TREE & LAWN CARE BLOG
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!
Why Is My Grass Coming In So Patchy?
Grass can be a tricky thing, hence, why so many homeowners opt out of the DIY version and prefer to pay professionals to ensure their hard work isn’t without value.
There are a number of reasons to a patchy yard, the best way to identify what the problem is, is to go top to bottom and rule everything out before reaching out to a lawncare professional.
Soil quality - Not 100% necessary, but it is pretty important to know the quality of the nutrients in your specific soil type in order to fertilize and treat properly.
Water - Probably the absolute most important thing is that your lawn is getting enough water on a daily basis. This also means EVENLY. Inspect your sprinklers to be sure the patches aren’t solely in areas that your irrigation just doesn’t quite reach.
Diseases or insects - Trees aren’t the only thing affected by diseases. Lawn diseases & pests include powdery milder, Japanese beetles etc. can all make your grass very thin.
Sun - Grass needs about 5-6 hours of direct sunlight each day. So if you notice the thinning occurring in spots that get less than that amount, there is the answer. Try trimming some branches back or having your local tree service perform a canopy raise to promote the grass to thicken up.
If you have ruled all these issues out and are still having an issue with thin, patchy grass, feel free to use the link below to be connected with a plant health care technician!
Call A Plant Healthcare Technician Now!
Why Are There Bumps On My Trees?
Walking around our lawns, inspecting our gardens during summer can be a nice way to get outside and enjoy some fresh air.
But then you notice your trees are getting infested with large bumps you have never seen before.
They resemble some type of tumor? But for trees?
These large, round bumps are called burls.
What are burls?
Burls are a collection of tree cells, or callus tissue that was formed in response to some sort of injury that wasn’t healed properly. Although the burls might be cosmetically unappealing on the outside, they typically do not cause any real harm to the tree. In fact, to wood workers, burls are a prized possession because of the unique twists and curls formed on the interior. These are commonly used for veneer panels, inserts, and furniture slabs.
Should I remove the bumps on my trees?
Trying to remove the burls yourself actually poses a larger risk for your trees than just leaving them be. By cutting these large burls off, you leave a large wound on the cambium layer of your trees, leaving them open for pests, diseases and decay to quickly generate. So, though they might be unsightly, the best practice is just to leave the burls alone.
However, you should get to the root of the cause for the burl and address that before it turns into a larger issue. Having an ISA certified Arborist inspect your trees can provide you with spectacular insight to your trees, how to care for them and what to look out for. Be sure to click the link below to be connected with an Arborist for concerns about bumps of your tree today!
Call an Arborist!
What Is Ganoderma Root Rot?
Fungus such as mushrooms, conks, and other fruiting bodies are never a good sight to see near one of your valued trees. The presence of these different fungi can indicate a larger problem on the inside of the tree such as root rot or generalized wood decay.
What is Ganoderma root rot & how can I identify it?
Ganoderma is a particular type of fungus that infects your trees through open wounds. Open wounds from spike holes, lightening, lawn maintenance equipment or nails in the tree could all make it susceptible to this specific fungi. Ganoderma can easily be spread by not properly sanitizing your landscape tools such as loppers or hand trimmers.
The symptoms of Ganoderma root rot are similar to any other issue occurring on the interior of the tree and include:
Dead branches
Yellow leaves
Leaf drop
Small leaves
Presence of fungi around the base or the trunk
There could be a variety of other symptoms occurring that will indicate an issue with your trees. This is why it is important to have your trees regularly inspected by an ISA certified Arborist.
Will Ganoderma root rot kill my tree?
Once your tree has become infected with this specific type of fungi, unfortunately, there is no way to stop it. Preventative measures always work best when it comes to fungi. A couple steps to ensure your trees will be safe from root rot are:
*Make sure your trees are inspected regularly by an Arborist
*Be careful not to cause damage to the cambium (outer) layer of your trees when using lawn equipment
*Never drill into trees unless consulted with an Arborist first
*Call your local Arborist at the first sign of decay, open wounds or pest
If you are concerned about root rot in any of your trees on your property, click the link below to be connected to an ISA certified Arborist today!
Call An Arborist!
3 Most Dangerous Tree Pests
Some tree pests only do minor damage such as defoliation, while others can actually kill or cause irreversible damage to your trees in the matter of a couple of days. That’s why it is so important to have your trees inspected by an ISA Certified Arborist at the first sight of any kind of tree pest infestation and routinely as a preventative measure.
A couple of the most dangerous tree pests in Georgia are:
Ambrosia Beetle.
Ambrosia beetles produce ambrosia fungus that is deposited within your trees as they excavate tunnels throughout the sapwood that serve as food for other larvae and adult beetles. Once these beetles have infested your trees, it can be very problematic and hard to address. The pesticide used to control and treat these infestations must be timed exactly when they fly. Re application can sometimes be necessary as timing their flight intervals can be tricky. Severe infestations will require the tree to be removed to prevent the spread of the pest.
Southern Pine Beetle.
Named the most destructive insect of them all as this beetle must kill the host tree in order to reproduce. This 3 mm beetle causes rapid loss of habitats, forests and watersheds. They do not discriminate and will take down even the healthy, resistant trees. The most recent outbreak resulted in $1.5 billion dollars of economic damage. They live in the in the inner bark of the trees and can usually be identified by the pitch tubes on the outer bark. The SPB also carries blue-stain fungi, which blocks the water flow within the trees causing eventual decline.
Asian Ambrosia Beetle.
If you have cherry or Japanese Maple trees on your property, be sure to look out for the Asian ambrosia beetle. They were accidentally imported from overseas on some peach trees in 1974 and since then has costs millions of dollars worth of plant and tree loss. These little insects can take down large trees very quickly, causing nursery and homeowners to spend extra just to prevent the infestation from beginning. They emerge in spring and bores into limbs about 1-2 inches thick, leaving nothing but sawdust behind.
If you suspect your trees are in danger of any of these common tree pests in Georgia, please give us a call using the link below to be connected with an ISA Certified Arborist for a tree evaluation. Remember, the best treatment is prevention!
Call an Arborist now!
Does My Ash Tree Have Emerald Ash Borers?
What is an Emerald Ash Borer?
The emerald ash borer is a tiny but deadly beetle that has a metallic coating and is around 1/2 inch long. It feeds on ash tree species and is native to north east Asia. It has been said they were originally brought to America in packing materials from cargo ships and airplanes. The female ash borer will lay eggs in the crevices of ash trees, which then turn into larvae that will feed on the inner bark, preventing the tree from transporting essential nutrients. This results in extreme dieback, bark splitting and essentially overall decline of the tree.
So how much damage can an Emerald Ash Borer do?
To put it in perspective….
Since they have arrived in America, they have:
Costs nurseries, homeowners and forest product industries hundreds of millions of dollars.
Brought infestations to over 35 states
Caused and EAB quarantine, preventing firewood and other materials from being moved to prevent further spread
Been responsible for the death of hundreds of millions of ash trees to date
So keeping your ash trees healthy and away from these pests has never been more vital, as they will move from tree to tree, but generally stay within the ash species.
How do you know if you have an Emerald Ash Borer infestation?
The good news is that they can be identified much easier than some of the other common tree pests in the area. There are a large number of symptoms but the most common are:
Large D shaped exit holes in the bark from their emergence in spring
Woodpecker presence - they feed on EAB larvae
S shaped tunnels beneath the bark
These few symptoms alone will substantiate an EAB infestation and call for immediate treatment of the area. If you suspect you have Emerald Ash Borers, make sure you contact your local ISA Certified Arborist immediately, along with calling the USDA Emerald Ash Borer Hotline.
Contact An Arborist Now!
Why Are My Shrubs Dying?
Some of the most common types of shrubs to plant around suburban houses are azaleas, boxwoods and holly’s. But sometimes, due to a number of reasons, these shrubs don’t last long before turning brown and dying off little by little.
But what’s causing my shrubs to die?
Many factors come into play when determining cause for decline in shrubs.
Environmental factors. Georgia heat can be a lot to handle, especially for certain specimen who prefer partly shaded areas or thrive in cooler environments. Before planting your desired shrub, be sure to do some research on where and how you should plant it to ensure it isn’t getting too much or too little sun.
Pests/diseases. Small insects such as borers or different types of diseases can cause your shrubs to turn brown or die. Be sure to have your property inspected by a certified Arborist to be sure that those diseases or pests don’t spread to your other trees or plants.
Soil moisture. In summertime, your shrubs will need a little extra TLC. Especially when it comes to water. The most vital thing to your plants health is ensuring they are getting enough water in extreme heat temperatures. However, it is also possible to over water your shrubs and trees as well so it is important to establish a schedule that fits.
Fertilizer overload. This can be tricky because unless a soil test has been performed, the proper amount or type of fertilizer you may need can be a guessing game. By applying too much of the wrong type of fertilizer to your shrubs, you can actually burn your shrubs by increasing the salt levels in the soil.
How can I stop my shrubs from dying?
If your shrubs are suffering from something simple like leaf scorch or drought, getting them in a shaded area by replanting or putting another species nearby to provide them with more shade could do the trick. Establishing a proper watering schedule especially in extreme heat situations is important to keep them healthy and happy as well. But if you are concerned about diseases or pests that could have infected your shrubs, be sure to contact your local ISA certified Arborist to schedule a free consultation on your landscape!
Call an arborist.
Does My Japanese Maple Have Leaf Scorch?
Japanese maples are one of the most commonly planted specimen for good reason! They are available in a range of different colors and sizes to cater to your yards specific needs. They are also considered a pretty low maintenance tree for those of us who weren’t blessed with a green thumb.
However they aren’t the cheapest type of variety to plant, and are relatively slow growers so when you notice something off about their leaves, you want to fix it immediately!
In Georgia, heat advisory’s are just par for the course and something that we (and our trees) eventually just get used to. But if you have noticed leaf drop or browning of the leaves of your Japanese Maple it is always important to dive deeper to ensure your tree is not battling a larger issue.
There are a few reasons why your beautiful leaves might be extra crispy this season including:
Underwatering.
Even the most mature of trees can still need extra watering at times so make sure your tree is on a healthy watering regimen that fits both of your needs.
Too much sun exposure.
Some varieties of Japanese Maple cannot tolerate full sun areas. Environmental leaf scorch can be the cause of your brown, crunchy leaves if they aren’t getting any time to cool off during the day.
Pest infestations.
Aphids and scales are the top predators of the Japanese Maple tree. Not sure what those are or how to find them? Give us a call to have your trees diagnosed by one of our ISA certified Arborists.