TREE & LAWN CARE BLOG
How To Properly Care For A Fruit Tree
One of the most popular favorites among gardeners is fruit trees. With the rising number of antibiotics and GMO being placed in our foods, everyone is going organic and wanting to grow their own sources of food to be safe. Fruit trees, however, are one species that require a particularly large amount of maintenance over other species. We have listed a few tips and tricks to get the most out of your fruit trees in Atlanta.
Watering
This goes for any young species of tree, it is very important to keep up a regular water schedule until the newly planted fruit tree is established. We reccomend applying enough to moisten the soil to about 3-4 feet of depth, which is the extent of most roots.
Fertlizer
A certified arborist can assess the tree and give a healthy recommendation for the amount of fertilizer should be injected into the soil as well as a tree fertilization schedule. However, if you decide to use retail store fertilizer it is important to get the right kind, which would be a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Spread the fertilizer in a round motion about two feet away from the trees trunk & water immediately to ensure the fertilizer is taken down into nutrients of the roots.
Pruning Your Fruit Tree
Proper pruning is a must and unless you have a decent amount of experience it is important to hire professional tree trimmers in Atlanta to complete this task for you, as it could be detrimental to the health of your tree. When pruning your tree with shears, make sure you use clean, sterilized shears EVERY time you prune. Making sure to rid the tree of any dead branches or sucker growth is essential for supporting optimal growth in the younger years of fruit tree establishment. The most important part of pruning is the time of year it is done. It is vital that the tree is only pruned back in DORMANT season and not at all during summer or spring months. If you have questions regarding pruning fruit trees in Atlanta, please consult a certified arborist who can assist you with your tree care needs.
Pests
Unfortunately, fruit trees are highly susceptible to contracting certain pests such as aphids, etc. This will need to be treated at the first sight of the infestation so that your harvest won’t be threatened. Insecticides can be applied to the tree, if the condition is bad enough, by a certified arborist. Insecticidal soap is available at most home stores and works well for these types of problems.
A few other tips for your fruit trees health include:
Planting fruit trees 10-15 feet away from each other to avoid overcrowding.
Planting 3 feet away from sidewalks or any other structure, as the roots will become invasive.
Plant your fruit trees in a well sunny area.
Inspect your fruit trees often to avoid pests or diseases from taking over the tree.
Mulch around the base of your fruit trees to reduce weeds, ensure optimal soil moisture and prevent erosion.
Thin out the fruit tree by removing excess fruit that may weigh down the branches and prevent the tree from breaking. Less is more.
If you have questions regarding your fruit trees health or care, please give North American Tree Service a call for a free estimate and consultation by a certified arborist today!
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Which Evergreens Are Best For Year Round Color?
Fall has almost come and gone leaving the beautiful colors until next year. This season can leave your deciduous tree looking completely dead until spring.
Whats the difference between deciduous and evergreen trees anyways?
Deciduous trees shed their colorful leaves throughout the winter and evergreen trees stay green throughout the year. We have made a list of four different evergreens you want to make sure to plant in your yard to keep that year round color!
Arborvitae
Privacy, privacy, privacy! These fest growing beauties are known to block out even roadway noise due to their dense screening nature. They mature to a height of up to 70 feet and spreading up to 20 feet wide. They prefer full sunlight and are easy keepers, as long as they aren’t planted too close together.
Deodore Cedar
This is a specimen that receives great recognition due to its unique features. It carries elegant branches that spread into a unique shape with attractive coloring. It grows to a large 50-70 foot tall and 20-40’ width. It grows at a medium rate of around 13-24” per year and prefers full sun.
Cryptomeria
This evergreen conifer is known for its sharply pointed, fragrant, swirl needles and privacy screening. Cryptomeria trees grow very dense so they would be great used as a privacy tree, reaching heights of up to 50-60 feet and widths of 20-30 feet. They prefer full sun and are generally low maintenance trees.
Eastern Hemlock
Last but not least the eastern hemlock is known for its draping branches and beautiful spread! This tree definitely doesn’t go unnoticed with a mature height of 60-70 feet and width of 25-35 feet. The eastern hemlock can tolerate shade very well but not heat. This beauty is better planted where he will have part shade for the day especially if planting in Georgia’s summer.
These are just a few of our favorite evergreen specimen. If you have a tree planting project in mind don’t hesitate to give us a call for some pointers! North American Tree Service is staffed with highly qualified Certified Arborist’s ready to assist you with your next tree planting project in Atlanta!
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Which Trees Bring Bright Fall Color?
Fall is officially here along with the beautiful hues of red, yellow and orange that cover the leaves of our favorite tree species! Since dormant season is the best time of year to plant, prune and make changes to new or existing trees, we dedicated our blog today to helping you pick the trees that bring the most radiant and vibrant fall colors for your landscape!
Sugar Maple
One of the most popular species, the sugar maple is known for its low maintenance needs and beautiful fall color. The leaves on this species gradually turn from green to yellow to orange in the fall. It can adapt to shade or sunny locations and matures to a height of 60-70’.
2. Baldcypress
Another easy keeper, the bald cypress in Watkinsville is a particular favorite for shading property due to its large spread. It has a medium growth rate of around 24” per year to reach a maximum of 50-70”.
3. Aspen
You cannot miss an aspen when you see its beautiful white and brown bark. They have the widest natural range across the U.S. of any other species, found growing at sea level all the way to the timberline. This ornamental tree has a 40-50’ height at maturity and grows at a fast rate of 24” per year.
4. Sassafras
The sassafras tree in Watkinsville brings along beautiful fall color along with aromatic smells. Their unique leaf shape turns from yellow to orange to scarlet to a deep purple in the fall. These are great bird watching trees as the dark blue fruits that are produced in the fall are a local favorite. They also grow at a fairly fast rate of 24” per year reaching maturity at 30-60’.
5. Sourwood
This beauty prefers to soak up the full sun & is one of the first trees to show its fall color! The bark has been used for many different medicinal purposes. It has a medium growth rate of around 15” per year reaching a mature height of 25-30’.
These are just a few of our local favorites for fall color! If you have more questions about your trees in Watkinsville or tree planting by a Certified Arborist, please contact North American Tree Service to set up an appointment for a free consultation on your trees!
Top 4 Trees To Avoid Planting
With thousands of species of trees, it can be difficult to find the “perfect” tree for your landscape. However, there are a few things you want to consider when choosing:
Mature height/width - When planting trees in Athens, Ga., it’s easy to forget about how big the tree will actually grow over the years, which makes it important to plant it far enough from the house and other valuables to make sure it doesn’t end up just getting in the way.
Growth rate - If you are looking for privacy, you might want a tree that grows faster than others. Make sure to check the growth rate on the tree of your choice and plant accordingly
Root system - Placement has a lot to do with this as invasive root systems can be annoying, they might be worth in when planting the tree of your dreams as long as they are placed in the right area, such as far away from septic systems or water lines.
Fruit- It’s important to take into account what type of fruit a tree produces whether its nuts, seeds, or balls and make sure they are in an area that these fruits wont become bothersome.
Flowers - Sometimes flowering trees don’t smell as pretty as they look, such as the Bradford pear in Athens, Ga..
We have made a list of some species you might want to avoid altogether, listed below.
Cottonwood - Aside from them being very adaptative and hardy in this area, these trees are complete nightmares! They are one of the messiest species in the south, dropping branches, easily uprooted, highly likely to be infested with insect and disease and carrying invasive root systems. This is a species you’ll definitely want to avoid.
2. Bradford Pear -Bradford pears are one of the most invasive species in this area. They are likely to be seen lining driveways, in neighborhoods and more. The habit of these trees is co-dominant leads shooting up from the trunk, causing it to split becoming too top heavy over time. They also produce white showy flowers in the spring that bring with them a very harsh pungent odor.
3. White Mulberry - Take every downfall of the cottonwood, and add to it a large amount of pollen each year, as well as bird droppings covering your yard from the fruit available and you have a white mulberry.
4. Hackberry - One of the messiest species, the Hackberry is known to have issues with pests, bird and branch droppings, diseases and more.
Tree planting and selection can be a difficult task. North American Tree Service has over 35 years of experience in the tree car industry staffed with Certified Arborist’s to provide you with the best recommendations for your yard. Call today to schedule an appointment for tree planting in Athens, Ga.
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Why Is My Newly Planted Tree Dying?
Whether its a new tree or you decided to move a tree you already planted in your yard, planting a tree in a new area can cause a lot of adverse reactions for a number of reasons.
Root Bound
Most of the trees you’ll find at nurseries are root bound from being in small containers. This means, as the tree has grown the roots have conformed to the shape of the container, becoming bound together and unable to separate, depending on the severity. You want to make sure to try and shake these roots out and release the roots from each other before planting the tree to prevent root girdling in the future. Sometimes, trees that are so badly root bound will not survive. If your not sure if a tree has become too root bound to survive, call the tree experts at North American Tree Service to transplant the tree for you.
Transplant Shock
When your moving a tree from one spot to another, or from a container into the ground, it’s best to make the transition as smooth as possible to prevent the tree from going in to shock. Good soil, lots of water and mulching 5 inches away from the trunk will ensure the tree gets a healthy start. However, if you notice yellowing of the leaves or the tree dropping leaves, it’s best to call a tree expert at North American Tree Service to inquire for a free estimate on your trees in Grayson, Ga. as the tree could need more intensive care such as a fertilization.
Over-pruning
Young trees do not have the capacity to heal themselves from improper or over pruning as a mature tree would. Some trees you might find grow a little funky in their first year but it is best to properly prune them in their dormant season. Make sure to have a tree trimmer in Grayson, Ga. such as North American Tree Service perform the actual prunes on your trees as this can be detrimental to the trees health. Removing the dead or dying branches is necessary though, so the tree isn’t using all of its nutrients to repair a dead branch, allowing it to direct the nutrients in the proper direction for the tree to flourish.
If none of these apply to your tree’s condition, don’t panic! Call a professional tree service, North American Tree Service for more information on how to move forward with the tree in it’s condition. Try to avoid re-planting until you talk to a certified arborist in Grayson, Ga. to prevent the tree from going into an additional shock.
Still have questions? Call now!
Signs Your Tree Is Under Stress
Most trees that have reached maturity will be fairly easy to care for an require minimum maintenance. However, other factors can also come into play. If you have noticed any of the following signs or symptoms of stress on your trees in Stone Mountain, Ga. be sure to call a Certified Arborist at North American Tree Service to schedule a free estimate for your trees before it is too late! Here are a few signs to look out for:
Dropping Limbs
Limb dropping is a very common thing that could be from either a poor pruning job that resulted in the limbs not healing properly to form strong bonds, internal tree problems such as bacterial wetwood or just part of that specific tree’s nature. River birch trees for example are known to drop large limbs and branches year round without any cause or explanation. However, more often than not, a tree that is dropping limbs in Stone Mountain, Ga. is a definite cause for worry and should be assessed by an Arborist at North American Tree Service as soon as possible.
Yellowing/Dropping Leaves
Overwatering or drought are the most common causes of the trees dropping leaves. This could also be a nutrient deficiency in the soil. When you call North American Tree Service, we can perform soil test in Stone Mountain, Ga. and determine if the soil is causing a problem for the tree and if any nutrients need to be added.
Slimy Discharge
Improper pruning cuts leave your trees exposed to all types of damage including pests and slime flux. This bacterial deisease causes sap to ooze from the wound. If this has already infected you trees, its best to call a Certified Arborist as soon as possible to assess the damage and give you a treatment plan.
Peeling Bark
Trees will naturally exfoliate themselves and rid the dead layers as it grows. However disease, insect and animal fungus are the most common reasons for peeling bark. These are usually the last stages of tree decline, meaning the tree most likely will not be able to be saved at this point. However, one of our certified Arborist’s will be able to determine how far along the decay has actually gone and if the tree can be saved or not.
Ants Around The Trunk
Carpenter ants only nest and feed on decayed wood, meaning there could be a much larger problem with the tree. The actual decay of the tree could be caused by a number of factors including drought, environmental stress, disease etc. This could be determined at the time of the estimate by one of our certified Arborists at North American Tree Service.
Mushrooms Near The Base
Honey fungus is a deadly fungi that attacks a trees root system and causes decline. Signs of honey fungi are flat top, yellow-brown mushrooms near the base of your trees. These are usually cause by overwatering since mushrooms and other fungi thrive in extremely wet conditions. Not performing proper prunes on your dead and diseased limbs can also cause the invasion of this fungi. If you notice this fungi growing on your property in Stone Mountain, Ga. be sure to call a Certified Aborist from North American Tree Service to assess the other trees and plants around it, as this disease is easily spread.
Keep your trees healthy and call today for an estimate on your trees by a Certified Arborist from North American Tree Service!
6 Trees That Require Next To No Maintenance
When it comes to planting trees on your landscape in Lawrenceville, Ga., you want to be careful which trees you select. Some trees drop large branches year round, while some drop unpleasant sticky balls that are very painful to step on, among much more. We put together a list of some of your lowest maintenance trees to make the choosing a bit easier.
1. Japanese Maple - Aside from yearly essential pruning, these popular beauties will brighten up your landscape asking little to nothing in return. Planting them is the most maintenance you will do on these guys as they do require good drainage and water in their first year of being planted, but it’s all smooth sailing after that.
2. Autumn Blaze Maple - In the fall, most of us look forward to seeing the changing of the leaves and the bright yellows and reds all up and down the roads. Most of these bright colors are the maple species changing colors. The Autumn blaze is a cross between the northern red maple and the silver, revealing the bright red colors produced in the fall. These trees are considered very popular because of their color and low maintenance nature.
3. Katsura - This tree is much like the maples, just a bit smaller. So if you have a smaller landscape and are looking for low maintenance, disease resistance with the four season appeal of the maples, look no further!
4. Green Giant Arborvitae - Looking for a great privacy tree without all the diseases of Leyland cypress? These are large, evergreen trees that provide great dense foliage for maximum privacy with minimum maintenance. Little to no pruning is necessary, and its a very fast grower in good conditions!
5. Chinese Fringe Tree - Fragrance, fast growing, flowering, only 25 feet tall, durable, disease resistant, what more could you want out of a tree?! The Chinese Fringe Tree is the most underrated tree in the area giving its nature and characteristics. Its maximum height is around 25 feet so it will provide plenty of shade without towering over your house.
6. Chinese Elm -This tree is much like the American Elm, however is disease resistant to the common Dutch Elm Disease, deadly beetles and phloem necrosis. The maximum height is around 40-50 feet and can tolerate drought, clay soil and pollution so if you live close to a city this is your tree!
If you are interested in having a tree planted in your yard in Lawrenceville, Ga. we can help! North American Tree Service specializes in tree planting in Lawrenceville Ga. and is ready to help you with your next project! Fully staffed with certified arborists to properly diagnose and treat any diseased trees on your property and replace them with lower maintenance specimen. Call today for a free estimate on tree planting in Lawrenceville Ga.