Arbor Aesthetics Tree Service - Professional Tree Trimming & Tree Removal - Omaha, NE
  • Services
  • Contact - Free Proposal
  • Japanese Beetles
  • Our People
  • Blog
  • Careers
    • Employment Application
  • Customer Portal
  • Gift of Beautiful Trees

Trees Feel Stress, Too!

7/14/2022

0 Comments

 
What do humans and trees have in common?  From the way we use water and nutrients to the way we keep ourselves cool, we have more in common than you'd think! There is big one thing we share that we need to avoid - STRESS! 

We all know how stress affects us. Too much to do, too little time, too much to do, too little sleep. Over time, stress takes its toll on the body: body aches, headaches, trouble sleeping, weight gain, and a struggling immune system. Did you know that trees feel stress, too?
​

Picture

WHAT ARE STRESS FACTORS FOR TREES?

  • ​Air Pollution - Particulates and dust can actually block leaf photosynthesis. Also, trees "sweat" just like we do, and trapped particulates can prevent water from being released from the leaves, causing the tree to overheat. This is a process called transpirational cooling. Ozone and acid rain can also damage bark and cause imbalanced soil pH. Did you know that stressed trees actually release volatile carbon compounds, thus contributing to the air pollution problem?
  • Excessive Pruning - It's a multi-faceted problem. 1. Removing too many limbs at once will cause stress. Cuts are wounds, after all. 2. Removing too many leaves at once means removing a major source of energy for the tree. 3. Aggressive pruning can introduce the tree to more sunlight than it was used to, which can damage bark.
  • Soil Condition - Compaction due to things like construction and heavy foot traffic compact the soil, making it difficult for tree roots to access oxygen, which they need to be able to absorb soil nutrients. Poor top soil is also an issue, which is commonly used in new housing developments. Quality soil matters. Compost is a bonus! 
  • Temperature - Trees don't often thrive in an urban environment. Think of cities as "hot islands," where concrete and metal don't absorb heat the way turf does. 
  • Light Pollution - Light pollution can impact growth responses. Trees near artificial light sources that are always on are confused! How would you like to sleep with all the lights on?
  • Storm Damage - While we can't prepare trees are storms, we can take corrective action after the damage is done. For example, if a tree branch breaks in half, knowing where to make a clean cut will affect the long term health of your tree and prevent rot. Consult a professional if your tree has suffered damage. 
  • Moisture - Too much or too little water stresses your trees. Much like the human body, trees are made mostly of water (75%). Leaves are 99% water! Trees need water to transport nutrients from the roots up to the canopy. A tree's water needs change with the seasons, but at its peak in the spring, a mature red oak tree can use 100-200 gallons of water per day! 
  • Essential Elements - CO2, H2O, N, P, K, etc. You've heard it a million times, but you really should consult a professional to analyze the pH of your soil. It really does matter!

WHAT DOES TREE STRESS LOOKS LIKE?

  • Canopy Dieback - You might notice that the tree blooms later than normal, or the leaves drop earlier in the fall. Look at the top of your tree and compare to nearby trees of the same species. The leaves might be more sparse, smaller, and paler.
  • Water Sprouts - Sprouting new shoots from the trunk or main trunk is a sign of stress. These limbs are often weak and unsightly. The photo to the right is a good example of a stressed tree. The limbs are covered in new sprouts and leaves. Think of the tree as "gasping for air" in response to stress. 
  • Wilting Leaves - "Turgor pressure" is what helps leaves and needles hold their shape. Much like how being well-hydrated does wonders for our skin, proper moisture levels keep leaves "plump" and healthy.  
  • Early Fall Color - Trees displaying their fall color early in the season are no doubt under stress. Is your tree susceptible to low iron or manganese absorption? This could also be causing early fall color.

WHAT CAN I DO?

  • Right tree, Right place - Selecting a tree that is genetically specific for your region is very important. The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum has a great list here. Also, set your tree up for success from the get-go. Choose a good location where it has room to grow, access to moisture and adequate sunlight, and little foot traffic. The tree should also be well-suited for the type of soil and water-drainage qualities. Some trees do better than others with poorly-draining soil.
  • Water - Oftentimes, watering is overlooked in the winter. Winter watering is important - especially during dry spells. Wait for a warm day when you can safely hook up the hose and give your tree a good soak. 
  • Avoid compaction - Soil compaction reduces oxygen and water availability to the roots. You can reduce compaction by eliminating heavy traffic zones around the trunk of your tree and within the drip-line zone. You should also be mindful of heavy construction equipment driving over these areas if you plan to have construction nearby. 
  • Prune conservatively - Never remove more than 1/3 of biomass of a tree in a single season - and you could probably be even more conservative. Removing a large amount of the tree's resources will send the tree into a stress response. A Certified Arborist will know how much is too much. 

​It never hurts to call on one of our Certified Arborists if you're concerned that your tree is stressed. We have many solutions to encourage healthy root growth, proper nutrient absorption and more.

Picture
FREE CONSULTATION
0 Comments

Best of Omaha 2023 voting is Open!

7/14/2022

0 Comments

 
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐦𝐚𝐡𝐚 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬...

For us, earning your Best of Omaha vote isn’t just about bragging rights or putting a logo on our trucks. It’s about our mission to 𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙏𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙨. By voting us Best of Omaha, you’re helping fellow Omahans find quality tree services performed by Certified Arborists who stand behind their work.

It’s hard to find contractors who care. We’re a family-owned, grassroots business. We take good care of our staff so they can support their families. We do things the right way - not the easy way. We give back to our community every year with our Gift of Beautiful Trees charity program. You can support our growth and mission by casting your vote.

Voting is now faster than ever and only requires voting in 5 categories. Click here to automatically fill in the Tree Service category:

​ http://www.BestofOmaha.com/59699
VOTE NOW
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Faces of Omaha 2022 Released

6/9/2022

2 Comments

 
We are excited to announce that Omaha Magazine just released their 2022 FACES of Omaha edition and we were featured as the face of tree services of Omaha, Nebraska.

FACES of Omaha is an annual sponsored publication introducing the “faces” of local industry experts in a variety of professions. Arbor Aesthetics is proud to be featured in this year’s publication, alongside other top business leaders in Omaha.

Learn more about our story: https://www.omahamagazine.com/.../402111/faces-of-omaha-2022
Picture
2 Comments

Gift of Beautiful Trees 2021 Complete!

2/19/2022

3 Comments

 
We are THRILLED to announce the completion of our seven 2021 Gift of Beautiful Trees charity projects. That's right - that's with an 'S!' For the first time in the seven years we've been serving the Omaha community with this program, we partnered with five other local tree care companies to expand our reach considerably. With the six companies combined, we were able to donate $15,000 in FREE tree services to families in need! 

​
This is HUGE. We are so grateful to the following tree services for their support and partnership:
  • Acme Lawn and Tree
  • American Arborist
  • Champion Tree, LLC
  • Cut & Grind Tree Care
  • Dillon Tree Service
Picture
As always, the connections we make with the families were are nominated for these projects warms our hearts and remind us that we all have so much to be grateful for. Nearly every nomination we receive involves heartache, tragedy, misfortune, illness and so many other trying circumstances. Although we are just trimming and removing trees, we see time and again that they can become quite a burden when life already has its challenges. We are always humbled to be a part of lightening the load for these families.
​

Before & After Photos

We hope to continue to expand this program over the years to come so that we can help even more families. Follow us on Facebook for updates and to apply if you're a local tree service interested in partnering with us! ​
3 Comments

Best of Omaha 2022 - Omaha's Best Tree Service

10/29/2021

3 Comments

 
Picture
💚THANK YOU💚 for voting us Best of Omaha for 2022! We are grateful for the continued support of our loyal clients and community. We have big plans to give back even MORE to the Omaha community as we continue to grow (stay tuned in November) and also to make Arbor Aesthetics THE destination tree care company for those who wish to grow in their arboricultural careers in a supportive environment.

🌳 Meaningful growth for people and trees. 🌳
3 Comments

Faces of Omaha 2021

7/7/2021

6 Comments

 
We believe we are the face of tree services in Omaha, Nebraska, which is why we're honored to again be featured in Omaha Magazine's "Faces of Omaha." We're always searching for ways to improve our customer experience, create a fantastic workplace for our hard working crew, and serve the Omaha community. To us, it's about so much more than trees.

Read the issue digitally here: 
https://issuu.com/omahapublications/docs/00_facesofomaha_2021/10

Following stay-at-home recommendations during the pandemic has been challenging for people, but it’s been good for their trees, said Arbor Aesthetics founders Jeff and Amy Grewe, because hanging around more means property owners are noticing that their landscaping needs maintenance.

“It’s people reinvesting in their landscape now that they have more time at home,” Amy said. 

“That and the fact that people aren’t spending money going out to eat, or going to a game, or going on vacation,” Jeff added. “They have more money on hand.”

The company, which celebrated its 15-year anniversary in 2020, is still in growth mode. It has gained residential and business customers, and its team of certified arborists also see a lot of repeat business from a loyal customer base. 

“The Arbor Aesthetics experience is a cohesive one from the first phone call into the office to when the last leaf is raked up in the yard,” Jeff said.“It’s a beautiful experience  because it’s so unexpectedly the way it’s supposed to be; we are professionals serving professionals.” 
Picture
6 Comments

Gift of Beautiful Trees 2020 Complete!

5/13/2021

5 Comments

 
2020 sure threw us for a loop, and we were hoping 2021 would cut us some slack. When it came to completing our 2020 Gift of Beautiful Trees projects after the holidays, the weather just wasn't cooperating. At some point, it got to be so late in the spring that we decided to wait to take "after" photos so we could at least get some leaves on the trees for the full effect. We're glad we did! So, we're a little late sharing this - but better late than never!

Story continues below...
We were again overwhelmed with nominations for our Gift of Beautiful Trees program for 2020, and no doubt, the pandemic contributed to hard times for so many families in our community. We were both heartbroken and touched to hear about how many were struggling last year, and just how many people were looking out for their friends, families and neighbors. Even perfect strangers submitted nominations for people they'd never met, but knew they could use a helping hand.

When Jeff and I review nominations, we use a loose scoring matrix to help us narrow down the projects based on the personal story that is submitted, how dire the need is in terms of safety, and whether or not our company is well-suited for the project with the resources and equipment we have. 

When we came across this struggling Cottonwood, we knew immediately that we HAD to do something. This tree was full of dead limbs over the street, sidewalk, driveway and house where the nominee and her daughter frequented. The result is beautiful and the tree is now an incredible historical feature and anchor point of the neighborhood - not an eyesore or hazard. The nominee was so grateful to not have to worry anymore.

Our second selected nomination was an anonymous submission, tipping us off to a family who had weathered extensive and very unexpected health challenges in 2020. The husband, Nick, showed up for his family in big ways and worked long, hard hours to provide for them during this time. When we saw just how many trees were in their backyard that needed attention, we were anxious to help. We visited a couple of months later to grab a photo after the trees had leafed-out and were so thrilled with the results of their beautiful, park-like backyard. 

As always, these projects are always about so much more than trimming and removing trees. We're showing up and serving our community (one of our company values!) and fulfilling our mission of Creating Connections through Trees. We're sharing our gifts however we can, and we are thankful to our community for supporting our business so that we can support our community in return.
5 Comments

Creating Company Culture - TCIA Podcast Featuring Jeff & Amy Grewe

4/28/2021

2 Comments

 
We’re honored to be featured in the latest TCIA Podcast talking about all things company culture, marriage and business partnerships, how COVID impacted our industry, and our experience in becoming a TCIA Accredited company! Check it out!
Listen to Podcast
Picture
2 Comments

Arbor Anesthetics - Innovative Pain Management Solutions for Tree Pruning

4/1/2021

3 Comments

 
We're revolutionizing the tree trimming industry! Introducing Arbor Anesthetics - the new technology that allows us to humanely trim your trees. Now you can rest assured - your tree will feel absolutely no pain during the limb removal process! Isn't it time we treated our trees with more respect?
Picture
APRIL FOOLS! But all joking aside, there is a right and a wrong way to trim a tree. Every cut is a wound. Trimming a tree correctly leverages a tree's own recovery system, which walls off decay and prevents the spread of disease. 

Here are FIVE ways you can prevent harm to your trees:
  1. Flush Cuts - Improper Pruning Techniques
  2. Mulch - but not too much!
  3. Will cutting into a tree's roots harm the tree?
  4. DIY Tree Pruning
  5. Tree Topping Hurts

​Don't fool around with your trees! Hire a professional, Certified Arborist, like Arbor Aesthetics Tree Service!
3 Comments

Flush Cuts - Improper Tree Trimming Techniques

3/14/2021

15 Comments

 
Picture
Tree trimming is an essential component of tree care in an urban setting. Limbs need to be removed over streets and sidewalks, away from roofs and gutters, or even in the yard if the homeowner needs to be able to walk under the tree. Removing these limbs may seem straightforward, and one might be tempted to remove them in such a way that it appears the limb never existed, by way of cutting it completely flush with the trunk. This is what we call a "flush cut" and it is an improper pruning technique that can cause serious harm to your tree. 

Trees have a response to wounding, coined "Compartmentalization of Decay in Trees" or "CODIT." A tree "walls" off decay in four layers of bark tissue, preventing decay from moving vertically, radially and tangentially. When a wound occurs naturally, the tree gets to work using its own defense mechanism to keep decay-causing fungi from spreading. When a wound occurs during routine tree pruning (yes - it's a still a wound!), a trained arborist can take steps to ensure the tree is given its best shot at using its CODIT system.

​Maintaining the branch collar is critical in tree pruning and allows the tree to form a proper callus around the wound. The illustration to the right shows a clear swelling of tissue at the branch collar as the tree is preparing to shed a dead limb naturally. Trees know what they're doing! When we prune live limbs, we can use this as a model for where to make our cut - by not cutting into the branch collar. The branch bark ridge is not always obvious, and when it is not easy to identify the collar, we consider it best practice to come away from the trunk slightly. It would be better to leave more of a stub than it would be to cut into the branch collar. 

In general (and certainly not in all cases), a proper pruning cut will result in a circular wound or as close to a circle as possible. In the photos, you can see the elliptical shape of the cut where the flush cut was made parallel to the trunk, but not perpendicular to the branch, resulting in a vertical ellipse where we can see the branch collar was removed. 

If you are unsure where you make a proper pruning cut, it's best to consult a certified arborist. You can read more about DIY Pruning in a previous blog post.

Picture
Picture
Picture

SOURCES
  • Compartmentalization of Decay in Trees, Bartlett Tree Experts
    https://www.bartlett.com/resources/compartmentalization-of-decay-in-trees.pdf
  • University of Iowa Extension & Outreach
    https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/faq/when-pruning-trees-it-desirable-make-flush-cuts#:~:text=Flush%20cuts%20are%20pruning%20cuts,collar%20and%20branch%20bark%20ridge.
15 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Amy Grewe, Certified Arborist & Co-Owner 

    Categories

    All
    Community Involvement
    Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)
    Our Company
    Our Work
    Pests & Disease
    Tree Care
    Tree Planting

    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    February 2022
    October 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    November 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014


    Follow this blog
Picture
Member TCIA
Picture
Picture
Arbor Aesthetics Tree Service

Arbor Aesthetics Tree Service
6724 Irvington Rd, Omaha, NE 68122
402-408-5600
info@arboraesthetics.com
  • Services
  • Contact - Free Proposal
  • Japanese Beetles
  • Our People
  • Blog
  • Careers
    • Employment Application
  • Customer Portal
  • Gift of Beautiful Trees