Best Practices for Fall Tree Care

Fall tree care is of paramount importance as it directly impacts the health, vitality, and longevity of trees. As the growing season comes to an end and winter approaches, trees undergo significant physiological changes that require careful attention and maintenance. Implementing proper fall tree care practices not only enhances the well-being of individual trees but also contributes to the overall health of the ecosystem and the surrounding landscape. Here’s why fall tree care is crucial:

1. Winter Preparation: Trees need to be well-prepared to withstand the harsh conditions of winter, including freezing temperatures, heavy snow, and ice. Fall tree care helps fortify trees against these challenges, reducing the risk of damage and stress.

2. Root Health and Growth: While trees’ above-ground growth may slow down in the fall, their root systems continue to grow and develop. Adequate fall care, such as proper watering and soil management, ensures that roots receive the nutrients and moisture they need for optimal growth.

3. Disease Prevention: Fallen leaves can harbor diseases and pests that may affect trees in the following growing season. Proper leaf management and other fall care practices help prevent the spread of pathogens, reducing the risk of infections.

4. Structural Integrity: Fall is an ideal time for pruning to address structural issues, remove deadwood, and shape the tree’s canopy. Pruning promotes healthy growth and prevents the risk of falling branches during winter storms.

5. Nutrient Absorption: Fall fertilization provides trees with essential nutrients, which they absorb and store for use during the dormant winter months. This helps trees recover from any stresses they may have experienced during the growing season.

6. New Tree Establishment: Fall is also a suitable time for planting and transplanting trees. By planting in the fall, new trees have an opportunity to establish their root systems before winter, setting them up for a successful start in the following spring.

7. Prevention of Winter Stress: Trees can experience stress due to factors like drought, extreme temperatures, and pests. Fall tree care minimizes these stressors, helping trees enter the winter season in a healthier state.

8. Overall Tree Health: The collective impact of fall tree care practices contributes to the overall health of trees. Healthy trees are more resilient to environmental challenges, pests, and diseases, leading to longer lifespans and enhanced ecosystem services.

9. Aesthetic Value: Well-maintained trees add beauty and aesthetics to the landscape, even during the fall and winter months. Proper care ensures that trees remain visually appealing year-round.

10. Environmental Benefits: Healthy trees offer numerous environmental benefits, such as improved air quality, reduced erosion, and habitat for wildlife. Fall tree care contributes to these benefits by maintaining the health and functionality of trees.

Key Practices For Maintaining Tree Health

Maintaining tree health is crucial for the longevity, vitality, and overall well-being of trees. By implementing key practices, property owners and arborists can ensure that trees thrive and provide their full range of ecological, aesthetic, and functional benefits.
Here are some essential practices for maintaining tree health:

1. Regular Watering: Provide consistent and adequate water to trees, especially during dry periods. Deep, infrequent watering encourages root growth and prevents stress.

2. Proper Mulching: Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of trees to conserve moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. Avoid piling mulch against the trunk, as this can lead to moisture retention and rot.

3. Soil Health Management: Maintain healthy soil by conducting soil tests to determine nutrient deficiencies and pH levels. Amend soil as needed to provide essential nutrients and improve drainage.

4. Pruning and Deadwood Removal: Regularly prune trees to remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches. Proper pruning enhances structural integrity, reduces disease risk, and improves air circulation.

5. Pest and Disease Monitoring: Keep a watchful eye for signs of pests and diseases. Early detection allows for timely intervention, reducing the impact of infestations or infections.

6. Proper Planting Techniques: Plant trees correctly by digging proper planting holes, ensuring the root flare is at the soil level, and providing appropriate spacing. Proper planting establishes a strong foundation for healthy growth.

7. Fertilization: Apply fertilizers tailored to the specific nutrient needs of trees. A balanced nutrient supply supports healthy growth, foliage development, and overall vigor.

8. Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Adopt IPM strategies that prioritize preventive measures, cultural practices, and targeted treatments for pest management. Minimize the use of chemical pesticides.

9. Air and Light Circulation: Prune trees to create a well-ventilated canopy that allows air and sunlight to penetrate. This reduces the risk of fungal infections and improves overall tree health.

10. Avoid Soil Compaction: Avoid heavy equipment or construction near tree roots, as soil compaction can impede root growth and nutrient uptake.

11. Monitoring and Observation: Regularly inspect trees for signs of stress, disease, or pest activity. Early detection enables timely response and mitigation.

12. Fall and Winter Care: Implement fall care practices such as proper mulching, watering, and pruning. These practices prepare trees for winter and minimize stress.

13. Consulting Arborists: Seek the advice of certified arborists for professional assessments, recommendations, and treatments. Arborists have expertise in diagnosing and managing tree health issues.

14. Avoid Overcrowding: Ensure that trees have adequate space to grow without competing with each other for resources. Proper spacing promotes optimal growth and prevents stress.

15. Wildlife Management: Implement measures to protect trees from damage caused by wildlife, such as deer or rodents. Physical barriers or repellents can be used.

16. Avoid Soil Compaction: Avoid heavy equipment or construction near tree roots, as soil compaction can impede root growth and nutrient uptake.
Maintaining tree health requires a proactive and holistic approach. By incorporating these key practices into your tree care routine, you can promote the well-being of trees, enhance their aesthetic value, and contribute to a healthier environment.

Preparing Trees for Winter

Preparing trees for winter is a crucial aspect of tree care that helps ensure their survival, health, and vitality through the cold months. Proper winter preparation reduces the risk of winter-related stress, damage, and diseases. Here are essential steps to prepare trees for winter:

• Watering: Adequate moisture is crucial before winter sets in. Continue watering trees until the ground freezes, ensuring that they enter the dormant season well-hydrated. This helps prevent dehydration and root damage.

• Mulching: Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of the tree, extending to the drip line. Mulch insulates the soil, regulates temperature fluctuations, retains moisture, and protects roots from freezing.

• Pruning: Remove dead, diseased, or weak branches through proper pruning. Pruning helps prevent snow and ice accumulation on branches, reducing the risk of breakage.

• Structural Pruning: Consider structural pruning to improve the tree’s overall form and balance. Pruning away co-dominant stems or crossing branches minimizes the risk of winter breakage.

• Fertilization: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in the fall to provide essential nutrients that trees can absorb before going dormant. This supports root growth and overall winter hardiness.

• Protection from Animals: Wrap tree trunks with tree guards or burlap to prevent damage from rodents, deer, or other animals that may chew on bark during winter when food is scarce

• Salt Avoidance: Protect trees from de-icing salts by choosing salt-tolerant species or using alternative de-icing methods. Salt can damage tree roots and lead to stress.

• Wind Protection: In windy areas, consider windbreaks or burlap wraps to shield trees from drying winds that can cause desiccation.

• Sunscald Prevention: Apply white tree wrap or paint on the lower trunk to prevent sunscald, a condition where winter sun heats the bark and causes damage.

• Soil Moisture Management: Ensure proper drainage to prevent waterlogged soil that can damage roots during freeze-thaw cycles. Avoid overwatering as frozen soil can hinder root uptake.

• Avoid Heavy Equipment: Refrain from driving or parking heavy equipment or vehicles near trees. Compacted soil can harm root systems.

• Girdling Roots Inspection: Check for girdling roots that can constrict the trunk and inhibit nutrient flow. Addressing girdling roots before winter prevents further stress.

• Monitor for Pests and Diseases: Inspect trees for signs of pests and diseases, and consider appropriate treatments before winter arrives.

• Winter Sunlight: Ensure trees have access to sunlight during winter, as they can photosynthesize and generate energy on warmer days.

• Snow Load Reduction: Shake off accumulated snow from branches during heavy snowfalls to prevent breakage.

• Consult an Arborist: If you’re unsure about the health or preparation of your trees, consult a certified arborist for professional advice and recommendations.
Properly preparing trees for winter enhances their resilience and increases the likelihood of a healthy spring growth period. By implementing these practices, you contribute to the long-term health and survival of your trees.

Pruning and deadwood removal are essential tree care practices that contribute to the health, safety, and aesthetics of trees. Proper pruning involves selectively removing branches to improve tree structure, promote healthy growth, and prevent potential hazards. Deadwood removal focuses on eliminating dead or dying branches that can pose risks to people, property, and the tree itself. Here’s why pruning and deadwood removal are important and how they are carried out:

Importance of Pruning:

• Structural Integrity: Pruning helps develop a strong and balanced tree structure. Removing weak, crossing, or competing branches reduces the risk of breakage during storms or under heavy loads.

• Health and Vigor: Pruning promotes better air circulation and sunlight penetration through the canopy, reducing the risk of fungal diseases and promoting overall tree health.

• Aesthetics: Proper pruning enhances the visual appeal of trees by shaping them and maintaining a natural form. Well-pruned trees contribute to a well-maintained landscape.

• Fruit Production: Fruit-bearing trees benefit from strategic pruning, which improves fruit quality, size, and yield by redirecting energy to fruit-bearing branches.

• Safety: Pruning removes branches that are dead, diseased, or hanging precariously, reducing the risk of falling debris that can cause injuries or damage.

Importance of Deadwood Removal:

1. Risk Reduction: Dead or dying branches are more susceptible to breakage, posing hazards to people and property below. Removing deadwood minimizes this risk.

2. Disease Prevention: Deadwood can attract pests and fungi, which can spread to healthy parts of the tree. Removing deadwood prevents disease transmission.

3. Aesthetic Enhancement: Deadwood can be unsightly and detract from the tree’s overall appearance. Removing it contributes to a cleaner and healthier appearance.

Pruning Techniques:

• Thinning: Removing selected branches from the interior of the canopy to improve light penetration and air circulation.

• Crown Cleaning: Removing dead, diseased, or broken branches throughout the canopy.

• Crown Raising: Removing lower branches to increase clearance under the tree, useful for pedestrian traffic or vehicles.

• Crown Reduction: Reducing the overall size of the tree’s canopy by selectively cutting branches. This is often done to mitigate hazards or manage tree height.

Deadwood Removal Techniques:

• Selective Pruning: Arborists identify and remove dead branches using pruning cuts that preserve the tree’s health and aesthetics.

• Clean Cuts: Branches are removed close to the collar—the swollen area where the branch meets the trunk—to promote efficient healing.

• Tools: Proper pruning tools, such as sharp hand pruners or loppers, are used to prevent unnecessary damage to the tree.

Considerations:

• Timing: Pruning can be performed year-round, but for deciduous trees, late fall to early spring (dormant season) is ideal to minimize stress.

• Expertise: Pruning should be done by trained arborists to ensure proper techniques and minimize potential damage.

• Tree Species: Different tree species have varying tolerance to pruning. Consult an arborist for species-specific recommendations.


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What Do Tree Services Do With Their Wood Chips?

What Do Tree Services Do With Their Wood Chips? Exploring Sustainable Solutions

Introduction:

Tree services generate a significant amount of wood chips and debris as they work on trimming, pruning, and removing trees. The question arises: what happens to all those wood chips? Tree companies have developed various methods and partnerships to ensure that these wood chips are utilized in environmentally friendly and beneficial ways. In this article, we will explore what tree services do with their wood chips, highlighting sustainable practices and innovative solutions.

Mulching and Composting:

One common and valuable use for wood chips is mulching. Tree services often offer their customers the option to keep the wood chips generated from their own trees. Wood chips can be spread around the base of trees and plants to create a protective mulch layer. This helps retain moisture, suppress weed growth, and improve soil quality. Additionally, wood chips can be added to compost bins or piles, where they gradually break down and contribute to nutrient-rich compost for gardens and landscapes.

Partnerships with Wood Chip Recipients:

Tree services often establish partnerships with local businesses and organizations that can benefit from wood chips. Some companies collaborate with local farms, nurseries, or landscaping businesses, providing them with wood chips as a valuable resource for their operations. Municipalities may also be interested in using wood chips for public parks, trail maintenance, or erosion control projects. These partnerships help ensure that the wood chips find useful applications rather than being wasted.

Wood Chips for Fuel:

Wood chips can also serve as a renewable fuel source. Tree services may collaborate with biofuel utility companies or wood-burning stove owners to supply them with wood chips for energy production. Wood chips can be used as fuel in wood boilers or stoves, providing a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. By converting wood chips into heat or electricity, these partnerships contribute to reducing dependence on non-renewable energy sources.

Creative Uses and Disposal:

Innovative tree service companies explore creative uses for wood chips. Some offer custom-sized wood chips to customers, catering to specific landscaping needs. Others find markets for wood chips in industries such as timber, construction, or gardening. Tree services with large yards or facilities may create wood-chip piles that are available for public use, encouraging recycling and responsible disposal. Additionally, certain tree services participate in programs like “ChipDrop,” an app developed by Kappa Tree that connects customers in need of wood chips with tree companies looking to dispose of their excess chips.

Environmental Considerations:

While wood chips offer numerous benefits, it is crucial to address potential environmental concerns. Tree services must adhere to high standards and ensure that wood chips are free from contaminants, such as chemicals or treated wood. Additionally, responsible wood chipping practices help prevent fire hazards by proper storage and disposal of wood chips. Tree companies prioritize the well-being of the urban environment and take measures to avoid any negative impact on local ecosystems or water runoff.

Conclusion:

Tree services are proactive in finding sustainable solutions for their wood chips. Whether through mulching, composting, fuel production, or creative partnerships, tree companies are committed to reducing waste and maximizing the value of this natural resource. By collaborating with local businesses, customers, and organizations, tree services play a vital role in promoting environmental stewardship and responsible waste disposal practices. The proper management of wood chips ensures that they are utilized in ways that benefit gardens, landscapes, and renewable energy production, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.

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Tree Care

Tree Care

Tree care is the application of arboricultural methods like pruning, trimming, and felling or thinning in built environments. Road verge, greenways, backyard and park woody vegetation are at the center of attention for the tree care industry. Landscape architecture and urban forestry also set high demands on professional tree care. High safety standards against the dangers of tree care have helped the industry evolve. Especially felling in space-limited environments poses significant risks: the vicinity of power or telephone lines, insufficient protective gear (against falling dead wood, chainsaw wounds, etc.) and narrow felling zones with endangered nearby buildings, parking cars, etc. The required equipment and experience usually transcends private means and is often considered too costly as a permanent part of the public infrastructure. In singular cases, traditional tools like handsaws may suffice, but large-scale tree care usually calls for heavy machinery like cranes, bucket trucks, harvesters, and wood chippers.

Road side trees are especially prone to abiotic stress by exhaust fumes, toxic road debris, soil compaction, and drought which makes them susceptible to fungal infections and various plant pests. When tree removal is not an option, because of road ecology considerations, the main challenge is to achieve road safety (visibility of road signs, blockage-free lanes, etc.) while maintaining tree health.

Tree Care Tips & Techniques

These comprehensive tree care tips will guide you through the process of selecting, planting, and caring for the right tree for your space.
It’s important to remember that proper tree care starts when you select a tree. And what you do to your tree in its first few years of life will affect its shape, strength, and even its lifespan. Following these steps will make sure your tree gets a good start for a healthy life.

Choosing the Right Type of Tree

Proper tree care begins with selecting the right tree and planting it in the right place. Make sure your tree will thrive — especially once fully grown — where you want to plant it. Things to consider include:

The tree’s purpose. Are you planting it for aesthetics, privacy, shade/energy reduction, windbreak, or as a street tree? Your end goal will determine the suitability of different trees.

Right Tree, Right Place

Short, flowering trees don’t clash with overhead utility lines. Large deciduous trees on the southeast, southwest, and west provide cooling shade in the summer but don’t obstruct the warming winter sunlight. An evergreen windbreak to the north blocks cold winds in winter.

Selecting a Healthy Tree

Good tree care starts with a healthy tree. Here’s what to look for to ensure your tree can provide a lifetime of benefits.

Bare-Root Seedlings

Roots should be moist and fibrous.

Deciduous seedlings should have roots about equal to stem length.

Balled and Bur lapped Trees

Root ball should be firm to the touch, especially near the trunk.

Root ball should be adequate for the tree’s size.

Container-Grown Trees

Container should not contain large, circling roots.

Pruned roots should be cut cleanly, none wider than a finger.

Soil and roots should be joined tightly.

Additional considerations when purchasing a mature tree include:

A strong, well-developed leader (or leaders in a multi-leader tree).

Bright, healthy bark.

Trunk and limbs free of insect or mechanical injury.

Branches well-distributed around trunk, considerably smaller caliper than trunk.

Ideal spacing between branches, at least 8–12” for most species.

Good trunk taper.

Wide-angle crotches for strength.

Low branches — they are temporary but help develop taper, promote trunk caliper growth, and prevent sun damage.

Planting a Tree

Planting Bare Root Trees

Planting Balled and Burlapped Trees

Planting Containerized Trees

Proper Mulching

Mulch is a newly planted tree’s best friend because it:

Insulates the soil, helping to provide a buffer from heat and cold.

Retains water to help the roots stay moist.

Keeps weeds out to avoid root competition.

Prevents soil compaction.

Reduces lawn mower damage.

Steps to Adding Mulch around Your Tree

Remove any grass within a 3-foot area (up to 10 feet for larger tree).

Pour natural mulch such as wood chips or bark pieces 2 to 4 inches deep within the circle.

Keep the mulch from touching the trunk of the tree.

Tree Watering

Tree watering is a key part of tree care, but it is difficult to recommend an exact amount due to the variety of climates. A few guidelines will help you to water your trees properly.

Watering Newly Planted Trees

For new trees, water immediately after you plant a tree. Usually 30 seconds with a steady stream of water from a garden hose w/ a diffuser nozzle per tree seedling is sufficient.

Watering Trees during First Two Years

During the first couple growing seasons, your newly planted tree is expending a lot of energy trying to get its roots established in the soil. Especially during the first few summers of your new trees life, it will have a difficult time dealing with heat and drought. You can make this easier by providing water and covering the soil with wood-chip mulch. Deep watering can help speed the root establishment. Deep water consists of keeping the soil moist to a depth that includes all the roots.

How Much Water and When

Not enough water is harmful for the tree, but too much water is bad as well. Over-watering is a common tree care mistake. Please note that moist is different than soggy, and you can judge this by feel. A damp soil that dries for a short period will allow adequate oxygen to permeate the soil.

You can check soil moisture by using a garden trowel and inserting it into the ground to a depth of 2”, and then move the blade of the trowel back and forth to create a small narrow trench. Then use your finger to touch the soil. If it is moist to the touch, then they do not need water.

Drought-Tolerant Species

If your area constantly deals with drought you will want to consider trees listed as drought-tolerant. Some drought-tolerant species include Arizona Cypress, Japanese Zelkova, White Fir, and Kentucky Coffee tree.

Moisture-Tolerant Species

On the opposite side of the spectrum if your area deals with a large amount of moisture or wet conditions, here are a few trees that will do better in wet conditions: Bald cypress, Shellbark Hickory, Red Maple, Silver Maple, Paper Birch, River Birch, and Weeping Willow.

Pruning

Proper pruning technique is important for a healthy tree. Please review our animated Tree Pruning Guide as well as videos on why pruning is necessary, the rules of pruning, and the ABCs of pruning.

When to Prune

This depends to a large extent on why you prune. Light pruning and the removal of dead wood can be done anytime. Otherwise, below are some guidelines for the different seasons.

WINTER PRUNING

Pruning during dormancy is the most common practice. It results in a vigorous burst of new growth in the spring and should be used if that is the desired effect. It is usually best to wait until the coldest part of winter has passed.

SUMMER PRUNING

To direct the growth by slowing the branches you don’t want, or to “dwarf” the development of a tree or branch, pruning should be done soon after seasonal growth is complete. Another reason to prune in the summer is for corrective purposes. Defective limbs can be seen more easily.

PRUNING FLOWERING TREES TO ENHANCE FLOWERING

For trees that bloom in spring, prune when their flowers fade. Trees and shrubs that flower in mid- to late summer should be pruned in winter or early spring.

WHEN NOT TO PRUNE: FALL

Because decay fungi spread their spores profusely in the fall and wounds seem to heal more slowly on fall on cuts, this is a good time to leave your pruning tools in storage.

Tree removal

While the perceived risk of death by falling trees (a part of the “tree risk” complex) is influenced by media and often hyped (the objective risk has been reported to be close to 1: 10.000.000, almost as low as death by lightning), singular events have encouraged a “proactive” stance so that even lightly damaged trees are likely to be removed in urban and public traffic surroundings. As a tree ages and nears the end of its safe useful life expectancy (SULE), its perceived amenity value is decreased greatly. A risk assessment normally carried out by local council’s arborist to determine the best course of action. As with all public green spaces, trees in green urban spaces and their careful conservation is sometimes in conflict with aggressive urban development even though it is often understood how urban trees contribute to livability of suburbs and cities both objectively (reduction of urban heat island effect, etc.) and subjectively.

Tree planting programs implemented by a growing number of cities, local councils and organizations is mitigating the losses and in most cases increasing the number of trees in suburbia. Programs include the planting of 2 trees for every 1 tree removed, while some councils are paying land owners to keep trees instead of removing them for farming or construction.

Standards

The voluntary industry consensus standards developed by TCIA, resulted in the ANSI A300 standard, the generally accepted industry standard for tree care practices including trees, shrubs, and other woody plants. It includes the following parts:

Pruning

Soil management

Supplemental support systems

Lightning protection systems

Management

Planting and transplanting

Integrated vegetation management

Root management standard

Tree risk assessment

Integrated pest management

Professional associations

Tree Care Industry Association

International Society of Arboriculture.

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