New Feather Cove Community Tree Service and Tree Care Policy

We are pleased to announce that Better Tree Service has been selected as our new primary vendor for trimming large trees in the neighborhood. We are also adopting a new policy for tree care in the community.

For the last few years we have done a good job maintaining our large trees in the neighborhood as evidenced by the minimum amount of tree damage during last year’s storms. However the schedule for tree trimming has not been consistent, the process for determining which trees should be trimmed has not been done using a professional assessment and our tree trimming costs have escalated dramatically.

Better Tree has been used by both the HOA and by several homeowners regularly during the past couple of years. The quality of their service has been excellent, they respond to requests very quickly and their cost is extremely competitive especially compared to other tree services. They are located near Feather Sound and provide service to several neighborhoods nearby.

Better Tree has on staff a certified arborist and they have already completed an inventory of all large trees in the neighborhood. They have already determined which trees should be trimmed this year and provided a schedule for maintaining trees on a yearly basis going forward. Most of our large trees, particularly the Live Oaks do not need to be trimmed every year. In addition, determining which trees should be trimmed should be based on elevation and tree health which needs to be professionally assessed. They will begin trimming the large trees either late this month or early January. We will alert the community before they begin and the entire process should be completed in a few days.

In addition to the large trees, Better Tree has identified a number of Bottle Brush trees that should be removed completely. Bottle Brushes grow very quickly and have a very weak structure with large limbs which can fall without notice. Most of the large Bottle Brushes border more than one property and a limb falling can affect more than one residence. The board has determined that these trees represent clear danger to the community, especially in case of storms. We have decided to remove the most at risk trees at HOA expense since they represent a community wide problem. We will continue to remove other Bottle Brushes on a yearly basis until all are removed from the neighborhood.

This policy will be for Bottle Brush trees only. Other trees on individual properties are still the responsibility of the homeowner and if they need to be removed it will still be at the homeowner’s expense. Better Tree, however, as our preferred tree service will offer Feather Cove residents a community discount for individual service.

Jon Addison and his crew will continue to trim our Palm Trees in the late spring/early summer as they have for years. They will continue to maintain mangroves behind FCR homes and at the end of FCL as well. They will also maintain ornamental trees according to their landscape contract with the HOA.

While residents are welcome to offer comments or concerns about trees near their homes, Better Tree working with the HOA board only will make the determination on which trees will be trimmed and the trimming schedule. Also in case of severe weather, we will be much better prepared for future storms and have a reliable vendor who knows the neighborhood to call in case of emergencies.

The board believes having a professional service such as Better Tree will help to safely maintain our trees on a regular schedule and significantly help to reduce our future maintenance costs.