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Avoid a barren and boring yard . Knowing which shrubs give off a delightful fragrance will help you plant a yard full of aromatic surprises.

72tree.com gathered the following list of fragrant shrubs to help you balance beauty with aroma when planting in your yard and garden.

1. Jasmine (Jasminum)

Jasmine is a large deciduous or evergreen vining shrub with a graceful look and an appealing sweet scent.

Sun Requirement – Jasmines need 6 or more hours of daily sun. For species requiring partial shade, they will require 2 to 4 hours of daily sun.
Soil Requirement – Jasmine shrubs need well-drained, moist, and moderately fertile sandy, loamy soil.
Size – Jasmine typically grows to a height of 10 to 15 feet as a tall, semi-vining shrub.
Blooming Season – This species blooms in clusters from spring until mid-fall. The sweet flowers are often cream, white, pink, or yellow.
Fragrance – Jasmine has a floral scent considered rich and sweet.
Hardiness Zone – This species thrives in zone 7 and can sometimes survive in zone 6.

2. Lilac (Syringa)

Lilac is a deciduous shrub with an irregular, rounded outline. The shrub is fast-growing when young but slows considerably with age. Lilac stems are dark gray to brown, and the wood is strong. Leaves on this shrub are dark green to blue-green on top and pale green below.

Sun Requirement – Lilacs need 6 to 8 hours of daily sun. Any less, and they may not bloom.
Soil Requirement – This species grows best in slightly alkaline (6.5 to 7.0 pH), moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
Size – Lilac grows to a height of 8 to15 feet and a spread of 6 to 12 feet at maturity.
Blooming Season – Lilac typically blooms for 2 weeks in mid-spring. However, some varieties bloom in early and late spring.
Fragrance – Lilac is quite different from other species. Its scent is more deeply, and richly floral, similar to rose with subtle hints of vanilla. For those who prefer stronger perfumes, Lilac is a suitable choice.
Hardiness Zone – This species thrives in zones 3 through 7.

3. Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)

Gardenias have glossy evergreen leaves typically arranged opposite each other. The shrub’s tubular flowers are white or yellow and bloom singly or in small clusters. This shrub produces large berry-like fruits with sticky orange pulp.

Sun Requirement – Gardenias need a minimum of four hours of daily sun.
Soil Requirement – This species grows best in acidic (5.0 to 6.0 pH), moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
Size – Gardenias grow 3 to 5 feet tall and wide.
Blooming Season – This species blooms in from late spring until mid-fall. Gardenia flowers are known to last several weeks before wilting.
Fragrance – Gardenias produce significantly fragrant flowers that may change scents during the day. The aroma is often described as a spicy, zesty scent, sometimes with coconut or even peach undertones.
Hardiness Zone – Gardenias thrive in zone 6b.

4. Viburnum (Viburnum)

Viburnums are large-flowering shrubs, with some varieties reaching up to 20 feet. There are both evergreen and deciduous viburnum varieties.

Sun Requirement – Viburnums thrive in full sun but will grow as well in light to partial shade.
Soil Requirement – This species will do well in moderately fertile, moist, and well-drained soil with a 5.6 to 6.6 pH.
Size – Viburnum grows from 3 to 20 feet at maturity.
Blooming Season – Most viburnums flower in spring.
Fragrance – The flower’s scent is sweet and pervasive with clove-like notes.
Hardiness Zone – Viburnum is hardy to zones 2 through 9.

5. Honeysuckle (Lonicera)

Honeysuckle shrubs are deciduous perennials with oval leaves and clusters of tubular flowers at the branch tips.

Sun Requirement – Honeysuckles need 6 to 8 hours of daily sun. Any less, and they may not bloom as much.
Soil Requirement – This species requires organically rich and well-drained soil. It should be moist but not soggy and should be an acidic to moderately alkaline soil ranging from a 5.5 to 8.0 pH.
Size – A honeysuckle vine can reach an astounding 30 feet in height, while other varieties grow to only 10 feet. It can take 10 years for honeysuckle to reach these mature heights.
Blooming Season – Most varieties will bloom in the spring, but some continue to flower all through summer and into early fall.
Fragrance – Honeysuckle is a pungent, almost thick scent, but it’s fruity with hints of honey and citrus.
Hardiness Zone – Honeysuckle is hardy to zones 5 through 9.

Fragrant Shrubs

In this article, you discovered species and planting information about 5 fragrant shrubs to grow in and around your garden and yard.

Planting fragrant shrubs in your yard and garden adds another dimension to the pleasant experiences you are trying to create around your home.

By not planting fragrant shrubs in your yard and garden, you are squandering an opportunity to add diversity, pleasant aromas, and curb appeal to your home.

Sources:
hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/jasmine/
plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/syringa-vulgaris/
ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/of-32.pdf
unlgardens.unl.edu/viburnums
naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/honeysuckle-invasive-species-profile

This article was first published on: http://www.72tree.com/5-fragrant-shrubs-for-your-yard-and-garden/

Avoid an ugly and bland yard with dying shrubs in Marietta, Georgia. Knowing which flowering shrubs are hardy to zone 7b lets you plant and grow spectacular flowering shrubbery.

toddsmariettatreeservices.com gathered the following species and planting information about 5 beautiful flowering shrubs for your Marietta, Georgia yard and garden.

1. Azalea (Rhododendron)

Azalea is the popular name for a group of flowering shrubs in the Rhododendron genus. These shrubs are characterized by the absence of scales on the underside of the thin, soft, and pointed leaves. This shrub typically has terminal blooms – with one flower per stem.

Sun Requirements – Azaleas thrive in full sun (about 4 hours per day) or part shade.
Soil Requirements – This species requires well-drained, acidic soil. You should test the soil regularly and keep it below a 6.0 pH.
Size at Maturity – Some azalea species reach heights of 20 feet or more, dwarf azaleas only grow to 2 or 3 feet tall, while many garden azalea varieties average 4 to 6 feet in height.
Flowers – Azaleas tend to bloom from early February to September.

2. Forsythia (Forsythia)

Forsythia is a deciduous shrub with stems that start green but turn woody and display a rough gray bark. For most of the year, the shrub remains covered in dense, bright green foliage.

Sun Requirements – This species does best in full sun (about 4 hours per day) or part shade.
Soil Requirements – Forsythia shrubs will adapt to most soils. However, they prefer loose, well-draining soil and do best in soils with a pH ranging from 7.0 to 8.0.
Size at Maturity – The forsythia species grows to a mature height of 8 to 10 feet and a spread of 10 to 12 feet.
Flowers – Forsythia blooms overwhelming amounts of bright yellow flowers in the spring.

3. Rose (Rosa)

Roses are upright, climbing, or crawling shrubs. Rose’s stems are typically copiously covered in sharp, protective thorns. The shrub’s foliage is usually feather-formed and sharply toothed.

Sun Requirements – Rose shrubs perform best in full sun (about 4 hours per day).
Soil Requirements – Roses require good drainage and rich, moisture-retentive soil, with a pH between 6.5 and 7.
Size at Maturity – Roses varieties range from miniatures (8 inches tall) to tree-climbing vines that easily reach 50 feet or more.
Flowers – Most roses bloom in springtime, with some varieties flowering again in the fall.

4. Hydrangea (Hydrangea)

Hydrangeas are popular as cut flowers and shrubs for the yard because of their oversized, beautiful blooms. The large flower clusters look like a cheerleader’s pom-poms growing on bushes that sometimes grow as tall as trees. The shrubs come in a variety of different colors (often determined by your soil’s mineral content) and shapes.

Sun Requirements – Hydrangeas thrive with morning sun and partial shade later in the day.
Soil Requirements – Most hydrangeas will do best in fertile, well-drained soils that get plenty of moisture. Consider adding compost to enrich poor soil.
Size at Maturity – Some species only grow to about 2 or 3 feet tall and wide, while others can reach 6 feet tall with a 6-foot spread.
Flowers – Most hydrangeas put on their buds in early summer to only bloom in the following spring, summer, and early fall seasons.

5. Tea Olive (Osmanthus fragrans)

Tea olive is a broadleaf evergreen shrub (strikingly similar to hollies) from the Oleaceae (olive) family and is native to Asia. This plant species blooms extremely fragrant flowers.

Sun Requirements – Tea olive shrubs thrive in full sun (about 6 to 8 hours per day) or part shade.
Soil Requirements – This species requires well-drained, acidic soil.
Size at Maturity – This plant species typically grows to a mature height of 10 to 30 feet
Flowers – Tea olive blossoms appear in spring, continuously blooming heavily through early summer, then flowering intermittently through fall.

Blooming Shrubs

In this article, you discovered essential information about 5 magnificent flowering shrub species hardy to zone 7b.

Knowing which shrubs to plant in your Marietta, Georgia yard will help you grow a thriving yard full of beautiful seasonal flowers.

Haphazardly planting shrubs out of their respective zones will likely end in the species struggling to survive and prevent it from ever flowering.

Sources:
hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/tea-olive/
njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1152/
site.extension.uga.edu/effinghamanr/2021/02/tips-for-growing-roses/
extension.umn.edu/trees-and-shrubs/forsythia
gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/shrubs/azalea.html

Residents of New Jersey deal with coastal storms and heavy rain storms each year. Sometimes, they’re worse than others, especially if a hurricane hits the southeast coast of the country. The storm can weaken but travel up the coast to the tri-state area causing damages to landscapes and properties in certain areas.

It’s beneficial to have an emergency storm cleanup service ready by your side if you experience damages to your trees on your property after a storm.

Severe Storms Can Cause Dangerous Damage to Trees

If you have trees on your property, they are susceptible to severe storms. Storms that bring heavy winds, rainfall, and thunder can have a negative impact on the trees that are on your land. Branches can be broken and fall down on your property and even your house if the trees are close to it. One of the best things to do if you have tree damage after a storm is to hire a professional tree service to come and clean everything up.

How Can Big Foot Tree Service Help?

At Big Foot Tree Service, we’re in the business of tree care for residents in and around Wayne, NJ. We have several different service areas we cover to ensure that all of our customers feel at peace knowing we can help remove trees off properties after a storm.

Even after a harsh winter, you could end up finding damages to your trees. If this occurs, it’s important to reach out to us for our help.

We’re a tree service company you can trust to have your back when damages happen.

If you’re worried about your trees, don’t hesitate to give us a call. Contact Big Foot Tree Service at 973-885-8000 today or visit us online for more information!

The post Blog first appeared on Big Foot Tree Service. This post first appeared on https://www.bigfoottreeservice.com

Wind, lightning, and heavy rain can cause devastation to you and your property. These stormy, turbulent conditions can also affect your trees, making cleaning up the damage tricky and dangerous to attempt on your own, and not having the tools and experience necessary to cut down and remove fallen branches safely can prove to be costly. But when do you call for emergency tree trimming or removal? 

No matter the time of day or night, no matter the season, Red’s Complete Tree Service is here to help with our emergency tree service in Memphis, Collierville, and the Mid-South area. We are equipped to remove heavy limbs or the whole tree from homes, automobiles, or any other structures that may be affected by emergency weather conditions. Our emergency tree service often combines tree removal and tree pruning, and we offer dynamic cabling to support weakened trees, as well. 

From falls and accidents to power outages and roof damage, you may have costly issues waiting to present themselves in your yard. Let us help you figure out when you should call for emergency tree care.

Signs it’s time to call Red’s Complete Tree Service for Emergency Tree Care

Maintaining a safe and attractive landscape requires the timely identification of potentially hazardous situations. Call us for emergency tree service day or night when you notice any of the signs below. 

Sick or Aging Trees

Tree diseases and pest infestations that are undetected or untreated can severely threaten the tree’s structural integrity, potentially leading to them leaning on powerlines and roof structures and even collapsing and damaging landscapes, vehicles, or worse, harming a person. 

Storm Damage

The Mid-south is known for unpredictable weather, especially during our two severe weather seasons. Storms can cause large limbs to fall on your home, and ice has been known to take down whole trees. This damage can make clearing blocked driveways and paths and removing debris difficult but time-critical. 

Visibility Issues

If you notice that any of your trees are bushy or uneven, they may be impacting clear lines of sight during the movement of people or vehicles on your property. Corner bushes and trees could also block traffic lights and signs on adjacent streets, leading to accidents. 

Emergency tree care should be performed by a qualified arborist who can assess the extent of the damage, including identifying the tree pests or disease, and provide remedial solutions to nurture your trees back to good health. An arborist can also safely carry out emergency tree removal and stump grinding in situations where the damage is irreversible. Removing the stump is another factor to consider when you have a tree removed. Although it’s not as detrimental as a dangerous tree, there are several advantages to having the stump removed, such as:

• Aesthetics
• Replant another tree
• Aids in the prevention of problems with insects
• Removes the threat of destroying lawn equipment

Our expert team is well versed in minimizing damage at every level as we carefully and expertly remove limbs and trees. We even utilize dynamic cabling to support a tree with failing stability due to a split or old age. This process uses steel cables to hold the branches of the tree together by connecting places that have been weakened or started to fall, preventing them from falling further and causing damage or harm. This process has developed to be much healthier for the tree as the cables are non-invasive and move with the tree.

Risk Assessment and Preventative Arbor Care

Not only do we work to correct the damage caused by emergencies, but we help take steps to prevent damage in an emergency. Red’s Tree Services provides tree trimming and selective pruning to maintain the safety and integrity of your trees, and all starts with a tree health and risk assessment. This assessment can help you spot any weaknesses before they turn into more significant problems. Staying ahead of the issues can save you time and money. 

While understanding and maintaining your trees and the risks associated with them is essential, a qualified arborist will have the knowledge and experience to evaluate the seriousness of any defects that are found. We believe timely and routine tree care goes a long way in promoting the health and beauty of your trees. This attention can protect them from premature dying or aging. 

However, it’s best to keep in mind that unexpected situations will come up, and it is not always possible to save every tree. Our emergency tree services aim to trim, transplant, or remove trees using industry-approved techniques and safety equipment that minimizes the risk of injury or damage.

Your Memphis Area tree service professionals!

We want to help create and maintain strong tree structures that look beautiful and prevent any safety hazards. Still, sometimes, those hazards don’t abide by our pruning and trimming timelines and can become untimely and costly. By using a licensed tree service professional like Red’s Tree Services, you’ll be able to get those concerns handled respectfully and be back to enjoying your yard in no time, as you should be enjoying it, unobstructed. 

Red’s Tree Service is a locally owned and operated tree service company serving Memphis and the Mid South for over 40 years. We have a trained and certified arborist with the knowledge to ensure our clients make the most informed decisions for their trees whenever you need the attention. Our emergency tree service is licensed, insured, and safety-trained crew will clear uprooted trees, remove broken limbs or scattered branches, carry out stump grinding, and get rid of the debris. 

If you have some branches or a tree you’ve been watching and waiting for disaster to strike, our family-owned business would be happy to help. Give us a call today and let our expert team assess your emergency before it causes more issues for you!

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

Avoid the embarrassment of a garden without flowers. Knowing which flowers to plant in your Marietta, Georgia garden will help you cultivate color from early spring through late fall.

toddsmariettatreeservices.com gathered the following information about flowering plants and their needs for your Marietta, GA garden (Hardiness zone 7b).

Gerbera Daisies (Gerbera)

Gerbera daisies have long-lived 3 to 4-inch flowers that can be found in yellow, white, pink, red, orange, lavender, salmon, and multicolored shades. The center floral disk ranges from a yellow to black appearance.

Size – Gerbera daisies typically grow 6 to 18 inches tall.
Sun – This species is a full-sun plant but will adapt to light shade. Plant Gerberas in a site that receives six to eight hours of sun daily.
Water – Gerbera daisies require regular watering. Water only when the soil has dried 1 to 2 inches below the surface.
Soil – Your daisies will thrive in rich soil high in organic matter and well-drained. This daisy species prefers soil with a 5.5 to 6.5 pH level.
Blooms – Gerbera daisies produce their flowers from mid to late spring through the fall in the garden, and their blooms are long-lasting when cut.

Daisies (Bellis perennis)

Daisies produce flowers with a rosette of small, thin white petals surrounding a bright yellow or dark brown floral disk. These blooms are supported by a single stem that grows from a group of dark green rounded leaves. The petals can sometimes emerge tinged in pink. It is a common cultivated or wildflower found growing in prairies, lawns, gardens, on hillsides, and along roadsides.

Size – Daisies can range from 10 inches to over 2 feet tall and include varieties with single, double, or ruffled petals.
Sun – This species is another full-sun plant requiring six to eight hours of sun daily.
Water – Daisies typically require 1 to 2 inches of water per week in the summer months. During spring and fall, daisies need about 1 to 2 inches of water every other week.
Soil – Daisy flowers will tolerate nearly any soil type. However, they thrive when the soil is 12 to 15 inches deep, allowing the root system enough room to fully expand.
Blooms – Daisy blooms typically emerge in late spring and continue blooming until early fall.

Tulips (Tulipa)

The tulip ranks among the most popular of the spring-flowering plants. These bulbs typically bear cup-shaped flowers in practically every shade except true blue. They can be double or single, fringed or twisted, perfumed or non-scented.

Size – Tulips can range from 10 inches to over 2-½ feet tall when in bloom.
Sun – Plant tulip bulbs where they will receive full sun. This will help them reach their maximum height and flower size. Tulips also perform well in partial sun and beneath deciduous trees.
Water – Tulips require very little water. If you water them well when planting, you can practically forget them until spring. However, during extended periods of drought, water them weekly to keep the ground moist.
Soil – Tulips thrive when grown in loose, crumbly soil that is easy to work and very well-drained.
Blooms – Tulips typically bloom from March to April, while mid-season varieties will extend the blooming period much later into spring. In cool weather, your tulips may last 1-2 weeks.

Canna Lily (Canna)

The canna lily species is a perennial with tropical-like foliage and large, striking flowers. Canna lilies are extremely low maintenance and easy to grow. Both the flowers and foliage provide long-lasting color in the garden, with the flowers blooming in red, orange, or yellow shades.

Size – Cannas have strong upright growth habits. Most varieties will grow between 3-5 feet tall, with some reaching 8 feet tall.
Sun – Cannas are tropical plants and thrive in full sun and summer heat.
Water – Once sprouted, water your cannas once per week by soaking the area around the roots. In peak summer weeks, water them liberally every other day.
Soil – Canna lily plants grow best in rich, water-retentive but well-drained soils high in organic matter and with a 6.5 pH.
Blooms – Cannas typically bloom from mid-summer to fall.

Marigolds (Tagetes)

Marigold species are annual flowers that bloom so full and well over a long season that they are commonplace in gardens everywhere. The plant blooms large, fully double flowers in bright yellow, gold, and orange shades.

Size – Marigold species come in a range of sizes from 6 inches to 3 feet tall.
Sun – Plant marigolds where they will receive full sun. This species also performs well in partial shade.
Water – Marigolds in gardens require watering once weekly. After watering, the soil should be moist to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. When the weather is hot or unusually windy, your plants will need extra watering.
Soil – Though marigolds grow in almost any soil, they do best in loamy, moderately fertile, well-drained soil.
Blooms – Most marigold varieties bloom from early summer until the frost in late fall.

Blooming Plants for Zone 7b

In this article, you discovered several flowering plant species and their needs for your Marietta, GA garden in USDA hardiness zone 7b.

Planting flowering plant species (angiosperms) will help you maintain a beautiful garden full of rich, deep colors and show-stopping blooms from spring through fall.

Leaving your garden void of flowering plants is a missed opportunity to increase your home’s curb appeal and avoid the embarrassment of watching your neighbor’s gardens in full bloom.

Sources:
hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/marigold/
extension.umn.edu/flowers/calla-and-canna-lilies
extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B918&title=Flowering%20Bulbs%20for%20Georgia%20Gardens
gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/shasta-daisy.html
extension.sdstate.edu/gerbera-daisies

Avoid planting the wrong fruit trees, or species that will eventually die. Knowing about some of the best fruit trees for Alpharetta, Georgia yards will help you choose hardy species when planting time comes around.

72tree.com gathered the following list of 3 fruit trees hardy to US hardiness zone 7b and the city of Alpharetta, Georgia.

1. Apple (Malus)

Most apple trees are small to medium-sized trees that grow to heights of 16 to 33 feet, with a central trunk dividing into several branches. This fruiting tree’s foliage is oval in shape and can reach 5 inches long and 3 inches wide.

Popular Varieties: Some popular apple varieties include:

• Honeycrisp
• Fuji
• Gala
• Red Delicious
• Granny Smith
• Pink Lady

Planting: Place your tree in a bucket of water for a few hours or overnight so the roots can re-hydrate before planting. Plant your apple tree properly by digging a hole at least twice the width and depth of the tree’s root system. Look for the graft union on your tree as well as the slight change in color on the bark just above the roots (soil should not cover the trunk above the last roots).

Pruning: Pruning apple trees should be done only when the tree is dormant, between leaf fall and bud burst (typically between early November and late February).

Water Requirements: For an established tree, you won’t need to water it unless you are not getting much rain or there is a particularly dry spell or even drought. About an inch (2.5 cm.) or so of rainfall every week to ten days is adequate for most apple trees.

Fruiting Season: Apple trees set fruit in the spring, and the apples mature from late summer through fall. Each apple variety matures on its own particular schedule, with early varieties like Zestar ripening first.

2. Cherry (Prunus avium)

Cherry trees are typically large and upright, some reaching heights of 36 feet tall. Its fruit is a fleshy drupe (stone fruit), generally heart-shaped to nearly rounded, about 1 inch in diameter, and varies in color from yellow through red shades to almost black.

Popular Varieties: Some popular cherry varieties include:

• Sweet
• Vandalay
• Benton
• Black Tartarian
• Van

Planting: Plant your cherry tree in a sunny site with plenty of air circulation. Avoid planting near trees or buildings that will shade the cherry tree during daylight hours. Cherry trees require deep, well-drained soil. Space larger variety cherry trees 35 to 40 feet apart.

Pruning: Cherry tree pruning is usually done in late July or August when silver leaf and bacterial canker are not likely to infect your tree. However, light formative or cosmetic pruning can be done in early spring as foliage starts to develop.

Water Requirements: Cherry trees should be deep watered every other day for the first week after planting. The second week they can be watered deeply two or three times. After the second week, you can deep water your cherry trees once a week for the rest of the first growing season. Scale watering amounts as needed during times of drought or heavy rainfall.

Fruiting Season: For cherry trees planted in warmer regions, harvest time can occur as early as May. In cooler areas, cherry harvests occur primarily in June and July.

3. Peach (Prunus persica)

The peach tree is a deciduous tree or large shrub in the Rosaceae family grown for its edible fruit-bearing the same name. Peach trees are relatively short with slender branches. The tree’s foliage is alternately arranged, slender (3 to 6 inches long), and pointed.

Popular Varieties: Some popular peach varieties include:

• Santa Rosa
• Red Beauty
• Red Top
• Elegant Lady
• Yellow

Planting: A dormant, bare-root peach tree needs to be planted in late winter, while a container-grown peach tree should only be planted in the spring. Peach trees need to be planted in full sun, and newly planted trees should be staked for the first growing season.

Pruning: Peach trees should be annually pruned in the spring, right when buds swell and start turning pink. Remove vertical shoots developing in the center of the tree at any time. These shoots will block sunlight and airflow from reaching the fruit.

Water Requirements: Peach trees require a lot of water. On average, a mature peach tree will need at least 36 inches of water per year and 35 to 40 gallons per day in mid and late summer.

Fruiting Season: A hardy peach tree will only bear fruit 2 to 4 years after planting, occurring in mid to late summer (June through August).

Fruit Trees in Your Yard

In this article, you discovered several fruit trees hardy to zone 7b and perfectly suitable for planting in Alpharetta, Georgia yards and landscapes.

Knowing which fruit trees are hardy to zone 7b will help you plant fruit trees that will thrive and eventually bear fruit for you to harvest and enjoy.

Ignoring a fruit tree’s hardiness requirements can result in the death of your tree, the loss of your investment, and costly damage if the tree falls on your property.

Sources:

extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C1063&title=Home%20Garden%20Peaches
extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-selecting-root-stock-spacing-planting-apple-trees
u.osu.edu/cfaescapstone/tree-fruits/cherries/care-maintenance/
njaes.rutgers.edu/drought/pdfs/BMP-Irrigating-Peaches.pdf

This article was first published on: http://www.72tree.com/3-fruit-trees-for-your-alpharetta-georgia-landscape/

If you are fortunate enough to have trees on your property, you have some of nature’s great gifts surrounding you. As you care for your home, your trees need care and attention as well, and tree pruning should be a part of your tree maintenance. There are several variations of pruning a tree:

• shortening a tree
• removing damaged or “sick” branches
• thinning the top to allow for new growth
• reshaping a tree for aesthetic reasons
• clearing away obstructive branches

When to Prune

Pruning during a tree’s dormant period is always the most advantageous time to prune, as the tree is less likely to bleed, which is quite stressful to a tree. It also means that diseases, insects and fungi are probably dormant as well, so the trees will be less vulnerable. If you are dealing with deciduous trees, pruning after the leaves have fallen means that you will get a better idea of how you wish to shape the trees.

How much Pruning to Do

With tree pruning, less is always more, so only cut off as much as is truly necessary. Often your mind will be decided for you, as cities will want their utility lines clear of tree branches and, in the case of storm damage, you will have to cope with downed branches and the “holes’” left by lost growth. A good rule of thumb is to never prune more than 25% of the tree’s crown and make sure that at least 2/3 of the tree is composed of living growth.

How to Prune

Remember that pruning is stressful to a tree, and you always want to minimize stress. Also you need to keep in mind that you must protect the tree trunk and branch stems. Always cut above the branch node after first making a wedge-like cut on the underside of the branch. This will keep you from tearing the bark. Then cut on the top of the branch all the way through.

If you are pruning large trees, it could be best to call in the pros and here at Big Foot Tree Service, as we can provide you with a free estimate. Remember that your safety and the safety of others are foremost and when in doubt you should have a trained professional do the work.

Trees not only provide shade, but they harbor wildlife and give us so much joy. Show your trees a little love and they will stay healthy and happy.

The post Blog first appeared on Big Foot Tree Service. This post first appeared on https://www.bigfoottreeservice.com

Winter can be a truly trying time for our trees and shrubs. The harsh temperatures and conditions can kill foliage, damage tree bark, and weaken branches and roots. The ways in which humans and animals handle winter also take a toll on your trees and shrubs. Limited food sources can cause the animals to feed on your tree bark and shrubs, and the salt we use for our roads can also wreak havoc on our soil health. 

These threats can wear heavily on the overall health of your trees and plants if you aren’t aware. Here at Red’s Tree Service, we are experts on tree and shrub health during winter, so reach out to us for any concerns or questions you may have. 

Let’s walk through some of the common winter tree and shrub problems you might encounter.

Winter Weather Concerns

The colder temps can cause many concerns for your trees and shrubs. Evergreens are very susceptible to “winter burn,” which causes the foliage to turn yellow to brown for a few possible reasons. Loss of water, frozen roots not being able to move water, and even the limited warmth from the sun causing cellular activity that is damaged when the sun sets can lead to this unsightly event. 

Less rainfall in the winter can also pose a problem to trees struggling to absorb groundwater with frozen roots. The constant freezing and thawing of the soil surrounding the base of the trees and shrubs will cause frost heaving to occur. This process of ground movement can push shallow-rooted plants out of the ground and make them more susceptible to wind damage.

Another common cause of concern in winter weather is branch health. The lack of water, colder temperatures, and snow and ice accumulation can cause branches to weaken and break in the winter months.

How Humans and Animals Affect Trees and Shrubs in Winter

Often, we don’t think about how our acts of winter safety can affect our trees and shrubs, but the salt we put down on our roads can actually seep into the soil and damage them. This type of damage is slow but can’t cause a significant decline in the tree and shrub’s health from roots to bark, foliage, and buds. This can stunt the plant’s growth over time.

Another common issue in winter is when the ground foliage dies back, and the animals begin to look for supplemental food sources. Tree bark is packed full of nutrients that rabbits, mice, and other rodents like to eat. Deer also like to snack on branches and tree stems. This grazing damages your trees and shrubs by exposing the base and can cause death.

Turn to the Experts at Red’s Tree Service for Help

Different trees and shrubs will face various problems in winter, and Red’s Tree Service can help with all of them. We know how to take proper care of your trees and shrubs, from prepping for winter to addressing what winter does. When you have questions or concerns, having an arborist you can trust makes all the difference in the health and longevity of your trees. Give us a call for your FREE estimate today!

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

Avoid growing an ugly garden with little diversity. Knowing which small flowering trees to plant in and around your garden will keep it looking vibrant and lush.

toddsmariettatreeservices.com gathered the following information about small flowering tree species hardy for your Marietta, GA garden (hardiness zone 7b).

1. Prairifire Flowering Crabapple (Malus ‘Prairifire’)

This tree’s showy, dark pink to red flowers draw most people to the prairifire flowering crabapple. And for a good reason. The stunning, long-lasting spring blossoms are incredible. But this variety also offers year-round beauty with its changing leaf color. Glossy maroon or purplish-red in spring, the leaves turn dark green with purplish-red veins in the summer and finally a stunning bronze in the fall.

This species has a Mature Height of 20 feet and is hardy to zones 3 to 8.

2. Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Known for displaying pink or white flowers in spring, the redbud is an easy-to-grow small tree. This species of redbud has heart-shaped foliage that turns golden-yellow in the fall. ‘Forest Pansy’ is a popular variety with purple foliage fading to dark green in summer.

This species has a Mature Height of 10 feet and is hardy to zones 5 to 9.

3. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)

A Southern-garden requirement, crape myrtle blooms in big clusters of flowers that range in shades of pink, red, lavender, or white in the summer and fall months. Multiple varieties display red, yellow, or orange autumn foliage, as well as patches of green or silver on the underside of their peeling bark.

This tree species has a Mature Height from 5 to 25 feet and is hardy to zones 6 to 9.

4. Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus)

Native to parts of Eastern North America, the fringe tree is a plant you can grow either as a large shrub or a small tree. It produces fragrant white flowers in late spring that turn into clusters of blue-purple fruit in fall.

This North American tree species has a Mature Height from 10 to 20 feet and is hardy to zones 3 to 9.

5. Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

Few small trees are as beautiful as Japanese maple in their fall color display. There are multiple ways to use this small tree in your yard and garden, as its crimson red foliage will stand out wherever it is planted.

This stunning tree species has a Mature Height reaching up to 20 feet and is hardy to zones 5 to 8.

6. Sargent Crabapple (Malus sargentii)

This popular landscape tree tends to show off in the spring, with multiple clusters of fragrant white flowers blooming in May. This tree’s dense, broad crown and crisscrossing branches add to its desirability and make the tree wider than it is tall. This species is also a popular selection for bonsai trees.

This species has a Mature Height of 5 to 10 feet and is hardy to zones 4 to 8.

7. Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellate)

With attractive, fragrant flowers, dark green foliage, and gray bark, this magnolia species is a showstopper for any Marietta, Georgia garden. This magnolia species thrives in nearly every location in the United States. The star magnolia could be a landscape alternative for Marietta gardeners looking to add small spring-blooming trees to their spaces.

This Magnolia species has a Mature Height of 15 to 20 feet and is hardy to zones 4 to 9.

Bonus Tree – Purpleleaf Sand Cherry (Prunus x cisterna)

This small flowering tree is a hardy landscape and garden variety with reddish-purple leaves that keep their unique color throughout the summer months. Because of this, the purpleleaf sand cherry is an excellent contrast tree.

This species has a Mature Height of 7 to 10 feet and is hardy to zones 3 to 7.

Small Flowering Trees

In this article, you discovered multiple small flowering tree species, their descriptions, and their USDA hardiness zones.

Using small flowering trees to accent your garden or stand alone as a specimen tree will add vibrant color and personality to your Marietta, Georgia yard, increasing your home’s curb appeal.

Your refusal to diversify your yard and garden’s plant life can result in an ugly landscape leaving a bad impression of you on your guests and passersby.

Sources:
plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cercis-canadensis/
hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/crape-myrtle/
landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/malus-prairifire
hort.ifas.ufl.edu/treesandpowerlines/chionanthus_virginicus.shtml
edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST023
extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/flowering-crabapple-trees-7-424/
hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/star-magnolia-magnolia-stellata/
web.extension.illinois.edu/shrubselector/detail_plant.cfm?PlantID=363

Prevent the embarrassment of a sloppy and poorly planned front yard. Knowing some easy landscaping ideas and tips can make your front yard the envy of the neighborhood.

72tree.com gathered the following list of 9 professional front yard landscaping ideas and several tips to enhance the beauty and practicality of your front yard.

Front Yard Landscaping Ideas

With housing prices on the rise and the ease of posting lawn and garden photos on sharing platforms like Pinterest and Instagram, homeowners are now seeing their front yard’s potential in a whole new way. A well-designed landscape can help highlight the beauty and architecture of a house and increase the its value by improving its curb appeal. The following 9 landscaping ideas will help you design and bring to life the perfect front yard:

1 – Plant a Climbing Wall

When your goal is to disguise an unattractive wall, fence, or mailbox? Establish trellises that cover or encircle the area you wish to hide and plant one of the following:

• Clematis Tangutica
• Kiwi
• Sweet Pea
• Virginia Creeper
• Star Jasmine
• Honeysuckle
• Climbing Hydrangea
• Climbing Rose

Tip: Plant climbing vines or plants that are hardy to your USDA Hardiness Zone and preferably evergreen species.

2 – Plant Potted Borders

This is a brilliant idea if you are new to gardening. Planting your garden in pots and planting your pots along your garden allows you to easily experiment with different species without constantly tearing up your garden. This idea also helps you corral bulbs which often require special care and sometimes need to overwinter indoors.

3 – Use Floral Borders and Window Boxes

One of the fastest ways to increase appeal to your front yard is to plant colorful flowering plants along your entryway. Window boxes planted with perennials, annuals, or small evergreens will add charm and a sense of coziness to your home’s architecture.

4 – Drought Tolerant Front Yard Landscaping

If you have yard space in a hot, dry region, this one’s for you. Grow succulents and cacti or seek native plants that don’t require much water. Eliminate the need for grass by covering your soil with landscaping rocks, crushed stone, pebbles, or gravel. Knowing your plant hardiness zone will help you determine the best plants to grow in your area. Xeriscaping (a popular form of landscaping in southwestern regions) uses native plants and drought-resistant plants to keep the landscape thriving with little water or maintenance.

5 – Display a Planted Wheelbarrow

Recycle a rundown, ready-to-discard wooden wheelbarrow. Planting hanging species like petunias, dwarf lavender, pansies, fuchsias, and other common “basket” favorites are particularly attractive when they spill over the wheelbarrow’s sides. For best results, use a high-quality potting mix that retains moisture in the wheelbarrow to keep your plants thriving during hot weather.

6 – Install a Water Feature

Install a small water feature, such as a fish pond or a glazed pot with a circulating pump, and let the overflow splash into a bed of attractive rocks. Fountains are also a great way to add an organic touch to your yard. Allow the soothing sounds of the water to drown out the noise from street traffic. Outdoor fountains create a calming oasis in your yard, while a tabletop fountain can be used on your front porch to bring the zen right to you.

7 – Plant a Shrub-Edged Pathway

Plant small hedges along your entry path or driveway. Boxwood shrubs suit this idea best because of their tightly leaved branches and topiary potential (this species is easily shaped into a multitude of designs). Small and round or clipped into a short rectangular hedge, they help lead the eye to your front door while encouraging foot traffic to stay on the pathway instead of trampling on the grass.

8 – Showcase Your Mailbox

Not every home has abundant space for a garden, but your stand-alone mailbox can be a vehicle to display shrubs, flowers, and climbing vines. Whether you go with pavers to create a border (and “official” garden space) or allow your plants to grow wildly around your mailbox, the result is certain to increase your home’s curb appeal.

9 – Install a Lighted Driveway Bed

Driveways and pathways benefit from a narrow garden bed along their length. This gives your yard a tidier and more appealing look while giving you the opportunity to install lighting at the edge of the driveway or pathway, naturally guiding your guests to your door. Small lanterns are fun and whimsical while remaining practical.

Tip: Solar and wired garden lights can be found in most gardening and home improvement stores.

Landscaping Your Alpharetta or Roswell Front Yard

In this article, you discovered nine ideas and multiple tips about designing your front yard to increase curb appeal and help you avoid embarrassing moments with your guests.

Knowing how to quickly and easily landscape your front yard will help you continuously evolve it into a show-stopping work of nature’s beauty.

Ignoring your front yard can lead to dying plants, shrubs, and trees while causing embarrassing moments with your neighbors and guests.

Sources:
extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6905
hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/hanging-baskets-window-boxes/
web.extension.illinois.edu/vines/perennials.cfm
gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/outdoor-living/curb-appeal.html

This article was first published on: http://www.72tree.com/9-front-yard-landscaping-ideas-and-tips/