Category: Tree Services

What Is a Tree Surgeon and Why You Should Hire One?

 

Trees can live from anywhere between fifty to more than three thousand years. However, the death of a tree is inevitable.

Some owe their deaths to infestations, others owe them to diseases, and others to climate change. Now while you may think of infestations and tree diseases in the context of a forest, know that your backyard trees are not immune to disease-induced death either.

It is for this reason (among others), that timely visits from a tree surgeon are not only recommended but essential to ensure the vitality of your trees and the safety of your home.

This article takes an in-depth look into what a tree surgeon does while exploring the many benefits of hiring one.

 

What Does a Tree Surgeon Do?

A tree surgeon is someone who specializes in the all-round care and maintenance of trees. They are dedicated experts who plant, prune, fell, and treat trees that require special care. Additionally, they are also skilled at landscaping when larger trees are involved.

They are qualified to give you advice on how to care for and meet the daily needs of your trees. In a nutshell, they serve as your go-to expert for everything that has to do with the care of large trees.

 

The Benefits of Hiring a Tree Surgeon

The average person, with a fair amount of research, might be able to perform the daily care required to maintain a large tree, however, over time things can get a little more complicated.

That is where hiring a tree surgeon can help.

 

Eliminating Safety Hazards

Tree surgeons have the experience and the knowledge it takes to identify potential hazards. They will be able to sport the early warning signs that a tree is likely to fall during a heavy storm, or that it poses a fire hazard to your home. Furthermore, they will then be able to carry out the entire tree removal process to ensure that you and your home are protected from any preventable tree-related accidents.

 

Tree Care Done Right

A tree surgeon will be able to accurately assess the health of your trees and give them the care they need to thrive in their surroundings. They will give you valuable insights and advice on what you can do to improve the appearance of your trees and ensure that they lead a healthy, long, and vibrant life in your yard.

This can be especially helpful if you have a variety of trees that require different types of care. A tree surgeon will be able to give you specialized recommendations for each tree type based on the climate you live in, the type of soil you have and the nearby environment.

 

Spotting the Early Signs of Disease

Your trees are prone to all kinds of diseases and infestations. However, the earlier you spot the signs of tree diseases, the easier they are to treat. Ensuring frequent visits by a tree surgeon will not only allow you to take preventative measures but will also be a great way to give any infected trees the best possible treatment at the earliest signs of infection.

This will allow your trees the opportunity to make a quick recovery and will also prevent the spread of these diseases to other trees within your garden.

 

Trimming and Organizing

In the initial stages of growing and planting trees, it can be difficult to gauge how these saplings will eventually affect the aesthetic and landscape of your garden. However, a tree surgeon can help you plan your yard, or garden to ensure that you get the most out of your space.

Additionally, a tree surgeon is also equipped for performing various tree grooming functions like trimming, pruning, branch removal, and more. These are all essential practices required for the proper maintenance of any yard.

 

dvanced Tools and Other Equipment

Large trees require complicated machinery and equipment. The wrong tools can cause irreparable damage to the tree. Improper usage of equipment is a safety hazard for the person using it as well as the people around them.

While the average person does not possess the tools nor the expertise to use these tools efficiently, a tree surgeon certainly does.

 

Save on Future Costs

Hiring a tree surgeon will only help you save money in the long run. Proper maintenance will result in fewer instances of disease and lower the likelihood of tree-induced injuries or accidents. Due to the variety of services, they offer, they serve as an all-in-one solution to a variety of tree-related problems.

This saves you from spending on a variety of specialists. Instead, you can simply hire a tree surgeon to conduct a complete inspection of your trees and follow it up by performing the necessary maintenance procedures required. Most tree surgeons offer a variety of packages which further allow you to cut down on your costs.

 

Hire a Qualified Tree Surgeon for the Job

There are a host of benefits for you and your trees to gain from hiring a tree surgeon. Not only does it prolong the lives of your trees, but it ensures that you and your family are safe from any preventable tree hazards.

At Grafting Gardeners, we have the knowledge, skill, and experience to care for your trees and give them the care they need to maintain their strength and vitality through the years. Get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment with our qualified tree experts!

 

Article was written by Conner D.

Article Source: https://www.graftingardeners.co.uk/what-is-a-tree-surgeon

Tree Pollarding 101 – everything you need to know about pollarding.

 

If you are looking for ways to keep your landscape and trees looking their best, several key methods can make a huge impact on how your outdoor space looks.

A process called tree pollarding can help to create a lush, beautiful landscape that promotes healthy trees.

Read on to learn more about pollarding trees and what the process entails.

 

Tree Pollarding Defined

Most people likely have never heard of tree pollarding, but it is an important part of maintaining healthy trees. The process involves cutting young trees and shrubs to the main stem or trunk to control their height.

The plants are not cut at ground level but instead are cut much higher at an average height of around six feet. This process helps to maintain the desired height for your trees while reducing shade and giving the trees a defined silhouette.

Many people opt for tree pollarding to keep taller trees from getting in the way of phone lines or electrical wires. It is also done to trees located close to a home or place of business to reduce the risk of branches breaking and falling onto the roof.

While most typical tree pruning processes remove the lower and crossing limbs of a tree, the pollarding process is a bit different. Pollarding trees is often done when the tree is dormant rather than when it is actively growing. Doing this while a tree is still young or dormant promotes fuller, faster, and greener growth.

In addition to protecting wires, structures, and promoting better growth, tree pollarding may also reduce the risk of fungus and pests. It can also help to protect your trees from various diseases.

 

How to Pollard a Tree

To pollard a tree effectively, it is best to leave the job to the professionals. They will start by cutting off the central leader of the tree first, then proceed to cut all of the branches around it that are at the same height.

By cutting the top of the tree this way, it shortens the crown of the tree. The gardener will remove lower limbs and any crossing limbs to promote a thicker crown as it grows back.

The younger the tree, the faster the new growth will return, while older trees may take longer to regrow leaves and new branches. By pollarding large young deciduous trees, ensures that they sprout healthily to achieve fuller, greener, and lusher growth.

Once the procedure is complete, most trees will produce “waterspouts” at the various locations where it has been cut. These areas will produce sprouts that should be removed at least once per year or every other year. Eventually, knobs or knuckles will form at these locations and continue to regenerate each year.

The timing of tree pollarding is critical and should be performed during the tree’s dormant season. If the tree is pruned during its growing season, it can stunt the growth, remove its energy source, and inhibit the tree’s ability to re-sprout.

Most tree pollarding is done during the fall or winter months of the year when trees are losing their foliage. This is extremely important because most trees rely on their leaves to help produce energy for healthy growth during the warmer months of spring and summer. Removing sprouts and pollarding too early in the year can cause the tree to stop growing, or even worse – to perish.

 

 Tradition of Pollarding Trees

Tree pollarding originated in Europe centuries ago, and the original method was done to ensure that more abundant, smaller branches were produced. As a result, these smaller branches were removed and used as fuel or for making items such as woven baskets.

As the branches were consistently cut back, farmers would harvest the slender sprouts and use them as a food source for livestock. These slender sprouts were also utilized to help weave small fences and other structures.

Today, pollarding fruit trees is a popular method to ensure healthy growth. When the tree is pollarded correctly, it encourages more production of fruits for a bountiful harvest.

Many urban areas choose to pollard trees that line busy streets to help control their growth, preventing branches from falling onto power lines and roadways. Cutting trees back can keep them healthy while maintaining them at a smaller, more easily manageable size.

The difference between topping and pollarding trees is that tree pollarding produces large knuckles. These knuckles are the source of new growth each year and can help to ensure that the tree continues to grow healthy in the future. Imagine the knuckles on a tree as large scars that heal while new growth re-sprouts from dormant buds during the springtime.

Topping a tree does not lead to knuckle formation. This process cuts the entire top of the tree off, resulting in a large wound that can cause the tree to die. Ideally, pollarding fruit trees and other species is best to ensure a healthy outcome.

 

Pollarding: A Unique Technique

Whether you want to encourage healthy growth or remove threatening branches, tree pollarding is a wise way to go. This unique tree-pruning process will ensure that your trees look lush and beautiful for years to come.

Always consult with a professional arborist or landscaper if you are considering using tree pollarding as a method to ensure best results.

For more information about our services or to find out more, contact us today.

 

Article was written by Conner D.

Article Source: https://www.graftingardeners.co.uk/tree-pollarding-101/

What the Western Hemlock Tree Looks Like

The Western Hemlock tree is a graceful, dense and handsome evergreen belonging to the Pinaceae family. It has soft needles on its drooping branches. Since it is so dense, it casts a heavy shade and there is not much that can live beneath.

Its shape is broadly conical and it has a narrow crown. When Western Hemlock trees are mature, they grow up to 45 metres in height. They grow taller when in their native habitat, however, and grow between 50 and 70 metres tall (165 to 239 ft). In terms of girth, the trunk usually has a diameter measuring up to 2.7 metres (9 ft), making it the largest of the hemlock species. The bark of the Western Hemlock is dark brown with thin and rugged ridges.

The needles of this tree smell similar to grapefruit when they are crushed. They have rounded tips and are flat and soft. The underside of the needles has two white stripes, and they are long when they are on the sides of the twigs than when they are on the top.

The Western Hemlock’s cones don’t have stalks. They are pendulous and small and their scales are flexible, thin and papery. When they are mature they are a grey-brown colour; immature cones are green.

The scientific name for this tree is the Tsuga heterophylla.

This tree is similar to other hemlock spruce trees. It has a similar smell to the herb hemlock, hence its name but it is not related to this highly toxic plant.

 

History of the Western Hemlock Tree

This species is not native to the United Kingdom; it was introduced here in the 19th century.

Symbolism and mythology associated with the Western Hemlock Tree

There has been an association of the Western Hemlock tree with women among some ancient traditions of North America. The female warriors of the Kwakwaka’wakw people made western hemlock headdresses for their ceremonial dances.

In the United Kingdom, Queen Victoria was a huge fan of Western Hemlock trees. She even asked for the name to be changed to honour her husband Albert. The name Tsuga albertiana was used for a while but now its scientific name is Tsuga heterophylla.

The Western Hemlock tree can live up to 500 years.

 

Where Can We find Western Hemlock Trees?

As previously mentioned, the Western Hemlock is not native to the UK.  This species originates in the North West of America. The north-western limit of its growth is the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska and its south-eastern limit is in California in northern Sonoma County. The Western Hemlock is associated with more temperate rainforests and most trees grow within 62 miles (100 km) of the Pacific Ocean. There does exist a population of Western Hemlocks further inland in the south-east of British Columbia, the west of Montana, the north of Idaho and in the Columbia Mountains.

The trees grow mostly at lower altitudes right from sea level up to 2,000 ft (600 m) but they grow up to 5,900 ft (1,800 m) in the range of trees in Idaho.

It’s thanks to the botanist David Douglas that Britain now has this species here. It is so popular that it is now the species of conifer that is most common in this country. The Western Hemlock is suited best to moist climates; it regenerates well in a huge variety of upland forests and grows rapidly.

These trees are integral components of forests in the Pacific Northwest and are an important tree for timber in this region.

 

What is the Western Hemlock’s Value to Wildlife?

Since this tree is very dense, it casts a heavy shade. This means that when there is a lot of Western Hemlocks in a plantation, there is not a lot of wildlife or plants able to live beneath them.

 

Uses of Western Hemlock

In the United Kingdom, Western Hemlock is mainly grown for wood pulp and timber. It is also used as an ornamental tree in gardens and parks too. The wood of the western hemlock is used commonly for boxes and roofing as it is capable of holding nails well and doesn’t split easily.

It is an important tree for other aspects of joinery too such as furniture making and doors.

If these trees are planted along riverbanks, they can help to reduce problematic erosion there.

 

Nutritional Uses of Western Hemlock

There is a part of the Western Hemlock’s bark that is edible: the cambium. This can be collected when slabs of bark are scraped. The shavings produced can be eaten straight away or they can be dried out and then pressed inside bread. This is what Native Americans would have done in the south-east of Alaska.

Other parts of the Western Hemlock can also be used in food production. New needles are tender and can be made into a tea that is rich in Vitamin C but also bitter. You can also chew these needles directly.

 

The Largest Western Hemlock Tree

The largest known Western Hemlock tree was discovered in 2018 and was added to the American National Register of Champion Trees. It has a circumference of 343 inches (8.71 metres) and is 190 feet (57.9 metres) tall. Its crown spread is 59 feet (15.24 metres).

In the United Kingdom, the largest known Western Hemlock tree is in Doune Park in Sterling, Scotland. The girth of the tree is 7.06 metres (23 feet), and it was 43 metres (141 foot) tall when it was last measured in 2009.

 

Final Thoughts

The Western Hemlock is an impressive species. It is well recognised by its size but it also provides valuable services in joinery, paper making, erosion prevention and food sources. What is more, it provides both shelter and food for wildlife and is also critical in the ecosystem for its role in CO2 absorption from the atmosphere as it stores carbon in the wood. Finally, it is great at purifying water too.

 

Article was written by Conner D.

Article Source: https://www.graftingardeners.co.uk/western-hemlock/

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Maintaining a garden is a labour of love. But sometimes the time and effort involved can be challenging to keep up. That’s why many homeowners today look for ways to make gardening easier. Low maintenance solutions like automatic sprinklers and composting systems are just the beginning.

One of the most challenging tasks for maintaining a garden involves weed removal. Weeds can be difficult to find and remove. Even when you least expect it, there could be seeds from weeds spreading around your garden beds. These seeds could be laying dormant until conditions are right for them to start thriving in your backyard.

Weeds are often the cause of many frustrations and issues in the garden. To help you manage weeds and keep them under control, let’s explore one of the most effective methods for stopping them—adding mulch to your garden beds.

Why mulch is a great option for weed control

When you apply mulch to your garden beds you are giving your soil a protective layer. A layer of mulch effectively blocks out the sunlight and prevents it from hitting your garden’s soil. Keep this in mind as we go through how weeds end up in your garden.

Weeds tend to spread when their seeds drop and get deposited into the soil. They can quickly multiply and spread throughout your garden in no time when growing conditions are favourable for them. Luckily, one of the most essential ingredients that help the seeds of a weed grow is nourishment from the sun.

So if you effectively block out sunlight hitting your soil, you take away a major food source for the seeds of the weeds to grow. Photosynthesis can longer occur which helps give weeds the nourishment they need to grow.

How mulch can help other plants thrive

One of the major benefits of laying down mulch is the protection it provides for the rest of the plants in your garden beds. During hot and dry seasons, mulch can help retain moisture in your soil. So long after your garden beds have been watered, the mulch will retain water and keep the soil moist.

This moist environment underneath your mulch will continue to help your plants thrive in more ways than one. Mulch can also help regulate temperature. In colder climates, the mulch is also effective at retaining heat. This form of temperature control contributes to a warm environment that helps your plants thrive well before Spring kicks in.

By now you’re probably wondering why mulch doesn’t hamper the growth of your other plants if that’s what it does to weeds. The truth is, you have to have well-established plant seedlings in place before laying down mulch. This ensures your seedlings sit above the mulch so they can still absorb nutrients and energy from the sun via photosynthesis.

Mulching on a budget

Your gardening budget can definitely help you narrow down your options for garden mulch. If you don’t want to fork out money for it, there are several free options you can rely on. If you regularly prune your garden you may already have a collection of twigs and small branches lying around. These can be perfect options for your garden mulch.

Fallen leaves from the trees in your yard are also a great option. But depending on the type of leaves you choose they may compost a lot faster than your standard mulch. Other free options to consider are sawdust or wood chips leftover from any work you’ve done in the garage. If you own a big lawn at home you may also appreciate that grass clippings from lawn mowing can also be used for mulch.

Choosing the best mulch for your needs

Choosing the best mulch to stop weeds in your garden really depends on your maintenance needs and what you’re trying to grow in your individual garden beds. Ideally, you want a mulch that can block out light from your soil. That’s the most important thing to consider when choosing the best mulch to stop weeds.

The free options we mentioned earlier like leaves and grass clippings are great but they can decompose a lot faster than other varieties. Wooden chips and mulch are popular options for several reasons. They don’t decompose quickly. They can last for months or well over a year before they start to deteriorate. One of the disadvantages of wooden mulch and chips is that because they don’t break down as fast, they won’t enrich your soil and provide your plants with nutrients.

A great solution we’ve found is using a combination of compatible mulch like leaves, grass, and hay with wooden mulch laid on top of it. This option gives you the best of both mulches. You’ll get the nutrients from the breakdown of leaves and other organic matter combined with the long-lasting surface protection of wooden mulch.

Get your next batch of garden mulch from Daryl’s tree care

Do you have a few trees that need to be removed from your garden? If so, we’ve got some great news for you. These trees can be turned into mulch that you can use directly in your garden. As part of our tree removal service, we offer mulching. So the branches, tree stump and log from your tree can be placed straight into our wood chipper where it’s turned into wooden mulch.

Even if you’re not getting any tree removed, we can still supply and deliver tree mulch straight to your yard. But you will have to be patient. Our wooden mulch only becomes available for jobs that require trees to be processed through a wood chipper.

So contact us today and we’ll gladly let you know when the next load of wooden mulch will be available for you to buy. Leading up to the day when we process a tree, we’ll let you know and arrange a day and time for your mulch delivery.

The post What is the best mulch to stop weeds? appeared first on Daryl’s Tree Care And Surgery.

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If you have ever had to hire a tree service company to work on your yard, you know that pruning is one of the most important tasks they can perform. After all, it is only when the tree service provider removes the dead and decaying material from your tree trunk that you will be able to see the beauty of your tree in full bloom again. With so much responsibility placed upon them, three service providers must be cautious with handling this task. As a homeowner, it is vital to make sure that your trees are as good a shape as possible. Here are some tips that will help you make this process as easy as possible.

Pruning branches and stumps: One thing that many people do not realize is that when you hire a landscape contractor to work on your property, they will assume that you want everything they see in your yard to be perfect. However, in reality, most people only prune their trees once or twice per year, at the most. A tree service business can accomplish what may take you weeks to complete on your own in a matter of hours.

Tree removal As previously mentioned, tree services also provide arborists with an important service: removing dead and decaying branches. Many times this is done by hand, using a simple power saw. However, some tree services may use a more advanced tree removal machine. Either way, arborists must make certain that they are doing this correctly. They should never allow branches to grow back into the same place that they came from. Failure to do so can lead to serious injury or death.

Power lines If you have power lines that run through your yard, you are advised to get rid of any nearby power lines. This is especially important if you live in an area that experiences extreme weather conditions, such as hurricanes or tornadoes. Any tree trimming, cutting, or removal should be done carefully and with the utmost safety precautions.

Selective removal Another important part of tree care is selective removal. Most people don’t think that this is an option, but it is an important part of tree care. This type of service differs from pruning in that it only targets certain branches. For example, you might want to remove one particular maple tree branch that makes your backyard look too arty-looking. You can cut it out and move it to a more attractive location.

Tree trimming and pruning shouldn’t be done on an as-needed basis. Instead, you should schedule regular maintenance visits to check for thinning, decay, or other problems. By doing this, you will get your trees in peak condition before they begin to decline. The right tree trimming company should schedule maintenance visits regularly so you can get your trees in top shape.

Certification by the Certified Arborist (CAT) or the International Society of Certified Arborists (ISCA) is an important part of hiring a tree service. The certification will help ensure that your trees are well cared for and managed. Trees that are not certified will not have the necessary tools and training to help ensure the health and survival of your trees.

Tree pruning cuts down the amount of time that it takes for a tree to grow and mature. However, pruning can also be quite dangerous because branches growing beyond their normal range of growth can lead to accidents. Trimming branches can prevent these accidental injuries from occurring, which is why it is a good idea to hire a tree maintenance company to perform pruning. If you are unsure how to trim your trees, you can call a tree service provider to come to your home and explain the process to you. They can also help you determine what branch(s) need to be trimmed to increase the performance of a tree, enhance its beauty, or decrease its risk of injury or death due to unforeseen circumstances.