Top 5 Tree Pests During Summer In Georgia

Summer has arrived in Georgia and we are all enjoying the pollen lessening and the weather getting warmer. However, we aren’t the only ones who are enjoying the great outdoors. With summer, brings a whole new world of places for pests to thrive. We have gotten together a list of the top 5 most common tree pests in Watkinsville we see in Georgia in the summer.

Bagworms

• Feed mostly on juniper, arborvitae, cedar, spruce, honeylocust, linden, willow, maple, oak, birch, elm and poplar

• Consume tree leaves

• Must be controlled at first sight of infestation to avoid tree decline

Tent Caterpillars

• Most noticeable with large spider webs and leaf loss

• Affects mostly black cherry, ash, birch, sweetgum, willow, maple and oak

• Certified Arborist must apple a treatment to control the larvae in winter from reproducing

Aphids

• Affects all specimens

• Feeds on tree leaves and stems causing leaf drop.

• Can usually be found on the trunk of the tree or the underside of the leaves

• Call Certified Arborist for treatment plan at first notice of the infestation

Canker worms

• Eats away at the leaves of your trees leaving behind ragged, choppy leaves

• Mostly affected specimen are elm, oak, apple, maple, linden, beech, cherry, hickory and ash

• Pesticide must be applied in spring by a certified Arborist to remove them

Japanese Beetle

• Most commonly seen on crape myrtle, birch, littleleaf linden, crabapple, purple leaf plum, Japanese maple and Norway maple

• Chew through the veins of the leaves on your trees leaving behind only a brown skeleton

• Pesticide must be applied by a certified Arborist during peak growing season, mid June-August

If you have noticed leaf drop, yellowing of the leaves or other concerning issues with the health of your trees, our certified Arborists in Watkinsville can provide you with a free assesment! Click the link below to get in touch!

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Is My Sprinkler System Damaging My Trees?

Irrigation systems are great for low maintenance landscaping. Essentially you just set it , forget it, and watch everything bloom. However, if these irrigation systems are not properly placed, they can cause a problem for your trees and plants.

In the strong Georgia heat, we rarely think of overwatering posing any threats to our gardens. In the heat of the summer especially, it is very important to provide a substantial amount of water to keep your trees, plants and grass thriving.

When you decide to have your sprinkler system installed its important to make sure the location is ideal. Too much water can do just as much harm as too little. Overwatering with trees can be a dangerous situation as excessive moisture provides a perfect breeding ground for pathogens and fungus to develop, essentially leading to the weakening of your trees. If you notice any fungus or mushrooms growing at the base or the trunks of your trees, call a certified Arborist as soon as possible to have your trees properly assessed for decline.

Some signs your plants/trees are getting too much water are:

• root rot

• bark falling off the trunk

• trunk damage

• saturated soils

• fungus (mushrooms, etc.)

Some signs your plants/trees aren’t getting enough water are:

• wilted or curling leaves

• smaller leaves than normal

• leaf drop

• yellowing or burning of the leaves

After installation, walk around to different spots checking the soil after a run to ensure it is getting proper moisture. If the soil is heavily saturated you know your trees and plants are being overwatered and visa versa.

If you would like an ISA Certified Arborist to come assess the health of your trees, click the link below to be connected!

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What Is A Certified Arborist & Why Do I Need One?

If you are in the search for tree care professionals in Athens, you have probably heard the term “Arborist” pop up once or twice.

So what is a certified arborist?

Properly caring for your trees requires a professional that has knowledge and expertise in arboriculture. Arboriculture is essentially the cultivation, management, and study of trees and other woody plants.

Becoming a certified Arborist in Athens is done so through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and requires a number of years of experience as well as extensive testing. Most ISA Certified Arborists will attend a 2-4 year college in order to obtain the knowledge to pass the lengthy exams.

After the exams are over, ISA Certified Arborists are required to maintain their status and certification by taking classes, participating in labs, etc. As our environments evolve, so do the trees and the plants around us, which is why it is important that Davey Certified Arborists stay up to date on current diseases, pests and problems in order to properly assess your trees.

Hiring a certified Arborist from Davey will ensure your trees are getting the correct attention they need in order to survive and thrive in your specific environmental conditions.

Why do I need a Certified Arborist?

Some tree services do not have certified Arborists on staff with them which leaves you wondering why you really need one in the first place.

Taking proper care of your trees requires an extensive knowledge and background on tree care that only a certified Arborist will carry. By hiring a tree service that does not have proper knowledge or expertise in tree care, your trees could be in danger of improper pruning, unnecessary removals, and more!

An ISA Certified Arborist in Athens will always try to save your dead and dying trees before offering a simple removal. There are a number of treatments given to kill and prevent certain pests and diseases from taking over your trees before it is too late. Our certified Arborists will always recommend tree care over tree removals.

Last but not least, safety is the number one concern of an ISA Certified Arborist. When you hire an ISA Certified Arborist, you can rest assured you will not be putting your self or your trees in danger.

If you would like more information on how you can receive a free estimate from one of our certified Arborists, click the link below to be connected!

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How To Grow Peach Trees In Georgia

The most important thing when it comes to growing your own peach trees is location. The location you choose to plant your peach tree can determine its success or failure. It is important to check the site location for well draining soil. Well draining soil and 8 to 10 hours of sunlight per day are the basic requirements when growing peach trees in Georgia.

How to plant a peach tree

Now that you have found a location on your property with well draining soil and optimal sunlight, you’re ready to plant! It is best to plant your peach tree in dormant season, anytime between December and March, before the weather starts to warm up and trees are budding out. To plant your peach tree:

• Dig a hole twice the size of your potted peach tree

• Place the rootball in the hole, making sure to line the top of the root system even with the ground. Placing the root ball in a deep hole can cause root rot and soggy soils.

• Fill the rest of the hole with the soil that was removed, refraining from packing the soil in too much to ensure drainage is ideal.

• Cover the soil around the base of your peach tree with mulch about 1-2 inches thick, being sure to keep it away from the trunk of the tree.

• Water the tree, around the base, being sure to soak all of the roots multiple times per week until the tree is established.

• Enjoy!

How to control pests and diseases on peach trees

Peach trees can be among the harder types of fruit trees to grow because they attract many different types of pests such as:

• Fruit Moths

• Peach Tree Borer

• Mites

• Plum Circulio

Diseases that commonly affect peach trees are:

• Scab

• Brown Rot

• Bacterial Spot

Some of these diffrent diseases and pests have the ability to kill the tree off if not identified and maintained early on. Make sure to contact a certified Arborist in Conyers for questions regarding spraying your peach trees or just maintaining their overall health.

Still have questions about growing peach trees in Conyers? Give us a call, we would be happy to assist you with your next tree care in Conyers questions!

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When Should I Fertilize My Trees?

Trees, generally speaking are easy to maintain. Food, water, and shelter from harsh environments, basically the same things humans need to survive. But for your trees to live at their fullest capacity, extra nutrients and minerals that your soil might not provide are necessary.

How do I know if my tree needs to be fertilized?

First, always consult a certified arborist if you have any questions or concerns with your trees health. Arborists will come out to assess the overall health of your trees and formulate a plan to keep them happy and healthy.

However, there are a few indicators that the nutrients in the soil are lacking.

• Abundance of dead branches

• Dead twigs

• Yellowing leaves

• Leaf drop

• Smaller than normal leaves

If you are noticing any of these issues on your trees, fertilization might just be the best treatment for them.

When should I fertilize my trees?

Timing of fertilization depends greatly on the type of formula. Certain formulas can be applied year round, such as the formulas used by the Arborist’s at North American Tree Service. However, most tree fertilization should be applied during spring or fall for the best results.

There are different benefits to applying in each of these seasons, that your certified Arborist in Grayson can help you decide on.

Still have questions?

Give us a call! We are staffed with highly trained certified Arborists in Grayson ready to assist you with your next tree fertilization!

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Top 4 Tree Care New Years Resolutions

2020 has finally come and gone, and has brought all of us a new humbling feeling as 2021 approaches. We hope this year has taught you as much as it has taught us! Let’s start the new year off right with a couple of our top tips to maintain your beloved trees and landscape this year.

Make a plan

First things first, sit down and make a plan of what is in your landscape or garden that could need removal or evaluation. Make sure to contact a certified Arborist in Bethlehem to do a thorough walk through of your property, evaluating the health and performing a proper risk assessment on your trees.

Get on a fertilization schedule

Some of your older, more mature trees might not need or benefit from our routine fertilization’s but your newly planted ones will! Get those babies growing with deep root fertilization’s performed by our certified Arborists on site in Bethlehem.

Out with the pests

If you have any pest issues in your landscape, now is the time to address them before spring! Make sure to let your arborist know if you have seen any holes in the trunks of your trees or black soot on any of your trees in Bethlehem.

Enjoy your landscape

Last but not least, take care of your space by enjoying the beauty of all your hard work! Set up a hammock, a swing or a bench to take in all your garden has to offer!

If you are in need of a Arborist Consultation, please click the link below to be connected with an Arborist in Bethlehem today!

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What Types Of Trees Are Best For Firewood?

Nothing beats curling up next to a cozy fireplace in the winter but the ambiance isn’t free. Looking to chop your own firewood this year? We have a couple tips to get you started on free firewood.

Maybe you have downed trees in some nearby woods and are wondering if they would be a good fit to throw in the fireplace this evening. Choosing the right kind of firewood is important to achieve the perfect fire.

Let’s start with the best types of firewood.

If you are relying on firewood as the primary heat source for your house, it’s important to choose one of these top three to ensure optimal wood burning consistency. Hardwoods are the best type for this.

Oak

The easiest to find of these three would be oaks. Oaks can be found just about anywhere in Georgia and are known for their dense nature - producing the best heat possible.

Hickory

Hickory and pecan trees are similar to oak in the dense nature but can be harder to chop if you are doing it manually.

Maple

Maple trees in Bishop have a reputation of burning with less smoke and sparks than other types of wood.

These are just a few of our favorites, however if you choose any type of hardwood tree in Bishop, typically the result will be ideal.

If you have questions about tree identification in Bishop, please feel free to give us a call at North American Tree Service. We are staffed with certified Arborist’s that can help you with your toughest tree care problems in Bishop today.

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How To Tell If Your Tree Is Dead Or Dormant In Winter

All trees go into a dormant stage in the winter months to rest and prepare for the spring and summer months.

Deciduous trees can be hard to determine the health condition during the winter months when there are no leaves to any homeowner.

While it is best to have a certified Arborist in Athens determine the health of your trees, we have a few easy steps to follow to determine if your tree is in fact dead or if it is simply in dormancy for winter.

Check for buds

Inspection of the trunk and branches is first and foremost. Even in dormant season, your trees should still have buds throughout.

If the branch you are looking at doesn’t show any signs of buds or they are shriveled and dead, check another, as this might just be a dead branch.

If you see multiple branches with dead or nonexistent buds, it is important to contact a certified Arborist in Athens to come out and assess the health of your trees and form a tree health care plan.

Check for missing bark

The bark of your trees naturally sheds and replaces itself regularly.

However if you notice bark on the trunks of your trees that has shed and hasn’t grown back, this could be an indicatior that your trees need a health assessment by a certified arborist in Athens.

Scratch the trunk

Last but not least, the oldest and most accurate way to tell the health of your trees is to take a knife or your nail and scratch the surface of the trunk of your tree or a twig.

Being careful not to damage the cambium layer of the tree, you will be looking for a moist, green color.

If under the first layer is brown and brittle, you might need a certified Abrorist in Athens to come evaluate your trees fully.

If you still have questions about your trees in Athens, or need further assistance to determine the risk of your dead or dying trees, please contact North American Tree Service to have a free estimate on your trees today!

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