TREE & LAWN CARE BLOG
Summer Heat Stress In Trees
It has been a hot summer here in Georgia. With the heat index stretching to 115 degrees, all of us are wondering how our gardens, plants and trees will survive. Heat stress in trees can open them up for pests and diseases to enter while they are in a vulnerable state, lacking the nutrients they typically have to ward them off. Having a certified arborist evaluate your trees regularly is always the best practice in preventing costly damage. They can detect pests and diseases from the start and mitigate the problem before it takes over.
…So what is heat stress?
Heat stress occurs when a tree loses water faster than it can replace it. When trees are in a continual state of transpiration, they lose more water than they can absorb through their roots. This is especially concerning in times of drought when there isn’t enough water available for the tree to absorb.
Below are some signs and symptoms of heat stress in your trees as well as some tips on how to avoid it.
Signs of heat stress:
Leaf drop
Wilting leaves
Yellowing leaves
Lack of new growth
Brown spots or bumps on leaves
Leaf scorch
Sap loss from the trunk
How to protect your trees from heat stress:
Tree trimming is usually only recommended during the dormant season, however, if you have dead, dying or diseased branches in your trees, it is important to have them removed as soon as possible. This will reduce the amount of energy your trees have to provide to “repair” the dead branches.
Watering is a given. Whether your trees are young or mature, during periods of drought and high heat it is important to thoroughly water your trees using a drip irrigation system or soaker hose. Keeping the hose away from the trunk and focusing on the roots will help to prevent root rot. Trees under 2 years old will need more water than older trees.
If your trees are browning, or show signs of disease, contact your local certified arborist to have an evaluation by clicking the link below!
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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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3 Best Flowers To Plant In Full Sun In Georgia
Georgia heat can be brutal. Some flowers can tolerate the heat much better than others which is why it’s important to do your research before heading to the nursery!
Here are the top three flowers that can tolerate full sun in Georgia:
False Indigo
If you are looking for the perfect hue of purple in a bush form perennial, false indigo is your species! They thrive in the sun, bloom around June/July, are pollinators and deer resistant.
Sweet Goldenrod
A tall, fragrant yellow flower that forms in golden yellow clusters reaching between 2-4’ tall. This plant enjoys well drained soil and is a low maintenance perennial that will provide you with color for years to come!
Creeping Phlox
This evergreen perennial will carpet your garden with a layer of starry pink, purple or white flowers early spring and summer. A low growing plant, only reaching heights of 3'“-6” and thriving in full sun. These flowers attract butterflies.
If you are looking for guidance on how to enhance your landscape or gardens, give us a call using the link below to be connected with one of our plant health care technicians today!
Top 3 Best Trees To Plant For Shade
When the Georgia summer heat hits, it can be brutal. Raising your monthly power bills and sucking all the moisture out of your landscape are some of the disadvantages to having a yard with full sun.
Planting a tree provides a number of benefits including:
Lower monthly power bills
Open opportunities for more plants that thrive in partly shaded areas
Raise overall home value
Provide a spot to cool off and enjoy nature
Here’s what made our list for the best trees to plant for shade.
GINGKO
Gingko trees are some of the most unique specimen on the market. They are coated with fan shaped leaves unlike any other. Their golden yellow fall color will make you take a second look. Best of all - they are some of the most pest-resistant trees you can plant.
Sun: Full Sun
Height & width: 80 feet tall, 40 feet wide
OAK
Known for their size, oak trees of all species provide substantial shade when they are fully matured. They aren’t the fastest growing trees but they are one of the most monumental.
Sun: Full sun
Height: Up to 80 feet tall
TULIP POPLAR
The tulip poplar tree is one of the largest U.S. native trees. Its name originates after the cup shaped yellow flowers. It provides optimal shade and brilliant fall color.
Sun: Full sun
Height & width: 90 feet tall, 50 feet wide
If you are looking for more information on planting shade trees in Georgia, click the link below to be connected with one of our tree care experts!
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Best Annual Flowers To Plant This Year
Are you looking for the perfect addition to your garden but just can’t commit to one that will return year after year? If this is the case, annuals are a great fit. They add a tremendous amount of color, without the price tag or the commitment of perennial flowers.
So what are the best annual flowers to plant in your garden this year?
Here is what made our list:
Begonias
Perfect for containers and filling garden gaps
Grows best in afternoon shade
Keep the soil moist but not drenched
Geraniums
Can be kept indoors through winter
Needs 4-6 hours of sunlight per day
Allow soil to dry before watering
Pansies
Excellent ground cover, containers or borders
Grows well with morning sun and afternoon shade
Water regularly
Marigolds
Known to keep away mosquitoes, cabbage worms and other pests
Thrive in full sunshine
Allow soil to dry between waterings
After planting, we always recommend applying a layer of organic mulch to your garden to retain moisture, prevent weeds and enhance the overall soil composition. Give us a call in our office to inquire about our organic mulch available for pickup or delivery!
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Why Is My Grass Yellow?
Spring is almost here and everyone is prepping for their thick, lush lawn to come in. Fertilizing your lawn is a great way to strengthen the roots of your grass so they can absorb water more efficiently. There are three main nutrients your soil needs to thrive, that lawn fertilizer provides.
Phosphorus
Nitrate
Potassium
However, if lawn fertilizer is applied incorrectly or overused, it can result in something called fertilizer burn. This is a very common occurence and will present itself after the application in patches of yellow, scorched grass. Lawn fertilizer is made up of chemical salts. When it is over-used, the salts will build up on your lawn and cause the soil to dry out. This results in the grass turning yellow or brown in streaks or patches.
Can my lawn recover from fertilizer burn?
Whether the grass can recover from fertilizer burn depends on a number of factors like moisture content, overall health, type and quantity of fertilizer used, etc. Having a lawn care specialist come out and assess the situation is recommended. In the mean time, it’s important to water, water, water. Washing the salts out of the soil is your best bet for saving your grass after a fertilizer burn.
We always recommend fertilizer to be applied by a lawn care specialist to avoid these types of costly issues. Click the link below to be connected to on of our lawn care technicians today!
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How To Care For A Crepe Myrtle Tree
Crepe myrtle trees are one of the top favorite trees to plant in the southeast region. There are a wide range of hybrids that all present different colors, hardiness and bark. They are a deciduous tree and will provide showy flowers in summer time and a bright fall color shortly before they return to a dormant state.
How do I care for my crepe myrtle tree?
Proper planting
First and foremost, ensuring soil pH is slightly acidic and well draining will give you the best results. Not sure what type of soil you have? Local certified arborists can take a soil sample from the area you would like to plant to give you an inside look on what you may need to supplement with. Plant your crepe myrtle in full sun (6 hours or more per day) to get the best blooms!
Fertilization
We recommend having a tree care specialist apply a fertilizer to your soil to keep your crepe myrtle healthy and thriving.
Watch out for fungus and pests
Crepe myrtle trees are susceptible to a number of fungus and pests including:
Aphids
Spider mites
Scale
Japanese beetle
Powdery mildew
Cercospora leaf spot
Having routine tree health exams by a local certified arborist provides early intervention of any and all pests and diseases to stop them before or when they start.
Regular pruning
The basic maintenance of a crepe myrtle tree is regular tree trimming. While you should remove all dead branches throughout the year, extensive crepe myrtle trimming should only be performed in the dormant season by a reputable tree service company.
If you are interested in crepe myrtle care or have additional questions, click the link below to be connected with a local arborist today!
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Japanese Maple Diseases
Japanese maple trees are a highly favored variety among homeowners for many different reasons.
They are fairly easy to grow and maintain, if they are planted properly and on a sufficient watering schedule.
They come in many different varieties of heights and colors.
They can adapt to smaller spaces where other specimen might fall short.
Usually any issues that arise are due to maintenance, as they are pretty disease resistant.
However, no tree is completely disease free and are susceptible to certain types of pests. We’ve listed a few of the most common pests and diseases that typically attack Japanese Maple trees.
Verticillium Wilt
This is a soil born fungi that is usually brought on by environmental stressors such as drought, frost or wet soil. The most common symptom of verticillium wilt is branch die back. We recommend regular maintenance pruning of all trees, but especially if dead limbs are present. Other treatment options might be available to you by a local tree arborist.
Anthracnose
Anthracnose is another type of fungal disease that not only attacks Japanese Maple trees, but a large variety of other trees and shrubs as well. This is most commonly seen during rainy seasons or areas with high humidity. Symptoms of anthracnose on Japanese Maple trees are spots or scorch on the leaves. Performing regular tree trimming and removing all infected leaves are good practices to avoid and treat this disease.
Phytophthora Root Rot
Japanese maple trees have never adapted well to over watering. They are highly susceptible to root rot because they have a low tolerance to soil that does not drain well. Proper planting and maintaining a watering regimen specific to Japanese Maple tree is the best treatment.
Japanese Maple Scale
Scale insects such as the armored scale favor the Japanese Maple tree under stress. If your Japanese Maple tree is not getting enough water, has suffered an injury or is under any other type of environmental stress, this can be an open invitation to scale insects to attack. These insects are usually seen on the bark and sometimes can be manually removed with soapy water. We recommend consulting a local certified arborist if you notice any pests on your trees.
If you have noticed your Japanese Maple trees showing any symptoms of stress, we encourage you to click the link below to be connected to a certified arborist for a free tree assessment. Remember the best practice is prevention!