 With high summer temperatures, people begin to wilt. So do trees. In fact, trees can get heat stress that not only makes them appear bad, but also makes them more vulnerable to diseases and insects. As a tree owner, it is imperative that you know how to detect plant heat stress symptoms.
Below are some signs of heat stress in trees and some advice on how to safeguard them during severe summer heat. Heat Stress in Trees Heat stress occurs when a tree loses water quicker than it can replace it. Trees take in water from the soil through their roots and from the air through limbs, leaves, and trunks. That water is transported throughout the tree and then evaporated into the air via a process named transpiration. While this method typically works well to sustain a healthy and hydrated tree, high heat puts transpiration into overdrive, making the tree rapidly lose more water. Signs of Heat Stress in Trees Many symptoms of heat stress look like signs of drought or disease. So, if you’re uncertain, it’s suggested you contact an experienced tree care professional. How to Protect Your Trees in Summer The best thing you can do for your trees is to make sure they’re receiving the correct amount of water. Using drip irrigation, a soaker hose or a garden hose on a low flow, water deeply into the earth. Be sure to water at the drip line, not close to the tree trunk. This is where you need to water to be sure that the whole root system gets the water it needs. Although summer isn’t the time to do major trimming on your trees, you should get rid of dying or dead limbs. This will help stop infestation by wood-boring insects that could further stress the tree. Keep watch on any trees showing heat stress symptoms. As temperatures cool, the leaves should perk up. If they don’t, be certain you’re delivering the correct amount of water, then it’s most likely time to reach out to a tree care professional at Hickory Tree Services for an evaluation.  Hiring a local certified arborist is a decision that you must not take lightly. Tree maintenance done wrong not only poses a danger to the tree itself, but also harms the person doing the work.
An inexperienced person might not have the right insurance, leaving a liability problem for the customer that can run into hundreds of dollars. Use a Tree Care Company that is Licensed, Bonded, and Insured Some states require registration by tree care companies. However, registration is not an assurance of quality. Some areas also compel arborists to be licensed to work within city limits. You should check with local agencies to see if permits and licenses are needed. Ask for Credentials Membership in professional organizations like the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) shows a dedication to quality by the arborist as well as a commitment to stay current on research related to tree care. A searchable database lets you find arborists and tree care companies that can give you the best possible care for your trees. Get References Pick an individual or company with a solid track record of ethical and good work practices. Remember, you are hiring a professional to do preventive care for your trees. Choose as carefully as you would for your own health care. Look at More than One Tree Care Business Research the credentials of the staff and business that does the work, as well as any specifications on the bid. Your investment in your trees is in the hands of the tree care company. Be sure the tree contractor you hire is reputable and knowledgeable. Don't Rush into a Decision Make sure you know the work to be done and the price of the services. Don't pay in full before any work is done. Reputable tree service professionals will never request payment up front. Avoid Arborists Who Recommend Excessive Pruning Experienced arborists seldom recommend topping a tree or other severe pruning methods that may damage trees or make them deadly. Reputable arborists typically recommend several options to address tree situations. Beware of Flyers or Cold Calls Remember you are hiring a health care specialist for your trees. Would you go to a dentist from a cold call? Or a doctor who put a flyer on your windshield? The same attention to using reputable, knowledgeable tree service will guarantee your trees receive the care they need to stay safe, sound over a healthy, long lifetime. Hickory Tree Service has well-trained and experienced arborists who can help you with all your tree care needs, call us today!  If you don't keep an eye out for bagworms, you might end up with damaged, brown, damaged, dead shrubs or trees. Read on to find out how to detect and how to get rid of bagworms.
If you notice defoliation or yellowing in your evergreens, taking a closer look at the limbs may reveal bagworms. These vicious insects attack several species of bush or tree, but are mostly seen on conifers such as cyprus, pine, juniper, arborvitae, cedar, and spruce. They’re referred to as bagworms since when the larvae feed on trees and plants, they enclose themselves in cocoon-like bags made from leaves, twigs, and silk. When in the bag, a female bagworm lays over 900 eggs, raising your bagworm issue to a dangerous infestation quickly. The worst part is that your issue might go undetected until too late since these bags take on the appearance of conifer cones. If you have a bad case of bagworms, follow the information below to eliminate them. Handpicking If you see just a couple of bagworms, you might have stopped the infestation early enough that you can efficiently regulate the situation by handpicking the bags off the trees and putting them in a bucket of soapy water to drown the larvae. Biological Control Sometimes it’s not possible to handpick bagworms, especially when you have tall trees. But if you regulate the power of animals that feed on bagworms, you might still be able to regulate the number of bagworms. CHEMICAL CONTROL An insecticide with diazinon, malathion, or carbaryl can eliminate your bagworm issue if used on trees and bushes when the worms are still young. Schedule an appointment with an expert from Hickory Tree Care to spray in late spring, right after the bagworms have hatched and start to feed. Make sure the tree care specialist follows the insecticide manufacturer’s instructions. Regardless what time of year you find bagworms, don’t wait to begin crafting a plan to get rid of them. Left unchecked, they can totally defoliate and destroy your yard’s bushes, trees, or hedges.  Aphids can cause a lot of damage Although woolly aphid populations barely get big enough to hurt most plants, the curled and distorted leaves they create and leave behind are unappealing. It is important to know how to get rid of aphids.
What are Woolly Aphids? Woolly aphids are one of 3500 various types of aphids which might infest your garden. These aphids vary mostly in appearance from others. Like all aphids, these pests are tiny, typically growing no bigger than a quarter inch long. Like their many cousins, they create damage to plants by draining out the sap. Woolly aphids are usually green or blue in color, and somewhat fuzzy. Their covering of a white, waxy, material gives them some shelter against the elements, and in some instances against pesticides. Much like other sorts of aphids, these sap-sucking insects are little. Woolly aphids look fuzzy because of the waxy and white material that covers their body. These insects use two hosts: one for feeding in summer and one for overwintering and laying eggs in the spring. Woolly Aphid Damage Aphids usually feed in groups. They can observed feeding on buds, bark, foliage, twigs, branches, and roots. Damage is detected by yellowing foliage, branch dieback, the curled and twisted leaves, bad plant growth, or the development of cankers on the roots or branches. Sometimes, wax accumulation is seen along with the sticky, sweet residue referred to as honeydew. Also, plants might get covered with sooty mold. Woolly Aphid Control Though this does not typically damage or affect the plant itself, getting rid of the aphids and their honeydew will aid in regulating the sooty mold. Since extreme woolly aphid attacks rarely happen, there is little need for woolly aphid pesticide. Typically, their numbers remain low with natural predators like hover flies, lacewings, ladybugs, and parasitic wasps. If desired, you can spot treat where the aphids are plentiful using neem oil or insecticidal soap. Also, you can trim out and kill infected branches. When chemical control is believed to be necessary, a woolly aphid insecticide like acephate can be used to regulate these insects. Contact Hickory Tree Care to apply a woolly aphid insecticide treatment if necessary.  Anyone fortunate enough to have trees in their yard can’t help but become attached to them. If you see that a hooligan has cut into their bark, you’ll quickly want to find tree carving remedies. Healing a carved tree is a reality. Keep reading to learn about how to fix graffiti carvings in trees.
Repairing a Vandalized Tree Tree bark is very susceptible to vandalism. You understand how even problematic landscaping attempts, like weed trimming and lawn mowing, can harm trees. Intentionally cutting into the tree’s bark can create even more harm. If the tree was vandalized in fall or early spring, the bark is looser due to plant tissue growth. This results in bigger issues for the tree. You don’t have to worry. There are things you can do to repair a carved tree. Vandalized tree care is time consuming. You won’t have a quick fix. The first thing to do is to evaluate the damage. Hire an arborist from Hickory Tree Service to assess your tree if needed. Did the criminal cut initials into the tree, or was a big piece of bark cut out? As long as no more than 25% of the bark around the tree wasn’t removed, survival is a real possibility. Vandalized Tree Care Healing a carved tree entails replacing parts of the bark. If the vandal slices out pieces of bark and you find them, you might be able to attach them back to the tree. To do this sort of tree maintenance, placed the pieces of bark back into the tree like pieces of a puzzle, finding the original location for each piece. Carved tree restoration necessitates that you put these parts in place with burlap pieces of duct tape. Allow this to remain in place for at least 12 weeks. Repairing a vandalized tree with this technique works best if you work rapidly after the damage is done. If the cuts are carved initials or other thing into the bark, you can be relieved that they won’t kill your tree if you act immediately. These sorts of cutting wounds mend better if they are cleaned working along the vertical grain of the bark.  The life cycle of a magnolia scale insect is controlled by a long period during which it looks just like a bump on a log. However, don’t be fooled by their appearance. These insects are sucking fluids out of your plants, necessitating you to seek a magnolia scale treatment.
Due to their appearance, folks are frequently caught off-guard when they finally see evidence of an infestation. Furthermore, they might misdiagnose the situation as a mold or ant problem. Life Cycle of the Magnolia Scale Scale insects go through stages called "instars." The insect overwinters at the tips of the tree's limbs in what is referred to as the "nymph" instar. These nymphs begin feeding in spring and get to maturity in the middle of the summer. This is when mating happens. Later, the females give birth to existing young insects (crawlers) in August or September. Afterwards, the crawling ends, and they will adhere to the twigs on which overwintering takes place. This brings the process full circle. Spray with Insecticide For a magnolia scale treatment to be effective, you have to spray the insecticide at the right time in the insect's life cycle (mainly, at the crawler stage). These pests are more susceptible to sprays at that specific time in their life cycle than at other periods. That time is usually late summer. Once the scale insect goes past the crawler stage in its life cycle, the exoskeleton toughens, making it less susceptible to contact insecticides. Because the pests are at the crawler stage in July and August, that is the greatest time to spray. If you want to try an organic, eco-green insecticide, use neem oil. Reach out to Hickory Tree Service to arrange for an expert to apply a magnolia scale treatment to your trees.  As winter rolls in, rolls out and then rolls in again, many folks might think that they have to wait until the next season to plant new trees. However, planting trees in winter is a great idea since trees are dormant. Freshly planted, there isn’t much damage done to the roots as they might get in the growing season.
Putting new trees in your landscape in the winter is smarter than you think. It benefits the tree and is easier for you as well. Think about how much value trees bring to your property. It is a thoughtful and smart Christmas gift for any homeowner on your list. Why not include a coupon for tree care services, too? Here are some tips on winter tree planting: • When planting in the wintertime, don’t fertilize. In the spring, apply a couple of root stimulator treatments. Also, apply bone meal or compost to the soil to encourage root growth. Having roots already developed before the summertime is one of the best reasons to plant in the winter. • Be extra careful with the roots when planting. Avoid pruning. • Water frequently and be sure to use mulch, so the roots keep in their moisture. • The hole you dig for your tree must be twice the width of the root ball to have enough room to expand and grow. Remember proper soil preparation is crucial to good root development. • Don’t bother the soil too much. You can use some bone meal and compost but apply fertilizer in the spring. • Keep your tree hydrated! New trees are in jeopardy of drying out in cold weather. Keep them watered every week or every two weeks, including before a heavy freeze. • The cold will create plenty of stress so be gentle with the roots. If you must prune, only get rid of the limbs which are damaged or broken. • Avoid using ice melt with salt in it near your new trees. It affects the roots and keeps them from getting pertinent nutrients, water, and oxygen. • Mulch offers plenty of insulation for freshly-planted trees. You can also wrap your tree with burlap. Make sure, though, you remove it in the a.m. Plant in the winter and give your trees a big head start on next year’s summer!  If you have ever had to get a tree out of your outdoor space, you know that cutting down the tree and getting it gone is the easy part. As long as you have a knowledgeable Hickory arborist manage the job for you, eliminating a tree is pain-free.
However, you can get into a difficult spot dealing with the remaining stump. A stump in your yard poses a safety hazard, so you might want to get rid of it. You ask yourself “Do I need to remove my tree stump?” Here are a few reasons why the answer is YES! A home for unwanted species Having a tree on your property can be a treat for nature lovers, inviting insects, birds, and animals. However, when the tree is gone, the critters that tend to show up are anything but welcomed. For instance, termites can decide to go from a stump to the wood of your home, providing you with a pricey headache as they destroy the foundation of your house. In addition to unwelcomed visitors, tree stumps can start to grow fungi which are poisonous and can be a threat to little children and pets. Damage your property Even after a tree is gone, the roots can continue to develop. Tree roots are very thirsty and will search everywhere for water. They can grow in pipes and make them rupture, cutting off the water to your home or flooding the interior and exterior of your property. Developing roots can also make your walkways buckle and create numerous other issues around your residence. Too often, the issues created by tree roots are unseen until it’s too late. That’s why it’s best to get rid of the tree stump immediately. A safety hazard There is little use for a dead tree stump in your yard. What it will do is be a safety hazard to anyone who is in your outdoor space. If you have little ones that play in your yard, a stump can be a severe problem if they fall into it or trip over it. Roots that are developing are also unseen risks, creating a threat of tripping for your visitors and children. For safety reasons, getting rid of your tree stump is the best choice.  To get a new fruit tree off on the right foot, nothing is as crucial as proper pruning. Follow our tips to learn how to prune fruit trees correctly and avoid mistakes. The goal with fruit tree pruning is to shape your trees for years of pleasure.
If left untrimmed, fruit trees might labor with growing. If you encounter drought, they could not grow at all. Furthermore, unpruned trees take a long time to bear fruit. Tree care companies make sure their trees are pruned for correct shaping. Also, trees are trimmed right before packing and shipping. Why pruning is crucial
Prune trees when they are dormant Wait until a tree is dormant before pruning. You can easily see where to do your cutting when the leaves are gone. Dormant is in the winter or early springtime. Exact timing will differ by zone, as winter months vary by zone. Pruning and shaping fruit trees If you keep up with your shaping and pruning your fruit trees every year, you’ll frequently make easy-to-heal, little cuts. Help the tree develop a sturdy framework Get rid of injured, diseased, slender, or weak limbs as well as crossing or forked limbs. Additionally, eliminate upright limbs and any that grow towards the tree’s center. You want to keep the tree from getting crowded and too thick, as well as staying at a reasonable height. Each one of these goals encourages better bearing, which is your overall objective. Try to give the tree a general shape with your pruning. Keep in mind you also have to let the tree express its distinctiveness.  Join us in October and enjoy annual Brushy Mountain Festival in Downtown North Wilkesboro NC!
This festival is one of the most prominent arts and crafts festivals in the southeast part of the nation. The yearly affair is organized and operated by the Brushy Mountain Ruritan Club. The Brushy Mountain Festival is not just this club's biggest fundraiser but has become the prominent fundraiser of Wilkes County. More than 95 non-profit, church, and civic organizations take part in the festival. For plenty of them, this event has become the largest fundraiser of the year. Over 150,000 folks come to this event. The best part is that it is free. What to expect Downtown North Wilkesboro, North Carolina is full with over 400 arts & crafts, 90 food concessions, and different music stages of country, Appalachian heritage, bluegrass, gospel, and folk. When going through the streets of the festival sightseeing and purchasing the goods, Appalachian music can be heard while the scent of good food is tempting everyone's appetites. Don’t forget the apples! Local tree care experts are at the festival selling their apples, dried apples, and cider. This festival also pays homage to the fruit grown and harvested every autumn by apple orchardists from the northwestern part of NC. So, you’re welcome to join the Brushy Mountain Ruritan Club at the festival this year from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The information booth is at Main and 9th Street. The booth has the festival guide that contains the event schedule and the Souvenir Program. Also on 9th Street is the Wilkes Art Council Juried section. Pre-festival fun starts Friday night at 6 p.m. with the “Apple Jam and live entertainment at the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival Park. This is at the corner of 10th and Main Street. It is recommended that you get there early with your chair to get a good spot and enjoy the kick off with your family and friends. Food vendors and local restaurants are open so that you can grab some dinner. This is a fun-filled, family-friendly celebration not to be missed! Hope to see you there! |
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January 2020
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North Lakes | Hildebran | Long View | Newton | St. Stephens | Granite Falls | Claremont | Rhodhiss | Icard
North Lakes | Hildebran | Long View | Newton | St. Stephens | Granite Falls | Claremont | Rhodhiss | Icard