Top Branch

Top Branch A tree care and logging business; preforming pruning, tree removals, vista restoration, consultation and timber stand improvement cuts,
(2)

03/18/2026

PSA!

Thousands of Trees across Maine are being killed by the Emerald Ash Borer!

A little green beetle with a taste for Ash Trees, which happen to be everywhere.

Once a tree is infested with this big, it’s only a matter of time before it’s dead.

A clear sign your trees have got the bug, are light colored patches on the trees bark. This is called: “Blonding”

It’s when woodpeckers break off outer layers of the bark to get to the larva.

If you’re seeing this, IT’S TOO LATE!

During the winter, the larva are eating and growing in the trees and woodpecker are on the hunt.

It it also the best time to located the trees and get them disposed of before the Emerald Ash Borer becomes an adult and spreads to more trees

IF YOU SEE BLONDING, GIVE US A CALL.

Ash trees are very brittle and dangerous when they die, so handling them when there’s some life in the tree is always safer and better!

03/18/2026

Only 3 Days Left to Register for our FREE FRUIT Tree Pruning Workshop!

COMMENT THE WORD “PRUNE” and we will send you the sign up link 👍

This class is a two hours hands on training where you will learn the essential knowledge and practical methods to get your fruit trees to be healthy and fruitful.

There will also be FREE Coffee provided by an amazing local roaster and a renowned coffee shop

We are proud to have them as supporters of this free community training.

03/17/2026

Picking several large oaks in Biddeford with a crane. Often time this is the best method to remove large sections when there are structures and sensitive areas below.

Today we’re removing a bunch of oaks in decline above several campers and common areas. Takes a ton of experience in your arborist and crane operator to make each section smooth without jolting.

It’s fast and clean but can be extremely dangerous if done improperly. Be careful out there!

If you live in Maine and you need trees removed, shoot us a message 👍🌲

03/12/2026

FREE Apple and Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop

Comment prune and we’ll send you the sign up link
🍎🌳✂️

03/11/2026

When you see black or purple staining in hardwoods, it’s caused by a simple chemical reaction. 🧪👨‍🔬🔩🪵🌳

Trees like oaks contain a lot of natural tannins (the same compounds that give tea and red wine their bitterness). When iron from a nail or screw gets wet, tiny particles of that metal react with the tannins in the wood.

That reaction creates a dark black or purple stain around the metal.

These stains aren’t rot or anything, it’s just the oak’s natural chemistry reacting with the iron. You’ll usually see it spread out from old nails, screws, lag bolts, or other hardware that’s been in the tree for a while.

They are a nice warning sign that there is a piece of metal close to the cut so you can keep your chain from finding it 😬

03/09/2026

We are holding an FREE in-person Apple and Fruit Tree Pruning Class on March 21st 9:00am-11:00am in Biddeford Maine.

For those who can’t attend…

Simple how to Prune Guide 🍎🌳✂️

1.) prune in late winter or early spring before the leaves fully open.

2.) get your tools together. You only need hand pruners, loppers and gloves if you so choose.
(maybe a hand saw if the tree has been neglected a while)

3.) Take a look.
Before you start to cut walk around the tree and look for crowded spot. Think, places where limbs are crossed, rubbing, and anything broken or damaged. Then look for where there won’t be enough sunlight. Is any branch going to be completely shaded?

4.) Remove the junk.
Start with what stuck out obviously. Cut and dead, broken, or diseased branches.

5.) Shoots
Next remove the water sprouts the vertical think limbs and any suckers that are coming out from base or lower trunk. Cut close to the source.

6.) Remove Crossing and inward branches that will be rubbing or that are growing inward. These trees need lots of airflow and sunlight to keep fruit healthy.

7.) Shape
We are looking for relatively uniform shape, think like a wine glass. The tree should have a full canopy but have space to breath. Limbs need to be kept a bit shorter so they will not break when they are loaded with fruit.

8.) Proper cuts
When removing tips, look for the bud that will be closest to the cut. Which direction will it grow? And be sure to leave atleast 1/4 inch of stem past so if you accidentally crush the stem the buds will be less likely to be damaged. On larger limbs be sure to cut outside the branch collar.

9.) 20% Rule
We like to take no more than 20% of the buds in a single pruning. This ensures that the tree won’t be too shocked by the trimming and will have enough buds to grow without making too much epicormic branching.

10.) as you trim walk around the tree to keep the right shape and to make sure you don’t have too heavy a hand when it is not called for. Look for light and space but keeping the right shelving branches.

Do you have an Apple or Fruit Tree on your property?We are hosting a FREE Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop in Biddeford on Ma...
03/04/2026

Do you have an Apple or Fruit Tree on your property?

We are hosting a FREE Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop in Biddeford on March 21st!

We will walk you step-by-step to getting a healthier tree and better harvest. 🍎🍏

There are only 24 spots for this 2 hour hands on training.

To sign up click the link in the comments!

03/03/2026

Cutting a tree with a major trunk defect or decay. A few things I do when I have to cut a tree like this.

It seems to be equally important that the “Tree People” of the world are just as much people people.Our jobs have always...
03/02/2026

It seems to be equally important that the “Tree People” of the world are just as much people people.

Our jobs have always been to study, educate, and inspire. Passing along what we know to others to improve their lives and find ways that humanity and Mother Nature can work in collaboration.

But we have to take this scientific and complicated information and make it understandable and ACTIONABLE.

Otherwise our efforts will be in vain. I used to use all of the language of the industry when speaking to clients and “muggles” (non-tree professionals) if you will.

And I came to realize that yes, the terminology was technically better than regular terms, but that it seems to alienate those who don’t understand.

We don’t need to sound smart.

It’s far better to take something complicated and make it so simple that anyone can USE IT.

We want action and that can only come from clarity. If they don’t understand, they cannot and will no DO.

We need a world of people who understand and do. Who better to get this ball rolling than those that supposed to bring nature and people together?

03/02/2026

It’s over Pine Log, I Have the High Ground!

Little safety tip, when bucking, disconnecting, or felling try to finish on the high ground side of the work. On less this to have to worry about.

Stay Safe!

03/01/2026

A dead and very dangerous Pine is the first to go on this side of the property expansion project here in Maine

Taking down a series of trees around the home to give the owner more spaces and less giant trees looming over their home.

Great to have a machine when dealing with trees like this, never been a fan of hammering wedges in dead trees you never know what is going to come raining down on your head! This Avant has been a life saver

02/28/2026

BIG WHITE PINE SPAR COME ON DOWN! Your the next contestant on today’s job!

Couple nice pine logs in this tree 👍🌲

Address

243 South Street
Biddeford, ME
04005

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