TREE & LAWN CARE BLOG
Why Is My Evergreen Turning Brown?
Evergreen trees have always been a popular species with their habit of maintaining their color in your yard throughout winter. When you see your evergreen turning brown, it can be a cause for worry.
There are a number of reasons why your evergreen might be browning including:
Summer drought - Temperature and environmental factors always play a big role in the health of your trees as well as how they survive less than ideal conditions. Drought is the number one cause for browning evergreens in Georgia.
Pests and diseases - Pests and disease bring about a bigger cause for concern, as these will involve getting help from a tree care expert. Bark beetles are the most common pests found munching away on your evergreens. Diseases such as cytospora canker disease have also been found in the area. It is important to consult with a local tree care professional if you think your tree is infected with pests or diseases.
Transplant shock - Transplant shock can affect all species of plants and trees and is usually caused by damaged roots. Most of the time, they will recover from transplant shock, but it is important to note that this can be a very long and slow process. We recommend fertilization to provide extra nutrients your tree might need to repair itself.
Can I save my browning evergreen tree?
Depending on the cause of the damage, there are a number of things you can do to save your browning evergreen tree before its too late. We always recommend having a tree care expert come out to your property to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. However, there are some things you can do in the meantime to encourage repair.
Going into dormant season (winter), is the best time of the year to get your trees on an annual pruning plan. Trimming your trees regularly provides a large number of benefits and is the standard practice in prevention.
Water
If the temperatures in your area have been on the high side with little to no rain, your trees could be browning from drought. Providing your evergreen with water regularly should keep it from browning.
We recommend fertilization during spring, so now is the perfect time to secure your spot on the list! Fertilization replenishes the soil for trees of all types and ages.
If you would like further information or to speak with a tree care expert regarding your trees click the link below to be connected now!
CALL AN ARBORIST.
3 Ways To Prep Your Trees For Hurricane Season
Hurricane season is here and now is the time to ensure your trees and home are protected from damage. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration is predicting 14-21 named storms to come our way this season. This number is far above average and we should expect winds of 111 MPH or higher. Hurricane season in Georgia starts June 1st and runs through November 30th.
How can I prep my trees for hurricane season?
Arborist inspections
The first step to protecting your trees from storm damage is to have a consultation by a certified arborist. They will be able to identify weaknesses in your trees and construct a unique plan to ensure your home and loved ones are safe from storm damage.
Proper pruning
Maintaining a regular pruning regimen on your trees is not just for aesthetics. This can help to balance out the weight by thinning the canopy, remove dead, weak or overhanging branches that could potentially cause a threat during a storm.
Cabling
When you have an ISA certified arborist come to your home to inspect your trees they will be looking for weak spots in the canopy that would be a good candidate for cabling or bracing. By strategically installing flexible steel strand cables and heavy brace rods, your tree becomes stronger. This makes them less susceptible to suddenly break during high winds.
If you think your home is in danger of storm damage from your trees, click the link below to be connected with one of our certified arborists now for a free evaluation!
CONTACT AN ARBORIST
Is Soil Compaction Causing My Trees To Decline?
Just like humans, roots need air and water to survive.
Soil compaction is one of the leading causes of tree decline in urban areas. This is because trees are often planted in poor areas next to sidewalks, driveways, buildings and in areas that have heavy foot traffic. When the soil is compacted around the base of a tree, this reduces the pore space available for the roots to take up air and water, ultimately leading to suffocation and tree decline.
So what are the signs and symptoms your trees are not getting the vital components that they need?
Water pooling or puddling up at the base
Poor growth
Shallow roots
Lack of grass or weeds - bare soil areas
Yellowing or dropping leaves
Lack of blooms
Missing bark
These are the most common signs your tree might be suffering from soil compaction, however it is best to have your trees routinely assessed by an ISA Certified Arborist.
Click the link below to be connected!
Call an Arborist now!
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!
Call An ISA Certified Arborist Now!
What Can I Do About Woodpecker Damage On My Trees?
We all love the spring time, being able to sit outside and enjoy the weather, and of course all the beautiful varieties of birds and their songs. Until you hear the repetitive an consistent drilling of a nearby woodpecker looking for food and leaving large open wounds in our trees as they leave. This damage can leave your trees open for insects, disease and affect the overall health of your trees.
What does woodpecker damage look like?
Luckily, it doesn’t take a certified Arborist in Bethlehem to identify the damage left behind from those pesky woodpeckers. Woodpeckers aren’t generally picky eaters but they do tend to stick to a select few species such as maple, pine, fruit trees, spruce and birch. They leave behind a very distinct trail of precise horizontal and vertical rows of holes at about 2-8” in diameter. Just big enough to suck some sap right out of your trees. If your tree doesn’t resemble the picture below, you might have a different intruder that can be identified by a certified Arborist.
How can I prevent any further damage?
It might be too late to mend up the damage that the sapsuckers have caused on your trees, however, you can try and prevent future attacks by using some of the following tips:
Use a woodpecker feeder as a decoy
Plant fruit bushes away from your house and trees for them to feed on
Use burlap or bird netting over the affected trees
Use a woodpecker sound deterrent
Set up decoys as a scare tactic
Call a tree care professional
IF YOU HAVE HOLES IN YOUR TREES THAT NEED ATTENTION, CALL A TREE CARE PROFESSIONAL TODAY!
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!
Call A Certified Arborist
Benefits of Deep Root Fertilization
Older, matured trees are often overlooked as “healthy” and not in need of any fertilization. Just because your trees are full grown doesn’t mean they wont benefit from a fertilization boost.
Why do my trees need fertilization?
Most trees that are planted in urban areas can be subject to a number of obstacles such as:
soil compaction
competing for nutrients
air pollution
poor soil quality
All of these factors can contribute to the overall decline of your trees over time. Deep root fertilization adds natural soil nutrients around the roots of your trees while providing a means for aeration of the soil at the same time. Performing a deep root fertilization on your trees will give your trees the extra push they need to overcome certain environmental setbacks where they might otherwise fall short.
What are the top benefits of deep root fertilization?
Fertilizing your trees provides a large number of benefits such as:
prevents chlorosis (yellowing of leaves)
provides substantial protection against pests and diseases
naturally aerates the soil for optimal oxygen to your trees roots
helps aid in the prevention of damage during winter such as frost
stimulates fast growth of the canopy
promotes the growth of healthier foliage
All of these benefits will help your tree thrive in some of the less favorable conditions of urban settings. However, it is important to have a certified arborist assess your trees to determine what mixture will work best for your goals. Unfortunately, there isn’t a “one size fits all” fertilizer that will provide ideal results and could potentially harm your trees if not performed properly.
If you would like more information on deep root fertilization of your trees, feel free to contact us using the link below!
Contact An Arborist Now!
Spring Landscape Checklist
With spring just around the corner, it’s important that you do a full and thorough inspection of your landscape to identify any problems before the new growing season. We are staffed with highly trained certified arborist’s who can help you to identify issues with your trees that you might not have noticed. If you would like a certified arborist in Athens to inspect your trees, use the link at the bottom of this page to be connected! Otherwise, we have developed a checklist with tips on DIY landscape/tree inspections and tips to follow for this spring.
Check for any dead branches.
This is not limited to only trees, if you have shrubs or plants in your landscape with dead branches it is essential for the new growth to prune those back. If you notice any limbs on your trees with fungal looking material, holes, or signs of pests, it’s best to contact your local certified Arborist in Athens before trying to tackle pruning that one on your own. Large dead branches can be dangerous and are best left to professionals.
Check foliage.
Have you noticed any yellowing on the new leaves this spring? Or perhaps less foliage or flowering than last year? If you have an older, more mature tree, a simple deep root fertilization in Athens might just do the trick but it is important to identify if other environmental factors are affecting your trees.
Check around the base and trunk.
When checking the base be sure to lookout for any oozing, slimy material, as this could be something as small as slime flux that is easily treatable. It is important to identify any major structural issues such as large cracks or cavities, meaning your tree might have been struck by lightening and needs to be evaluated by a certified arborist immediately. Any signs of mushrooms or other fungal matter in the soil around the trunk is a sure sign there is some root rot going on and should be addressed immediately.
Tips for ultimate spring growth
There are a few key things you can do in the meantime to ensure your trees are in their healthiest state and receiving all the nutrients possible.
Mulch your trees.
Mulching around the base of your trees can prevent erosion, retain soil moisture for those hot summer days, as well as eliminate weeds and grass. Check out our other recent blogs for information on proper mulching techniques.
Fertilize, fertilize, fertilize.
Slow release deep root fertilization can help your trees so much! Any trees over 2 years old should be fertilized in the spring by a certified technician. Call our office to set up an appointment.
Plant new trees.
Being sure dormant season is still in session, this is a great time to plant some new specimen in your landscape. We have multiple blogs on our website for tips on our most recommended tree species to plant. You can also contact our office to receive more information by one of our certified arborist on recommended species for your specific landscape or area!