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At Holtz Forest and Shade Tree, LLC it is our belief that trees are one of our most valuable and under-appreciated resources. Whether in a forest or a lawn, trees can provide us with aesthetic value, energy savings, noise absorption, erosion control, and wood products. Proper management amplifies the benefits of individual trees and forests while reducing long term costs and minimizing hazards.

OUR SERVICES

Tree Health

Pruning

Removal

OUR PRIMARY SERVICE AREAS

  • Brighton

  • Canindagua

  • East Rochester

  • Fairport

  • Farmington

  • Gananda

  • Henrietta

  • Irondequoit

  • Macedon

  • Mendon

  • Ontario

  • Palmyra

ABOUT KEVIN

Kevin Holtz, President of Holtz Forest and Shade Tree, LLC, is dedicated to providing clients with objective assessment of, and practical solutions to their tree related concerns. With multiple degrees and almost 30 years of experience in the field Kevin has the knowledge and experience to tackle tree care issues big and small.

Stump Grinding

Another DIY grade cabling job is coming unwound! Wrong materials with unknown capacities way too low in the tree. That turnbuckle used to have an eye at both ends but the one is opened up and barely hanging on. 🙄
Another DIY grade cabling job is coming unwound! Wrong materials with unknown capacities way too low in the tree. That turnbuckle used to have an eye at both ends but the one is opened up and barely hanging on. 🙄
I'm filing this under "customer education". Sometimes helping isn't helpful. I went to look at a job where the potential customer cut down 2-3 small buckthorn trees, chopped them up into pieces and piled them in the yard. I can guarantee t
I'm filing this under "customer education". Sometimes helping isn't helpful. I went to look at a job where the potential customer cut down 2-3 small buckthorn trees, chopped them up into pieces and piled them in the yard. I can guarantee that it will take the crew just as long (if not longer) to untangle the pile of pieces (various lengths, angles etc.) and get them through the chipper than it would to cut the trees down ourselves in a few larger straighter pieces and have the chipper slurp them up like spaghetti. Yes, we will also need to cut the stumps lower before we grind them, making more wood nuggets. Has anyone ever seen an instructional video on how to cut down, prep and stage brush to be chipped? I'm seriously thinking about making one (in my spare time). #educatedconsumer #otherpeoplesbrush #brushchipper #stumpgrinder #treelife #howto #diytree
If you know, you know... A large section of a sugar maple broke off in a storm and landed on terraced landscape beds. Being a savvy tree cutter, I decided to cut the log where the landscape timbers had suspended the log over fluffy harmless ground c
If you know, you know... A large section of a sugar maple broke off in a storm and landed on terraced landscape beds. Being a savvy tree cutter, I decided to cut the log where the landscape timbers had suspended the log over fluffy harmless ground cover...or so I thought🤬 #rockwins #ofcoursetherewasarock #stihl #gogetafile
MACEDON CENTER COMMUNITY LUMBERJACK FESTIVAL WEEKEND! Awesome lumberjack breakfast both mornings, food and beverages through the day. Great field of lumberjack competitors both days. Stop by the Holtz Forest and Shade Tree tent, check out the track
MACEDON CENTER COMMUNITY LUMBERJACK FESTIVAL WEEKEND! Awesome lumberjack breakfast both mornings, food and beverages through the day. Great field of lumberjack competitors both days. Stop by the Holtz Forest and Shade Tree tent, check out the track lifts and talk tree trimming with the crew! #lumberjack #lumberjackcompetition #woodchopping #pancakes #stihl #chainsaw #treelife
Super safe move by the county. This 8" diameter silver maple branch and was being supported horizontally in another branch over the road. The solution was to cut it free of the branch that was holding it up, let it swing back and leave it hangin
Super safe move by the county. This 8" diameter silver maple branch and was being supported horizontally in another branch over the road. The solution was to cut it free of the branch that was holding it up, let it swing back and leave it hanging vertically 25-30' over the customers' yard. 🤔 #dobetter #Igotit #dontlookup #safetythird #facepalm #treelife #hanginthere
Treatment time for magnolia scale is here or near! If you've been spraying while they are in their little bomb shelters it probably hasn't had much of an impact. Keep an eye out for the adults/crawlers to emerge and then it's time to strike! #scalei
Treatment time for magnolia scale is here or near! If you've been spraying while they are in their little bomb shelters it probably hasn't had much of an impact. Keep an eye out for the adults/crawlers to emerge and then it's time to strike! #scaleinsects #magnoliascale #crawlers #stickytree
Sometimes you just need to follow the path of least resistance! #treelife #root #sidewalk #makeyourownpath #tightsqueeze
Sometimes you just need to follow the path of least resistance! #treelife #root #sidewalk #makeyourownpath #tightsqueeze
This silver maple failed in 3 directions, landing on the deck, house, and 3 neighbors' properties (fences, power lines, house). While different insurance companies have slightly different practices, the basic patterns are the same. I'd encourage any
This silver maple failed in 3 directions, landing on the deck, house, and 3 neighbors' properties (fences, power lines, house). While different insurance companies have slightly different practices, the basic patterns are the same. I'd encourage anyone who owns a home to talk to their insurance about what is or isn't covered when a tree falls on your property! #treefail #treelife #stormdamage #bigmess #whopays #youcantparkthere #flop
A round of thunderstorms overnight with a fairly rare South wind partially uprooted this Norway spruce. It hung in there while we got a line set and took it apart in place. #tippy #thunderstorm #treelife #uprooted #stormdamage #hanginthere #windstor
A round of thunderstorms overnight with a fairly rare South wind partially uprooted this Norway spruce. It hung in there while we got a line set and took it apart in place. #tippy #thunderstorm #treelife #uprooted #stormdamage #hanginthere #windstorm
Not sure what to say about this one... Do it right or don't bother doing it? Beware of the low bid? I quoted a cabling system for a linden with 3 stems, terrible unions, typical included bark etc. but a lower bid got the job. It happens. Yesterday
Not sure what to say about this one... Do it right or don't bother doing it? Beware of the low bid? I quoted a cabling system for a linden with 3 stems, terrible unions, typical included bark etc. but a lower bid got the job. It happens. Yesterday I got a call that 2 of the 3 stems were down and the the 3rd one (still standing) was leaning towards the house. Here's what a low bid cable job (from a tree company) looks like. Loop the cable through an eye on each stem and use hardware store clamps and a turnbuckle to hold/tension it. Apparently the first cable broke so they doubled down and put a bigger cable in. As the stems moved in the breeze, the cable worked back and forth, wearing away at the rings like a slow motion prison break effort. When a round of thunderstorms came through 2 out of 3 of the eyes bent open at the wear point and all hell broke loose. Fortunately the 2 stems that fell landed in the yard without any significant damage. What makes it worse is I think a lot of the wear was from the original smaller cable and was probably visible when the cable had to be replaced. Not impressed. #treelife #cabling #lowbid #gotpaid #dobetter
Does anyone have a nomination for a thorn-ier tree than the honey locust? The podless and thornless modified versions are popular landscape trees in our area, but the wild/genetically reverted ones have thorns on their thorns!
Does anyone have a nomination for a thorn-ier tree than the honey locust? The podless and thornless modified versions are popular landscape trees in our area, but the wild/genetically reverted ones have thorns on their thorns!
Long time no post! Quick summary: - Muddy winter and early spring - Shop build is "done" and in use (more on that later) - Actually took some time off to camp around Arizona and Utah with the family (ready to go back again) In the world of
Long time no post! Quick summary: - Muddy winter and early spring - Shop build is "done" and in use (more on that later) - Actually took some time off to camp around Arizona and Utah with the family (ready to go back again) In the world of tree care, I had a case of hemlock woolly adelgid stop me in my tracks today😬. The tree was only about 8' tall and looked like it had been hosed with a case of the fake snow in a can! I was there for a different tree/issue but this got my attention for sure.
I referred to this one as "The Meg" , Megalodendron tulipifera. Very specific humor for those into massive extinct sharks and massive dead trees. The base on this tree was solid but the top was like Swiss cheese. Bark started falling off as
I referred to this one as "The Meg" , Megalodendron tulipifera. Very specific humor for those into massive extinct sharks and massive dead trees. The base on this tree was solid but the top was like Swiss cheese. Bark started falling off as we got stuf cut up and the slimy exposed cambium layer made picking the huge rounds of wood even tougher. Great got crew persisting and getting the win in the end! #huge #bigtree #ommelift #treelife #winning #teamwork #smallerjobtomorrow
Over budget and behind schedule like any proper build project...but the end is in sight! #treelife #gimmeshelter #workshop #polebarn #VIPparking #construction #outoftheweather
Over budget and behind schedule like any proper build project...but the end is in sight! #treelife #gimmeshelter #workshop #polebarn #VIPparking #construction #outoftheweather
A covered entry for refined tree dwelling critters in tough climates...plus the added curb appeal is bound to boost the resale value.
A covered entry for refined tree dwelling critters in tough climates...plus the added curb appeal is bound to boost the resale value.
Cleaning up from the wind on Tuesday before the wind tomorrow😕. Tall skinny black locust with codominant stems uprooted with the SE winds coming up Cayuga Lake. The cottage took a pretty good hit but thankfully once the guys got the brush out the tr
Cleaning up from the wind on Tuesday before the wind tomorrow😕. Tall skinny black locust with codominant stems uprooted with the SE winds coming up Cayuga Lake. The cottage took a pretty good hit but thankfully once the guys got the brush out the tree stood back up a bit. Great team effort from the crew with two separate rigging systems and a tag line in operation. Another day at the office! #treelife #ommelift #windstorm #rigging #stihl #teamwork #Friday #windstorm
Windy night and we've been watching the Christmas lights in the crabapple as an unofficial anemometer. I just put my shoes on to go over to the shop and watched as the tree laid over. I knew the tree had been battling root issues for years but it's s
Windy night and we've been watching the Christmas lights in the crabapple as an unofficial anemometer. I just put my shoes on to go over to the shop and watched as the tree laid over. I knew the tree had been battling root issues for years but it's still sad to see it go. It was a great low and easy climber for me as a kid and my kids too. Curious to see what else is going on around the area when the sun comes up. Stay safe! #treelife #rootdecay #windstorm #treedamage #treecare #staysafe #cleanuptomorrow
I took these pictures back in early November. Another great example of how odd patterns in fall color can indicate trouble in a tree. Last time it was one or more constricting roots causing stress in a portion of the tree. This time it was a little m
I took these pictures back in early November. Another great example of how odd patterns in fall color can indicate trouble in a tree. Last time it was one or more constricting roots causing stress in a portion of the tree. This time it was a little more of an "acute" issue targeting a very specific part of the tree.
Floor day, first truck on site! Things have progressed a bit since my last post😁.
Floor day, first truck on site! Things have progressed a bit since my last post😁.
When you own a business it is easy to get bogged down in the tasks and challenges right in front of you. This morning I was focused on getting in early, hauling a load of logs, the jobs for the day, the weather moving in tomorrow, finances, etc. I ro
When you own a business it is easy to get bogged down in the tasks and challenges right in front of you. This morning I was focused on getting in early, hauling a load of logs, the jobs for the day, the weather moving in tomorrow, finances, etc. I rolled into the property and got a dramatic reminder of what we have built and what is on the way. Decades in the making, we broke ground on the new home base for the company. This morning was the first time I got to see structure in the air and I had to pause and take it in. Great time to reflect on all of the good bad and ugly along the way. A huge thank you to my family, crew and clients for all of the support through this journey! #treelife #grateful #sunrise

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