TREE & LAWN CARE BLOG
How Do I Know If My Tree Needs To Be Removed?
Several factors can determine whether a tree should be removed. While trees are valuable assets to our environment, there are circumstances where tree removal becomes necessary. Here are some common considerations for tree removal:
Structural Integrity: If a tree is structurally compromised, it may pose a significant risk to people, property, or nearby structures. Trees with extensive decay, severe trunk damage, leaning at a dangerous angle, or large dead branches that could fall present a safety hazard and may need removal.
Disease and Pest Infestation: Trees affected by severe diseases or infested by pests may become irreversibly damaged or weak. If efforts to mitigate the problem prove ineffective, removing the tree might be necessary to prevent the spread of the disease or pest to other nearby trees.
Root Damage: Significant root damage, such as from construction activity, can compromise a tree's stability and long-term health. If a tree's root system is severely compromised, it may not be able to support the tree adequately, leading to structural issues or a decline in health.
Encroachment and Space Limitations: Sometimes, trees may outgrow their allocated space, interfering with power lines, structures, or other plantings. When a tree's growth cannot be adequately managed through pruning or other measures, removal may be the best option to prevent ongoing conflicts or damage.
Poor Health or Decline: Trees suffering from chronic poor health, such as extensive dieback, repeated leaf loss, or a general decline in vigor, may not be viable in the long term. If efforts to restore the tree's health have been unsuccessful, removal might be necessary to maintain the overall well-being of the landscape.
Landscaping Renovations: When renovating or redesigning a landscape, the removal of certain trees may be desired to accommodate new plans, create space for new plantings, or improve overall aesthetics. However, it's essential to consider the value and benefits of the existing tree before deciding on removal solely for cosmetic purposes.
It's crucial to involve a certified arborist or tree care professional to assess the tree's condition, evaluate the risks and benefits, and provide expert advice on whether removal is the appropriate course of action. They can provide an accurate diagnosis, explore potential solutions, and recommend alternatives like pruning, cabling, or bracing whenever possible.
If you would like to speak to one of our certified arborists, click the link below to set up a free estimate!
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When To Worry About Tree Cavities
It is very common to see knots, cavities and splits in the trunk or branches of your trees. As your trees mature, they bring these growth scars with them. But when should you worry about a large cavity in a tree?
While we always recommend having a certified arborist evaluation on your trees of concern, there are a few factors to take into consideration when assessing the severity of this situation.
1. Size of the cavity
As long as the cavity it relatively small in size, it shouldn’t be able to compromise the trees overall health and structure. Large cavities, however, may result in weakening of the tree and ultimately tree failure. Trees with large cavities should be assessed by a tree care professional.
2. Overall health
Another thing to consider is the overall health of the tree. If it is covered with dead or dying limbs, or show any signs of pest infestations or fungi growth from the bottom up, it is less likely to survive. If you have your trees on a regular tree trimming and maintenance schedule with a local tree care company, as well as having regular tree care professional visits, the odds are much more in your favor.
3. Location of the tree cavity
Location matters when dealing with cavities in trees. If the cavity is near the base of the tree, it is at immediate risk of falling and should be assessed by a tree care professional immediately. Additionally, is the cavity is located at a branch collar or where the branch meets the trunk of the tree, it is also a fall hazard to anything underneath or close by.
Overall, tree cavities can be unsightly and raise concern but as long as they are assessed regularly by a certified arborist, it is not always necessary to remove them.
If you are concerned about a cavity in your tree, click the link below to be connected with one of our tree care professionals for immediate assistance.
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Why Is My Tree Cracking In Winter?
Dramatic temperature changes in winter can affect all types of trees and shrubs. The most common bark damages to occur during winter are sunscald and frost cracks. Both of these can affect the overall health of your trees if they aren’t mitigated early enough or properly. Read more below on how to care for winter damage on trees below.
What is sunscald?
While all trees are susceptible to sunscald, it is primarily found on young, thin-barked, ornamental and fruit trees. When temperatures change rapidly, it causes death in the cells of the bark. During winter, the frozen tissue of your trees is repeatedly frozen and thawed from sunrise to sunset. The trunk tissue death is not always seen immediately, though, so it is important to look for other signs such as:
cracking of the bark
discolored bark
“bleeding” in the spring from the affected area
How do I protect my trees from sunscald or winter damage?
The best practice for healthy trees is always having regular consultations with your local certified arborist or tree care expert. They will develop a tree health care plan to make sure your landscape is ready for the changing of seasons. Regular pruning, removing any dead or diseased limbs, watering in winter and wrapping the lower trunk of your trees in a light colored dressing for winter are all best practices to keeping your trees safe from winter damage.
If your trees are showing signs of winter damage from the recent temperature change, give us a call today to speak with one of our certified arborists on staff by clicking the link below!
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Can My Trees Recover From Hurricane Damage?
In light of recent events, some of you may be wondering what steps are taken to restore trees after a hurricane hits?
We start by removing any trees or tree debris that may be posing a hazard next to power lines, etc.
Then we will have a tree care expert assess the damage to the trees to determine which trees are able to be saved and how.
If we are able to mitigate the damage to the tree, we will start by removing the dead, cracked, or broken limbs that are still attached to the trees. We will use proper pruning techniques to ensure the tree will be able to heal properly and will not be exposed to further damage by disease or pests.
Then we will irrigate the roots to encourage healthy growth as we would any newly planted or struggling tree. Continuing to water the tree a few times a week for the first month or two after the damage occurred is a good starting point.
Covering the trees root system with a 2-3inch layer of mulch will help the tree to conserve moisture, regulate soil temperatures as well as preventing weeds and providing great organic matter into the soil.
The damaged tree should make a decent recovery within six months to a year. If you notice the tree has foliage or bark problems or just overall isn't looking healthy, it is best to have your trees reassessed by an ISA certified arborist to ensure there aren’t any other internal issues arising with the tree.
If you have questions about your trees after a hurricane hits, please feel free to click the link below to be connected with an arborist and learn more on how you can help your landscape!
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Oak Leaf Miners - Identify & Control
What’s wrong with my oak tree leaves?
Over the past few dry, hot months we have received numerous phone calls about discolorations on Oak tree leaves. Upon further inspection by our certified arborists, oak leaf miners are to blame.
What is a leaf miner?
A leaf miner is an insect, about a quarter inch long, that lives in and eats the tissue of plants. They often leave behind a squiggly trail or big, discolored blotches. A certified arborist can determine the exact tree pest with a tree care inspection.
Can leaf miners damage my trees?
Fortunately, most leaf miner damage is purely cosmetic and is seldom a concern of the overall health of your trees. Leaf drop and defoliation is common, but not threatening. All the leaves on your oak trees will come back next spring with new growth.
How can I get rid of leaf miners?
While there are certain pesticides our tree care experts can apply in large infestation cases, the best practice for getting rid of oak leaf miners is simply raking up and destroying the damaged and dead leaves from around the base of your trees. This can prevent the infestation from spreading to other trees in the area.
If you have any questions or concerns about your trees, click the link below to be connected with one of our ISA certified arborists today!
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Why Are There Tree Shoots All Over My Lawn?
Have you noticed a large amount of tree shoots and sprouts all over your lawn? There are a number of reasons this could be happening. While some trees are notorious for this, others might be under stress and it is best to have an ISA certified arborist come out to take a look and identify the issue.
What types of trees cause shoots to show up in my lawn?
The most common types of trees known to generate sprouts are ash & honey locust trees. Ash trees will generate shoots in your lawn when infested with the emerald ash borer while the honey locust is notorious for growing suckers.
How can I prevent tree suckers and sprouts on my lawn?
Since this usually happens when the tree is under stress and essentially trying to re-generate itself, the best practice would be having an ISA certified arborist or tree care professional come out to assess the health of your trees first. Alternatively, though it can be time consuming, you can manually remove the sprouts by using hand pruners. There are also sucker stopper products at most home improvement stores, however these can be very dangerous if used improperly and risk damaging your trees.
Before planting trees its best to consult with an arborist to identify low maintenance trees so you don’t run into this issue when it comes to the specimen. Getting your trees on a proper pruning maintenance plan ensures their health for years to come and can eliminate the risk of shoots in your lawn. If you have questions about your trees health, or any other concerns about tree care, click the link below to be connected with one of our arborists now!