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Help Your Trees Resist Pests 

Help Your Trees Resist Pests

Help Your Trees Resist Pests  There are numerous insects and microorganisms on your property.  If this is news to you, don’t go running for the sprays and bug bombs. This is a natural and beneficial state. Insects and microorganisms are key components in plant-nutrient recycling and decomposition, natural pest control, and landscape-ecosystem health.  A landscape without insects and microorganisms would be a very unhealthy environment, The trick is to balance the threshold of healthy plants with having too much of a good thing, which is when naturally occurring insects and […]

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Holes in Trees: Hazards or Harmless?

Holes in Trees: Hazards or Harmless?

Holes in Trees: Hazards or Harmless? Hazardous trees pose a danger to people and property. When storms or high winds hit, limbs – and often whole trees – fall to the ground, are holes in trees are they hazards or harmless? Many fatal accidents and millions of dollars in property damage can be averted if homeowners heed the warning signs of a hazardous tree. By not paying attention to your trees, you are potentially placing your property, even your life, in jeopardy. Tree defect clues Fortunately, one can often read […]

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Plant Health Care and Trees “Plant health care, also called PHC, offers a total health approach to landscape and plant health,” says Tchukki Andersen, BCMA, CTSP* and staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association. “Your arborist will monitor your property, watching for potential or actual problems in your landscape that might be best avoided or dealt with by implementing a PHC treatment program.” Traditional landscape pest control programs rely on “cover sprays.” Selection of a cover spray is often based on the company’s knowledge of common pest problems and control measures in the service area. The cover-spray type, method and timing are pre-determined by the company. These traditional pest-control programs are not necessarily obsolete or “bad” for the environment and may be the best option for clients who have overriding concerns about program cost or are only concerned about one specific pest problem. In contrast, plant health care technicians consider the landscape in its entirety when deciding how to best care for plants. PHC technicians manage plant problems through careful monitoring of the landscape environment. Chemical controls may be part of the treatment program, but they are not likely to be used in every treatment. Because of this, every PHC program is customized to fit the client’s property and expectations. The PHC technician maintains landscape plants by: • evaluating the landscape’s environment • noting causes of plant stress (stressors) • maintaining plant performance through proper cultural practices • investigating the landscape through monitoring • identifying and treating problems as they occur The following are examples of some common problems: 1. Improper matching of the plant’s requirements to the landscape site; 2. Improperly planted; 3. Subjected to improper maintenance practices; 4. A combination of two or all three of the above. Your expectations “A PHC technician also will consider your expectations when deciding how to implement a PHC treatment program,” explains Andersen. One important question is, when do you, the client, want to resort to chemical control of pest problems? Some clients will tolerate a greater percentage of plant damage before requiring action; other clients will tolerate very little plant damage. Often a client will tolerate less damage on a prized ornamental specimen tree located in the front yard as opposed to a group of shade trees growing in the backyard. This requires the PHC technician to apply a higher action threshold to some trees and/or sections of the landscape than others. “Here, communication and understanding between the client and plant health care technician are key!” says Andersen. Treatment recommendations are then made to the client based on that client’s expectations. The key to a successful plant health care program is communication between the client and PHC technician. What can you do? A professional arborist can assess your landscape and work with you to determine the best care for your trees. * Board Certified Master Arborist, Certified Treecare Safety Professional

Plant Health Care and Trees

Plant Health Care and Trees Plant health care, also called PHC, offers a total health approach to landscape and plant health, Your arborist will monitor your property, watching for potential or actual problems in your landscape that might be best avoided or dealt with by implementing a PHC treatment program. Traditional landscape pest control programs rely on “cover sprays.” The selection of a cover spray is often based on the company’s knowledge of common pest problems and control measures in the service area. The cover-spray type, method, and timing are […]

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De-Icing Salt Can Harm Landscape Plants

De-Icing Salt Can Harm Landscape Plants

De-Icing Salt Can Harm Landscape Plants Each winter, vast quantities of de-icing salt are applied to state and municipal roads to keep them safe for commuters, and salt is spread near houses to avoid pedestrian injuries. This is necessary for safety, but did you know excessive salt can cause widespread damage to trees and shrubs – possibly leading to permanent decline and even death? De-Icing Salt Can Harm Landscape Plants Salt can be absorbed by the leaves, stems, and buds of trees.  Salt runoff washes from the pavement into the ground, […]

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Decay Can Cause Hazardous Defects in Trees Johnson-ops-tree-care

Decay in Trees

Decay Can Cause Hazardous Defects in Trees Tree failure is a major cause of residential property damage and the leading cause of power outages nationwide. There are many ways a tree can fail: an ice storm can overload all the branches on a tree, a hurricane or high wind can blow down a tree if its roots are compromised, or a cracked tree can fail under its own weight. Decay in Trees Cause Hazardous Defects in Trees. Homeowners who are worried about trees falling and damaging property should call a professional […]

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Winter stress on trees

Winter Stresses on Trees

Winter Stresses on Trees  Heavy snow and ice, as well as frozen soil conditions, can damage cherished trees and shrubs in residential landscapes—even areas without major snowfall experience high winds and huge fluctuations in temperatures during winter. But homeowners can lessen the adverse effects of winter weather with preventive maintenance. What to do to reduce winter stresses on trees & shrubs: How to avoid damage to trees Branches of trees can break due to the excessive weight of ice or snow. Tree strength can be improved with proper pruning to […]

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Home Inspections Outside the House

Home Inspections Outside the House

Home Inspections Outside the House Just picture buying a lovely new house and then, a few weeks later, having a big, old oak tree fall on your roof. Or consider finding out that removing an elderly poplar tree will cost $6,000 due to its deadly root rot. Wouldn’t it be preferable to be aware of the state of any significant trees on a property before the purchase and sale contract is signed? Home inspections outside the house are just as important as the inside.  When homebuyers contemplate owning a home for […]

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Warning Signs It's Time to Cut Down a Tree call Johnson-ops-tree-care

Warning Signs It’s Time to Cut Down a Tree

You observe your tree from your window,  it doesn’t appear to be doing well. Here are a  few Warning Signs It’s Time to Cut Down a Tree. Although some of these signs in combination may mean it’s time to remove the tree, it is always best to consult an ISA Arborist for professional advice. 1. Fungus  If you see fungus-like mushrooms growing at the bottom of your tree, your tree may be slowly dying. Moss is not a problem; many healthy trees may be covered with moss. However, if you begin […]

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Common Tree Trimming Mistakes

Here are some common tree trimming mistakes that homeowners will make, and why it’s important to consult with a Certified Arborist to assess the tree’s needs.  1. Selecting the Wrong Branches To Trim Trim or get rid of the branches that look dead, too long, or randomly chosen, right? NO!!! When your Arborist performs a tree trimming service, they will pay very close attention to the branches which they choose to remove, how far they cut them, and the method by which they cut them. If your cuts are not […]

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why limbs fall Johnson-ops-tree-care

Why Limbs fall

Why Limbs Fall in Your Yard. Travel around a neighborhood after a storm and you will see tree limbs, large and small, scattered about the ground. Why do some limbs fall in high winds or after ice storms while others merely bend? Should you worry about that large limb overhanging your driveway?  One reason trees fail is weak branch unions, homeowners can educate themselves about tree limbs, but they should call a professional arborist if they are worried about an overhanging branch. Trees may suffer from naturally formed imperfections that can […]

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