TREE & LAWN CARE BLOG
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!
4 New Years Resolutions for your Landscape!
We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed all this time off with your loved ones as much as we did! With the new year right around the corner its time for some new year resolutions for your landscapes.
Landscaping is not an easy task by any means but it is so important to maintain the health of your trees and shrubs for so many reasons. Small additions to your lawn, or simply maintaining the plants and trees you already have can add so much to your property value. Also, did you know that anxiety and stress is drastically lowered when trees are visible in homeowners yards? Crazy, right? But true! Here are a few things you can do to your lawn to bring in the new year right.
Mulch, Mulch, Mulch!
Something so important is so easily forgotten or disregarded. Your trees love mulch just as much as your flower gardens do! All that sweet composted organic material helps to conserve water at the base of your tree, adds nutrients to the soil, prevents erosion and so much more! At North American Tree Service, we recycle ALL of our trees into mulching products available to the public at a wholesale price! We also carry red, black, and brown colored mulches that are 100% safe to use in any garden beds you would like. Give us a call today for quotes on delivery! Our mulch site is www.lifemulch.com.
Proper Pruning
Notice the emphasis on PROPER? Improper pruning can actually lead to the death of a tree. Leaving large gash wounds too far away from the branch collar can prevent a tree from being able to actually repair the wound and continue to grow properly. However, proper pruning promotes LOTS of healthy growth to your trees. Pruning is usually something we perform in the winter while the tree is dormant to ensure optimal growth and repair in the next growing season. Make sure to give us a call for any pruning needs. We have many pruning specialists on board with us that are well equipped to maintain your most beautiful trees!
Fertilization
Your trees need love too! A lot of people are under the misconception that all trees will be fine without fertilization. While this might be true for some disease resistant species, it doesn’t stand true for all. You will find if you ever decide to grow any type of fruit tree that within the first year it will be covered in disease and pests that will potentially kill the tree and all the juicy fruit that comes with it! At North American Tree Service, we perform routine fertilization for all your trees to ensure longevity and prevent any pests or diseases.
Tree Planting
There are hundreds of beautiful species to add to your landscape! A few of our favorites are maples, magnolias, river birch, and crepe myrtles. Every tree comes with certain maintenance issues, so it’s important to do your research and figure out which drawback would be a deal breaker, whether that’s large roots, pesky droppings or diseases. North American Tree Service always try’s to save the tree before removal and we love to give back to the environment by replanting what we take out! If you have any questions about certain species or tips on planting, please give us a call today!
At North American Tree Service, we specialize in tree and plant care and would love to assist you in your next project! For any questions or concerns please give us a call -
(770) 554-9406
Increase your property value with these helpful tree care tips!
Increasing your property value can be done in a number of ways. Marble countertops, renovating bathrooms and adding hardwood floors are all great things to add to a home, but what about the landscape? A beautiful landscape can increase the value of your home 6-15%. That means REMOVING all the dead trees and taking care of the healthy ones. No one wants to buy a house with a huge liability in the front yard when that tree decides to fall over.
Here’s a few things you should look out for when determining whether your property is sell ready.
Are there any dead tree’s in the yard? First, and foremost, let’s remove the biggest liabilities and then worry about the smaller stuff. Dead trees are like ticking time bombs, you never know when they are going to go off! Tree removal is a must for any dead trees.
Are there signs of disease/decay in my trees? Diseases can sometimes be treated if found early and depending on what type. However, decay, is tricky. Decay lies on the insides of the tree trunks and sometimes won’t show any signs or symptoms until its too late! Mushrooms around the base of a tree is NEVER good and always an indicator that there is some form of root rot/decay that needs to be addressed. Diseases come in all different forms including cankers, slime, fungus, etc. In a nutshell, if it looks funky, it most likely IS FUNKY.
Is my tree too close to my house? Improper planting is becoming a very common thing these days. Before deciding to purchase a tree to plant, always look up the ID card online to make sure your not putting an 80’ mature tree right next to your front porch, as you’ll likely need tree removal later on down the road. If you don’t have access to the information on the tree or simply cannot identify it, a general rule of thumb is nothing within 20’ of the house. Even trees with a narrow form can still have HUGE roots protruding out 20-30 feet from the base. This can mess with water/gas lines or anything underground.
Are my trees leaning towards a target? If a tree is leaning in a huge field with open grass, fine. If a tree is leaning towards the beautiful house of your dreams you just purchased, run. This is a huge liability as storm damage usually is alot more expensive than taking the preventative measures on your trees to begin with. Please give us a call if you notice any of these symptoms and think you may be in need of tree pruning.
Do you notice any dead limbs or leaves? Dead limbs aren’t always a good indicator of the health of a tree. Some usually just need a good prune. However, it’s best to have tree pruning performed as soon as you see them as the health of the tree is under stress trying to repair the dead/broken limb. The more routine pruning on your tree is performed, the better.
Call us today for a completely FREE inspection by a certified Arborist!
(770) 554-9406