Happy St. Patrick's day from Arbor Aesthetics! We'd like to take this opportunity to encourage you, amongst discussion of lucky charms, pots of gold and the "luck of the Irish," to hire a Certified Arborist to take care of your tree care needs. Your trees are an investment - protect them, take care of them, and enjoy them for years to come. Why hire a Certified Arborist?"Arborists specialize in the care of individual trees. They are knowledgeable about the needs of trees and are trained and equipped to provide proper care. Hiring an arborist is a decision that should not be taken lightly. Proper tree care is an investment that can lead to substantial returns. Well cared-for trees are attractive and can add considerable value to your property. Poorly maintained trees can be a significant liability. Pruning or removing trees, especially large trees, can be dangerous work. Tree work should be done only by those trained and equipped to work safely in trees."
Learn more about why you should hire a Certified Arborist from the International Society of Aboriculture.
82 Comments
Trees are so good to us. They provide shade and shelter from the sun, filter the air we breathe, add beauty and value to our homes, provide habitat, and much more. But come on, what have you done for your tree lately? Here are 5 ways to return the love: 1. Water works.Trees use water year-round, so they need water year-round. The amount of water a tree utilizes changes throughout its annual growth cycle, but to make it simple - they always need water - particularly trees that are younger than three years or were planted less than 3 years ago. Here is a short article on tree watering basics. Also check out our blog post about winter watering! Yes - you can (and should) water in the winter during dry spells. 2. Mulch, but not too much.Mulch helps trees retain moisture and regulate soil temperature in summer and winter. It can also be used in areas where roots are exposed so you don't mow over the roots or run into the trunk of the tree with the mower or weed trimmer. Follow these guidelines:
3. Do-it-yourself? Do-it-right!If you are tackling a DIY pruning job on your trees, avoid flush cuts. While your first instinct may be to remove as much evidence of that tree branch as you can, it is important to leave the branch collar and branch bark ridge intact to prevent decay from entering and spreading throughout the tree. Trees compartmentalize decay if pruning is performed properly. The diagram below shows where each of these are located, and also a three-step cut guide for removing the branch while minimizing harm to the rest of the tree. Read more here. In general, the cut should be circular in shape, and not elliptical. 4. Mind the roots.Soil compaction has real health consequences for trees, but is rarely discussed. Roots need to be able to access oxygen in the soil in order to thrive. Compaction can take place during landscaping projects where soil is covered or heavy machinery is driven over the soil. Even heavy foot traffic or installing a small patio can cause harm, and sometimes the symptoms don't present themselves for years. While some species of trees tend to present more surface roots than others, soil compaction can cause roots to move closer to the surface to access oxygen. Don't mow over exposed roots! Consider replacing turf with a thin, coarse layer of mulch so that mowing isn't required in the root zone area. 5. Find a trusted Certified Arborist.Find a trusted expert to help you maintain the trees on your property. Trees are an important asset and deserve professional attention and care. Finding a Certified Arborist, like Arbor Aesthetics Tree Service, is the first step in ensuring that you'll be able to love your trees for many years to come and so that the trees around your home can make the multi-generational impact they were destined for.
What is tree topping?
Why are trees topped?
Why is tree topping harmful?
What's the alternative?
If a tree service recommends topping, it's time to keep shopping!Sources:
Nebraska Forest Service, 'Don't Top Trees'. International Society of Arboriculture, 'Why Topping Hurts'
When do my trees & shrubs need water?A good rule of thumb is to water every 20-30 days in the fall and winter when the temperature is above 40 degrees, and there has not been a recent rain or snowfall. Before watering, check the moisture level of your soil using this simple test. Grab a screwdriver and insert it about two inches into the soil. The soil that you dig up should be damp or moist. If it's soggy, you'll want to let the soil dry out before watering. If it's dry, someone is thirsty! Proceed... How should I provide water?
Winter is the IDEAL time to prune And Remove treesShorter days and colder temperatures means dormancy for your trees. Did you know that dormancy is the IDEAL time to prune your trees? You might think an arborist will have trouble determining which branches need to be removed when stripped of their leaves, but that isn't the case. A trained arborist can identify a live branch versus a dead branch in the winter based on which branches have buds. Buds form at the end of the summer and serve as an indicator for which branches are alive in the winter. The Benefits of Winter Tree Work:
Call Arbor Aesthetics today and ask about our lower winter pricing: 402-408-5600
|
AuthorAmy Grewe, Certified Arborist & Co-Owner Categories
All
Archives
April 2024
|