Helpful Information About USDA Hardiness Zones

Helpful Information About USDA Hardiness Zones

When adding plants or trees to your landscape or yard, it is important to evaluate whether a particular plant will do well in the spot you have picked out for it.  Plants are living things that are sensitive to the environment.  Not every plant or tree will thrive in every location.  One element of the environment that can have a significant impact on plants is temperature.  Knowing your hardiness zone can help you assess the compatibility of a tree or plant with your location.

What Are USDA Hardiness Zones?

The USDA has divided the country into 13 hardiness zones.  These zones have been developed to indicate the average lowest temperature for a specific location based on historic temperature data.  Each zone (Zones 1 through 13 from coldest to warmest) represents a 10-degree temperature range of the average minimum temperature.  The zones are further divided into A (colder) and B (warmer) subdivisions.

Indianapolis and the surrounding central Indiana area fall in Zones 5B and 6A. Zone 5B has an average minimum temperature between -15 and -10 degrees Fahrenheit.  Zone 6A has an average minimum temperature between -10 and -5 degrees Fahrenheit.  Visit the USDA website to view a detailed map and find the hardiness zone for your zip code.

Why Do Hardiness Zones Matter?

Is it important to know your hardiness zone?  If you plan to do any landscaping or planting on your property, it definitely is important.  The hardiness zone tells you how cold you can expect temperatures to get on the coldest days of winter.  Temperature is one component of the climate that can have a serious negative effect on plants.  All trees and plants have a range of temperatures which they can tolerate.  A tree or plant that experiences temperatures outside of that range may even die from the exposure.  You should only plant those trees and plants that can tolerate temperatures expected in your hardiness zone.

How Can Hardiness Zones Help You Plant Smarter?

The hardiness zone is very important for trees, shrubs, and perennial flowers.  However, for annual flowers, this doesn’t matter.  They cannot survive the colder temperatures of winter and are meant to bloom beautifully for the summer and then die.  However, if you are planting perennial flowers, shrubs, bushes, or trees, you will want them to live through many years.  This means that they must be able to withstand both the warm, sunny days of summer and the bitterly cold days of winter.

Temperature vary greatly from season to season (or even day to day here in central Indiana).  Planting vegetation in the sunny days of spring, it’s hard to remember that the icy days of winter will come eventually.  As you consider what to plant, make sure you investigate your hardiness zone and whether the tree or plant you are considering will thrive there.

Nature can be harsh without protection from the elements.  People live in houses and wear clothes to keep the wind, heat or cold, and precipitation from harming us.  Even animals can move to shelter from storms or extreme temperature.  In contrast, a tree, shrub, or plant must endure nature’s best and worst without the ability to move or cover itself.  Without the ability to protect themselves, plants are very vulnerable to extreme weather.   Fortunately, the USDA hardiness zones can help you determine whether a plant is suited for your location before you plant it.

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

Ping’s New Indianapolis Lawn Care Services

We understand the nearly universal desire to have a lush, green lawn.  A beautiful lawn gives you a place to enjoy time outdoors and also makes any property more attractive.  Yet often homeowners and commercial property owners find that the work required for that dream lawn can be a bit daunting.  This is where Ping’s can help.  We are now offering Indianapolis lawn care services, both with our pre-set 6-step program or with a customized program that meets your lawn’s individual needs.

Round 1: Stop Crabgrass Before It Even Gets Started

Ping’s starts the 6-step lawn program in the spring.  We apply pre-emergent crabgrass control early enough to block crabgrass growth before it even gets started.  Making a pre-emptive strike at the crabgrass gives us an advantage and a better chance to win the battle.  By minimizing crabgrass growth, the healthy desirable grass has an environment where it can thrive.

Rounds 2 to 5: Feed the Grass, Kill the Weeds

Once the growing season is in full swing, our lawn care strategy changes.  We will make 4 application, one during each the late spring, summer, late summer, and early fall.  These applications have a dual purpose.  With fertilization, we give lawns the nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy throughout the season.  At the same time, we apply broadleaf weed control to minimize the proliferation of weeds.  Together these two components produce a yard that is uniformly green and luxurious.

Round 6: Get Your Yard Ready for Winter

As the growing season winds down and the weather starts to get colder, we will make our final application of the year.  This late-fall application gets your lawn ready for winter.   While through the summer the object of the treatments has been to keep grass looking lovely, now the main purpose shifts to strengthening the roots.  Additionally, this application will get grass ready for the early spring growth that follows the winter dormancy.

What Your Lawn Needs, When It Needs It

Ping’s lawn care program is structured to provide your lawn with what it needs just when it needs it.  Our lawn care experts know the strength of the fertilizer that is best for each season as well as the best time and the best way to apply it.  We will schedule these treatments with you at the right time so you don’t have to worry about it.  In addition to these application, we also offer other lawn services, including:

• Fungicide Treatments
• Grassy Weed Control Treatments
• Grub Worm Treatments
• Insect Control Treatments
• Lawn Core Aeration
• Overseeding with Starter Fertilization
• Slit Seeding with Starter Fertilization

If you are thinking about starting Ping’s lawn care program, now is the time to sign up.  New customers who act now will receive Round 6 for FREE.  Call us at 317-298-8482 or schedule online for a free estimate.

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

Now that you have a beautiful newly planted tree it is time to master the steps of keeping it that way. The bad news is that for the first 2 years this will take some time and attention on your part, but the good news is that after those 2 years of work your tree should be happy and healthy and not require much more them some pruning and fertilization by your arborist every 3-5 years. Below is a description of each of the subjects regarding your new tree requiring your attention.

Water Management

Young trees need adequate water to become established. Although rainfall may be adequate in some areas and in some seasons, additional water may be needed, particularly after planting when root systems are limited. After the initial watering at planting, deciduous trees do not need additional water until the first leaves have reached full size, but then will need water 4-5 times per week and everyday during the plus 90 degree days of summer. We recommend using a water bag or ring (shown in the picture) during the dry seasons for the first 2 years. The water bag will only need to be filled semi weekly or 3 times a week during the hottest part of the summer eliminating the chore of daily watering. After 2 years, most trees can survive with only one or no irrigations, although they would probably do better with monthly applications during the dry season.

Soil Management

It is essential to maintain an area free of turf and weeds around tree trunks, because turf and weeds compete for water and nutrients, and some produce chemicals toxic to other plants. A small turf-free area around a tree also reduces the need for mowers to come close. This clear area must be at least one-foot in radius. Larger areas add little benefit. After four or five years, tree roots are extensive enough that other plants close to their trunks are not a problem, although mower operators should still exercise caution.

A three to four-inch-thick mulch, material placed on the soil surface, controls most weed seedlings. In addition, mulch protects the soil from compaction and erosion, conserves moisture, moderates soil temperatures, provides an all-weather surface for walking, and allows plants to root in the fertile and well-aerated surface soil. The mulch should not be added until 1 month after the tree has been planted so that it does not interfere with the root system obtaining oxygen. Keep mulches at least two inches away from the trunks of trees to minimize disease and rodent damage. A wide range of organic and inorganic materials can be used. If you purchased a watering bag from Urban Forest Pro mulch will be placed for you during the installation of the bag.

Pruning and Training

In years past, severe pruning after planting was thought to be necessary. However, newly planted trees grow quite well if they are pruned lightly or not at all. The key to pruning is to encourage the growth of several large permanent branches, called “scaffold branches,” that will ultimately form the basic structure of the mature tree. If your tree needed pruning directly from the nursery it has already been done by a certified arborist. The young tree will need an initial pruning at 3 years to encourage those structural branches. 2nd to watering your tree this initial pruning is the most important thing you can do for your young tree’s health. Urban Forest Pro provides these prunings at a reduced cost to our planting customers and we will contact you are year 3 to set this up. The pruning also includes a fertilization.

Pest Management

Most trees get off to a good start, but serious problems can be avoided or minimized if the trees are periodically inspected. Inspect trees for the beginnings of insect and disease damage. At the same time, take care of any staking problems, check on tree moisture status, and identify any other problems. The inspection should take only a few minutes per tree, but prompt action on any problems encountered will pay big dividends in healthier, stronger trees.

If your tree was planted by Urban Forest Pro and you think it may have an issue please email pictures to [email protected] or text them to 503-567-1733. We may need a call or an email to let us know you texted the photos as we don’t check that text message line daily.

Looking for large tree planting services near you? Contact our team of ISA-certified arborists who are here to assist you every step of the way.

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

Most of us understand how important it is to eat a healthy diet.  We carefully choose the foods we eat in order to consume a balance of the nutrients we need.  Making healthy food choices is important to us because we know that our bodies need a variety of nutrients to function correctly.  This truth is a reality for all living creatures, including plants.  Just like humans, trees have nutritional requirements which must be met for healthy growth.  Read on to learn more about the nutritional needs of trees.

What Nutrients Do Trees Need?

You are probably familiar with the dietary needs of people, but what do you know about the nutrients trees need?  There are three categories of nutrients used by trees: macro nutrients, secondary nutrients, and micro nutrients.  Macro nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.  Trees need a substantial amount of these nutrients.  For this reason, these are the main nutrients contained in fertilizers.  Trees do not need as much of the secondary nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.  Finally, trees need very little of the micro nutrients, including iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and boron.

How Do Trees Get These Nutrients?

Trees are generally very self-sufficient.  Many trees survive without any help from anyone.  The incredible design of trees allows them to get the nutrients they need from their environment.  They create food for themselves from sunlight through the amazing process of photosynthesis.  Using their expansive root system, trees are also able to draw nutrients out of the soil.  When left undisturbed, nature provides much of what trees need.  Sometimes, however, our human intervention can cause deficiencies for trees.  In suburban neighborhoods, common practices, such as stripping off top soil and removing leaves in the fall, can upset the delicate balance of nature.

What Happens When Trees Are Deficient of Nutrients?

A tree is dependent on the soil in which it is planted for much of its nutrition.  It is hard to know what nutrients are contained in the soil of a particular area.  Thus, it is also difficult to discern whether a tree is getting what it needs.  It is important to look for outward signs that might indicate a deficiency.  Some of these signs include slower growth than expected; wilting, yellow, or discolored leaves; and sparse foliage.  While these symptoms are noticeable, there are other problems that are not so visible.  Trees that do not get the right nutrients will gradually become weaker.  When weakness occurs in a tree, that tree will become more susceptible to disease, pests, and even damage from weather events.

You may be wondering what role the application of fertilizer plays in correcting nutrient deficiencies.  It is true that the appropriate application of fertilizer will replace the nutrients that are missing in the soil.  However, care should be taken to evaluate what trees are actually missing before applying fertilizer.  Trees can also be harmed by an excessive amount of some nutrients too.  If you suspect your trees may be nutrient deficient, it is always a good idea to get the opinion of an experienced arborist.  The arborists at Ping’s are always available to conduct a thorough inspection of your trees.  We can then make recommendations or apply the needed fertilizer.  As experts in the science of tree care, we have the know-how to take care of all your tree needs.  Call us today at 317-298-8482 to set up an appointment or schedule online.

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

Ping’s Is Now Offering Indianapolis Landscape Services

For over 40 years, Ping’s has been providing expert tree care for central Indiana homeowners and property owners.  Our knowledgeable arborists and experienced technicians have been keeping your trees healthy and taking care of your big and small tree problems.  Now we are branching out!  Our new landscape division will bring the same level of expertise and quality to your lawn and landscape projects.  As we embark on this new venture, we will be offering outstanding Indianapolis landscape services such as the following.

Lawn Care

For many of us, most of our residential landscape or commercial landscape needs revolve around lawn care.  You probably want your lawn to be healthy and green, regardless of the weather.  Yet you know that lush, beautiful lawns do not happen without care.  Lawns demand a lot of attention.  They require frequent mowing, periodic fertilization and weed control, and general maintenance.  Ping’s offers all this to our lawn care customers.

Our 6-step lawn care program addresses the basic fertilization and weed control needs of lawns on a seasonal basis.  You can rely on us to provide the right applications at the right time using the right method.  Additional services from Ping’s include aeration, overseeding, and pest control.  We will keep your lawn or grass on your commercial property looking healthy and well cared for.  Our team can even perform the ongoing tasks of mowing and edging for commercial properties, condos, or HOA common areas.

Landscape Beds

While your lawn is a major part of your outdoor space, often the smaller landscape beds capture more attention.  Ping’s can take care of your landscaped areas.  Our comprehensive offerings include everything from design to maintenance.  We can help you add color and beauty to your yard or your commercial property with landscape design.  Once you have a vision, our team will handle the construction, renovation, and planting.

Beyond the creation of new landscape elements, we can also help you take care of the landscaping you already have.  Ping’s will evaluate your property’s climate, soil, and drainage conditions and help you choose the right plants.  We can get your beds cleaned up and ready in the spring.  Through the summer, we provide regular maintenance services such as weeding, dead-heading, and pruning.  When the weather turns colder, we will clear your beds of fall debris and apply protective coverings to roses and shrubs.  Our seasonal flower bed program lets you keep flowers on your commercial property or at your home always looking fresh.  With this program, we will switch out the vegetation in your beds periodically as the seasons progress.  We’ll keep your flowers and plants looking beautiful in every season.

Outdoor Upkeep

Keeping your entire outdoor area looking great is not easy.  It takes a lot of work.  Ping’s can assist you with every facet of outdoor upkeep.  We offer spring and fall clean-up services.  In addition, we can apply mulch to your trees, shrubs, and flower beds.  Of course, we also remain dedicated to providing excellent tree care service.  We will continue to offer expert care for your trees, including planting, fertilization, pruning, and treatment of diseases or deficiencies.  Ping’s can also remove any dead, diseased, or damaged trees or branches.  There is no tree problem that is too difficult for Ping’s!

Ping’s has the expertise and the resources to take care of your outdoor areas.  Whether you are responsible for commercial property, common areas of a neighborhood, or simply your own home, you can rely on us.  Our flexible tree care, lawn care, and landscape services will cover all your needs.  To learn more, call us at 317-298-8482 or schedule a consultation online.

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

Trees are a beautiful and beneficial part of the world around us. Many homeowners appreciate their trees and do all they can to keep them healthy.  Likewise, Ping’s is dedicated to providing preventative and remedial tree care.  However, in spite of the most determined efforts, there are cases where trees should be removed.  This blog explains some of the most common circumstances that require tree removal.

Dead Trees

Every homeowner or commercial property manager hates to see a tree die.  The sad fact is that sometimes trees do die.  Once a tree has died, there is nothing more to do…except take it down.  Removal is necessary because a dead tree will slowly lose strength.  As the tree weakens, it loses its ability to withstand the assault of storms or extra weight.  Snow, ice, storms, and winds can break off branches or bring down a dead tree.  The fall of a dead tree or even a branch can cause extensive damage to nearby houses, cars, or even people.  Dead trees represent a tremendous potential liability and should be removed as soon as reasonably possible.

Diseased Trees

One major cause of tree death is disease.  Sometimes you may not know that a tree has been infected until irreversible damage has already occurred.  In recent years, central Indiana has seen a devastating infestation of the emerald ash borer.  Many ash trees have died due to this pest.  If you have a tree that is diseased, it is important to have it evaluated quickly so that it can be treated before it’s too late.  Immediate removal of a tree that is beyond help is often best.  Not only will this avoid the eventual weakening that will follow as the tree dies, but it also better prevents the spread of the disease to other trees.  If you see signs of disease in your tree, Ping’s can examine it and recommend action.

Damaged Trees

Unfortunately, sometimes healthy trees experience unavoidable damage.  Severe weather (both thunderstorms and winter storms) has the potential to damage trees.  In particular, lightning can cause harm in a flash.   Trees are often mortally injured by a lightning strike.  Yet it may take the tree years to show the extent of damage.  Other sources of damage are animals or accidental contact with a vehicle or other solid object.  Again, you need to evaluate the situation to see if the tree can recover.  Ping’s can help you make an informed decision about your damaged tree.

Encroaching Trees

Trees are alive and growing, which means that their effects on their surroundings can change.  At the time of planting, a tree may enjoy a good location.  However, trees grow and new structures are built around trees.  Roots of nearby trees can disturb the foundation of a house or building.  In addition, growing branches may get in the way of power lines or other utilities.  Less critically, trees may grow to obscure a favorite view.  Trees that cause these kinds of problems are often removed.

Annoying Trees

Not all trees are equally beloved.  Some healthy trees are a nuisance.  They may shed annoying seeds or fruit.  Some trees have wood that is naturally weak and more likely to break.  At times, there may just be a personal preference against a certain type of tree.  In other instances, you may just desire to use the land occupied by a tree for another purpose.   In the case of an annoying tree, removal is completely elective.  You can do it in your timing or decide it isn’t worth the trouble and leave it alone.

Some reasons for tree removal require immediate action (like an uprooted tree resting on your roof).  Other circumstances are less urgent and allow a wait-and-see approach.  Whatever your reason, when you decide you need (or want) to remove a tree, you can trust Ping’s to do the job.  We have amazing equipment and years of experience.  For us, no tree removal is too big or too complicated.  On the other hand, tree removal can be extremely difficult and dangerous for someone without the right equipment or technical expertise.  It is better to leave it to the experts at Ping’s.  In emergency situations, we even offer 24/7 service.  For non-emergency situations, call 317-298-8482 today to schedule your tree removal and avoid a future emergency.

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

During winter, many of us enjoy the break we get from outdoor maintenance work.  While the other three seasons may have us outdoors mowing, planting, pulling weeds, or raking leaves, winter demands relatively little outdoor work.  However, tree trimming is one outdoor task that can be done in winter.  In fact, there are some good reasons why winter is a good time for tree trimming.

Branches Are More Visible in Winter

The frigid temperatures and biting winds make us hesitant to venture out into our yards to perform regular tree trimming maintenance in winter.  Nevertheless, in some ways, winter is the easiest time to trim trees.  Without foliage in the way, the shape and structure of the tree is more plainly seen.  Branches that are diseased or dead are easier to spot and remove.  Likewise, branches growing contrary to the overall growth pattern of the tree can be quickly identified and pruned.  The cold days of winter also freeze the ground, which simplifies the task of getting larger tree-trimming equipment to the tree.

Trees Are Dormant in Winter

Trees can be trimmed at any time during the year, but winter is optimal due to trees’ dormant state.  Throughout the spring and summer, trees are working hard to grow and produce.  They are taking in sunlight and transforming it into usable energy through photosynthesis.  Depending on its variety, trees may produce flowers and fruit in addition to leaves.  But in winter, all activity stops.  Trees become dormant and rest for a season.  Dormancy is the perfect time to trim trees because there are no other competing activities going on within the tree.

Trees Are Better Protected from Disease in Winter

The cold weather of winter protects trees after a trimming.  Any cut into a tree (just like a cut in your skin) is an opening for infection.  Microbes and pests can use these wounds as an entrance into the tree, which may result in the development of disease.  Yet in winter, many pests are dormant too.  Bacteria, fungi, and insects are less likely to infect a tree trimmed in the winter.

Spring’s Growth is Just Around the Corner

One reason for trimming trees is to stimulate increased growth.  Getting rid of dead, dying, diseased, or misshapen branches ensures that energy will not be wasted on these branches.  Instead, the energy will go to healthy branches.  Trimming just before spring gets trees ready for the season of most prolific growth.  Trees are able to produce more abundantly and grow more vigorously after a winter trimming.

Winter Trimming is Not Right for All Trees

Trimming in the winter is good for most trees, but not all.  Trees that flower in the spring, such as lilac or ornamental flowering trees, should not be trimmed in winter.  The bloom buds are already set and trimming will cause a loss or reduction of bloom.  These trees should be trimmed immediately after blooms fade to minimize bloom loss for the next year.

Tree trimming in winter is beneficial for your trees, but it is not necessarily convenient for you.  If you want to get the benefits of a winter tree trim without having to brave the elements, Ping’s is always here to do the hard work for you.  With our years of experience, wealth of expertise, and fleet of equipment, trimming trees is a snap, no matter the season.  Call us at 317-298-8482 or visit us online to schedule an appointment today.

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

Winter Damage to Trees

Winter weather can bring snow, ice, wind, and rain at any time to Indiana and the Midwest. When winter weather strikes, we often sit at home glued to our televisions with anticipation of what this storm will bring and how it will affect the various communities of the Indianapolis area. Besides school closings, grocery shortages, or road closures, winter weather may also cause winter damage to trees.  Even though trees, plants, and grass are dormant in the winter, they are still potentially vulnerable to weather damage. Trees are particularly susceptible to injury in the cold months, though the effects are often not obvious until spring.

Causes of Winter Damage to Trees

The low temperatures, frost, ice, and dry air of the winter months can take a toll on some trees.  Trees and plants that are exposed to the stresses of harsh winter weather may be damaged or weakened, and some may even struggle to survive.  Common winter weather events, including fluctuating temperatures, rapid temperature drops, and low soil moisture, that are known to cause winter tree damage are detailed below.

Low or Fluctuating Temperatures

When temperatures drop below a plant’s natural tolerance, trees and plants can sustain damage.  Trees or plants that are on the edge of their hardiness zone may not be able to withstand those record-cold days. Temperature fluctuations can also cause problems, such as frost cracks, which result from a sharp drop in temperature.  Frost cracks are vertical cracks that form in the bark of a tree.  They occur more often on the sun-facing side of the tree due to the greater variance between daytime and nighttime temperatures. Sunscald is a similar injury which causes an area of damaged bark resulting from warming of that area by the sun.  Often frost cracks and sunscald only cause superficial damage.  In these cases the tree or plant will recover, though the injury itself may be permanent. If you are unsure about specific damage, Ping’s is always available to help you assess the health of your trees.

Warm Weather Followed by Frost

Did you know that trees can get frostbite?  Frost forms when humidity in the air combines with near- or below-freezing temperatures. This can be problematic if a tree or plant is actively growing or producing. Frostbite shows up on trees or plants as brown or black flowers, buds, leaves, or fruit. New leaves and shoots will often twist, curl, or wilt in frost conditions.  The most common time for a tree or plant to be frostbitten is late winter or early spring.  When warmer weather causes plants to emerge from dormancy, they are vulnerable to damage from frost.  Rarely, this may also happen in an unseasonably warm winter.

The Weight of Ice Build-Up

During the winter months, trees are dormant and brittle. If a winter storm brings ice, it may cause winter damage to trees. When this happens, don’t try and remove the ice from your trees. Doing so may cause more damage to the tree. Pruning in the fall (or even in the winter) helps reduce the risk of injury due to a storm. After an ice storm, there are a few things you can look at to see if a tree service professional is needed:

• Was the tree healthy prior to the storm?
• Has any portion of the crown been lost?
• Are there any broken limbs or branches?
• Are there any cracks in the wood?
• Is the tree leaning?

If any of these conditions exist, the certified arborists from Ping’s Tree Service can evaluate your trees and help assess the damage from ice on a tree.

Winter Dryness in Evergreens

For the same reason our lips and skin feel dry and chapped in the winter, trees and plants can struggle to find moisture as well. Lower moisture content in the air and soil create a very dry winter environment. Evergreens are particularly vulnerable to damage from winter dryness.  This condition, called winterburn, creates browning of evergreen needles.  In severe cases, the plant may not recover.  Application of an anti-desiccant to evergreen trees through the winter can protect against winterburn.

When you work with Ping’s Tree Service, you’ll find that we take specific, proven steps to keep your trees healthy year-round. A Ping’s certified specialist will recommend plants that are naturally hardy to our communities and help you manage any trees or shrubs that are particularly susceptible. Some steps you can take to prevent winter damage to trees include:

• Planting trees and shrubs in well-drained soil conditions
• Using mulch and checking soil moisture in advance of freezing conditions
• Using wind breaks to prevent damaging or drying conditions
• Utilizing a customized Ping’s Tree Service plan to provide the right nutrient content, protection, and water to your landscaping.

Whether in the numbing cold or the blistering heat, Ping’s understands the science of tree care and knows what your trees need.  Call Ping’s Tree Service today at 317-298-8482 to see what we can do to keep your trees healthy and growing.

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

Winter Safety Tips

Every year we know it’s coming.  Yet the first cold blast of winter is still a shock.  Did we really think that the beautiful days of autumn would not succumb to the icy days of winter?  We can’t expect that in central Indiana!  As we enter the cold and snowy season, we are also entering a season that brings with it some increased risks.  It is important to be aware of the potential danger that accompanies winter weather so that you can take steps to minimize your risk.

Risks to Your Health

The cold weather that inevitably arrives this time of year does more than just make us uncomfortable.  It actually takes a toll on our bodies.  When it is cold, it requires more energy just to maintain normal bodily functions.  This is a stress on the body, though in healthy individuals it is a minimal one.  Health is additionally strained by the assault on the immune system caused by increased infectious diseases.  For these reasons, winter sees a spike in illnesses as well as heart attacks.  To stay well during the winter months, get plenty of rest, stay away from sick individuals, and don’t exert yourself beyond your limits.

Risks at Home

Winter weather can be hazardous to your house as well as your body.  One of the most damaging elements of winter can be the freezing temperatures.  Severe cold can freeze water in your pipes or water that is blocked in your gutters or on your roof.  The expansion that occurs in the freezing process can cause pipes to burst or ice dams to form, resulting in household floods.  To avoid these damaging events, ensure pipes (especially those on an outside wall) stay adequately warm and remove any obstructions to water flow patterns on your exterior.

Another common danger during severe winter weather is fallen or uprooted trees.  Brisk winds can easily bring down branches or even trees.  Just a little bit of heavy ice or snow can also do a lot of damage and do it quickly.  Since weak or dead trees or branches are more susceptible to wind, snow, and ice, they should be taken care of before they fall on your valuable property, such as home or car.  Ping’s can trim these dangerous branches for you or take down dead trees.  They are also ready to clean up any tree emergencies that you experience.

Risks on the Road

Accumulating snow and icy temperatures affect more than just your home.  They also have a significant effect on the roads.  When winter storms blow in quickly, they can cause the roads to become very dangerous in a short span of time.  The best defense against these risks is to stay off the roads when possible.  But that is not always feasible.  When you have to travel in inclement weather, you should be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.  It is also important to have an emergency kit in your car.  The kit should include your phone and a charger, a blanket, hat and gloves, a flashlight, flares, a first-aid kit, and snacks.  While you might not always be able to predict when severe weather will hit, you can be prepared when it does.

Risks to Your Business

Finally, if you are a business owner, you have not only yourself, your family, and your home to protect, but also your business.  You must consider your employees and your commercial property.  Some of the same risks for homes also exist for commercial property.  Be on the look-out for vulnerable trees and branches as well as potential flooding disasters.  It is also important to avoid the potential liability of slick parking lots and sidewalks.  Failing to deal with snow and ice can result in serious accidents and injuries to customers or employees.  Ping’s is now offering reliable snow removal services. When the snow falls, Ping’s will take care of it for you so you don’t have to worry.

There’s no doubt about it – winter can be a dangerous time in central Indiana.  But if you are prepared and sensible, you can keep yourself safe.  Ping’s is happy to serve you at this time of the year and lessen your risks when we can.  Call us at 317-298-8482 for more information about our services or to make an appointment.

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

Tree Damage Caused by Animals

Have you noticed the squirrels lately?  They are busy at this time of year.  Even with their nuts all stored away for the winter, they are still madly scurrying up and down the trees and dashing around on the ground. Many animals, like squirrels, live, play, and work among the trees.  They often depend on trees for food and shelter.  Some animals, however, take a little too much from trees and can even inflict damage.  Any animal has the potential to damage trees, especially those trees that are young, weak, or diseased.  After all, a tree isn’t really able to defend itself.  Following are some examples of common animal damage to trees.

The Growing Impact of Deer

Deer typically live in more rural areas, but the sprawl of the suburbs has resulted in an increasing incidence of deer in more populated neighborhoods.  These large animals have the potential to damage trees in two main ways.  First of all, deer can damage trees by rubbing their antlers against the trees.  This can be especially harmful to smaller trees, which may not survive extensive damage to a tree’s bark.  In addition, deer may also feed on leaves or leafless branches when food is scarce.  Since deer have quite an appetite, continued deer munching can weaken a tree.

Big Damage by Small Animals

Rodents (like mice, moles, and voles) and rabbits are much smaller than deer, but they can do big damage too.  These animals do their damage at the base of the tree trunk or even below the soil.  They will chew the roots and bark of the tree, usually no higher than 2 feet up the trunk.  Since these animals are small and the injuries they inflict are near the ground (or even below ground), you may not notice their work until the harm is done.  When the tree sustains too much damage to the outer bark and interior tissue, the tree will gradually weaken and die.  Squirrels can also do some damage to trees by snipping twigs or chewing or stripping bark.  This type of damage leads to limb failure because the weakened branches can no longer support the excessive weight of the foliage.  It also makes trees more susceptible to wind damage.

The Danger of Boring Birds

A final group of animals that can have an adverse effect on trees is birds such as sapsuckers and woodpeckers.  Both of these birds bore multiple holes in trees as they search for food from inside the tree.  Sapsuckers, as the name implies, are seeking sap while woodpeckers are typically looking for insects.  Woodpeckers are usually not much of a threat to the health of a tree.  The insects they seek are often found in wood that is already dead.  On the other hand, sap is found in healthy tree tissue and is needed for continuing tree health.  For this reason, sapsuckers can often do substantial harm to trees.

Animals can quickly weaken a healthy tree.  Keep your eyes open for both the animal and the damage they may be causing.  Ping’s Tree Service can help you treat damaged trees and restore them to good health.  Give us a call at 317-298-8482 to address the problem swiftly and completely.

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