 When the winds begin to blow, and flakes swirl in the air, the only tree on the mind of many folks is the holiday tree with sparkling lights and ornaments. However, trees in winter require attention too. Trees are living things. Therefore, these plants necessitate a defense from the winter months as severe conditions could produce considerable damage.
Trees in Winter: How to Avoid the Hazards Sun Scald – If their dormant tissue remains inactive, trees are improbable of experiencing harm from cold. If sunlight hits a young tree's bark, it could warm the tissue to generate local activity. When night comes, and the temps fall, active cells die, resulting in tree damage. The smartest way to safeguard your trees from sun scald is to shield them from winter sun exposure. Some tree expert paint tree trunks white to reflect the light, keeping the bark cool. You could also create some shade with a fence or cover the trunk with a tree wrap. Foliar Damage to Evergreens – The same occurrence that creates sun scald could also destroy the leaves of evergreen trees. Evergreen foliage could experience extreme dryness from exposure to blistering winter winds. The trees affected the most are freshly planted evergreens. Keep your evergreens attractively green by covering them with shrub wrap or burlap. Temporary screens could also help. Make sure to deeply water your evergreens in the autumn to help leaf tissues remain hydrated during the wintertime. Root Damage - Tree roots don't enjoy the extreme cold. When soil temps go under around 15˚, the roots endure injury or death. For roots to remain comfortable, water them abundantly in the autumn since moist soil retains heat better than dry ground. It's also an excellent idea to mulch your trees for the wintertime. Applying a couple of inches of mulch around new trees will aid in insulating the ground and stop frost. Make sure the mulch isn't directly on the trunk. When mulch is on the trunk, the area becomes a home for mice and other pests. Animal Damage – Deer might be cute to see, but nothing is tastier than the bark and branches of a young tree when they get hungry. Deers, especially, love suburban backyards. They are bold, significant, and can impose plenty of destruction quickly. Keeping them away from your trees could be daunting work. Install an anti-deer fence, repellants, or motion-activated lights. They hate blood smelling, so hanging strips of cloth dipped in blood meal solution could be helpful. If deer are overflowing in your area, you may want to plant a deer-resistant tree type like spruce or holly. Tips to Stop Winter Tree Damage Here are some tips to aid in keeping your trees healthy during the cold months: Think snow – Don't plant trees in spots where vast amounts of snow will probably amass or where snowplows will possibly blow snow. Enough water – Accurate watering every month keeps plants vigorous and aids them in enduring winter weather. It's vital not to under or over water in late summer through autumn. Correct winter tree care is contingent on tree type and location. While these tips are an excellent beginning point, nothing tops community experience. If you desire to provide your trees with the best maintenance, talk with the tree contractors at Hickory Tree Service.  Crabapple trees are well-liked ornamental trees because they are small, and they develop beautiful spring blooms. Due to enhancements in breeding, newer types are attractive and healthy. Read on to learn more about new and customary crabapple tree types that are low maintenance and resilient.
Types of Crabapple Trees Coralburst - This type is a dwarf variety, perfect as a corner accent on the patio, garden, or anchor on a planting bed. Slow-growing and small, a coralburst hardly needs any pruning. In the spring, you get vivid pink double-blooms and dark green foliage. Cardinal - The Cardinal Crabapple has a vast canopy, growing twice its height. When it reaches maturity, this type grows over 10' tall and over 20' wide. This tree is an extreme-resistant disease type with huge dark purple leaves and brilliant magenta blooms. This plant is also known for its excellent yellow and orange fall colors. Firebird – Growing around 8 feet tall when mature, this plant flourishes in the spring, contrasting the dark foliage. This kind has a massive fruit set of fantastic red crabapples. The fruit withstands the cold months, so you don't have to fret about a mess in your yard. Prairiefire -The praireifire is a best seller because of its size and shape. This type is a traditional bright magenta bloomer that reveals "spring has arrived" when the buds burst each year. Red Jewel - The Red Jewel is a true gem. The tiny size makes it an ideal accent tree, and the all year-long interest is difficult to beat. Dazzling white flowers bloom every spring, and the insistent bright red berries look seasonal and fabulous in the winter, fall, and spring. Ruby Dayze - This is a contemporary, more columnar, and upright crabapple tree with purple foliage and pink flowers. The firm oval shape makes this plant perfect to put close to the street. Ruby Dayze is disease resistant and low maintenance. Royal Raindrops – Lots of homeowners are big fans of this tree. Sweet-smelling rose flowers emerge along with the limbs in the springtime before the leaves. It has appealing deep purple foliage during the spring, turning a crimson hue in the autumn. Sargent Tina - This is the most well-known, lasting small ornamental crabapple trees. Fragrant pink flowers cover this tree in the springtime, and red fruit covers it in the fall. The flat, artistic limbs make it a remarkable addition to any outdoor space. Sparkling Sprite - This candy sucker shaped, tiny tree is a tad bigger than the Coralburst, reaching over 10' when mature. The buds are pink and flourish into white blooms. The tree has orange, yellow fruit and bright green foliage that looks so lovely in the wintertime. If grass doesn't grow beneath your crabapple, think about digging up the spot and make a perennial flower bed. Perennials especially will be less susceptible to falling fruit and petals beneath your tree. To learn more about other types of crabapple trees, get in touch with us at Hickory Tree Service.  Willows aren't a little group of water-loving plants. There are more than 350 types of willow trees that flourish in cool and mild regions.
Willow trees make you stand up and take notice. In many areas, these resilient trees are for healing. For instance, willows can treat acne and ease back pain. In outdoor spaces, willows are beside rivers where the roots keep the soil at bay, stopping corrosion. Willows make the best sculptures and living fences. The limbs are suitable for basket weaving because the wood is bendable when it's wet. Keep reading for some information on a few well-liked varieties of willows. Distinguishing Different Types of Willow Trees It isn't hard to recognize a willow. Even little ones can spot pussy willows on a tree in the springtime. Though differentiating between various willows is challenging. Many willow types reproduce. With over 100 varieties of willow in the U.S., numerous hybrids possess features of both parents. This fact is the reason why many individuals don't fret about making a distinction between willow types. Popular Willow Types There are more than a couple of well-liked willow varieties that everybody recognizes. One is the famous weeping willow. This foliage flourishes over 35 feet high with a canopy expanse of around 30 feet. The limbs drop down, creating a look of weeping. Another of the familiar types of willow is the corkscrew willow. This sort is a plant that develops close to 40 feet wide and tall. Its limbs curl in fascinating ways, making it an excellent tree for winter outdoor spaces. Other tall willow types include peach-leaf willow that grows close to 50 feet tall and the American pussy willow developing up to 20 feet. Don't mistake this for the goat willow that goes by the familiar name of pussy willow. Little Willow Types Not all willows are sky-high shade trees. There are some willow trees with branches that remain short. For example, the dappled willow is a gorgeous little tree that grows to only around six feet tall. Its foliage develops in delicate hues of green, pink, and white, delivering holiday delight. The limbs on its many stems are vivid red. Another tiny willow is the Purple Osier willow. As the name implies, this plant has incredible purple leaves and stems with shades of blue. It only develops up to 10 feet tall, and pruning is necessary every few years. Not like other willows, it enjoys some shade and dry soil. Be careful about putting willows close to water pipes and sewer lines; the roots will drift towards them. Many willow types like water and will look for belowground pipes transporting water. If willow roots creep into a sewer line or water main, you may end up dealing with repairs costing thousands. Various willow tree types are found worldwide, with every one of them possessing distinct uses and characteristics. Call us at Hickory Tree Service to hear more willow tree types.  Paperbark Maple Trees with peeling bark could be a sign of an infestation of pests or disease. However, for some trees, it's part of the growth process and appeal.
Most trees shed bark annually to create room for new growth. On peeling bark trees like the shagbark hickory, though, a lot of the bark stays on the tree. The twisting bark is the motivation for the tree's name. Many tree types discard bark yearly as part of their expected growth. Below are some of the trees: Trees with Peeling Bark: Shagbark Hickory The shagbark hickory is a gradual grower. This tree makes bumper crops of sweet nutmeats enclosed in tiny hard shells surrounded by bright-green outer husks with time. True to the tree's name, the bark grows into slim, long strips that peel back from the trunk to provide the tree with a fuzzy look. As a tree matures, the more the bark curls. If not bothered, shagbark hickory could live for several years and flourish to over 35 feet wide and 90 feet tall. Though bugs feast on its leaves in the warm months, the tree is extremely resistant to diseases and pests. Regardless of its effectiveness as a source of food for wildlife and humans, shagbark hickory might become a pain because of its endless dropping of nut husks, dead twigs, and leaflets. Trident Maples and Paperbark Many varieties of maples also display peeling bark like the trident maple and the paperback. The paperbark is known as a brush tree since it develops to a full height of over 25 feet. Its size is typically equal to its range. Its bark is a reddish-brown color and peels to show a lighter-colored bark. Paperbark develops best in well-drained, damp soil in a sunny area that gets a little shade. Trident maple grows excellently in either full shade or full sun. Though it flourishes to just 25 feet, pruning is at times necessary to regulate the aggressive development of its upper shoots. The Cinnamon Bark The river birch has peeling bark the color of cinnamon. River birch is more resilient than other birch tree types. The greatest culprit to birch trees is the birch borer, a metallic brown beetle that gets into limbs and trunks. River birch endures regular flooding, making it a preference for erosion control besides streams and rivers. Evergreen Strawberry Tree The strawberry tree is an evergreen that flourishes to over 25 feet tall with a 30-foot expanse. Cultivated as an ornamental tree, it produces round fruits in the autumn that are appealing to birds and strawberries' color. The tree's green and glossy leaves develop on brown-gray bark. The strawberry tree is a gradual grower that does excellently in well-drained soil in partial shade or complete sun. When older, the tree is highly resistant to drought. Trees Without Normally Peeling Bark Peeling bark on trees that don't usually display that characteristic might be because of environmental reasons and typically isn't dangerous to the trees. Circumstances impacting peeling bark on trees with natural smooth bark include severe cold and extreme drought. Irregular periods of cold and hot weather also might create breaks in the bark, making some parts peel away from the trunk. Contact Hickory Tree Service to learn more about peeling bark trees.  You see them everywhere. Trees that are marred and ill from years of mistreatment. Notably, the mistreatment due to tree topping. Also referred to as beheading and stubbing, it has soared to catastrophe proportions all over the country within the last ten years.
Topping is the most damaging tree pruning technique. It's deemed such a severe crime that many environmental organizations have made numerous efforts to end this form of disfigurement and brutality. The worst part is that tree topping is still standard practice. Tree Topping Creates Stress When topping a tree, there is the removal of over 100% of the leaf-bearing crown. Since leaves are the food source for any tree, the lack of this food supply could briefly starve the tree. The starving tree gets defensive by quickly transporting several shoots from latent buds under every cut. This act is the tree's survival means in producing new leaves immediately. If the tree doesn't possess enough stored energy to respond to a tree topping, it will severely destroy the tree. Topping Doesn't Affect the Size As new shoots sprout to replenish their food-making plant anxiously, they do so swiftly, sending up several water sprouts. In some types, these new shoots could flourish over 15 feet in 12 months. Trees will grow back fast, and they don't stop until they get around their original size. It just takes a couple of years for this to occur. Topping Doesn't Bring Safety The new growth that quickly arises from latent buds just under every cut sits in the parent limb's outer parts. These fragile attachments won't possess the structural reliability of the original limb and could snap off easily. When performing accurate trimming cuts, healthy trees possess what is necessary to close the opening. Wrong cuts from topping don't mend as swiftly and might not be able to close. The bared wood produces openings for diseases, pests, decay, and bacteria to flow through the limbs. Topping is Pricey After tree topping, the crown swiftly grows back with weak, thin branches. Topping to decrease a tree's size is a cruel cycle. Every slice sprouts numerous new limbs, and the conditions get exponentially difficult with every rotation. Ultimately, when the tree perishes due to the effects of the damage and stress, you will probably spend more money to get rid of it. An Alternative When it is necessary to alter the expansion or height of a tree, contact a professional arborist. An arborist will decide the type of pruning required to enhance your trees' appearance, Safety, and health. When you prune a tree accurately, you decrease the tree's height, keeping it healthy. Experienced, certified tree care professionals don't use tree-harming climbing spikes unless performing tree removal service. Tree experts don't offer tree topping as a service and don't provide it as a solution. Because it never is. For other options on how to trim the crown of your trees, get in touch with us at Hickory Tree Service.  Tree stumps are unattractive and a headache to remove. You could get a grinder for under $200 for 24 hours. If you have the skills and time, renting the equipment can be an affordable option. Though, it would be best if you first learned how to use a stump grinder correctly.
How to Use a Stump Grinder: Rental The grinder size offered at several rental places is a 16-in. cutting wheel with a 25-hp engine. This machine is mighty and will work for most projects. Be sure that you ask the store to make clear to you how to operate the grinder before leaving. If you don't own a truck that could tug 1,000 pounds, several rental businesses will bring it to your residence for an additional cost. Remember, before you start digging in your yard, call 811. A technician will put flags and paint markings down to let you know where the underground utility lines are. Prep The most vital tip for using a stump grinder is to wear safety gear, including earplugs and safety goggles. Look around for people and turn the machine off when you aren't using it. Work the equipment from the control panel, so you get protection from the wheel all the time. Then, you want to be sure you clean all rocks from the space. Rocks could dull the wheel or come off and injure someone. To ramp up the stump removal project, slice the stump with a chainsaw close to the ground as possible. This option is an excellent one. It makes the job much more straightforward. Stump Grinding Use the lever to put the wheel a couple of inches over the stump. Align the machine, so the wheel is right above the front of the stump. Turn on the wheel and drop it. Make sure it's around three inches into the stump. Use the lever to shift the wheel around, grinding away at the stump until it is four inches into the ground. Don't push the grinder into the stump. Instead, let it buff away the top layer and shift on its own. Move the machine forward and do the earlier two steps again. Keep moving the device on in tiny increments until the stump is gone, and you have a hole. Next, go to the visible roots and perform the same steps to ensure that the tree removal work is right. Clean and bag the wood chips. Put topsoil in the hole. Apply grass seed and make sure the seeds get into the soil. Water the spot and wait for the results. Leftover Wood Chips If you don't use wood chips, numerous places will take them off your hands. Contact Hickory nurseries and ask if they need the wood chips for anything. If not, you could compost them. There are recycling centers that will take the wood chips off your hands. If you need assistance grinding a stump, ask Hickory Tree Service. Give us a call today.  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. |
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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