TREE & LAWN CARE BLOG
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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What is the green stuff growing on my trees?
Most of the time, in damp, shady areas you will spot a substance on the branches or trunk of a seemingly declining tree. This substance can be either lichen or moss.
What’s the difference between lichen and moss on trees?
Lichen
A combination of fungi and algae
Can be a range of colors including blue, green gray etc.
Appears in thin flaky patches
Moss
Always dark green
Coarse texture
Does moss or lichen harm my tree?
Lichen does not harm trees, though it might seem that way because they are usually found on declining specimen. Actually, lichen just tends to thrive on unhealthy trees because when they are under stress, there are usually less leaves and branches, allowing more light to shine on the trunk and creating the perfect environment for lichen to take over.
How can I get rid of moss or lichen on my trees?
There is no pressing need to rid the tree of moss or lichen as it does no harm to your trees and actually can be beneficial to the environment by providing a food source for many birds and other animals. However, if you would still like to get rid of it, a fungicide called copper sulfate can be applied by an ISA certified Arborist to kill it.
If you have moss or lichen on your trees, it is best to have them assessed properly by one of our ISA certified Arborists to rule out any potential tree disease, tree decay or pests that could be causing stress on the tree to begin with. Use the link below to be connected with an ISA certified arborist today!
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Signs You Might Have A Bark Beetle Infestation
There are more than 600 different species of bark beetles and over 41.7 millions acres of land destroyed from them. They are becoming more common as time goes on and date back to 1996, when the first outbreak began in the U.S. Bark beetles usually go after the weaker trees, decayed or already taken over by some sort of fungus or bacteria. They kill the trees by cutting off their food and water transport abilities.
Symptoms of bark beetles include:
Pitch tubes, reddish brown in color on the outside of the bark
Sawdust substances around bark
Woodpecker holes could indicate there are bark beetles present
Leaves and needles turn from green to reddish brown
Tree decline
Unfortunately, once the symptoms of bark beetles are noticed, it usually is too late to apply a pesticide and the tree must be removed to prevent further spread in the area. If you notice the bark beetles early on in their cycle, a pesticide can be applied by a certified Arborist that kills the adults when they land on the tree. This will prevent them from entering, laying eggs and repeating the cycle.
When applying pesticides, make sure you use a certified arborist, as these chemicals can be dangerous and cause more harm to the good and helpful insects of the tree.
If you suspect bark beetles on your trees, it is important to contact your local ISA certified arborist immediately to remediate the situation before they take over.
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What Can We Learn From The Trees In Fall?
There is something special about fall time. The perfect weather, cool breeze with sun just warm enough to go out and enjoy without all those pesky mosquitoes. Most of all, the trees and watching their leaves change colors. Many people call fall a “second spring” where the leaves are all flowers blooming to drop again and return next season.
There are a multitude of life lessons the trees can teach us. We have listed just a few.
Embracing change
Most of us hate change, its scary and unpredictable. But every fall, the leaves show us that change can be a beautiful thing.
Learn to let go
Just as the trees let go of their leaves in fall, we must learn to let go of things that are no longer meant for us in order to grow stronger, healthier and return more beautiful next season.
Dark seasons are necessary
No rain, no flowers. Dark times are inevitable for all of us. It is important to remember that without dark times, we wouldn’t have the determination to be reborn and start again.
Nothing lasts forever
The bad news is that nothing lasts forever, the good news is also that nothing lasts forever. The changing of the seasons reminds us that no matter what, time will still be marching along. Take time to enjoy your life and live to the fullest everyday.
We hope these lessons give you a new way to look at the beauty in the trees that surround us!
How To Keep Your Christmas Tree From Dropping Needles
Christmas is right around the corner and its time to start thinking about which tree you will pick to light up your living room with some holiday spirit! Some might choose to go with a fake tree for easy cleanup and most of all NO MESS. However, there are some tips and tricks we can give you so you can enjoy your real Christmas tree and keep the droppings at a minimum. Because lets face it, there truly is nothing like a real Christmas tree.
So how can I keep the needles from dropping on my Christmas tree?
The fresher, the better.
Cutting your own tree is best because its hard to tell how long ago the trees on local tree farm were cut.
Give it a shake.
If you shake the tree around a bit, you shouldn’t notice a ton of needles falling off. If so, NEXT!
Water, water, water.
The most important part of keeping your Christmas tree thriving is making sure the water is full at all times.
If you can find a Christmas tree with a root ball that will be your absolute best bet on preventing large amounts of needle drop.
Keep the tree away from heating vents or fireplaces. Extreme hot and cold temperatures will likely cause needle drop.
These are just a few of our favorite tips to keep your Christmas tree healthy and glowing this season! Give us a call if you have any additional questions about tree care!
How Do I Protect My Newly Planted Trees In Winter?
Planting new trees in your landscape can be a fun and satisfying project. If you timed your project right, planting your new specimen should be performed in dormant season through winter.
But maybe you found the perfect tree for your yard and wanted to plant it sooner than later. That’s okay! We understand. Now that winter is rolling around, however, it’s most important to provide them with the best support possible to ensure their survival.
Cold weather brings along a lot of troubles for new trees. Ice storms, sub-zero temperatures, and strong winds can break branches and damage trees that haven’t had enough time to establish a healthy root system. The constant freezing and thawing of the soil with random spurts of sun can cause root damage and dry out the tree, exposing it to cold damage.
Winter weather in Georgia is unpredictable so having a certified Arborist help you with your newly planted tree will ensure optimal growth. But we have come up with a few tips and tricks to help in the meantime!
Water, water, water! - Until your tree has a healthy root system, it is important to keep the soil moist, not saturated before the ground freezes in October through mid-November. This will ensure your tree is properly hydrated through the winter drought. If you notice any browning on evergreen trees feel free to give a little extra after this time period, though.
Insulate the soil with mulch - Mulching around the base of your trees provides a large number of substantial benefits from preventing erosion, weeds and retaining moisture as well as heat. It can help prevent cold winter air from penetrating the soil, exposing the roots to cold damage before they are established. We recommend placing a 4 inch layer around the base of your trees, new or old, keeping it at least 2 feet from the trunk.
Tree trimming - The dormant season is the perfect time to prune back those new or old trees since they are growing much slower in this time frame. Removing dead or dying branches can help your trees maintain their energy for the beautiful blooms in spring time!
Wrapping - Wrapping your trees in a breathable fabric such as burlap is a great practice that can help to preserve your trees health while they are still getting established in their new home. There is a specific way to do this, however, so it is best that you consult with a certified Arborist about tree wrapping and preservation
Are your trees ready for the harsh effects of winter in Georgia? We give FREE estimates with our ISA certified Arborists. Give us a call today for a free risk assessment and evaluation of your trees health by clicking the link below!
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Why Is Topping Your Trees Deadly?
Sometimes, due to improper planting or planning, the trees we once loved outgrow them selves and become a problem. It may seem easiest to just chop them at the top to shorten them back down to a reasonable size. However, doing so could put your trees at major risk for decline.
Why is tree topping bad for my trees?
Improper pruning leaves the tree open for pests and decay to take over
It triggers response growth, a trees natural reaction to grow a large amount of smaller weaker branches in place of what was lost. This can be very unsightly and dangerous in heavy storms
The tree struggles to repair the large amount of leaves and branches lost, its main food source
Topping your trees can end up being much more costly than just removing them al together and replanting and specimen that fits your style.
If you have trees that have outgrown their space and need some recommendations on how to fix them, our Arborists in Monroe are always available at the link below!
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What Is Volcano Mulching & How Does It Harm My Trees?
Adding mulch around the base of your trees provides a large number of great benefits, not only to the tree, but also to the soil and the surrounding plants. However, there is a right and a wrong way to apply the mulch and doing so improperly can result in the total loss of your tree.
What is volcano mulching?
Volcano mulching is essentially, piling the mulch up around the base of your tree in the form of a volcano. Chances are, you have seen this technique used a time or two by not only homeowners but landscapers too!?
Why is volcano mulching bad for trees?
Volcano mulching is bad for a couple of reasons.
First,
Just like us, the roots of your tree need oxygen to breathe. By piling mulch up high against the trunk, you are creating a thick barrier between those roots and the surface of the soil where the roots collect the oxygen. This essentially clogs all the pores and causes the roots to suffocate, leading ultimately to the slow decline and death of the tree.
Second,
Mulching is used routinely for water retention. When applied properly, this can cut back on your trees watering needs by absorbing it from the mulch. But when the mulch is piled too high, this can result in too much water retention and cause the roots to drown in saturated soils that cannot air out.
How should mulch be applied properly?
We recommend mulching with a layer 2-3 inches thick and keeping it away from the base of the tree.
If you have further questions on how to properly mulch your trees or other tree health care questions, feel free to use the link below to be connected to a certified arborist near you for a free estimate on your property!