Thursday, July 26, 2012

Dead Trees are Hazardous

Dead trees are hazardous and should be considered for removal immediately.  The severe drought that's gripping our area has already had a negative affect on our trees and will continue to do so for several years, even if normal precipation returns soon.  Many trees that were on the line between living and dying will be pushed over the edge by this heat and lack of moisture and will die.  As soon as a tree stops transporting nutrients through its vascular system, it begins to weaken.  The rate at which a tree becomes too brittle to safely remove depends on a variety of factors, but the process begins immediately upon death.  For your safety, and the safety of the company you hire to remove a dead tree, begin the removal process as soon as possible. 

Monday, July 9, 2012

Water, Water, Water

Good Afternoon!

As you all know, we're in a record-setting drought situation!  Any tree planted in the last 5-10 years, and even our mature yard trees, need a little help to make it through this extreme weather.  Think of the cost of replacement trees and consider watering immediately.

The very best way to water young trees is to place a 5-gallon bucket at the base of the tree with a small (about 1/4-inch) hole drilled in the bottom along the edge.  Place the hole as close to the trunk as possible and fill the bucket with water at least once or twice per week.  This will allow for a slow soaking of the area immediately around the trunk and give your tree the best chance for survival.  In addition, make sure your tree has a properly constructed mulch ring to conserve as much of the water as possible. To keep the wind from blowing the bucket around your yard, use a piece of string to loosely tie the handle of the bucket to the trunk of the tree.  Remember to remove the bucket when normal weather returns and save it to use again later if needed.

For large, mature yard trees, place a hose at the base of the trunk and set the hose to barely run.  Just a trickle is all you need.  Allow the water to run for at least 12 hours.  Again, you are aiming for a slow soak.  If you see water quickly running off, turn the pressure down a little.  For mature trees, a good soak is only necessary every week or two.  As with your smaller trees, mulch will help to conserve water.