Month: April 2022

When it comes to maintaining the beauty and safety of your yard, choosing to use a commercial tree service may be the right option for you. That’s because trees are an asset for any homeowner, and taking care of them is a huge investment in your property value. But for many homeowners who may have taken care of the landscaping in their own yards for years, the idea of a commercial tree service may be a little confusing. 

Many customers want to know what exactly a commercial tree service includes before deciding to move forward. At Red’s Tree Service, we offer our customers a wide range of services, including tree trimming, tree and stump removal, emergency tree care, storm damage, and deep root fertilization. 

Tree Trimming

Pruning or trimming the trees in your yard can help them to grow with more structural integrity and beauty. It can also extend the life of your tree and improve your curb appeal, as well. By carefully selecting the branches that need to be removed, our Red’s Tree Service team can prevent broken limbs and falling branches from harming you or your home. 

Thinning or removing branches to enhance the shape and form of your tree is our specialty. Our experienced arborists know exactly which branches to remove and when. We recommend that tree trimming or pruning be done during the fall or winter months when your tree is more likely to be dormant. This prevents excessive damage to the tree, keeping your tree healthier and allowing its beauty to shine in the spring months. 

Tree and Stump Removal

Tree and stump removal are massive undertakings that should only be handled by Red’s Tree Service professionals. 

There are several reasons that you should remove a tree from your yard, including sickness, rot or fungus growth, invasive roots, overhanging branches, or weather damage. Trees with any of these issues are safety hazards that could potentially put you, your family, or someone else at risk. Our experienced team has the tools and knowledge to remove a risky tree from your yard carefully and skillfully. 

Once our team has removed a tree, you have the option to have the stump removed as well. Stumps that remain after removal can pose a safety hazard, and let’s face it: stumps don’t provide much curb appeal. However, the biggest reason to remove a stump is that a new tree could grow from the stump — and then you’re right back where you started. 

Emergency Tree Care

Emergencies happen! If you didn’t trim an overhanging branch soon enough or if a risky tree was left to grow over your home, the branch or tree could create severe damage to your property. In the immediate aftermath of a fallen tree or broken limb, you will need to reach out to a Red’s Tree Service professional. Our team has the equipment and knowledge to carefully and safely remove heavy limbs or even whole trees from your home, car, or other structures. 

Tree emergencies don’t always happen during business hours. Fortunately, Red’s Tree Service has a 24/7 phone line that you can call in case of an emergency! We return calls around the clock so that you can feel comfortable knowing that help is on the way.

Storm Damage

Everyone in the mid-south knows that storms are frequent and unpredictable. That kind of weather can cause enormous problems for the trees in your yard. Rain, heavy wind, lightning, and tornadoes can cause large limbs or whole trees to fall in your yard, wreaking havoc on your home or power lines. 

Luckily, our Red’s Tree Service team is equipped with the tools and experience needed to clean up fallen limbs or trees after stormy weather. We are always available to help you in your time of need — and don’t forget to use our 24/7 emergency phone line!

Deep Root Fertilization

You won’t only need our services for emergencies! Ideally, you’ll want to use Red’s Tree Service to take care of preventative maintenance, and aesthetic landscaping before the need for emergency services kicks in. As a part of our aesthetic maintenance, deep root fertilization is designed to help your trees grow to their full potential of beauty. 

Deep root fertilization is not the simple method of fertilization that you might take care of on your own. This specialized method uses a grid pattern pressure injection to mix your soil with a liquid, time-release fertilizer. Deep root fertilization spreads the fertilizer more evenly throughout the root system to provide better resistance to disease, insect attacks, and drought. It even works to aerate the soil around the roots to send much-needed oxygen that may have been blocked out by compact soil. 

We recommend that you pair our tree trimming service with deep root fertilization for the best results. Doing this will help your tree heal that much faster, making your yard more healthy and beautiful in a shorter amount of time. 

Red’s Tree Service: Your One-Stop Shop For Healthy Trees

Using an all-inclusive commercial tree service means that your yard will be the talk of the neighborhood. Whether you are interested in beautifying your yard, cleaning up after a storm, or requiring emergency tree service, the commercial tree service from Red’s covers everything you need. 

With over 40 years of experience, our family-owned and operated tree service delivers you the results you are looking for. We have all the tools and equipment to take care of your trees and leave your yard safe, healthy, and stunning for years to come. If you or someone you know needs a professional eye, contact Red’s Tree Service for your free estimate today!

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

Prevent your yard and garden being full of pesky and undesirable weeds. Knowing how to identify weed species growing in your Georgia landscape, yard, and garden will help you control their growth before they can spread.

toddsmariettatreeservices.com gathered the following species, growing, and control information about five common weeds thriving in the state of Georgia.

1. Dandelion (Taraxacum)

The incredibly common dandelion is one of the most recognizable weeds growing in North America. The radially symmetrical flowerhead of this species is bright yellow and singularly arranged on a terminal shoot of its light-green, slender stem that secretes a milky sap when wounded. The weed’s leaves are broad and long with irregular teeth and lobes.

Growth Pattern – Dandelion weeds grow from seeds that germinate throughout the entire growing season. The weed remains in the seedling stage for approximately 8-15 weeks. Dandelions produce a rosette of tiny pale yellowish leaves. At the same time, all this is taking place above ground; the plant is growing a significantly deep root.
Size at Maturity – 2 to 6 inches in height and width
Elimination/Control – A broadleaf herbicide is excellent for killing dandelions in lawns. The herbicide will kill the dandelions and not the grass.
Seed – Dandelions can grow from seeds or by division
Is This Species Edible – Every part of a dandelion weed is edible for humans.

2. Clover (Trifolium)

Clovers are typically a short-lived species and feature alternate compound leaves, usually with three toothed leaflets. Tiny but fragrant flowers are crowded into dense, spherical heads or spikes and can appear in white, pink, red, or yellow. The weed’s small, dry fruits typically contain only one or two seeds.

Growth Pattern – This species can sprout in three to four days in the summer months. Clovers can take less than a week to germinate and sprout new growth when temperatures reach 59° Fahrenheit. Clover is persistent with an aggressive root structure, choking out most other weeds.
Size at Maturity – Clover can reach 4 to 24 inches in height, depending on the variety.
Elimination/Control – One way to control clover is to prevent it before it starts. Accomplish this by fertilizing your lawn regularly (3 to 4 times per year), which gives grass the nutrients it needs to grow thick and strong. Thick lawns can easily crowd out weeds like clover.
Seed – Clover does produce seeds. However, it also spreads by taking root along creeping stems where roots emerge from nodes. This allows clover weeds to spread out over vast areas.
Is This Species Edible – Wild clover is considered poisonous in large amounts. However, in small quantities, clover is both edible and potentially beneficial to your health.

3. Kudzu (Pueraria montana)

Kudzu is a climbing, semi-woody, perennial vine in the pea family. Deciduous leaves are alternate and compound, with three broad leaflets up to 4 inches across. While this species is considered a vine, it has made this list due to its invasive growth pattern.

Growth Pattern – Kudzu can spread up to 60 feet per growing season (in all directions). One root can produce multiple vines, all of which creep outward (horizontally and vertically), clinging to and climbing over everything while creating dense curtains of kudzu.
Size at Maturity – Undetermined. Kudzu grows exponentially in all directions once established.
Elimination/Control – Efforts to control kudzu infestations have produced mediocre results at best. These efforts included cutting, grazing, digging, burning, and herbicide application. This weed’s roots grow too deeply to be affected by freezing and burning only kills very young plants.
Seed – Kudzu typically won’t flower until its third growing season, with flowers and seeds forming only on its vertical climbing vines.
Is This Species Edible – Kudzu seeds and seed pods aren’t edible, but the leaves, roots, flowers, and vine tips are.

Note: This species can quickly climb trees and rob them of sunlight, effectively weakening or killing them. If you have any vine species climbing your trees, contact a professional tree service to help you prevent a catastrophe.

4. Crabgrass (Digitaria)

Crabgrass is a fast-growing, coarse-textured yellowish-green grass that is conspicuous when found growing among smooth textured, dark green, cool-season turf.

Growth Pattern – Crabgrass seeds germinate from early spring to late summer. Crabgrass continues to grow until midsummer when its vegetative growth slows, and the weed enters its reproductive stage.
Size at Maturity – Up to 2 feet in height while lower stems radially branch out.
Elimination/Control – A highly effective way of eliminating crabgrass is to apply a pre-emergent herbicide before the crabgrass seed can germinate.
Seed – This weed produces purplish seed heads from mid-summer until frost kills the plants.
Is This Species Edible – Crabgrass is not only nutritious but one of the planet’s fastest-growing cereals, producing edible seeds in as little as six to eight weeks. This species is a horrible weed but a wonderful edible.

5. Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta)

Cardamine hirsuta, commonly referred to as “hairy bittercress,” is an annual or biennial plant species in the Brassicaceae family. It is common in moist areas around the globe.

Growth Pattern – Winter annual broadleaf weeds, like this species, germinate in late fall or winter and experience growth during any warm weather spells, which can occur in the winter, but will otherwise remain dormant during the winter. They resume growth and produce their seeds in the spring and will die with increased early summer temperatures.
Size at Maturity – 3 to 12 inches in height with varied circumferences.
Elimination/Control – Prevent invasions into turf areas by encouraging thick and healthy grass growth. This weed will easily invade thin or patchy areas.
Seed – Bittercress spreads by seeds that are dispersed as their pods explosively burst open upon maturing.
Is This Species Edible – Yes. This species is edible and often used as a salad green.

Georgia Weed Identification and Control

In this article, you discovered growing, control, and general species information on several common Georgia weed species.

Knowing how to identify a weed species and its attributes will help you eliminate or cultivate it, returning your turf to its full glory.

Ignoring the weeds that invade your Georgia landscape can quickly lead to an embarrassing, torn-up-looking yard and garden.

Sources:
hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/dandelion-taraxacum-officinale/
plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/trifolium-repens/
misin.msu.edu/facts/detail/?id=18
ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/WEEDS/crabgrasses.html
canr.msu.edu/resources/hairy-bittercress-cardamine-hirsuta

Avoid catastrophic accidents and injuries from a poorly constructed treehouse. Knowing how to properly plan and construct a treehouse will help you provide years of fun and learning experiences for your children and their friends.

72tree.com gathered the following essential information, steps, and professional tips on safely constructing a treehouse.

Treehouse Construction

Building a treehouse can provide years of a “second home” for you, your loved ones, and their friends. The following steps and tips will help you build a safe and weather-resistant outdoors retreat:

Step 1 – Select Your Tree(s)

Choose a tree sturdy enough to withstand the weight of your new treehouse and its visitors. Ideally, a tree with a distinct “y” shaped branch will serve you best, but there are other things to consider:

Species: Hardwood varieties (oak, maple, and hickory)
Height: The tree should be tall enough to provide a fun view but should consider the safety of the builder and children as well. A minimum of 6 to 10 feet high is recommended.
Branches: The branches need to be strong and thick enough to bear the structure’s weight.
Quality: Take care to select a tree that is not damaged or ailing in any way. Avoid trees with shallow roots or unstable soil, making them more vulnerable with a weak foundation.

Tip: If you do not have a tree that could support your idea of a treehouse, consider building one on stilts around a tree. You’ll have to significantly modify your blueprints, but you can still build your outdoor retreat.

Step 2 – Design Your Treehouse Blueprint

Your next step is to design the treehouse plans as accurately and as detailed as possible. Developing a treehouse blueprint will help you acquire the right materials during the build. 

Measure the intended height from the ground to the platform, then measure how large you want the platform, and finally, measure the circumference of the trunk and branches that will intersect with the treehouse.

The height and platform measurements are crucial to your build. They will ultimately decide the project’s shape and details. Include your ideas for walls, railings, roofing, and ladder. These will provide shelter and safety for the treehouse’s visitors.  

Step 3 – Consult an Arborist and an architect

Before moving forward, hire an arborist to evaluate the tree you have selected for your project. Experienced arborists are trained to detect developmental issues, disease, infestations, and other commonly overlooked tree problems and weaknesses.

Find a local arborist at treesaregood.org/findanarborist

Once your tree has a green light from your arborist, contract an architect to review your blueprints and offer any suggestions to increase your treehouse’s stability and safety.

Step 4 – Assemble Construction Material

What Is the best lumber for outdoor projects?

•Cedar is preferred when it comes to outdoor designs, while pine and fir are most commonly selected for outdoor treated wood projects

•Pressure-treated wood is chemically treated using pesticides, fire retardants, etc.

According to your blueprints, purchase the appropriate lumber quantity and size to complete your treehouse and have a few planks to spare (these come in handy for repairs or minor building modifications).

Tip: Verify your measurements before purchasing your lumber.

Referring to your blueprints, determine how you plan to attach and secure your treehouse components. Consider the following:

•Galvanized lag screws and washers

•Galvanized joist hangers

•Galvanized rafter ties

•Nails

•Deck screws

•Pulley for 1/4″ rope

•Tarp

Tip: Galvanized screws, nails, and metal components are zinc coated and have undergone a galvanization process. This process leaves the metal with a protective barrier making it resistant to rust and corrosion.

Step 5 – Treehouse Building Tools

Consider that you are building a small, elevated house. Here are some of the building tools required for this project:

•Hammer

•Saw

•Level

•Square

•Tape measure

•Adjustable wrench

•Cordless drill

•Cordless jigsaw

Other useful tools include:

•Miter saw (cutting lumber to length)

•Table saw (ripping lumber)

•Router (rounding sharp edges)

•Electric sander

Note: A stable ladder or stepladder is vital to preventing overhead lifting and potential injuries.

Step 6 – Lay Out the Wood and Material

Before attaching any treehouse components to your tree or mounted supports, lay out the section of the project to visualize what you are assembling. This will give you the opportunity to make any needed alterations or additions.

Note: This step also allows you to collect any hardware you will need before going to work on it

Step 7 – Secure the Support System to the Tree

Now it’s time to either attach the floor joists to the tree or put your concrete deck blocks and posts in place. 

When using the tree for support:

•Pre-drill the tree and lumber before attaching them to one another, as it will make it easier to install and significantly decrease the potential of your boards cracking.

•Once drilled, use an impact wrench to tighten the screws. These lag screws should be at least 6 inches long. 

•Now, add the remaining floor joists.

With the joists in place, add joist hangers using your hammer and 1-inch galvanized nails.

When using concrete deck blocks:

•Place your concrete deck blocks around your tree as determined in your blueprint.

•Place 4 x 4 posts on the concrete deck blocks and use scrap lumber to hold them up until they are connected.   

•Once posts are on the blocks, connect them using 2 x 8 bands. 

•Use a level to make sure they are lined up correctly.

Tip: Whatever height you attach your floor joists on the tree will not change as the tree grows. Tree trunks grow outward by adding layers to their circumference but not upward.

Step 8 – Build Your Platform

To keep your treehouse stable, center the load over the trunk and spread the weight among several branches (if possible).

It will be much easier to build the rest of the treehouse if the floor is level and can support the entire weight of the structure. Consider the following:

•Lay beams across tree branches and shim them until level.

•Run beams between trunks of two trees.

•Cantilever beams out from a single trunk and provide support from above or below.

Tip: Take your time building the platform. Any mistakes here could result in a flimsy or off-centered construction.

Step 9 – Brace Your Platform

Your platform should feel secure and not wobble or shift. If it does, you will need to add extra support to halt this movement by:

•Tightening screws and bolts

•Adding additional support from the trunk

•Making sure joist hangers and rafter ties are properly spaced and installed

Tip: Do not continue building your treehouse until you have firmly secured the platform

Step 10 – Install a Pulley System

A pulley will mostly be for your kids’ enjoyment, but it’s helpful for lifting tools and materials to the platform during construction. Put a pulley in now and hang a basket from it. This will save you from making multiple trips to manually haul your building materials up a ladder.

Step 11 – Build Walls and a Roof

Attach wall supports or framework to your platform (this should be planned out in your blueprints). Remember to give your walls the needed height and strength to support the treehouse’s roof.

If you are using paneling, attach the panels to the frame and cut out your windows and door.

You can temporarily use a tarp held in place with bungee cords for the roof.

Once you have built a fully functional and secure treehouse, attach its permanent ladder and put it to good use.

Municipal Codes and Building Permits

Do you need a building permit?

Maybe. It depends on local laws and the nature of your treehouse. If you’re considering building one that will be visible to your neighbors, discuss it with them in advance to avoid any confusion or problems. Often a municipality only becomes involved after a neighbor complains.

Avoid building near property lines and never build a treehouse where it will infringe on a neighbor’s privacy.

Tip: This is one of the questions you will answer in step 3 with your architect.

How to Minimize Tree Damage

Also, in step 3, work with your arborist to discuss ways to minimize or prevent tree damage during your construction process. Consider the following:

•Consider using ground supports to take stress off the tree.

•Make the least amount of punctures necessary to safely support the treehouse.

•Don’t screw fasteners in too close together (this can significantly weaken that section of the tree). Use bolts spaced at least 18 inches apart vertically and 12 inches apart horizontally.

•Avoid slinging cables and ropes over branches. They can cut through the bark (girdling the branches) as the structure moves.

Note: Any tree bark damage is a potential entry point for infestations and disease.

Building a Treehouse

In this article, you discovered steps, advice, and pro tips on how to safely construct a treehouse for your family’s enjoyment.

Knowing how to properly design and build a treehouse will help you create a stable play place for your loved ones and family friends.

Trying to build a treehouse without planning it out or consulting tree and building professionals can result in catastrophic structural failures and severe injuries.

Sources:
newswire.caes.uga.edu/story/3645/tree-safe-tree-houses.html
glendaleca.gov/government/departments/public-works/indigenous-tree-program/treehouse-guide
cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19100828.2.200.11&e=——-en–20–1–txt-txIN——–1

This article was first published on: http://www.72tree.com/how-to-build-a-treehouse-in-11-easy-steps/

Spring is finally here, even if the weather hasn’t broken quite yet. This is the time of the year where homeowners get ready to start there spring cleaning and landscaping. When it comes to trees it’s important to not overdo the tree care because this can be bad for the tree’s health.

Did you know that putting a foot or more of mulch at the base of a tree is not good for it? Trees need oxygen and adequate water flow, and those huge, tall clumps of mulch deprive the tree of both. Plus, they look ridiculous.

Over-Caring for Your Tree

Also, did you know you can over water a tree? You don’t want to deprive your tree of water, but you don’t want to over water it either. If you see leaves turning yellow and reducing in number when they shouldn’t be, the tree may be over watered, which could kill it.

After a long winter, when plows put a lot of de-icing salt on the roads, some of that salt ends up in your driveway and down in the soil on your property. The combo of sodium chloride can end up in a tree’s roots, damaging them. In fact, de-icing salt in your soil tends to suck up the water, not allowing it to drain properly, leading to root rot and trees dying.

Solving Lawn Problems the Wrong Way

If you have your lawn sprayed with pesticides and herbicides, it may make your grass look nice, but it can cause some problems in the long term. In the case of trees, they may get discolored foliage and premature leaf loss. Some may even die.

And, of course, there are pesky bugs, such as beetles, that can seemingly take over a tree and slowly but surely kill it.

Big Foot Tree Service keeps busy removing and replacing dead or damaged trees in New Jersey. Call 973-885-8000 to ask about a free estimate for tree care in your yard.

The post What Causes a Tree to Deteriorate and Die? appeared first on Big Foot Tree Service.

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