
Tree service companies have been hard at work handling an influx of calls after two nor’easters just days apart left a trail of downed limbs and branches in towns and cities across Massachusetts.
“Every three seconds, there’s been a call about a tree down, limb down, a tree flipped,’’ said Jennifer Rose, office manager at Hartney Greymont, a landscaping and tree service company in Needham.
Northeast Tree Inc. in Woburn has cleared more than 200 trees since the first storm struck last weekend and the second hit Wednesday, said Lori FitzPatrick, the office manager.
“From the wind storm, we’ve gotten close to 100 calls, and from the last snow storm we got over 130 calls,’’ FitzPatrick said. “We’ve had multiple crews out with multiple cranes. We’ve been doing double the work compared to usual.’’
The family-owned company has had one of its highest call volumes this week since its opening in 1975, she said.
“I would definitely have to say it has to do with the heavy wind storm and the heavy wet snow, with the two storms back to back,’’ she said.
In Lincoln, Lowden & Savatree has responded to at least 75 calls from people hoping to save trees damaged by the storms, said Matthew Donahoo, the branch manager.
“It’s unusual,’’ Donahoo said. “Especially this last heavy, wet storm. This one was even worse because of the weight of the snow combined with the wind.’’
Donahoo said his company doesn’t typically remove trees but instead works to repair them. Rods are used to brace split trees, and branches are pruned to balance trees. Hanging limbs are cut off to help the tree heal, he said.
With another storm possible Monday, the company “very likely’’ will be busy this week, too.
“You will have a lot of trees that are already weakened by the storms,’’ he said. “Those trees that haven’t been addressed might cause another influx of calls.’’
Walter Liebermann, owner of Liebermann Tree Service in Melrose, woke up Friday morning with about 17 messages on his phone from the night before.
“Usually when we have heavy winds, a lot of trees will fall,’’ Liebermann said. “But this last storm, it was predominantly pine trees. A lot of times, not just because of wind, but the heavy snow or rain is what causes the trees to be damaged.’’
Liebermann said he’ll be ready if a third storm in two weeks rolls in Monday.
“There’s going to be a phenomenal amount of tree work to be done this spring before people can even start doing yard work,’’ he said.
Laney Ruckstuhl can be reached at laney.ruckstuhl@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @laneyruckstuhl.