Large Enough to Serve;

from Marple Friends & Neighbors magazine, April 2022

by bestversionmedia6

Surviving the Legal Shuffle

Small Enough To Care!

Business Profile Written by Holly Stupak

Photos courtesy of Bradley Tree Experts

Spring has finally sprung, and for many homeowners, that means your trees will be in need of some attention and care. Whether you need tree removal, pruning and shaping or other tree-related services, our local Tree Care and Inspection Expert Mike Bradley, Owner of Bradley Tree Experts, is an experienced tree arborist with all the equipment necessary to accommodate any job from large to small.

Mike grew up in Upper Darby and was the oldest of his five siblings. He started climbing trees when he was just 11 years old and hasn’t stopped since. Mike’s tree-climbing skills as a kid caught the attention of his neighbor, who happened to be a tree surgeon. He recruited Mike to help with his own tree business, and passed down his knowledge and expertise.

Not only did I realize that I was good at tree climbing and working on trees, but I found it very rewarding,” Mike said. “Since the day my neighbor asked me to help, I’ve never looked back!

While Mike attended Upper Darby High School, he continued working with his neighbor, and in the summers, he started his own landscaping business, overseeing 60 properties. “I was definitely a hustler!” Mike said proudly. After high school, he took classes in accounting at Delaware County Community College while working for E&J Tree Experts, where Mike considered the head tree surgeon, Howard Foulk, a mentor.

**Mike Bradley with his granddaughter Adrienne**

During the early 1980s, Mike was looking to start his own business and found a great place to set up shop in Broomall. With just a single pickup truck, Mike started what was first known as Brad's Incredible Tree Experts. Back then, Mike was known as “Brad,” and he was able to build a strong customer base just by word of mouth. He had recently married his wife Kathleen, and she handled the business side of things while Mike was out on jobs.

Kathleen and Mike raised their two daughters here in Broomall, both of whom graduated from Cardinal O’Hara High School. Their oldest daughter Elana is now a Certified Arborist and the Office Manager for Bradley Tree Experts. And their daughter Mellissa is a Respiratory Therapist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. With Elana now serving in the role her mother once had, Mike said Kathleen now considers herself the retired President of the company and happily helps take care of her three-year-old granddaughter, Adrienne.

For years, Mike’s younger brother Bernie also worked alongside him. Sadly, Bernie passed away last year. But now, lucky for Mike, Bernie’s son Jonathan, who grew up in the business and eventually became a Certified Arborist, is working for Bradley Tree Experts.

Longtime customers appreciate the personal touch they get with a small, family owned business.

They know that when they call, they'll get to talk to Elana,” he said. “And when they hire us for tree work, they know I’ll be the one coming out to the property to talk to them about the project.

Another perk to having his daughter work with him?

She keeps me in line,” he said jokingly. “Because of Elana, I always know where to be and to be there on time!

Bradley Tree Experts offers many services including but not limited to tree removal, pruning and shaping, cabling and bracing, stump and brush removal, lightning protection and fertilization. Since they started, Mike has also added two new divisions: Bradley Firewood and The Firewood Queen. Firewood, primarily made up of mixed hardwoods, is sold all year long in ¼, ½ and full cords and is available for delivery.

Mike loves his work and says he’s typically working from sunrise to sundown. Occasionally when he gets some down time, he can be found out on his fishing boat. In the summer he’s off to fish in Rock Hall, MD. Then come fall, he takes the boat out in Avalon, to catch striped bass.

I love the outdoors,” said Mike. “When I’m not working, I’m doing something outside like riding a motorcycle or spending time in the mountains.

For the past 30 years, Mike’s hard work, quick response, reasonable rates and expertise in tree care have earned Bradley Tree Experts the respect of customers in the Marple Newtown area.

The best part of my job is having satisfied customers,” said Mike. “It’s especially rewarding if I worked on a declining tree and when I go back to the property two years later, I see that that tree is now thriving.

Maintaining your trees is, of course, a year-round job, but taking big steps to ensure their health in the early spring will set them up for a great year! If you have the need to hire a tree expert, getting the right person or company can make a huge difference in the appearance of your home. Bradley Tree Experts is fully licensed and insured and serves Delaware County, Chester County, the Main Line and Philadelphia. To learn more about all the services Bradley Tree Experts offers or to schedule an estimate, call 610-325-8600 or visit their website: www.BradleyTreeExperts.com.

Marple Newtown’s Tree Care & Inspection Experts