Michael Page

Spring time is around the corner. If your property has one tree or many trees, you will need to think about maintaining them. Top Tree LLC is where you will find some of the only qualified arborists in Benton City. Let us take care of your trees.

Something to keep an eye on is whether a tree’s limbs are too close to a home. If they are, they could cause damage during a hard windstorm or rainstorm. Here are some tips to identify and prevent hazards:

Inspect the tree’s crown
Branches towards the top of the crown often die from the top down when stressed. Repeated insect infestations, long periods of no water, soil compaction, and disease can cause stress. Pests invade and stress the tree even more. Trees can recover if the source of the stress is eliminated in time. However, trees with advanced crown decline will die and should be removed.

Leaning and lopsided trees may represent a hazard if they are above a home or structure. Generally, trees that lean more than 15 degrees from vertical need to be removed. Trees that have grown leaning are not as hazardous as trees that were originally straight, but subsequently developed a lean due to wind or root damage. The general growth form of the tree and any uplifted soil on the side of the tree opposite the lean provide clues to when the lean developed.

Inspect the tree’s roots
Root integrity and overall health can’t be emphasized enough. If the roots are damaged, tree health is affected and the likelihood of the tree becoming a hazard increases. The likelihood of tree failure increases as the amount of the root damage increases. Clues to poor root conditions include thin crowns, off-color leaves, minimal growth, discolored wood at the root collar and fruiting bodies of root-rot fungi growing around the base of the trees.

Potential treatments
All trees are possible hazards. The only way to eliminate a tree hazard is to remove it. When this is not acceptable, routine inspections and action are the best way to reduce your risks. Dead trees within the range of a home should be removed. When removing a tree, prevent creating another hazard tree by limiting damage to the site and residual trees.

We’re Here To Help!
Top Tree LLC is your best choice for any tree removal needs in Benton City. All of our technicians are highly trained and properly certified. We are happy to answer any questions you have now or in the future.

Spring time is around the corner. If your property has one tree or many trees, you will need to think about maintaining them. Top Tree LLC is where you will find some of the only qualified arborists in the Burbank, Washington. Let us take care of your trees.

Identify The Signs of Overwatering
Look for symptoms of overwatering. This can include a loss of vigor, yellow leaves, leaf scorch, and water-soaked blisters on the stems and leaves. Dig down a few inches into the tree’s root zone. Very moist soil at that depth suggests too much water. A sour smell indicates that the soil is oxygen-deprived.

Stop Watering
Stop watering the tree until you determine the cause or causes of the overwatering problem. Generally, overwatering injury is caused by a combination of factors, including heavy soil, poor tree placement and inappropriate watering methods.

Stop Fertilizing
Stop all fertilizing. Don’t start until the tree recovers. Too much fertilizer burns the tree roots, making them unable to absorb the moisture in the soil.

Move the Tree
Move the tree to a better site if the cause of the overwatering cannot be fixewd. Although transplanting stresses a tree, it may be the only solution if the tree is planted in a low spot that regularly accumulates moisture, or if the soil is heavy clay or very compacted.

We’re Here To Help!
Top Tree LLC is your best choice for any tree removal needs in Burbank. All of our technicians are highly trained and properly certified. We are happy to answer any questions you have now or in the future.

Spring time is around the corner. If your property has one tree or many trees, you will need to think about maintaining them. Top Tree LLC is where you will find some of the only qualified arborists in Pasco. Let us take care of your trees.

Mistake No. 1: Plant in the right season…
The best time to plant a tree or shrub is when the plant has gone dormant. This is a period when energy is focused on root growth, as this will help the new tree become better established.

Horticulturists usually recommend planting in fall, when temperatures are moderate and the new transplant can receive adequate rainfall, though early spring can be OK, too. According to the Clemson Cooperative Extension, “Fall planting allows the carbohydrates produced during the previous growing season to be directed to root growth since there is little demand from the top. This additional growth may lessen the dependency of the plant on supplemental irrigation the following summers.”

The best planting time, of course, can vary with the species of tree or shrub and the USDA hardiness zone where you’re located, so talk to experts at your local nursery when determining a planting date.

Mistake No. 2: Don’t Overlook the Dirt
As you might already know from growing crops or flowers, planting isn’t as easy as just digging in the dirt. Trees and shrubs also need proper drainage and soil pH between 5.5 and 6.5 in order to thrive, so test the soil before planting and amend as needed.

If you’re bringing in dirt to the planting site, sample your soil and send to a lab for testing after the soil you’ll be planting with is in place. To test for soil drainage, the Virginia Cooperative Extension offers this tip: “Dig the hole for your new plant and fill it with water. If the water doesn’t drain in 24 hours, plant elsewhere.”

Overall, the soil should be comprised of about 10 to 20 percent organic matter, such as compost, leaf mold, or composted pine bark. According to recent studies, but this should already be in place before you begin digging the hole.

If you confine the amendments to the planting hole, you can limit root growth. Also be aware that fine-textured amendments, such as peat moss, can retain too much moisture, while coarse-textured amendments, such as composted pine bark, are less likely to do so.

We’re Here To Help!
Top Tree LLC is your best choice for any tree removal needs in Pasco. All of our technicians are highly trained and properly certified. We are happy to answer any questions you have now or in the future.