6 Signs Your Tree Needs To Be Removed Or Trimmed

Do you know if one of those stunning trees in your yard is ready to fall when the next storm blows through? Unfortunately, this is a very real threat as falling trees or limbs can injure you, your children or your home. While tree removal is a last resort, it's still a good idea to regularly inspect the trees on your yard for hazards and know how to recognize a tree that needs to be removed. Once you understand these signs, you'll know when it's time to call a tree company.

Annual Tree Inspections are Important

At least once per year, inspect all of your trees for signs of disease, decay or structural problems. You'll also need to check the trees after each severe storm, as large trees can easily fall if their anchor roots are damaged or the ground becomes too soaked. If you catch the problem in time, a tree service company can remove it before serious damage occurs.

How to Inspect Your Trees

So, how should you inspect your trees for problems? Start by looking at the overall condition of the tree. Trees that are sick usually have off-color leaves or red pine needles. If the tree has green on the crown, it may still be hazardous or sick as the branches or trunk can be structurally weak due to disease or rot. Use binoculars to look at the high branches and try to spot any broken limbs or weak branch unions, which means the limbs are ready to fall at any time.

6 High-Risk Issues to Look For

Now, let's move on to identifying some of the biggest problems you need to look for. All of these problems represent a major safety hazard and may indicate it's time for a tree remova specialist to pay a visit.

Cracked bark. If your tree has bark that's starting to crack, this is a sign that the tree is sick or dying. Call a tree service company if you notice 2+ cracks in the same spot or very deep cracking.

Weak branch unions. Check how well the branches appear to be attached to the tree, as weak unions have no integrity and the branches may come falling down. This is a common issue with elm and maple.

Tree cankers. These sunken spots in the bark or areas where the bark is completely missing may either be a wound or a sign of disease.

Strange shape. Does your tree have a weird shape that seems poorly formed? These trees may require removal because they lack structural integrity.

Decay. Serious decay is a problem and you can usually spot it if there are mushrooms growing on your tree or right at the base. Dead branches. Dead wood is unpredictable and very brittle. Strong winds or a storm can easily send these branches crashing down onto your family or your home. Tree trimming is necessary to remove these hazards.

Common Tree Issues There are a number of tree diseases that are common throughout most tree species. Here's a look at some of them, along with symptoms you should look for. Most of these diseases require removal. Tree removal sometimes requires a permit so make sure you have this in order before you have the tree felled.

Oak Leaf Blister. This disease affects oak trees, causing the leaves to look blistered on the upper surface with depressions on the underside. The leaves will eventually start to curl and leaves may drop prematurely. This disease typically starts in the spring and spores are then spread in the rain or wind. This disease is treated with a fungicide.

Tubakia Leaf Spot. This disease causes brown spots to appear on the foliage, along with cankers on the twigs. Red oaks are particularly prone to catching this fungal infection and the best way to address it is to increase air flow on the tree.

Bacterial Leaf Scorch. This disease leaves red or yellow borders and makes leaves appear scorched. It's spread by insects and close contact to other trees and infected trees usually require removal.

Armillaria Root Rot. Finally, this fungi infects the roots of the tree and may be hard to detect unless you see mushrooms growing on the tree's base. It causes the crown to die, stunts the tree's growth and eventually kills the tree, requiring removal.

Remember, inspecting your trees annually is an important task for you to do. If your tree loses its leaves right before it gets them and right after it loses them are great times to inspect. Even if they don't lose their leaves those two times are usually in the beginning of Spring and the end of Fall.

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Spring Tree Planting

One of the best times of the year to plant a tree is in very early spring, before buds begin to form on the tree. The weather is cool enough and stable enough to allow for the tree to establish its root system before heavy spring rains and summer heat start to threaten the tree. However, it is essential to properly plant your new tree in order for it to survive and thrive. Improper planting is the leading cause of newly planted tree death.

The Planting Site

If possible, try to pick a location with the right amount of sun and loose, non-clay soil, a safe distance from your home. When calculating this distance, research the full size of a mature specimen of your tree's type and go from there. Dig a hole which is only the depth of the root ball of your baby tree, but three times as wide. This ensures that you do not plant the tree too deeply and that the soil around the base of the tree is loose enough to allow for easy root expansion. Most new roots on a freshly planted tree develop in the top foot of soil, so be sure to not plant the tree too deeply. When in doubt, leave a few inches of root ball above the ground instead of covering them.

Return the Dirt

Be sure your tree is straight from several angles, then start filling in your hole. Fill with dirt gently, but also be firm. Soil which is packed too loosely around your tree will erode and allow the tree to fall over, and soil which is packed too tightly will cause your sapling to struggle to develop roots. Be careful not to damage the trunk or the roots in this process. Once the base of the tree is largely covered, pack down the soil, perhaps even with water, to ensure there are no air pockets, which can dry out young roots.

Add Mulch

Cover the base of the tree with mulch. Mulching your tree will help to retain moisture in the area and prevent weeds and grasses from growing at the tree's base, reducing its competition. There are a wide variety of mulches available on the market today, so pick one you feel comfortable with. Make the mulch 2-4 inches deep, no more. More can cut off oxygen, and less can cause your tree to lose much needed moisture. Once the mulch is down, water your tree frequently to ensure good initial growth.

Maintain Your Tree's Health

Once your tree has established itself, be sure to keep it healthy by hiring a tree care service to prune it and inspect it annually and after major storms. These specialists are able to spot danger signs and disease in their early stages and may be able to save your tree should something go awry. Should things go truly south, a professional tree removal service will be able to safely remove your tree from your property without endangering you or your home.

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Cutting Down 100+ foot Pine Tree over Houses - Signature Tree Service

Curtis with Signature Tree Service shows how to safely cut down a HUGE tree in a confined space amongst houses and utility lines. See more at www.signaturetreeservice.com

Preparing Your Trees for Spring and Summer Storms

When storm season approaches, many people take precautions for their vehicles, home, and food supply, but many people neglect the trees.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a branch of the United States Department of Homeland Security, "three-fourths of the damage that trees incur during storms is predictable and preventable".

What Happens to Trees During a Storm?

Often the reaction of a tree to the wind dynamics of a storm has a direct correlation with the distribution of leaves on the tree as well as individual branches. Because there is more territory to catch the gust, wind forces tend to be more strenuous where the foliage is the heaviest.

Light rain and even small amounts of hard rain are helpful and necessary. Several hours or days of constant rain can loosen the soil around the tree and add weight to the branches and leaves causing a weak resistance to wind.

The pounding on the leaves and branches by hail can cause damage to elements of the leaves, branches and the trunk.

Pruning Do's and Don'ts

Proper pruning can do nothing but help the tree and its support system, while improper pruning can make your trees more vulnerable to the effects of the storm. Always prune the damaged or dead limbs, branches that cross or rub up against another branch, and branches that are scarcely attached at the trunk.

You want to reduce the area of resistance for the wind, but you must also remember that trees need leaves and branches for photosynthesis and protection. The ANSI A300 Pruning Standards (American National Standards Institute) recommends pruning no more than 25% of the foliage in a single growing season. Since restrained in the amount you should prune, it is perilous to be meticulous removing live branches and foliage from the entire tree including the outer third of the crown.

"Lion's Tailing" is a common mistake that can be disastrous. By thinning an excessive amount of lower branches, giving the tree a lion's tail shape, the tree becomes top-heavy and more capable of toppling over in heavy winds. It can also generate long-term problems such as sunburn of the trunk and reduce the tapering of the branches.

Cabling, Bracing and Propping Systems

If you notice a tree that seems ill-prepared for storm season, a propping system may be the solution. These man made devices are designed to support the weight of the tree or individual branches and create limits of mobility for the tree. Many larger trees can benefit from these techniques, but should only be considered when there is a reasonable assurance that it will reduce the risk of tree failure and all other options are insufficient.

Annually employ a tree care specialist to come and evaluate your trees professionally to ensure appropriate attention and repair to your trees.

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80' Pine Saved From Falling Into House - Signature Tree Service

Owner/Operator Curtis Fosnaugh of Signature Tree Service loading a top of pine tree into load line and pulley with use of a "port-a-wrap". Port-a-wrap is a lowering device that enables one person to control heavy weighted items to the ground. This job took place in Benicia,CA

Why Tree Service Is Required at All?

Trees are no doubt an important part of our lives. They not only provide us with fresh air, which is required for basic sustenance of life but they also play a major role in adding beauty to our beautiful planet. No matter whether it is a house, office, stadium etc., you will find trees everywhere. In some cases, trees are also said to shoot up the property rates. Like living beings, trees also have a life cycle and they eventually get old and die. As the age of the tree increases, its immunity decreases and it become more prone to rots, pest, insect infections and some other diseases. These factors tend to weaken the trees and they become hollow. The resistance against adverse weather conditions like heavy rains, wind etc also decreases. A weakened tree might split into half or just fall, thereby proving to be hazardous for the adjacent residences and roadways.

Just like the human body we also need to be proactive when it comes to caring of tress and that is why opting for tree service is recommended. Tree service is very much required for healthy and long survival of your beautiful trees. Majority of the times people assume that the trees that are their in their backyard does not requires any special attention and they end up losing them. However, a professional tree service ensures that your trees stay in the best of the health. Also, people tend to delay in availing the tree care services, which is a bad practice.

Tree services consist of researches and experts who have knowledge about all the aspects of landscaping as well as horticulture. They will assist you in tree plantation, care, trimming etc.

You cannot tend to ignore the high quality service especially when it comes to maintaining feel and look of your landscape design. Think of a beautiful lawn that is next to your neighborhood, the grass is freshly mowed, lush green and flowered are colorful and pruned. However, if there is even a single overgrown or sick tree, it will turn this beautiful yard into a major landscaping disaster and that is where professional tree services will help you out. In other words, these services play a crucial part in making your yard look like a picture-perfect landscape.

If you are thinking that tree service comes at a great cost then you are terribly wrong. A lot of competition is their in this field which have forced the service providers to reduce their costs. Thus, consulting a professional tree service will be a big help and also it will be cost effective.

As it has become quite evident after reading this article that such services not just about keeping trees in healthy condition- it also plays a crucial role in landscaping as well. Thus, if you want your trees to stay in a healthy condition and at the same time look well then you should opt for tree overhaul straight away.

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Professional Tree Service - Answer to All Your Tree Care Woes

You will see that trees are present everywhere around us. They provide us with many things including, flowers, shade, fragrance, medicines etc. Though they are around us, still we don't have much knowledge about these beautiful gifts of mother earth.

We usually ignore the trees, as we don't acknowledge their importance in our lives. Majority of us see them as obstruction. However, we should be well aware of their benefits. Tree are living organism like us and we need to take special care of them, if want to promote a healthy surround and environment.

Since we do not have the best of knowledge regarding trees with us, the option that we are left with is to go for a professional tree service. They are experts in this field and know about the various aspects of tree care. From planting gardens to pruning to cutting tree, these services are required for plenty of tasks. They understand the spatial needs of plants very well. A good tree service consists of expert and certified arborists and plenty of equipment.

Every tree is not same and you require different techniques and tools to take care of them. Since you will not be having the right skills and tools with you, try to go for a professional tree service. Certified tree services implies that their work match the standards laid by different organizations. The service that you are opting for should specialize in every aspect. Look for the one that has  an unsurpassed quality in every filed. Some of the most common practices in which the service provider is involved is arborist services, hedge trimming services, tree pruning and trimming, tree removal and stump grinding etc.

You should watch out for the praises and success in testimonials of the websites. All you need to do is to request for an estimate. Then you can make a call whether to opt for that service or not. It is important to note that majority of the service providers offer a free estimate, whereas some may charge a nominal fee.

Dead or damaged tree are main cause of problems. They are not only dangerous for property but also they are dangerous for human life. Removing big trees is a big and complicated process and it should be undertaken only under the supervision of certified arborist. Since this task is somewhat risky, you should verify that the provider has adequate risk coverage or not.

Since in some states there is a law governing the cutting or felling of tress so make sure you are familiar with the laws of the land, in order to avoid any legal hassle.

Tree services offer an excellent solution for various situations depending upon the position and size of the tree at your home. You just need to do some market research to determine which one of them matches up to the caliber and expectations.

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Three Myths About Tree Roots and Important Facts You Should Know

Trees add value and beauty to your home and lawn. However, the development of tree roots and what constitutes a healthy tree is largely misunderstood. The picture many people have is a carrot type taproot structure with several smaller lateral roots branching off. While this may be true of saplings, larger trees quickly develop a completely different root structure. Determining the health of tree roots is not always easy, but the tree itself may give you visible clues.

Myth 1 - All Trees Have Tap Roots

Small trees do begin with a taproot that helps anchor the sapling into the ground. As the tree grows, the small taproot in most trees is replaced by a complex growth of lateral roots. These lateral roots can extend outward at least two to three times the radius of the canopy. For example, if the radius of the tree canopy is twenty feet, the roots could extend out as far as sixty feet or more. This provides a tremendous anchoring system and a large area for gathering nutrients.

Roots don't actually seek out water, as many people believe. Instead, roots will naturally grow where ever conditions are favorable. Small feeder roots are made of delicate, non-woody tissue that can be as thin as a hair. Large trees will have many thousands of feeder roots that extend well beyond the canopy. The larger tree roots anchor the tree and serve to transport and store nutrients. About 75% of the tree's roots will be in the top 10 to 18 inches of soil, while nearly 100% of the tree's roots will be in the top three feet of soil.

Myth 2 - Cutting Tree Roots Won't Hurt Anything

Cutting the roots won't hurt anything, right? Wrong, the tree will always be affected, but to what degree depends on several factors, including the health of the tree, where the roots were cut and how many.

There are many reasons why people may need to cut through roots. Building a retaining wall, trenching the ground to lay drainage pipe, home basement construction are just a few. In a lawn where trees are spaced far apart, a large tree's strength will depend on the health of the roots and how far the roots reach. Therefore, a detailed assessment of the tree should be made before removing any tree roots. If the tree already has some health issues, cutting too many roots could kill the tree. If the cuts are made too close to the trunk you will lose all the nutrients and stability those roots provided. In a worst-case scenario, the tree could topple over, especially if the roots on the opposite side of the tree have been restricted, diseased or damaged. A certified arborist should be consulted before any major root removal.

Myth 3 - A Tree Full of Leaves Points to a Healthy Root System

Diseased or injured trees can still put out leaves every year and is not a positive indication of health. However, certain tree conditions are clues to the tree's health and stability. If the tree has large cavities in the trunk, this is an indication of previous damage, disease or both. Mushrooms growing on the sides of trunks and branches are indications of internal rot and decay. These mushrooms, called conks, are the fruiting bodies of rot disease. Specific mushrooms growing at the base of trees or on the ground near the truck can be indications of fungal diseases and decay in the roots. Every year trees that are loaded with leaves fall during storms and root problems are often to blame.

Any conditions that indicate major health issues will need to be considered before digging around trees. You don't want to make a problem worse by digging around a tree if you have no idea how it will ultimately affect it. Also, take care when using certain herbicides around trees. A common broadleaf herbicide called Dicamba has been known to damage small feeder roots.

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Amazing Tree Houses

It is every kid's dream when they are young to have an amazing tree house in their backyard. Somewhere where they can have secret meetings with friends, battle imaginary villains or have a No Boys Allowed Club. Maybe you were lucky enough to have a tree house when you were young and maybe you didn't. Regardless, architects have come up with some incredible tree house designs that will make everyone - even adults - want to fulfill that dream and live in the trees. From invisible tree houses to space age eco-friendly designs to homes on stilts, imagination is the only limitation when it comes to these unique dwellings.

Some of the coolest tree houses out there are called Free Spirit Spheres. These little houses were designed to blend in and harmonize with the forest around them. The spheres are eco-friendly, all wooden and constructed much like a canoe. They are suspended from the tree tops like a sail from the mast on a boat. Each sphere is accessible by a spiral staircase that comes down around the tree and a small suspension bridge. There is a surprising amount of amenities within each sphere. Each one contains a double bed, 2 small windows, a settee with table and a galley kitchen with cupboards, sink, microwave and refrigerator.

Another sustainable yet amazing tree house design comes from Japan and is called the 4Treehouse. This house is designed to fit right in to a natural environment and is built around 4 trees, using them like stilts. It looks like a giant paper lantern and rises 3 stories in to the forest. The walls all have varying levels of transparency letting light in and out making it quite a sight in the darkness. Even though the house is 3 stories, it is only 420 square feet. In order to enter and exit the house, there is a staircase on casters that sways with the house and trees, allowing movement regardless of how much the house is swaying. The bottom floor of the home is almost completely protected from the outside elements and opens up the higher you go. The top floor is an enclosed patio with only the sky for a ceiling.

It may seem an impossibility to build an invisible house but that is exactly what architects did in Sweden. They created a "Treehotel" made out of a type of mirrored material that makes the walls disappear into the surroundings. The tree house is a 4 meter glass cube that is virtually undetectable to the eye without close scrutiny. Everything in the forest reflects off the walls of the tree house - the clouds, the sun, birds and trees. Many critics were concerned about birds crashing in to the house while flying through the forest but the architects have taken care of this as well. They applied a film to the glass that is visible to birds to help avoid crashes. The cubes are made of sustainable wood, have heated floors and even an incineration toilet.

Today, through the marvels of modern technology and the deep imaginations of some daring architects, tree houses aren't just for kids anymore. They really are catching on in popularity and there are even tree house resorts popping up around the globe. You can have a truly unique, eco-friendly vacation in nature by visiting one of these tree houses. It is guaranteed to be unlike anything you have experienced before.

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Signature Tree Service Commercial

Curtis and his team show how Signature Tree Service are the right choice when if comes to taking care of your trees. See more at www.signaturetreeservice.com