We Love Trees focuses on tree health, biology

We Love Trees

Tree care services in Sequim, surrounding areas

Location: 209 S. Sequim Ave.

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday

Contact: 360-683-8890

Instead of cutting out, local tree owners might consider simply cutting back.

Late fall is a prime time to start considering tree-pruning, say staff at the new-to-Sequim business We Love Trees.

Originally founded in Colorado, We Love Trees has recently found a home in Sequim — specifically, at 209 S. Sequim Ave. — where a three-person staff is led by James Grafton, an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)-certified arborist and ISA-certified tree worker climber specialist, who has 16 years of industry experience.

Grafton specializes in close-quarter and hazardous tree removal, technical rigging, tree biology, large shade tree pruning, and overall pruning for health.

The company’s services include tree trimming and pruning, tree removal, cabling and bracing, hazardous tree removal, stump grinding, tree planting, and emergency and storm damage.

And while tree specialists may be known generally for tree removal, We Love Trees office manager Emily Holmes said We Love Trees is looking to push the proverbial boundaries of what it means to be a tree company. That means looking beyond clearing trees to focus on tree health.

“We’re really trying to push our biology services … and tree diagnoses,” Holmes said.

Hence, the company’s mission: “To provide an eco-friendly tree care service that focuses on enhancing the health and natural beauty of trees.”

The We Love Tress staff can look at a number of factors — from diseases to pests to soil composition and water sources — to determine what’s affecting a tree’s health.

Sometimes it’s something as simple as some much-needed pruning, Holmes said.

“(And) now is the time,” she said.

We Love Trees does projects for public/government entities and commercial properties as well as residential customers, across the North Olympic Peninsula into Jefferson County and as far as Bremerton, Holmes said.

While landscapers can provide good overall health and beautification of a yard, tree specialists can give specific, quality tree care, Homes noted.

The Sequim company is also a family-owned, Small Business Enterprise-certified business that donates a percentage of all company profits to the National Forest Foundation, and organization who touts that $1 dollar donated plants one native tree on a national forest in need of reforestation. We Love Trees is also looking to help women break into the arboriculture field by prioritizing female applicants for all new positions.

Along with Grafton is staffer Kimberlie Webber, a biologist specializes in water sampling, soil sampling,wetland restoration and conservation, invasive species control, and tree and pest identification. Holmes, meanwhile, handles community outreach and customer service, creates social media content, develops events such as virtual contests and face mask giveaways, handles the business’ charitable donations process and relations with the Washington State department of Minority and Women’s business enterprises, and more.

All We Love Trees employees regularly take Tree Care Industry Association safety training classes prune to the American National Standards Institute 300 pruning standards, the company website notes.

The staff of three is expected to grow with at least two more positions soon, Holmes said.

Potential clients can get a free pruning estimate by contacting the business online or over the phone. While customers can get a quote through the website (welovetreeswashington.com), Holmes encourages them to call the main line at 360-683-8890, as We Love Trees staff “like to have a personal relationship with our clients.”

Office hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday, but customers can get emergency tree work done in evenings or on weekends if needed, Holmes said.

For more about We Love Trees, see welovetreeswashington.com or call 360-683-8890.