Month: April 2018

Driving through local neighborhoods gives you a chance to observe some beautiful landscaping. This might get you thinking about adding some landscaping to your yard. Before you start planting, you should give some thought to the elements that are commonly used in landscape beds and how you will incorporate them into your bed. Keep reading for a summary of the typical components of a landscape bed.

Small Trees or Shrubs

In planning a landscape bed, you should think first about the larger, more permanent elements of the bed. These give the bed a structure around which you can plan other elements. A small tree or shrub is often a good option. Just make sure you choose this element carefully because it is not as easy to change it out as other elements. Dogwoods, magnolias, and redbuds are flowering trees that can work in landscape beds, especially if you choose a miniature variety. If you’d rather stick with shrubs, boxwoods, barberries, hollies, and hydrangeas are just a few attractive alternatives.

Vines

Some vines do not belong in your flower bed (think poison ivy!), but other less irritating vines are a great way to add some height and color to an ordinary landscape. Clematis are a popular vine whose pretty large blooms will last for weeks or even months. Sweet peas and morning glories are two other colorful options. Any of these can be trained to a trellis within the bed. English ivy is a good choice to add more green color to your backdrop, especially if the bed backs up to a building or house.

Perennial Plants

The heart of any landscape bed is found in its perennial plants. These hardy plants come back year after year, often even multiplying to cover more space and produce more flowers. Shasta daisies, coneflowers, phlox, and black-eyed susans are just a few of the perennial plants that thrive in central Indiana. Once they are established, they will continue to grow and multiply in nearly any condition.

Bulbs

Similar to perennials, bulbs also come back year after year. However, they usually bloom for a relatively short period of time, adding a burst of color for a few weeks. Crocuses are some of the earliest bulbs to bloom and may even appear before the snow melts. For early spring color, tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths can’t be beat. Later in the summer, irises, allium, and lilies will add interest.

Annual Plants

As you plan your garden bed, be sure to leave some space for annuals. These plants are not hardy enough to survive the cold Indiana winters so they must be planted every year after the last frost of the year. You can buy small plants or even plant some varieties from seed. Some annuals commonly planted in local gardens are petunias, impatiens, marigolds, zinnias, and bachelor buttons.

Nonplant Elements

While plants will be the main component in a landscape bed, inanimate objects have a place too.  Many landscapers like to accent with birdbaths, benches, or rocks. Some even choose to express their own personality with a piece of outdoor art.  These objects will provide some year-round consistency as flowers bloom and fade with the seasons.

Creating a landscape bed is an exciting and rewarding project. When done right, it can bring you joy for many years and add value to your residential or commercial property. At Ping’s, we have the expertise and experience to create a landscape bed at your home or business that optimally combines the design elements and your own personal style. Call 317-298-8482 today to talk to our landscaping unit about how we can implement your landscaping project without the effort and stress of doing it yourself.

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

Trees live, they grow, and they eventually die. Throughout their life cycle, from seedling through their decay, trees play an important role for wildlife and plant life.

Once a tree has died, fallen, or been professionally removed, its journey is far from over. If the tree is free from disease and infestation, there are several ways it can be upcycled or used in your landscaping.

The following will offer a look into the life cycle of a tree and present ways to maximize their benefits, even after they have died.

My Tree Was Cut or Fell Over, How Can I Upcycle It?

Depending on the size of the tree and its branches, a fallen tree can offer several innovative ways to decorate your landscape, serve as pieces of furniture, or be made into decorative wall pieces:

• Stumps, smaller branches, and pieces of the trunk can be used or woven into seating fixtures along a path or in front of a garden.
• Trunks and larger branches can be cut into thick discs and in the place of stones or bricks to create pathways.
• Slabs can be cut from trunks and combined with ecopoxy to create stunning tables or wall art.
• Carved out sections of the trunk can be used as planters.

• Branches and stems can be used to create trellises and fencing.
• Cut and painted logs can become end-tables or coffee tables.

• Smaller branches and twigs can be woven into frames for wall pieces.

There are countless uses, and the more creative you are, the more you will be able to upcycle a fallen tree. In this video, see how resin is combined with wood.

Tree Logs for Landscaping

Tree logs and larger limbs may serve a greater purpose in your landscaping by slowing the effects of erosion by enabling you to create tiers along sloped areas. They also make incredibly effective garden barriers, or when stacked can make a raised flower bed for the garden.

When placed along cemented, paved, or block pathways, not only are they visually appealing, but they impede erosion and protect the pathway’s physical integrity.

Turning Trees Into Mulch and Fertilizer

Another use for a fallen tree in your landscaping is to have the tree chipped and turn it into mulch. Mulch is extremely valuable and beneficial when properly used around the base of trees. It will not only help the soil by retaining moisture, but also by delivering nutrients as the wood chips slowly decay.

However, note that this option is not viable when a tree falls as a result of or is removed due to disease or infestation. Otherwise, the pathogens and diseased matter get exposed to and infect your healthy trees and plants. Learn the signs and symptoms of a troubled tree here toddsmariettatreeservices.com/troubled-tree-signs-symptoms/

Leave a Fallen Tree Where It Lies

When a tree falls or it’s time to be cut down, consider preserving the ecosystem and leaving it as a part of the landscape. It has the potential to serve a greater purpose than if it’s removed. Here are some benefits of allowing a fallen tree to remain:

Light – When a tree comes down, its canopy comes with it. Introducing direct sunlight to the ground that was previously shaded will spark the growth of dormant seeds and other plant life.

Leaving the tree in the area its canopy once covered will help the soil to retain moisture and provide a sort of shelter for the new budding life.

Food and Shelter – Deer and other bark eating animals will have a lasting food source, while smaller animals like rabbits and squirrels can take advantage of the shelter the tree provides.

Natural Fertilizer – Perhaps the greatest benefit of all is that as the tree decays and breaks down, it is adding natural nutrients to the soil. This benefits all of the surrounding plant life, and is “nature’s” perfect ending to the life cycle of a tree.

Nothing is wasted when left to nature. Thus, learn the life cycle and benefits of allowing Mother nature to care for her trees.

A Tree’s Life Cycle Stages and Benefits

The life cycle of a tree begins as a seedling and ends after its last remnants have decayed or been eaten. Below are a few of the benefits a tree offers during each stage of its life cycle:

Living Trees – While living, trees are able to offer support to large wildlife. Providing shelter, food, nesting sites, and locations to hunt from.

The benefits to your landscape are as follows: they shade and keep property cool, they can serve as landmarks or property line markers, they help soil remain fertile, they filter water and air to reduce soil erosion, and provide a barrier from cold winter winds.

Dying and Dead Trees – It’s common that a tree sporadically falls when not cut or removed in time (learn what to look for and when is the right time here toddsmariettatreeservicesga.blogspot.com/2017/07/right-time-cutting-pruning-emergency-tree-removal.html).

Often referred to as “snags”, these trees draw the attention of birds and smaller animals during their nesting periods; likewise, they provide a haven for food storage, and as nurseries for the animal’s young.

In forests and larger landscapes, “snags” will often fall into waterways. When this occurs, they help to purify the water, regulate water temperatures, delay floodwater, and even control erosion.

Decaying Trees – The moisture and nutrients retained by a decaying tree provides food for plant growth and greatly benefits the soil.

Sometimes referred to as a nurse log, a fallen tree or limb may have young trees growing from or through it. This is a result of the dead tree providing ground cover which slows erosion and keeps wildlife away from the seedlings.

The wood eventually softens, breaks down, and decomposes as wood-boring insects eat through it. Once ripe for invasion, bacteria or fungi further advance the trees’ decomposition, and it returns to the soil as part of natures perfect plan.

This video shows how fungal decomposition benefits an ecosystem.

Before Tree Removal and Hauling Away, Consider Your Alternatives

So, your tree fell or was cut down. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to have it removed. Have the tree professionally evaluated, and if it poses no threat to people or structures, consider leaving it. Birds and smaller animals will thrive from the shelter and storage it provides.

If the tree has fallen or is threatening to fall, the prudent choice is to have it brought down. In this case, consider repurposing the tree or finding a location for it to quietly decompose while enriching the soil, plant life, and wildlife.

In the case of infestations or disease, the tree should indeed be removed and professionally disposed of. Repurposing these trees will only serve to further propagate the infestation or disease.

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The post Ways to Repurpose, Recycle, or Leave a Fallen Tree appeared first on http://www.toddsmariettatreeservices.com.

Having a tree cut down and removed from your home or business may seem like an easy task for an individual, But there are many factors you should take in to consideration. The location of the tree, the health, size and potential hazards must be considered. Every year people get hurt and some are killed by attempting to cut down trees or even just cutting limbs. At Red’s Tree Service we have highly trained technicians and the right equipment to safely remove your trees in a short amount of time. We have a process we follow in determining the correct steps to be taken in order to make ever.

The Evaluation and Estimate

An Arborist will set up an appointment with you. We will then identify the potential hazards there may be. By hazards we mean anything that is on or around the tree that we may come into contact with when removing the tree. In order to remove the tree safely the more of those hazards we can eliminate means less equipment we will need to bring out and the less time it will take to remove the tree, which equates to less cost to the client. An example may be if your electrical line runs under the limbs of the tree we would need to call the utility company for a service drop while we were removing the tree. Another example may be if the trees has large limbs over your house we may need to bring a crane in to remove the tree. After we determine what is needed to safely remove the tree we will go over the process with you. It may seem a little overwhelming but we do this everyday and we will make the process flow smoothly.

The scheduled date

After you have agreed to the terms our office administrator will set up a date that works for everyone. You will know in advance what equipment we will be bringing out, if any utility lines have to be dropped (which we will facilitate) and how long they will be down. If any cars need to be moved, pets put up, etc. Then from there we will establish a work zone. Set up our equipment. And proceed to remove tree.

One thing I would like to stress to the public is to make sure whoever you use to perform tree services is that the company has general liability and workers compensation insurance. Obviously you want a skilled professional to perform the work but in the event that something goes wrong you want to make sure the company is responsible for any damages or injuries.

Please call us for a free tree evaluation. 901-848-5323

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

Spring has arrived and with the new season comes new tree problems. It isn’t just the flowers blooming, trees budding, and pollen everywhere; tree pests and diseases are coming alive as well.

Generally, when winter weather and lower temperatures are sustained throughout the season, pests and disease won’t pose much of a threat in the spring. This year however, winter weather and temperatures were relatively mild, favoring the spread of disease and increasing pest population. It’s just the beginning of the season, and there is great potential for tree damage this spring.

The arborist at 72 Tree, Seed & Land Co. identified 5 common tree killers, and methods to get them under control this spring. Also being discussed are routine tree and landscape inspections, pest and disease prevention, and ongoing tree care throughout the year.

3 Common Spring Tree Pests

While there are a wide variety of tree pests, the following have been singled out due to the extent of the damage they can cause. So take heed because, the damage often goes unnoticed until removal of the tree is necessary.

Bagworms – If the leaves on your tree are turning brown or the needles are falling off of your pine, the culprit may be bagworms. Your tree is their food, and as they consume, your tree is unable to produce vital nutrients to keep it healthy and alive.

These worms make a bag-like nest (thus the name) which is often mistaken for a pinecone. In the fall, they mate and each female bagworm is able to lay over 500 eggs that hatch in mid spring.

There are two effective ways of controlling bagworms. You can physically remove and destroy the “bags”, or apply a pesticide in the spring as they are hatching. Once you have confirmed that bagworms have invaded your landscape, you will likely need the help of a professional tree service to keep them under control.

Cankerworms – Also known as inchworms, cankerworms chew away at the foliage of your trees. There are two species of this pest “fall cankerworm” and “spring cankerworm” but don’t let the name mislead you, they both hatch in the spring and feed on the same trees.

The damage they inflict on trees is more stress related and potentially leads to dieback, borer damage, and even root decline. For a healthy tree, one year of cankerworm defoliation won’t necessarily result in the loss of the tree. However, multiple years of defoliation will weaken the tree, making it susceptible to other pests that can ultimately lead it to its death.

When there is a breakout of this pest, there are two principle treatments.

1) Banding the trees in the fall (the wingless females stick to the band and cannot reach the canopy to deposit their eggs) is one very effective measure.

2) The other is the use of pesticides shortly after the worms have hatched. This measure is only effective while the worms are small and should be monitored by an arborist to ensure proper control is achieved.

Southern Pine Beetle – (Dendroctonus frontalis) These boring tree killers are known as the most destructive forest insect in the southern states. The signs or symptoms of an infestation are severe dieback, browning, and eventual death of entire limbs, foliage, and the tree itself.

Once this beetle attacks and succeeds at making a tree its host, the adults emit a pheromone attracting other beetles to the tree. In a matter of days, a tree’s defenses can be overrun by thousands of beetles. As one tree becomes overpopulated, the beetles will seek out nearby trees to colonize, thus expanding their population and local infestation potential.

It is the older and weakened trees that are more susceptible to beetle infestation. Control is accomplished by promoting the health of your trees, and when there is a breakout, applying insecticides to the tree bark is an alternative.

If you have a tree affected or infested by southern pine beetles, you will need an arborist to help identify witch, and if measures can be taken to thwart the infestation.

2 Common Spring Tree Diseases

Throughout the lifecycle of a tree, it may be faced with a number of fungal invaders from its roots to its leaves. While a tree builds a natural resistance to these invaders, trees are not completely immune and can be severely debilitated. The following tree diseases are ones that should be addressed immediately after being diagnosed.

Fire Blight – (Erwinia amylovora) Is a contagious plant disease. Blight is a hard to control pathogen that robs plant and tree foliage of its nutrients, causing the blackening and death of that foliage. Fire blight differs from dieback in that it leaves behind the appearance that the foliage has burned. Thus the name.

Blight is most successful in the springtime, as temperatures and humidity remain ideal for its growth. As with other pathogens, it is spread from host to host by physical contact, insects, birds and other wildlife; be careful when working in the garden because even the tools used for landscape maintenance can transmit fire blight disease.

Moreover, there is no known cure for blight. Control is achieved by pruning and destroying the affected foliage and limbs. The use of pesticides can also aid to control the pest population. As stated, the proper cleaning of equipment after use is helpful to avoid its proliferation. While the planting of resistant or tolerant species is an effective and proactive approach to overcome this disease.

NOTE: When cleaning garden and landscape equipment after handling diseases such as blight, applying a bleach solution (1 part bleach to 4 parts water) to your tools is recommended to neutralize the pathogen.

In the following link we discussed preventing fire blight tree disease in more depth, so check it out for more solutions and detail of this devastating disease.

Heart Rot – Heart rot is a fungal disease causing the softening and decay of the wood found at the center of a tree’s trunk and branches. When you see mushrooms or fungus conks attached to the trunk or branches of a tree, it can be a strong indicator that heart rot is present within the tree.

Fungi enter the tree through damaged bark or poorly pruned ares, move to the heartwood, and begin the process of decay. Softening of the heartwood leaves trees structurally weak and prone to collapse or breakage.

Hardwood trees are affected by heart rot on a global scale, and is extremely difficult to prevent. However, if a tree is growing vigorously, it may be able to isolate the affected portion of itself through a process called compartmentalization.

Control of this destructive disease may be achieved by keeping your tree healthy through proper pruning techniques, annual inspections by an arborist, and post storm maintenance and pruning.

Routine Tree and Landscape Inspections

Tree and landscape inspections start with you. When you’re out mowing, watering, pruning, or playing in your yard, observe the plants, shrubs, and trees. Look for insect infestations, discoloration in the foliage, and dieback of the limbs and crown. For more on dieback and signs of a diseased tree, visit 72tree.com/signs-diseased-tree-dieback-suckers-water-sprouts/

Once a year, hire an arborist to thoroughly inspect your trees and the plant life in your yard. They are trained to spot potential health issues, and implement the best solutions to save and/or extend the lives of your plants.

Prevention and Continued Care

The best preventative maintenance for your trees and plants is the consistent and continued care that you provide them. Healthy plants have the strength to develop defense systems that ward off both pests and disease.

Proper and timely pruning, watering, and fertilizing will help your trees reach maturity faster and in a stronger and more resistant way.

Controlling Pests and Disease All Year

Every pest has its season and every season has its pests. As you have probably gathered by now, the best way to control pests and disease is by keeping your trees, shrubs, and plants healthy through remaining proactive and aware of their state.

Pest control will help in stopping the spread of pathogenic fungi and bacteria, as well as curbing some of the more voracious insects. Fungicides will also help keep many of the pathogens away from your landscape’s ecosystem.

Keep your trees healthy this spring and for years to come by knowing what to look for and which steps to take. And when something strange pops up, call on your local arborist to address and get it solved.

This article was first published on: www.72tree.com/5-tree-pests-diseases-avoid-spring/

Tree pruning, when done correctly, should result in safe, healthy and beautiful trees. A certified arborist is trained to understand when a tree needs to be pruned and why, but also skilled in proper tree pruning techniques. If you’re unsure what you are doing, it’s always best to avoid potential costly follies and contact us with any questions you may have. While it may seem doable, the truth is that DIY tree pruning can be dangerous, difficult, and costly—especially if something below the tree is crushed by a falling branch. Here are the reasons why it’s best to leave your trees to the pros, and hire a Portland tree pruning service.

DIY Tree Pruning is a Dangerous Job

Start with chainsaws, ladders, and handsaws. Throw in heights and manual labor, and you see why pruning trees has a high rate of injury. The US Census Bureau lists tree trimming as one of the most dangerous jobs in the US. Consider how much more dangerous tree trimming is for the amateur. Indeed, the Tree Care Industry found 47 accidents involving property owners attempting tree care in 2012 alone—and 25 of those accidents were fatal.

Part of the danger lies in the fact that it’s not easy for the layperson to distinguish a rotten branch from a healthy one. Should you transfer your weight to a rotten branch, it could give way beneath you and cause serious damage to you and your home, not to mention the tree.

Moreover, tree pruning requires the use of sharp tools at elevated heights. For instance, a homeowner may attempt DIY tree pruning with a chainsaw while standing on a ladder. This sort of coordination requires special safety precautions that are unavailable to the average homeowner. Arborists have the tools and safety equipment needed to prune trees effectively and safely. This includes safety harnesses, bucket trucks, professional ladders, and more.

Poor Pruning Could Cause Future Damage and Danger

Trees require consistent, expert pruning for proper health. Trees that haven’t been properly pruned are often weakened and therefore hazardous. In some cases, a single strong gust of wind could blow down a branch or a whole tree that has been inadequately pruned. One example is “topping,” the unfortunate practice of trimming off a significant portion of a tree’s crown, often under the misguided idea that this will cause increase blooming. Instead, the tree is left deformed, ugly, and severely weakened. A tree that has been topped is more likely to develop disease and rot, becoming a hazard.

Ultimately, having a Portland certified arborist do the work will actually protect you, your home, your family, and the tree.

Common Mistakes Made with DIY Tree Pruning

Homeowners may cut through a branch, only to see it crush the roof or car when attempting to prune a tree. On the other hand, arborists have the expertise to properly assess, plan, and carry out pruning projects without causing property damage. For those who decide to attempt DIY tree pruning without proper knowledge and preparation, here are some of the more common mistakes they make:

1. Using dull tools – Maybe you’ve never done much, if any, tree pruning before and the tools you have in your shed or garage have seen better days. Old overused tools may be dull, which makes the healing process longer since branches are not cleanly cut. Besides, it makes your job more physically challenging. Sharpen your tools or look into investing in new ones.
2. Not sanitizing tools – You wouldn’t want a doctor performing surgery with unsanitized surgical instruments, right? That analogy is not as crazy as you may think. After all, you are performing a kind of surgery on a living thing, and if you are doing it without cleaning your tools, you may transfer soil-borne diseases from the previous plants they were used on.
3. Topping or lopping – Thinking it’s okay to cut branches anywhere to achieve the desired effect – maybe they are encroaching on your home – is probably the most common misconception about caring for trees. Giving your tree a “crew cut” or “topping” is also referred to as “lopping.”

Simply put, lopping is the act of cutting a branch in spots other than a union or node. This creates a less attractive growth pattern, but more importantly, weakens the new branch structure. It can also make your tree more susceptible to fungal infections. You could be creating health issues for your tree, but also a hazard for you and your family.

4. Over lifting – Also called lion tailing, this is when a person removes all the lower branches of a tree, making it top heavy and more susceptible to branch failure.
5. Over pruning – Don’t get carried away when pruning a tree. You should never remove more than 25 percent of its leaf-bearing crown, even less when you are dealing with a mature tree. The surgery analogy applies here as well. Just as it takes an older person longer to heal from a surgical procedure, the same holds true for trees healing after pruning.
6. Flush cutting – This is when someone cuts a branch flush against the trunk or a main branch. It can cause a number of problems, including uneven bark and the potential for disease, fungus and pests.

Portland tree pruning services

While you may be well-intentioned, DIY tree pruning without fully understanding the proper means of doing so may not only compromise your tree’s health, but create future safety risks. Call us today and we’ll be happy to ensure you have a safe and healthy tree for many years to come.

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

The Right Tree Removal Equipment Is Essential – Ping’s Has It!

Tree removal is no easy task. It is dangerous, complicated work, which is why most homeowners prefer to hire professionals to do it rather than doing it themselves. Tree care professionals have the required skills and expertise that enable them to accomplish removal of trees safely and without incident. But in addition to skill, tree removals, especially large or complicated removals, also require the right equipment. Ping’s Tree Service has a fleet of tree removal equipment which enables them to handle any tree removal, tree care, or tree emergency.

Providing Necessary Access

If all tree work could be done from the ground, things would be far less complicated. But in truth, pruning, trimming, and tree removals demand that workers get strategic access to branches that are far off the ground. Taking down a large tree cannot be done without the right equipment. Ping’s has an aerial lift device that can reach up to 90 feet above the ground. With the help of this reliable equipment, we can say that there is no tree removal that is too large for us to handle.

Getting Into Tight Spaces

In some tree situations, it is not elevation that proves to be the biggest problem, but rather the ability to breech a barrier. Like the fence that surrounds your backyard. Yes, fences can be very helpful for keeping kids in and wild animals out, but if you have a tree that needs to be trimmed or removed behind that fence, you’ve got a problem. That’s because there’s no way that you can get traditional tree equipment past that fence. However, it’s no problem for Ping’s. We have several pieces of equipment that can fold up to fit through a small opening, including a trac crane that will go through a 54-inch opening, a 90-foot trac lift that can go through a 44-inch opening, and 3 72-foot trac lifts that will go through a mere 36-inch opening. These kinds of equipment enable us to get to any problem tree without causing a big problem in your yard.

Having Just the Right Equipment

Every tree is unique and likewise every tree care problem can demand a unique solution.  Tree work varies from job to job and each job requires just the right equipment. At Ping’s, we have a whole fleet of trucks, cranes, and other equipment that we keep well-maintained and updated with new pieces as needed. Having the right piece for the right job means that we can work safely and efficiently. For example, we recently added a 38-ton crane that gives us incredible capacity for even tricky tree removals. Our tracked aerial devices sometimes even allow us to prune or remove trees without climbing in certain dangerous situations or with difficult to reach trees.

With the necessary equipment and years of experience, Ping’s can be trusted with your tree problem, no matter how big or complex. Call us today at 317-298-8482 to schedule an appointment or anytime, day or night, that you experience a tree emergency.

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