The team at Peer Arboricultural Services of Hopkinton includes (from left) Dan VanLeuvan, founder Kevin Narbonne and Patrick Boyle.

Using their expertise to install and maintain landscapes by assessing and preserving the health of trees and shrubs for the long term is the aim of the professionals at Hopkinton’s Peer Arboricultural Services.

“We treat our clients’ landscapes as if they were our own,” said Peer founder Kevin Narbonne. “As professionals, we can advise residential and commercial property owners about the plants that will thrive in our area, do well as the environment changes and help prevent diseases or insects that will impact a landscape.”

A Massachusetts certified arborist, Narbonne earned his bachelor’s degree from the Stockbridge School Agriculture at UMass Amherst. In 1996, he began his career working in a nursery before moving on to a Metrowest employee-owned tree company in the early 2000s. He started Peer Arboricultural in his hometown of Hopkinton in 2021. The staff now includes two other Massachusetts certified arborists.

“We stay engaged with new research being done at UMass and Cornell, so we are familiar with the environmental factors, diseases and pests that affect local landscapes,” said Narbonne. “We also take professional education courses, so we stay on the cutting edge of issues and the products that will help maintain a healthy landscape.”

He noted classes this spring have focused on the significant damage suffered by older broadleaf evergreens like rhododendrons.

“Between last summer’s drought and a cold winter, these plants have suffered severe desiccation or winter burn,” said Narbonne. “Homeowners think the plants are dead and should be cut down. But we suggest they call us to assess the actual health of the plants. If we find plant tissue that is still actively green, the shrub could be saved. Our advice would be to let it be. Many of these broad-leaf evergreens are old plants that have experienced conditions like this before and will survive. Careful pruning of a recovering plant later this year can make it look better and save the shrub.”

Narbonne added that proper watering also improves a shrub’s survival. He can instruct clients how to measure the water their landscape gets, ensuring it is the recommended 1 inch a week

“We can also aid a plant with subsurface fertilizers and agents to help the soil retain moisture,” said Narbonne.

“I think the best thing most property owners can do for their landscape is to call in a professional,” he continued, adding that Peer Arboricultural offers free estimates of its work. “We understand plants, local conditions and current environmental impacts. We can work with them to make the best decision about what to do.”

Narbonne noted Peer has strong relationships with over 15 other companies with various specialities such as tree removal.

“We have a network of peer professionals who are very skilled,” he said. “We focus on our area of expertise and let them do their speciality. Clients appreciate being referred to skilled professionals.”

More information about the company’s array of landscape services can be found at peerarboricultural.com or by emailing info@peerarboricultural.com or calling 781-801-3576.

Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Hopkinton Independent advertisers.