TREE & LAWN CARE BLOG
Why is My Tree Not Blooming?
Summer has arrived & all of our trees should be blooming now, but what if yours just isnt quite ready to blossom? There are a number of reasons that a tree could be prolonging bloom time but we have listed out the main ways that trees know it is their time to bloom.
Genetics.
Each tree and species is different and carries with it a different set of growth rates. Just because your oak is blooming and your maple isn’t could simply be a matter of genetics and their unique bloom time.
Growing degree days.
Depending on species, each tree has an individual base temperature, which is the minimum temperature that is required for it to bloom. This calculation can be made by taking the base temperature and considering the average temperature of the days in spring in your location and it will give you a pretty good idea of when your tree will bloom.
Sunlight, or lack thereof.
Trees can actually calculate when there is enough sunlight to being growing. After the nights turn shorter and the days get longer, a tree goes into bloom mode.
Is there anything I can do to promote my tree to grow faster?
North american tree service offers deep root fertilization for a very low cost that will catapult your tree into optimum growth in a timely manner.
Fertilizer that can be bought at retail stores has also proven effective however is more costly in the long run due to the amount you will have to purchase to be the equivalent to qualified fertilizer.
There are a few other things you can do to take care of your trees after they bloom including:
Properly pruning back all dead branches
Stay to a consistent & effective watering schedule
Mulch around the base of your trees
Deep root fertilization
If your tree still hasn’t bloomed and its past the recommended time for it to blossom, your tree could either have pests, diseases or could be dying from another cause
. Give us a call to have a certified Arborist come out for a free estimate on your dead or dying trees in Covington today!
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When Should The Leaves On My Tree Come Back In Spring?
We can all agree that spring and fall bring the prettiest of colors especially in our landscapes! If you have an ornamental species in your yard, you might be wondering, “why hasn’t my tree leafed out yet”?
Though all species and varieties of trees are different and they all have different bloom times, there are a few tips and clues as to when your flowering trees in Decatur might be ready to bloom!
First scratch the surface of the tree to make sure there is still a green color on the inside indicating a healthy, living tree.
Next, follow the branches all the way down to the tips to identify any buds that haven’t blossomed yet. Even buds that are still shut are still a good sign the tree is healthy!
Most trees in the southeast bloom in mid-march to early April. However there are a few species that bloom first:
Birch
Willow
These species average in March-April:
Flowering Dogwood
Eastern Redbud
Cherry Blossom
American Holly
Finally our late bloomers:
Oaks
Elms
Oaks and elms hold out the longest to prevent any damage due to sudden drops in temperature that tend to happen in the spring.
If you have a tree on your property that hasn’t leafed out yet or looks bare, have an Arborist inspection done immediately to identify any types of tree disease, decay or fungus. Click the link below for tree care assistance by a certified Arborist in Decatur today!
Bare Spots? Call An Arborist!
Quarantine Yard Projects!
Stuck inside? We have the perfect remedy for keeping busy during quarantine! Here are a few spring tips to keep your landscape healthy and thriving over the next couple of months.
Inspect your trees
Spring is a great time to detect dead trees on your property that might need removal. Be sure to walk your property and inspect each tree, looking for signs of disease, pests, decay, or fungus. If you spot and dead branches, it’s important to properly prune them back to ensure optimum spring growth. Make sure to check the soil around the base of your trees for any signs of mushrooms, as this can be a good indicator of root rot, which would not be uncommon due to the high levels of rain we have had over the past couple of months.
Mulch
Did you know mulching your trees can help enrich the soil content? When mulching around the base of your trees it’s important to keep the mulch away from the base of the tree to prevent root rot, however mulching at least 3 inches to 6 inches deep well ensure moisture retention in the coming hot summer months. Mulching around your trees also eliminate weeds. Eliminating the weeds around the base of your trees is important because it prevents your trees from having to compete for nutrients. It is important to use organic mulching materials as opposed to rubber mulch to provide the soil with the nutrients that it needs.
Fertilize
From your garden to your trees, everything can use a good fertilization every so often. Did you know that we perform deep root fertilization’s on trees at a low cost? Give us a call today to have a certified arborist come and inspect your trees, and provide you with a detailed prevention fertilization schedule for free!
Our offices are still open for business including tree removal, and mulching services.
Give us a call today for information on mulch delivery to your home, or to have a certified arborist come out to your property for a free inspection of your trees!
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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!
Call An Arborist
Why Shouldn't I Top My Trees?
Unless you are a certified Arborist or have a pretty good understanding of trees and how to take care of them, you might have a first instinct to look at a tree that might be growing too tall and want to give it a trim, just on the top.
This is call tree topping and it is very unhealthy for the tree as a whole and can result in a number of issues. When a tree is topped, all the branches on the top of the tree are chopped off into a stump-resemblance.
Why is Tree Topping Bad?
The main food resource, the leaves of the tree are mainly found in the top, the crown of the tree. When a tree is topped, the majority of this food source is completely taken away resulting in a lack of basic nutrition.
Tree topping usually involves a number of improper pruning cuts, preventing the tree from being able to heal itself as well as opening it up for pests and decay to enter.
Response growth is initiated when a tree is topped. Response growth is a number of short, thin, weakened branches that grow out of the trees stumps that are easily broken and fragile.
Topping your tree is a highly dangerous procedure that is unfortunately performed by power companies and some tree services today, usually to trim them away from power lines.
This procedure will be much more costly in the long run as you will have to spend more to repair the tree than to just remove it altogether. If you have an overgrown tree in Watkinsville that needs attention, please give us a call to setup a free estimate by one of our certified arborist’s in Watkinsville today!
We will recommend and pruning treatment plan for your trees that will keep them healthy and will be very inexpensive in comparison to the removal of a topped tree later on.
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Why You Should Trim Your Trees In The Fall?
Fall is right around the corner and that means it’s time to consult a certified Arborist from North American Tree about a tree trimming schedule!
Regular tree trimming is vital to the health and longevity of your trees. By removing dead branches, you allow the tree to focus all of its attention and nutrients on new growth instead of repairing old, dead branches or open wounds.
There is a specific time of the year that is best for tree trimming in Stone Mountain, however, and we have listed a few reasons why this is below:
Why do we recommend late fall pruning?
In spring and summer pruning wins usually close slowly which leaves the tree the tree open for past and diseases to enter more easily.
Tree trimming in Stone Mountain in fall is much easier and less time-consuming after the leaves have dropped, providing more clearance for the Arborist in Stone Mountain to see the fall structure of the tree and be able to identify diseases and insects more easily.
Pruning in early spring after the new growth has started can limit the trees bloom potential for the rest of the year.
Pruning trees while they are dormant promotes healthy growth for the next season.
Tree trimming is a very affordable way to keep your trees healthy and prevent larger expenses down the road with dead tree removals. Contact a certified Arborist at North American Tree Service using the link below to get started on your tree trimming in Stone Mountain schedule today!
Call A Certified Arborist Now
When Should I Prune My Trees?
Dormant months for your trees are right around the corner and it’s the time to prune! Pruning in Grayson provides many different health and aesthetic benefits. Tree care practices pruning not just for the aesthetic appeals but to remove the dead and dying limbs in order for your tree to get the maximum amount of nutrients and live longer without disease. Removing these dead and dying branches will make the tree stronger and create a safe environment for you and your belongings.
So when should I prune my trees?
During winter, trees enter a dormant season, preventing them from growing. Pruning while the tree is inactive is generally best for the tree ensuring new growth for the following season. Pruning your trees in Grayson during summer months could limit the number of new buds and flowers the tree produces for that season.
The dead and dying branches only can and should be removed at first notice as they are sucking the nutrients out of the tree and could potentially open the tree up to pests and disease.
Depending on the health of your tree, a Certified Arborist in Grayson will be able to recommend a pruning plan. They will usually recommend a time between late fall and early spring.
Dormant season pruning can prevent you from having expenses on disease and removal of dying trees in Grayson in the future.
Make sure to talk to your local Certified Arborist about all your tree care needs. North American Tree Service in Grayson, Ga. can give you a free estimate along with personalized recommendations for specific care and treatment.
Still have questions? Call us now!
Is There A Wrong Way To Trim A Tree?
Pruning mistakes are a very common thing, especially in homeowners who live in tight neighborhoods with large trees. They think to themselves, “might as well just trim that single limb back myself”. While this can save you time and money, it will cost you in the long run when the tree needs more intensive work to nurse it back to health after a bad pruning cut. Here are a couple of example of what NOT to do when trimming trees in Watkinsville:
Flush Cuts
Tree trimming is not as simple as it looks and requires a certain technique in order to prevent opening up the tree to diseases and pests. A lot of times, we see homeowners or uneducated tree service workers in Watkinsville performing flush cuts on trees in an attempt to prune them back. Flush cuts, as shown above, is a term used to describe a cut that goes into the branch collar of the tree, removing the ability for the tree to close the wound properly. Depending on the age, health and type of tree, it could end in the decline of the tree altogether. In many other cases, the tree cannot heal the wound and it eventually dies from insect and pest invasions and disease.
Knob/Stub Cuts
This picture isn’t the best in depicting the eye sore that comes from chopping the branches off into knobs. However, you can see that they didn’t make the cut close enough to the branch collar, therefore the tree won’t be able to heal this pruning cut either. The good news is, you can always take more off and correct your prune, whereas a flush cut cannot be fixed. So, with that being said, start small and be very vigilant in where your shears lie in comparison to the branch collar before making any cuts.
The absolute safest way to prune back your tree in Watkinsville without damaging it, is to call a certified Arborist at North American Tree Service and ask for a free estimate on tree trimmers in Watkinsville. We are knowledgeable and can give you tips and tricks on the job for you to perform on your own. If you are interested in tree trimming in Watkinsville, please call us today!