When Nature Strikes

 Tree Care After the Storm

For much of the southeast, Hurricane Irma has come and gone and left a path of flooding and damage. Other than flood waters, hurricanes bring with them extremely strong, damaging winds. Extreme winds can be one of the most damaging external forces a tree can face. Trees with defects or issues will become very apparent during a storm event like a hurricane.Unfortunately, if you have a tree that has failed completely, either at the roots or somewhere on the trunk, it is very unlikely that it can be saved. If you have trees that have broken branches or lots of deadwood hanging in the canopy, you need to take some steps to make sure your trees can recover and stay safe.
Unfortunately, if you have a tree that has failed completely, either at the roots or somewhere on the trunk, it is very unlikely that it can be saved. If you have trees that have broken branches or lots of deadwood hanging in the canopy, you need to take some steps to make sure your trees can recover and stay safe.

Assessing the Damage

First, call your arborist to evaluate your trees. A tree evaluation by a professional arborist will include a visual assessment of the root zone, the trunk, the crown, as well as branches and leaves. The arborist will look for soil that looks like it is heaving or moving, indicating that the root zone may be compromised. They will also check the trunk and crown for visual defects like cracks or broken hanging limbs. These are all crucial for keeping your trees safe.

Restorative Tree Pruning

Second, if your tree does have some damage, some restorative pruning may need to be performed on the tree. Pruning a tree to remove broken and split branches will help the tree recover and close those wounds. Open wounds on a tree can let in damaging insects and diseases. Pruning quickly after an event like this is crucial for keeping your tree as healthy as possible.

Tree and Shrub Programs

Lastly, talk to your arborist about putting all your trees and shrubs on a program. Our programs will keep your trees and shrubs as healthy as possible. Keeping your trees and shrubs healthy will help them withstand attacks from insects and diseases, as well as recover from other stresses like storm damage. A tree and shrub program is one of the most important steps to take if you love your trees and shrubs

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Call us today to set up an appointment with your arborist.

There's A Fungus Among Us

What is ‘Black Knot’?

Check this out! One of our technicians brought in a branch this week with a strange bulbous-looking fungus growing on it; have you ever seen anything like it?

Our technician explained that it is called “Black Knot,” a disease that commonly affects Cherry and Plum trees. It is caused by a fungus that will infect the wood on twigs, branches, and stems. At first, the fungal spores will create light brown swellings; these swellings are not very noticeable, and will eventually turn green. In the last phase, the green will progressively get darker until it is black. It will harden and become rough, becoming a ‘black knot’ around the branch or stem. The disease doesn’t stop there! It will continue to grow and can begin to girdle the branches it rests upon. When girdling happens, the affected twigs are cut off from water and will eventually die.

Taking Action

Did you realize how serious a little fungus like this could be? While the fungus might not look too serious, it can girdle branches, cut them off from nutrients, and kill them. So, what action can be taken to prevent Black Knot from taking over and girdling affected tree branches?

This type of fungus will spread to other susceptible trees if given the chance. There are only a few ways to get control of this kind of disease:

• One way is to very carefully prune the affected branch or stem; cuts need to be made around 6-8 inches below the infected area. Not only that, but any equipment used to prune around the Black Knot will have to be sterilized after each cut so as not to spread the infection further.
• As a last resort, burning the affected branches or removing the entire tree can be used to control Black Knot.

We Can Help

The earlier our Arborists and technicians can pinpoint diseases like this, the faster we can implement services to control and combat them. Contact us today for a consultation with one of our certified tree service experts and make sure your trees and shrubs are healthy and well tended to.

Is There Something Bugging Your Trees?

Summer is here and now’s the time when all sorts of bugs will be showing up on your property. One of those may be the Emerald Ash Borer; here’s what you need to know about this little pest.

What Is An Emerald Ash Borer?

The Emerald Ash Borer is a certain type of borer, an insect larva that feeds on the woody parts of a tree, including buds, twigs, trunks, and roots. Many beetles and moths begin as larva wood borers until they are fully grown after 1-2 years. Eggs are laid in cracks in the bark of trees, and once they hatch they will spend their developing years under the bark. They will funnel into the tree, and once they are fully grown, they will chew through the bark and emerge as an adult. Afterward, the cycle will repeat, as they will fly to new host trees, mate, and lay eggs.

At first, there will be little to no visible signs that an Emerald Ash Borer has taken root in your tree. Looking for things like canopy dieback and yellowing will alert you to whether or not the damage is minimal and treatment can still help. Our arborists look for a certain percentage of dieback to gauge whether or not the tree can be saved.

Where Can They Be Found?

Emerald Ash Borer is native to Asia and arrived in North America in 2002. It has spread to many states, even as far as Colorado and Texas, and has devastated multitudes of Ash trees along the way. These insects cut off and suck up nutrients from the tree, leaving physical damage particularly to the canopy region. We typically see them attacking Ash trees in the Charlotte, North Carolina region; however, there is a new development that shows Emerald Ash Borers moving over to White Fringe and Olive trees as well, which means they may be moving further south.

Most borers are “secondary pests,” and are attracted to trees that have been weakened by drought, injury, or disease. This is why it is important to keep your trees as healthy as possible. A healthy tree can more readily fight off infection and insect attacks. Our certified arborists and qualified technicians have the skill and knowledge to combat these pests and keep your property looking vibrant.

Contact us and let us help you keep the trees and shrubs on your property strong and healthy.

Purple Rain -- It's Killing Your Trees!

What is Anthracnose?

Spring showers exacerbate the condition of fungal diseases such as Anthracnose. Anthracnose is a disease that deeply affects Dogwood populations; in fact, this disease has destroyed a large portion of the native Dogwoods in United States forests. It affects every part of the host tree that is above ground: leaves, flowers, new shoots, bark, fruits, and seeds.

How Does it Affect My Plants?

During the middle of May and into June, blotches with a tan center and a purple/reddish margin will appear on the underside of the leaf; tiny black or brown spots may appear beneath the blotches as well. The flower “petals” will begin to show reddish/brown patches and, in some cases, entire leaves will become infected and die. These black/brown spots may also produce spores (which can be carried by rain, insects, and birds) in late Spring; these spores ooze out in slimy beige clusters.

Once the entire leaf has become infected, tan depressions (or cankers) will appear. This will produce the same tiny black or brown spots as are on the undersides of the leaves. Over time, the infection of twigs and shoots will kill the branch, starting at the bottom and moving upwards. In response to its loss of leaves, the tree may attempt to produce new shoots, but the fungus will easily affect them as well. Once sprouts are infected, the fungus moves quickly into the trunk, and severe cankers will split and buckle the bark.

What Can Be Done?

Affected trees in shady locations generally die within 13 years. Others in more sun-exposed areas often survive but show varying degrees of severity from year to year. Healthy trees are better able to cope with Anthracnose, so one important thing is to keep your trees stress free.

Our arborists are like tree doctors; they know all about fertilization, pruning, and fungicides that can keep your plants healthy and Anthracnose-free. Give us a call to set up an appointment with one of our certified sales arborists so they can assess and diagnose the trees and shrubs on your property. The sooner the better!

Soil Compaction Symptoms and Solutions

What Is Soil Compaction?

Rain is a good thing, right? Yes, all your landscape plants need water, and rain is the best source for that water. Too much rain, however, can lead to problems like root rot and foliar fungal diseases. High amounts of rain can also cause soil compaction. I know what you’re probably thinking: “What is soil compaction?” Soil compaction is caused by soil particles settling together, reducing or eliminating the amount of oxygen and water space available. Welcome back to biology class!

How Does Soil Compaction Impact My Plants?

What does reducing air space in the soil mean for your plants? As the air space is reduced, soil compaction occurs and plants begin to struggle. Soil compaction reduces the plant’s ability to grow roots; oxygen and water availability in the soil will decrease as well. Your soil becomes hydrophobic, or unable to absorb water. Compacted soil is one of the most common problems in the landscape, especially on newly constructed sites. Plants suffering from compaction stress will have shallow root systems, yellowing leaves, and stunted growth. Sometimes plants can show signs of compaction stress for years before starting to lose viability.

We Have a Program That’s Right For You

So, what are you supposed to do? There are several ways to help your plants survive. A 2-3″ layer of good, dye-free organic mulch will help maintain moisture in the soil. Soil Decompaction is also an effective treatment used to relieve some compaction stress. All of your trees and shrubs need care and maintenance and we have special programs to fit your specific needs. Talk to one of our arborists today about a tree and shrub evaluation on your property.