborhood power lines. Leaving cuts like this is very harmful to a tree and can ultimately lead to its demise. And to a certain degree, it’s almost impressive that cutting trees this severely, and in all the wrong places doesn’t kill trees even faster than it already does. The harsh truth is that power companies generally only give consideration to the law-mandated clearance of 10 feet. Very little regard is given to where the correct cut should be made to ensure the tree’s health and recovery. BUT there is a catch 22! Tree companies, such as RTEC Treecare, are forbidden by law to get within 10 feet of the lines. So the people who have the knowledge to make the correct cuts, and care to make the right cuts can’t get close enough to make the cuts. And the power companies can get close enough to make the cuts, yet make all the wrong ones. Great!…now what?

Fortunately, you have a couple options. And none of them involve YOU out under your tree with a giant saw on the end of a stick trying to make the right cut next to a power line. If you have us come out to trim your tree away from the power lines and they are already mixed up together, we will have to call the power company to get the clearance first, because of the law. BUT! We will then be able to come in and clean up their mess and fix their cuts, to ensure that your tree recovers as safely as possible. This option is not the best choice, even though sometimes it is the only choice available.

The more attractive option for all parties involved (including your trees), goes along with the old saying, prevention is the best medicine. Even if your tree is not growing into the power lines yet, if it is in the vicinity of the lines it should be inspected by a Certified Arborist yearly, they can provide you with a pruning solution. We can prune branches that appear to be growing toward the lines in a manner that would redirect them away from the lines. Thus, alleviating the need for the power company to come out and butcher your trees, AND making life so much easier for you and your trees.

UPDATE: RTEC has worked tirelessly to put together line drop protocol where we work with power companies to disconnect the power lines or drop the power to them when we are working on trees near electrical lines. This allows our customers to get quality tree work without breaking the law or risking the safety of workers.

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Google Reviews

Grey Burkhart
Grey Burkhart
March 29, 2022.
Verified
Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.
Dennis Bruns
Dennis Bruns
March 8, 2022.
Verified
We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.
Annette Iannucci
Annette Iannucci
February 23, 2022.
Verified
We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.
Susan Crawford
Susan Crawford
January 26, 2022.
Verified
RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.
Kenton Morgan
Kenton Morgan
January 20, 2022.
Verified
Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.
Jean Kluttz
Jean Kluttz
January 3, 2022.
Verified
Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.
Jerry Haggin
Jerry Haggin
December 16, 2021.
Verified
Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.
Mike Iger
Mike Iger
December 16, 2021.
Verified
David Roberts
David Roberts
December 15, 2021.
Verified
We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.
Travis Larson
Travis Larson
December 10, 2021.
Verified
RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.
Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 185 reviews.

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