Month: June 2017

Best Practices for Tree Care

Trees are so plentiful that sometimes we can take them for granted.  We should not forget the many ways that trees make our lives better.  First of all, they contribute to the complex environment that living organisms rely on by releasing the oxygen that is vital to our existence.   Aesthetically, trees make the world around us beautiful and interesting.  On the practical side, they increase property values and improve energy efficiency by shading and cooling buildings.  Needless to say, trees are valuable to us all and we should all do our part to preserve them.  Here are 6 tree care practices you can implement to help ensure your trees will endure for many years to come.

Inspecting Warns of Problems

One of the easiest things you can do to protect your trees is to simply keep your eyes open.  Look at your trees up close and with an eye that is looking for what might be wrong.  Some (though not all) problems will display visible signs.  Since some problems might escape your notice, it is also a good idea to have a professional inspection.  Ping’s has trained, certified arborists on staff, who are trained to find and address tree problems.

Mulching Regulates Moisture and Temperature

Because they are not mobile, trees are unable to protect themselves against some negative environmental elements.  They must endure high winds, lightning strikes, and extremes in temperature and moisture.  Winds and lightning are unavoidable, but mulching can help regular moisture and temperature for trees.  Mulch keeps the soil around a tree from becoming waterlogged or dry.  Its protective layer also mitigates the effects of extreme cold or extreme heat on the tree.   When mulching, it is important to use proper techniques; see our blog for more information.

Fertilizing Provides Nutrients

Because trees don’t always get adequate nutrients from the soil, fertilizing trees is a good practice.  This is particularly true in suburban neighborhoods whose soil has been stripped of its rich topsoil.  If you are unsure about how to apply fertilizer or if you’d just rather not mess with it, Ping’s can fertilize your trees for you.

Applying Insecticide Protects

Nothing can ruin the health of a tree like an invasion of pests.  They can literally eat the life out of a tree.  Applying insecticides can often solve a pest problem if it is found early enough.  Preventative insecticides are also an option when you suspect that your tree may be a target for certain pests.  A consultation from an arborist can help you determine the best course of action.

Pruning Promotes Growth

It may not seem to make sense, but sometimes to get more tree growth, you need to cut the tree back.  Pruning branches that are weak, unproductive, or just in the way can actually spur a tree to increased growth.  The tree is able to concentrate resources into the remaining branches, making them stronger and healthier.  The Ping’s team has many years of experience in pruning trees.  We can get your trees trimmed up and ready to grow.

Bracing Protects Weak Branches

Finally, in some cases, trees need an extra measure of protection against damage from weather or other assault.  While wind, snow, ice, or other extreme weather could inflict harm to a tree at any time, it becomes more likely when part of a tree is weak.  Weakness can be the result of structural deformity, previous damage, or disease.  When a branch is weak, it is often necessary to either remove it or brace it to keep it from falling and causing damage to life or property.  Ping’s has the expertise needed to provide safe bracing for damaged or weak branches.

Together these 6 activities represent good practices for maintaining healthy trees.  With years of experience, Ping’s knows the best ways to implement these practices.  We can help you keep your trees strong and vigorous for years to come.  Call us at 317-298-8482 to schedule any of these services or for a consultation from an arborist or schedule online at your convenience.

This post first appeared on https://pingstreeservice.com

Avoiding Lawn Care Scams

Lawn care takes center stage during the warm months of summer in central Indiana.  Everyone is busy at work to keep the lawn looking healthy and green.  From mowing to edging, from fertilizer to pest control, significant effort goes into lawn maintenance.  Often homeowners and commercial property owners reach the conclusion that lawn care is too much for one person to handle.  There are many lawn care companies who are ready to provide lawn care services.  Yet not all of them deliver all that they promise.  These tips can help you avoid being ripped off by lawn care companies.

Ask Questions

As you start to consider hiring a lawn care company, you should be prepared to ask some questions.  You can learn a lot by simply talking with a representative about the company and their offerings.  Find out how long they have been doing lawn care work and how many employees they have.  Ask questions about their process such as how often they provide service.  Inquire whether the company is a member of any professional organizations.  If the representative seems unable to answer questions, you might be skeptical of their ability to deliver reliable service.

Check for License and Insurance

One specific question that you’ll want to ask is whether the company has the proper license and insurance.  Local regulations require lawn care companies to have a license to apply fertilizer and insecticides.  Furthermore, companies need to have insurance to protect you in the case that something goes wrong and your lawn is damaged.

Do Your Research

Beyond asking questions, you should also investigate the company from other sources.  If your neighbors have used the company, talk with them and find out whether they have been happy.  Social media networks give you an opportunity to find out what people beyond your circle of acquaintances think.  You can also check to see if the company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.  The BBB will also have a list of complaints against companies that have been filed with them.

Get It In Writing

When you are serious about hiring a company to perform lawn care, make sure you have a contract.  The contract should spell out exactly what will be done and how much it will cost.  Additionally, you should not pay for the service until it is actually completed.

The bottom line when it comes to hiring a lawn care company is trust.  Your lawn is a reflection on you so you want to be sure that any company you hire will do a good job.  For years, you’ve been trusting your tree care needs to Ping’s Tree Service.  Now you can trust your lawn care needs to us too!  Ping’s is accredited with the Better Business Bureau.  In addition, we are also certified with the Office of Indiana State Chemist for proper management and application of treatments for tree, plant, and lawn services and currently employ 7 ISA-certified arborists. See our website for a full description of our 6-step lawn care program.  Call us at 317-298-8482 or schedule online today for a free estimate on our lawn care services.

This post first appeared on https://pingstreeservice.com

The Advantages of an Arborist

It might be tempting to think that caring for trees is a simple task.  Trees grow in nature without human interference or assistance.  So you might assume that the trees growing in your yard don’t need much attention or care.  This assumption is wrong.  While in the wild trees die all the time without much notice, you probably don’t want to lose even a single tree in your yard.  To keep your trees looking healthy and beautiful, they do need care.  An arborist is often the best resource to care for your trees.  They can help in the following ways:

Arborists Recognize Tree Problems

Some problems that a tree may experience are easy to spot.  However, many are not. Because only a fraction of the tree is visible, you may not see that a tree is sick, weak, or even dying.  By the time you do see symptoms, sometimes irreparable damage has been done.  The trained eye of the arborist, on the other hand, can often spot trouble at an early stage.  Arborists must demonstrate a thorough knowledge of tree care in order to become certified.  Additionally, they are required to complete ongoing education to maintain certification so they know about the latest research and techniques.

Arborists Understand What Trees Need

In addition to recognizing sick trees, arborists also know how to attend to healthy trees.  They are knowledgeable about what trees need for proper growth and development.  Administering good care can often avoid common tree problems later.  Arborists can help with all of the following and more:

• Fertilizing
• Treating nutrient deficiencies
• Preventative sprays
• Treatment for diseases and insects
• Trimming and shaping trees
• Cabling and bracing of branches
• Removing trees
• Planting trees

Arborists Exercise Best Practices of Tree Care

Knowing what to do and being able to do it well are two different things.  Arborists don’t just have theoretical knowledge.  They also have an abundance of practical knowledge.  This wealth of wisdom comes from years of experience working with trees.  Certified arborists know the best way to do necessary tree care activities.  Tree care often requires the use of chemical or mechanical interventions, which can cause additional damage if done improperly.  Novices can sometimes do more harm than good. In contrast, most good arborists know what to avoid in order to preserve a tree’s health.

Ping’s Tree Service appreciates the value of highly trained and experienced arborists.  We have several ISA  certified arborists available to consult with you about your trees.  Call us today at 317-298-8482 to schedule a tree inspection or to get help from an arborist about a specific tree concern.

This post first appeared on https://pingstreeservice.com