A Spring Trees and Shrubs Checklist

By Nancy Penrose

Now that it is officially spring, it’s time to check your trees and shrubs to evaluate and maintain their health! Below, we put together an easy checklist for you to follow to maintain your trees this spring.

1. Prune dead branches
The best way to have healthy trees is to properly prune them. Pruning your trees protects your home and family from unsafe branches that may fall and cause damage.


2. Inspect all your trees and shrubs
As it gets warmer and snow melts while rainfall occurs, standing water or flood damage may occur. This is the time to pay close attention to the health of your trees. If you see anything that may be wrong, contact a professionally trained arborist right away to treat the tree or shrub.

3. Plant new trees
A great way to add value to your home is to plant new trees. Maybe you’ve noticed that your home gets way too warm in the summer. Well, now is a great time to plant a few trees to add some shade!

4. Add mulch to your landscape
Mulch is important because it secures the trees, conserves soil moisture, and controls weeds. Mulching is a fairly easy process and can do wonders for the health of your trees.

At Big Trees, we are experts in tree care and we know exactly what to look for when inspecting your trees and shrubs. If you want a professional to help you inspect the health of your trees this Spring, let us come out and help, call us at (360) 563-2700 today.

Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (https://bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurseries, specializing in large trees for sale and transplant tree service. Learn more about tree preservation at https://bigtreesupply.com/tree-care-maintenance/ and for more tips on tree care or installation go to privacytree.net. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6vVhNW1XJI and connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees- Inc/193731105108.

FineCraft Contractors is Successful Amidst Coronavirus

GAITHERSBURG, MD: FineCraft Contractors, Inc., (https://finecraftcontractors.com/) is working hard and continuing to achieve success amidst the Coronavirus.

In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, where many businesses are seeing a dip in production, FineCraft is working hard with new projects that just started and completing projects on time. From screen porches to one and two-story additions, FineCraft is going strong.

Two projects in particular FineCraft just completed are a modern-industrial screen porch and a cantilevered master bedroom suite addition. Both of which add value and comfort to the homeowners.

Joseph R., a landscape architect who worked with FineCraft stated, “This was my first experience working with George of FineCraft. He is a professional who listens, asks intelligent questions, and proposes great solutions based on his years of experience in the industry. The quality of FineCraft’s work is high, and the staff is friendly and responsive. I strongly recommend George and the FineCraft team.”

Vera H., a past client of FineCraft said, “FineCraft did an extension on my historic house and it really is beautiful! George kept me in the loop about how it was all going. The team were efficient and respectful of my property and the problem-solving on the best way to get it all done was excellent. I would highly recommend this company.”

George Papaheraklis is the founder of FineCraft Contractors, Inc., located in Gaithersburg, MD. Since 1985, FineCraft has been building houses, additions, kitchens, baths and more for discerning families. Their blog can be seen at https://finecraftcontractors.com/blog/ and they can be reached at 301-330-9191.

We’re Following Best Practices Amidst Coronavirus

By George Papaheraklis

We know these are difficult times during the Coronavirus pandemic. We also know that an emergency may happen with your home that requires you to hire a professional to fix. Because we always keep the safety of our clients a priority, we wanted to list out some of the best practices we’re following in order to keep our clients and workers safe and healthy during this time.

1. Sanitary Projects
Some improvements and fixes are necessary for a professional to come to your home to handle. In a case like this, it’s very important to ensure the projects remain sanitary with proper social distancing and only allowing the essential workers to work on your home. Workers must provide daily wipe downs to sanitize the home before they begin working for the day and before they leave your home each day.

2. Only Healthy Workers Should Be Allowed
The safety of both you and our workers are very important. If you work with us, you’ll feel at ease knowing that all of our workers are healthy. If any of our workers show any sign of being sick, they are told to stay home. If you have already decided to work with a different company, make sure that they are following CDC Guidelines and are only allowing healthy workers to work on your home.

3. Free Online Estimates
We offer free online estimates so you don’t have to leave your home. You can find out what the cost will be for your project promptly and in the comfort of your own home. If you accept the quote, we will talk to you about your next steps and how we follow CDC guidelines while working on your home.

At Finecraft Contractors, if you can imagine it, we can build it. We always keep your health and comfort in mind when designing and building. If you have a specific project for your home, call us at 301-330-9191 and we’ll give you a thoroughly thought out estimate.

George Papaheraklis is the founder of FineCraft Contractors, Inc., located in Gaithersburg, MD. Since 1985, FineCraft has been building houses, additions, kitchens, baths and more for discerning families. Their blog can be seen at https://finecraftcontractors.com/blog/ and they can be reached at 301-330-9191.

5 Great Reasons to Build a Screened Porch

By Niko Papaheraklis

One of the best ways to enjoy your house and the outdoors is by building a screened porch! It’s a feature that adds character and charm to any home while creating a welcoming environment for yourself and guests.
 Here are our five reasons why homeowners should build a screened porch:

1. It expands your living space
A screened porch creates a quiet space to read, catch up with friends, or to just enjoy the outdoors. Plus, you can eat outside without worrying about bugs flying around. It really does add a lot of value to your home.

2. Enhances curb appeal
A screened porch provides a welcoming entry and makes any home stand out from the rest. A porch can also be an easy way to take off muddy shoes or lay out wet umbrellas so the inside of your home remains clean.

3. Enjoy the outdoors while maintaining privacy
Imagine drinking a cup of coffee or tea as you wake up in the morning. Or imagine sneaking a little midnight snack while watching the stars. A screened porch provides privacy while you enjoy the outdoors and relax.

4. Protection from insects
Probably the most obvious reason to have a screened porch is that it protects you from insects like mosquitos or pesky flies. You no longer need bug zappers or harmful insecticides with a screened porch!

5. Enjoy the rain and the sun
Standing outside on a hot summer day may not be that appealing, but having a screened porch to provide you with cool shade makes it much more exciting! And not only that, but rain can now be a beautiful sight rather than a time for you to rush inside to keep dry.

At FineCraft Contractors, we are experts when it comes to custom builds and adding on new parts to your home. If a screened porch sounds like a great idea to you, call us at 301-330-9191 and we’ll give you a thoroughly thought out estimate.

George Papaheraklis is the founder of FineCraft Contractors, Inc., located in Gaithersburg, MD. Since 1985, FineCraft has been building houses, additions, kitchens, baths and more for discerning families. Their blog can be seen at https://finecraftcontractors.com/blog/ and they can be reached at 301-330-9191.

FineCraft Contractors Wins NARI’s CotY Award for Addition and Whole-House Renovation

GAITHERSBURG, MD: FineCraft Contractors, Inc., (https://finecraftcontractors.com/) recently won the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s award for addition and whole-house renovation.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Contractor of the Year (CotY) awards are earned by NARI members who have demonstrated outstanding work through their remodeling projects. Based on the official NARI website, project categories often include kitchens, baths, basements, entire house, and exteriors. FineCraft won the CotY award for addition and whole-house renovation.

Helen C. W., a past client, said, “FineCraft built an addition and new outbuilding, designed by my firm, for one of the more finely detailed late-19th century homes in the town of Kensington’s historic district. The owners chose FineCraft because they wanted to match the quality of detail and workmanship that had sold them on the house in the first place. The end result did not disappoint. FineCraft performed at a high level of professionalism and the quality of their workmanship was superb.”

Another past client, Morgan B., stated, “FineCraft did an excellent job on renovation of our garage and converting it into a gym. They were prompt in their reply and finished the project in the time they quoted which is huge! The price was reasonable and the staff was very responsive throughout the whole process. I highly recommend them for any home renovation project and will be using them again in the future!”

George Papaheraklis is the founder of FineCraft Contractors, Inc., located in Gaithersburg, MD. Since 1985, FineCraft has been building houses, additions, kitchens, baths and more for discerning families. Their blog can be seen at https://finecraftcontractors.com/blog/ and they can be reached at 301-330-9191. Their Instagram page can be seen at https://www.instagram.com/finecraft_contractors/.

Big Trees Inc. Provided Trees for Garden Creators

SNOHOMISH, WA: Big Trees Inc., (https://bigtreesupply.com/), a tree sales and transplant company in the Seattle area,, recently provided a large number of trees for various garden creators during the Northwest Annual Flower and Garden Show.

Big Trees delivered a number of trees including large Vine Maples, Paperback Maples, and Serbian Spruce recently at the Northwest Annual Flower and Garden Show. The Garden Creators take delivery of the trees and set them up as anchor points or showcase pieces of their gardens. Garden Creators are careful to keep the trees well watered and cared for during the week long show. During the show, show goers were impressed by the size of the trees installed in these indoor gardens.

Nancy Penrose, owner of Big Trees said, “It’s rare that we lose a tree even after being indoors for a week.  We have worked closely with the Garden Creator’s over the years in caring for the trees and making sure they are returned to us in healthy conditions.” Nancy has been loaning trees to Garden Creators for 20 years now and says, “it’s always an exciting time for me, as it means spring is eminent and our busy season is approaching rapidly. This is one of my favorite times of the year!”

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., located in Snohomish, WA in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only deliver young trees, but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including large trees. Their blog can be seen at https://bigtreesupply.com/blog/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.

How to Successfully Plant Fruit Trees

By Nancy Penrose

Fruit trees can be an amazing addition to your home. Not only do they look beautiful, but you also get free fruit! In order to get the most out of your fruit tree, you’ll need to know how to successfully plant one so they can have a healthy root system and produce beautiful fruit. Below are a few steps to take before planting your new tree.

Do your research on types of trees
The first step is to do your research on which fruit tree(s) you’d like to plant. Some fruit trees work better in certain climates over others, so keep that in mind as well. Other factors to consider are: size, taste, chill hours, and if it needs a pollinator.

Make sure you have enough space
Make sure you look to see how much space you have to work with. The size you have available will determine which fruit trees you’ll be able to plant. Orchard trees for example (apples, cherries, peaches, plums, and pears) require about 10-12 feet of space in your backyard. Whereas a dwarf tree can grow in a smaller 6-8 foot diameter space.

Know which foundation you’re working with
Some key factors that will determine the success of your fruit tree include:

Soil
Light exposure
Water drainage

You’ll want a location that has a good amount of light, water drainage and air flow, and you’ll want to make sure the soil in that location is of good quality. If your soil is sandy or hard, you’ll need to build it up before you plant your tree.

At Big Trees, we are experts in tree care and we know exactly how to plant fruit trees, which trees would work best for you, and which location in your yard would be best for it. If you want a professional to help you plant your fruit tree, let us come out and help. Call us at (360) 563-2700 today.

Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (https://bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurseries, specializing in large trees for sale and transplant tree service. Learn more about tree preservation at https://bigtreesupply.com/tree-care-maintenance/ and for more tips on tree care or installation go to privacytree.net. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6vVhNW1XJI and connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees- Inc/193731105108.