on May 05 in Tree Care tagged Difference between Full Sun Full Shade and Partial Shade, Japanese Red Maple, Potted Tree by Rick
One of the keys to Tree Care is planting the right tree in the right place. The right tree in the right place can fall into many categories ranging from not planting tall trees under power lines to planting a tree that needs full shade in a full shade area.
I learned this lesson the hard way last summer. I planted a Japanese Red Maple Tree in my wild flower garden.
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on Mar 10 in Tree Care tagged deer tubes, tree shelter, tree watering by Zelda
The Secret to Healthy, Fast-Growing Trees
The care you give your trees in the early stages of their growth will affect their shape, strength and life span. In their first few seasons, young trees expend a lot of energy to establish their roots in the soil. They are very susceptible to heat and drought so by following a few easy good –practice tree care tips you can provide your trees with the best environment for their growth and ensure they look their best.
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on Jan 20 in Tree Care tagged Arborist Q and A, Winter Tree Care by Robert Smith
Question: I have a few older trees and I am concerned that they may not be safe. What should I do?
Answer: Winter is a good time for safety inspections of older trees. Trees with decay or other obvious problems and those in potentially dangerous locations should be inspected by a professional arborist. You can find arborists in your area who are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture and clicking on Find an Arborist.
If you do you own visual inspection start at the top or bottom of the tree and work carefully to the other end.
Look for signs of trouble such as:
Cavities
Broken Branches
Branch Stubs
Limbs that Cross and Rub
Gouges or Unnaturally Loose or Peeling Bark
Bare branches at this time of year make it easier to spot problems. Winter is also an excellent time to contact a tree care company to do any corrective pruning that will make your tree safer. Most companies are less busy at this time of year, and in colder climates the frozen soil will help prevent soil compaction by workers or vehicles. Then, too, insects and diseases are less likely to be attracted to branch cuts during dormancy.
on Dec 02 in Tree Care tagged Thousand Canker Disease, Tree Disease by Robert Smith
The spread of this tree diseases continues recently Thousand Cankers Disease was found in Eastern Tennessee. According to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, ”the risk represents an estimated value loss of $1.37 billion in black walnuts in Tennessee alone. There are an estimated 26 million black walnut trees on Tennessee public and private timberland potentially valued as high as $1.47 billion.” This of course doesn’t take into consideration of the additional benefits that these trees are providing for us including cleaner air, stormwater reduction, cleaner water, carbon sequestration…
But this is significant news because Thousand Cankers Disease was originally found in Colorado and is currently in the following nine states Washington, Oregon, California, Neveda, Idaho, Utah, Arizonia, New Mexico, and Colorado. All of these states, as showcased on the map, are outside of the native black walnut range. Meaning that the impact of this could be millions of trees as there has been no cure for this disease.
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on Nov 25 in Tree Care tagged Find A Tree, Phoenix 2030 Shade Tree Master Plan, Right Tree Right Place, Tree Care by Ben
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend the Partners in Community Forestry National Conference in Philadelphia. The three day conference brought together a diverse group of individuals that all take care of or build urban forest. Groups included utility arborists, city foresters, non-profit tree planting organizations, city planners, and city employees (just to name a few). While sitting in one seminar about the 2030 Shade plan for the City of Phoenix the point came back to me again about how important Right Tree, Right Place is. The city is making a huge investment to increase their urban canopy from under 10% to 25% by 2030.
The plan focuses much of its effort on Right Tree Right Place because so much of their current effort and budget is currently about fixing trees because they were Wrong Tree, Wrong Place. Read More
on Nov 18 in Tree Care, Tree Pruning tagged Winter Conifer Tree Care, Winter Pine Tree Care, Winter Pruning by Robert Smith
Colorado Blue Spruce in Winter
Q: Robert, since winter is quickly approaching can you give readers any general advice about winter tree care focusing on caring for conifers in winter?
The main problem we hear about in winter seems to be bent or broken limbs or trunks on young conifers (pine, evergreens, spruces…). Don’t give up on these young plants. As soon as possible after snow or ice bends them down, use rope, strong cord or wire to secure them upright to stakes or sturdy parts of the tree. Spring growth will usually provide the strength needed to maintain the upright position. At some point during the first or second summer, you should be able to remove the support system. Read More
on Nov 11 in Tree Care tagged Autumn Tree Care, Fall Tree Care by Ben
Autumn Tree Care
Cooler weather is a great time for planting trees and for the trees that you currently it is time to prepare them for the rapidly approaching winter months.
Here are some tips from our friends at Casey Trees in Washington DC.
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on Oct 21 in Tree Care tagged Arborist Q and A, Proper Mulch, Pruning, Red Maple by Robert Smith
I have a couple of questions for you accompanied by a few photographs about a yellow poplar and a maple in my yard.
Q: The first question is about a yellow poplar that was here when we moved in about three years ago. It was in need of a trimming, so I did so that
winter, especially to remove a lower branch that was out of place. I know certain varieties of the species tend to grow straight up and produce a pyramidal crown later, but this tree seems pretty mature to have not done that yet. I’m wondering, is there any special pruning or anything I can do to help it spread out and start producing shade? The tree is about 20-25 feet and about 6-7 inches in diameter at the trunk. Read More
on Sep 16 in Landscape Design, Misc Trees, Tree Care, Tree Planting tagged Fall Color, Flowering Trees, Landscape Design, Smoketree, Tree Care, Tree Planting by Rebekah
If you should ever find yourself luxuriating in the French Riviera, and in the unlikely event you grow tired of the sand and sea, a walk in the hills will introduce you to the unique woodlands of the Mediterranean. There, among the scrubby oaks and umbrella pines you will find a familiar bush or small tree, the European smoketree – in its native environment.
There are only two species of trees in the genus Cotinus. One is the American smoketree, the other is its close relative from Europe. For both, their claim to fame is the wispy clumps of filaments that look all the world like smoke. The mirage has given rise to other names such as mist tree, cloud tree, wig tree, and Jupiter’s beard. By whatever name, the site of this tree is what Minnesota garden writer Don Engebretson has called “one of the most arresting shrubs available to…gardeners today.”
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on Sep 09 in Landscape Design, Tree Care, Tree Planting tagged Dogwood, Fall Color, Flowering Trees, Landscape Design, Tree Care, Tree Planting by Rebekah
Writer-naturalist Donald Peattie once wrote, “Lovely as it is, dogwood stoops also to be useful.”
What’s in a Name?
For all the beauty of this tree, the common name of dogwood may come from something less lovely – “dagger.” This, in turn, may actually come from its early use as a skewer, or thin piece of wood used to hold meat together. The tendency of its wood to not splinter made it popular for this purpose.
The scientific genus name, Cornus, derives from the Latin, cornu, or horn, in reference to another use of its hard wood. The species name, florida, is also from Latin, flos, meaning flowery.
Seasonal Color
The blossoms of dogwood add a welcome touch of color in early spring. If space allows, the white can be accentuated with a background of conifers. Bright autumn foliage and red berries that linger into winter add a bold stroke of color to any landscape design. Read More
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