Month: August 2017

Planting a tree is making an investment in your residential or commercial property.  Trees add value to your property and enjoyment to your activities.  In your yard, trees provide shade for outdoor living and beauty that can be enjoyed from within and outside of your home.  On commercial properties, trees can help keep energy costs low, screen unattractive views, and even contribute to a positive workplace atmosphere.  When you plant a tree, it may very likely remain in its place for the entirety of your life, or even beyond.  Therefore, you want to make the most of your investment by choosing just the right tree to plant.  To ensure you make the right choice, consider these questions.

What Kind of a Tree Are You Looking For?

First of all, you should think about why you are planting this tree and what you want from the tree.  Are you planting for shade?  Are you trying to add a particular aesthetic element to your yard or commercial property?  Do you want a flowering tree or a fruit tree?  Knowing what you expect from the tree will help you start making your list of possible trees that can be whittled down by additional considerations.

How Large Will the Tree Grow?

The sapling that you plant today will not stay small for long.  Sometimes it hard to imagine just how large your tiny transplant will eventually become.  But it’s important to consider the mature size of the tree before you plant.  Will the tree block beloved views or get in the way of power lines or permanent structures?  Consider also where the shade from the mature tree will fall.

How Fast Will the Tree Grow?

Another factor you may want to consider is the rate of growth of the tree you will plant.  Each tree variety has its own rate of growth.  Before planting, you should be aware that fast-growing trees often do not have as much strength as slower-growing trees.  You must weigh the short-term benefit against the liability that a weaker tree can be in the long run.

What Trees Do Well in Your Climate?

Finally, perhaps the most important consideration is whether a tree is suited to the location where it is planted.  Not every tree will thrive in every environment.  Obviously, a tree that does well in the tropics is not going to survive here in central Indiana.  Before you plant, think about your hardiness zone and whether a tree can tolerate the cold winters that we experience.  In addition, you need to consider the soil type and drainage in your yard.  Our clients often ask us what trees we recommend for planting in the Indianapolis area.  Of course, you must consider the particular conditions on your property, but the following list of trees that generally do well in our area is a good place to start.

• Small trees – crabapple, magnolias, Japanese maples
• Medium-sized trees – red point maple, Canadian red chokecherry, greenspire linden
• Large trees – swamp white oak, red oak, tulip poplar, elm

Fall is a great time to plant trees so if you’re considering making that investment, you may want to do it in the near future.  I hope this blog has given you some guidance in your choice of the right tree to plant in your yard.  And we can also help with the actual planting! Our experts can plant any tree for you, giving you the assurance that your tree will be planted in the correct way and given a good growing start.  Call us today at 317-298-8482 or schedule a consultation at your convenience.

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

Dollar Spot: A Fungus That May Affect Your Lawn

The first sign that there is a problem with your lawn is often a change in appearance.  Instead of the healthy, lush green carpet you expect, diseased grass will often be different in color or density.  One such difference that you may notice in your lawn is the discoloration caused by dollar spot.  You may have never heard of dollar spot, but it can cause pervasive damage to your lawn if it is not stopped.

What Is Dollar Spot?

Dollar spot is a disease caused by a fungus that affects bentgrass, bluegrass, fine-leaf fescues, perennial ryegrass, and zoysiagrass.  It shows up first with small yellowish green blotches, which may escape your attention.  As the disease progresses, it causes blades to become a tan color, affecting patches of grass about the size of a silver dollar.  If left unchecked, the disease will spread and patches will become larger.  Eventually, the entire yard may be damaged by the fungi.

What Causes Dollar Spot?

Much like we might catch a cold, grass can become infected when exposed to micro-organisms as well.  Activation of fungi spores cause dollar spot to develop.  The spores of this fungus may be present in your soil and spread by natural means.  They may also be spread through contaminated mowers, sprinklers, or other maintenance equipment.  The disease is exacerbated by wet turf, high humidity, and weather that is warm during the day and cool at night.

Can Dollar Spot Be Prevented?

Though soil may contain dollar spot fungus spores, this does not necessarily mean that dollar spot will develop.  The right conditions must be present.  Some of these conditions are out of your control.  For example, high humidity can promote the growth of the fungus.  But you do have some control over other factors, such as your watering and mowing habits.  Lawns should be watered deeply and infrequently and should always be watered early enough in the day to allow grass to dry out before nightfall.  It is also important to keep your lawn free of thick layers of grass clippings by mowing regularly.  Cut grass that is left on your lawn can give fungi a perfect environment in which to grow.

What If I Have Dollar Spot?

If you find that your lawn is infected with dollar spot, you can rest in the knowledge that it is fairly easy to treat.  For mild cases, treatment with nitrogen fertilizer may stop the spread of the fungus.  In more severe cases, a fungicide may need to be applied.  When your lawn experiences problems, including dollar spot, the professionals at Ping’s can help.  We can evaluate your lawn, identify the problem, and implement the solution.  We offer full-service lawn care as well as treatments for specific lawn problems.  Visit our website for more information or give us a call at 317-298-8482 for a free quote.

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

If you are trying to do some research to determine what it costs to get a tree removed in the Portland, Oregon area, you might find that the prices vary. There is not always a “one size fits all” price for these types of projects, because it depends on a variety of factors. We all would like a reliable formula or app for removing a tree, but unfortunately, that app doesn’t exist yet. Sometimes tree removal costs $50 and sometimes a single tree removal can cost $25K.

While there’s no definitive answer or formula to determine the average cost of tree removal, there are five main factors that go into determining the cost of tree removal. Prices will be mentioned below but remember that they are estimates and just an average cost to remove and not a price guarantee. Every tree is different and therefore every project will be different, whether it’s large tree removal, stump removal, or log splitting.

When researching prices for Portland tree removal, keep these factors in mind.

1. Size of the Tree

The size of the tree is the number one factor that can affect how much tree removal will cost. Both the height of the tree as well as the crown spread of the tree are factors that are considered by arborists.

Most people have difficulty getting the accurate height of their tree just by guessing. Luckily, there is an app for finding out how many feet tall your tree is and you can download it here. If you stick with guesstimates, a single story of a house is about 15 feet.

If your tree is larger than your house, it’s likely that removal of that tree has passed the $1,000 price range. If it towers over your whole neighborhood at over 100 feet, then you’ve probably passed $2,500 in removal costs.

Spread is a much harder thing to estimate, but for something like a large oak tree that spreads over three yards, it can be harder to remove, because of its large diameter and the many branches that make up the tree’s canopy. The average cost to remove a tree that has a three-yard spread is probably not going to be under the $2,500 mark.

2) How Many Obstacles Surround the Tree

The more a tree overhangs your house, the more it costs to remove. If the roof of your home includes a skylight or is made up of cedar shingles, tree removal will cost more. If a tree is within 10 feet of your home, it will likely cost more than $2,000 to remove, because extra precautions need to be taken to ensure everything around your home is kept secure and safe.

Additionally, if you have large items like RVs, hot tubs, or a playground sets in your yard, it is a good idea to move these things while your arborist is working to ensure no damage occurs from falling limbs or branches. Working around these things takes extra time and that translates to a higher than average cost to have the tree removed safely.

How close is your tree to existing communication or power lines, especially high voltage power lines? If the tree is close to these, it will cost affect the tree removal price. A tree that grows next to high voltage lines likely over $2,000.

3) Do you Have the Required Permits?

Portland’s trees are a vital and protected resource of the city, so it is important to check with the city government to find out what permits are required. Portland requires formal approval for removal of ‘street trees’ which grow in the public right-of-way, as well as on private property. Trees over a certain size or in a certain district may also require permitting.

Though it may seem thrifty to bypass this process, fines of $1,000 and greater will quickly void any savings. A consultant at Urban Forest Pro can help you navigate this permitting process to protect yourself. Once you have your questions answered and you have filled out the paperwork and have received a permit, you can start shopping around for estimates on tree removal.

4) How Easy is it to Access the Tree

Is the tree easy to access with tree removal equipment? For example, a backyard tree costs more to remove than a front yard tree, simply because arborists will need to maneuver large equipment to and from the space.

If it is difficult to gain easy entry your backyard space or the team must go through the garage, the cost of the tree removal can add to removal expenses. So, if you plan to remove a fence, consider doing that before you take the tree down, so you can save on tree removal expenses.

While it may seem obvious, a tree on a cliff costs more than a tree on flat ground. If the tree is located on a steep space or the terrain is rough and not easily accessible, your price estimate will likely be higher.

Another thing to note is that if the team of tree removal experts needs to obtain city parking permits to reserve parking on your street, there will be an additional cost added to your estimate. For example, if you live in the 97210-zip code, expect to pay $200 more just for parking.

Similarly, the closer your property is to Portland central, the easier we can reach you, so savings in fuel and time will be passed along to you. In suburban or isolated areas, flexible scheduling can help to avoid excessive costs. This could be done by arranging to have work performed at the same time as your neighbors.

5) What’s the Condition of the Tree?

The condition of the tree will impact the price of its removal. If the tree is dead, rotten, diseased, severely cracked or in such bad shape that it cannot be easily cut down, it typically costs more. This is because the removal of sick or dead trees is more difficult than healthy ones.

If your tree has fallen on your house due to decay, removal typically costs upwards of $5,000 because of the severity of the job. The silver lining for kind of this situation is that your homeowner’s insurance will usually cover this type of tree removal.

6) Expectations of Tree Removal Costs

Removing small trees or large trees requires assessing what repairs might need to be done in case something goes awry. For example, does your home have custom gutters or does your yard have an in-ground pool? The cost of potentially needing to repair these things goes into the cost of the removal.

Furthermore, we take into account the amount of clean up that needs to happen once the job is done. Removing trees can be a messy job and we want to leave your yard in the condition we found it. But, we will need to factor in time to clean up after our work, so you can continue to enjoy your exterior space with minimal disruption.

7) Time of Year

Spring is a beautiful time in the Pacific Northwest, and it is the time when trees show their true colors. As a result, the warmer months are the busiest time for tree service, and our scheduling backlog increases quickly. If a project does not require immediate attention due to a hazardous condition, you may arrange to schedule your appointment for tree or stump removal during the months of January, February or March at a potentially reduced cost. As a bonus, frozen ground and snow cover can help minimize the impact of tree removal on your lawn.

Tree Removal Portland, Oregon

If you are looking to hire a professional to find out the average cost to remove a tree or stump, keep in mind that each project is different. We understand that doing research on tree removal services can be a bit overwhelming, so it is okay to get several quotes to compare.

Urban Forest Professionals is happy to provide you a free estimate so you have an idea of what your project will encompass. Our arborists are experienced in the field and come licensed, bonded, and insured and we are glad to answer any questions you have regarding your specific project.

We serve the Portland Metro area as well as Vancouver, WA and its surrounding areas. Contact us today to find out more information about the tree removal process.

Check out our Angies List reviews.

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com

One of the most basic needs of trees is water.  In order to continue to grow and flourish, every tree needs adequate water.  Everyone knows this, but it raises the questions of whether you need to water your trees and how that task is best accomplished.  This blog will answer your questions about watering trees.

It’s Important to Water Newly Planted Trees

For newly planted trees, regular watering is a necessity.  After planting, trees should be watered immediately.  This helps the tree to settle into the soil and replaces moisture lost during the planting process.  After planting, it can take several years for trees to become fully established.  Trees should be watered regularly for a few years throughout the growing season.  This is especially important during hot and dry summer weather, which can take its toll on trees and necessitate supplemental hydration.  We recommend watering newly planted trees every other day, giving them a good soaking at the drip line with a soaker hose, when the temperature is over 80 degrees.

Established Trees Do Not Usually Need Watering

While watering is vital for trees during the first two to three years after planting, it is generally unnecessary after that initial time period.  Trees that receive adequate water in the first few growing seasons will develop a healthy root system, which enables trees to withstand periods of dryness.

Be Careful to Avoid Overwatering

Watering is important, but overwatering can be disastrous.  Too much water can quickly kill a young tree.  Soil should be moist but not wet.  To determine whether you should water, check the soil at a depth of 2 inches.  If soil at that depth is moist to the touch, then you do not need to water.  On the other hand, if the soil is dry, you should water your tree.  How often a tree should be watered will vary depending on how much rainfall it is receiving.

How You Water Matters Too

Trees do not benefit from shallow watering.  In fact, shallow watering encourages shallow roots, which can be unhealthy for a tree.  A deep soaking once every few days will encourage roots to become well-established.  Watering should be done at the drip line (the ground under the outermost leaves of the tree) and just beyond.  This method best imitates natural rainfall.

Proper watering is one crucial element of tree care though it certainly isn’t the only one.  For other, more complicated tree care tasks, such as fertilizing, pruning, or treatment of infection or pests, the experts at Ping’s are ready to help.  We can even plant trees for you!  Give us a call at 317-298-8482 or schedule an appointment online.

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