Root Damage

Statistically, humans cause the most root damage to trees without even knowing what they are doing wrong. Believe it or not, trees have a hard time surviving if damage is done to the roots of the tree- no matter how big or small. Signs of root damage include your tree dropping its leaves, a decrease in growth, and twig dieback of new growth. Chemicals and salts from roadways cause root damage and will decrease the roots’ ability to absorb water. One of the common causes of root damage is when humans have the tops of the roots grinded in their yards. However, this small act can kill your tree and let pests in. Planting trees too closely together will cause weakness in the roots of the tree, and both trees will be competing for their place there and often end up intertwined and do not live long because they do not have enough adequate nutrients.

Tree Fungus

Most people also do not know that when mushrooms or fungus are growing around or on a tree, it is also an indicator of decay. Localized areas of fungus on the outside of the trees can cause weakened areas of the tree due to rot which can cause the tree to break off in certain areas and let in other diseases that will kill your tree. A common fungus is the yellow tree fungus, also called the chicken of the woods. This fungus appears yellow or orange on your tree, and it often causes the tree to rot from the inside out which will eventually lead to your tree falling. Fungi also affect other areas of your trees, like the leaves. It is best to keep a close eye on the leaves of your tree and to also use fungicides to prevent the fungus from attacking the leaves. If your leaves start developing yellow or dark spots, it is best to have them inspected by a tree expert to determine if they have been infected and what to do next. Vines play a key part in a tree’s health. If your tree is wrapped in vines, they will trap in moisture which provides a great habitat for fungus and bacteria growth. The vines can also suffocate your tree and take away vital nutrients for the tree to survive, making your tree significantly weaker.

Unhealthy Bark

Another unhealthy occurrence is peeling bark. There is a large difference between bark that is normal shedding and bark that is peeling because of disease. While some trees do have peeling bark and are healthy, others could mean a serious problem for your tree and exposure to unwanted water damage that leads to rot. You do not want your tree to have bark that is peeling off in large areas, this could be a sign your tree is getting improper nutrition or that pests are infecting your tree. Cracks or hollow areas of your tree trunk could lead to excessive water and rot damage and should be addressed immediately. Another phenomenon that happens is included bark, which is overlapping of bark on trees. This happens due to two limbs or leads growing together creating no clear leader of the tree. This causes one to be weaker than another, and eventually one will fall or break off.

Conclusion

Most home developers plant trees that are not good for the area in which they are planting. Most developers use fast-growing trees. To know the best tree to plant, you should know how large the tree can get and if the roots are going to impact any sidewalks or buildings. The roots of trees will continue to grow through concrete and often damage the concrete which leads to human interaction and cutting or trimming roots. This will seriously damage your tree and often times, kill it. It is always best to consult with a professional arborist about the health of your tree.

The post Is My Tree Healthy? first appeared on Marshall's Tree Service.

The willow oak, also known as the Quercus phellos, is a fan favorite of Marshall’s Tree Service. This fast-growing tree can grow up to 2 feet per year. The largest willow oak was documented in Northhampton, Virginia and was 106 feet tall. However, they are most commonly found to be a medium sized tree of about 60 feet in height with a canopy between 40 to 60 feet wide, with a lifespan of up to 200 years. Of course, under perfect conditions, the trees can grow taller and live longer than normal averages. These trees have long and skinny leaves which turn into beautiful colors of yellow, brown and orange during the fall. Unfortunately, these trees are deciduous which means they lose their leaves during the winter months to conserve energy during the shorter winter days. These trees thrive in full sun, well-drained soil, but are not particular about the types of soil they are in, if they are consistently watered during the first years of growing. The Willow Oak tree would be a great addition to your landscape to attract butterflies, help pollinators, and provide shade. These trees provide a food source from their acorns for waterfowl birds, turkey, fox, deer, bear, and squirrels. They also provide habitats for many squirrels, birds, owls, insects, and rodents.

Below you will see photos of the Willow Oak tree in the spring/summer, fall, and winter months.

The white oak, also known as the Quercus alba, another fan-favorite of Marshall’s Tree Service. This tree grows between 1-2 feet at most, every year and is considered to be an ornamental tree because of its huge size and slower growth. The white oak reaches 80-100 feet in height, but it is not unheard of for the tree to grow larger. The tallest recorded was over 200 feet tall in West Virginia, until it fell in 1938, and it was named the Mingo Oak because it was in Mingo County. The canopies of these trees can grow to be as wide as the tree is tall. These trees have a lifespan of about 400 years but can live much, much longer. One of the oldest recorded was the Basking Ridge White Oak in New Jersey that was 75 foot tall and 125-foot-wide tip to tip that died in 2016. Another was the Wye Oak in Wye Mills, Maryland that was estimated to be 450 years old which fell in a thunderstorm in 2002. These trees thrive in full sun with adequate water. It is important that these trees are not over-fertilized, but they do like nutrient rich soil. The leaves of these trees are long with multiple lobes with rounded edges. In the fall, these trees turn into beautiful fall colors of red and brown. These trees provide excellent pollinator support and attract butterflies. The droppings from acorns provide food for turkey, wood ducks, pheasants, birds, rabbits, squirrels, deer, and black bear. It is also the only known food source for two caterpillars- both the Bucculatrix luteella and the Bucculatrix ochrisuffusa which are both moths. It is influential in providing a habitat for over 200 insect species which provide food for birds and other animals. The wood of the white oak is often used for furniture because it is rot and water resistant.

Below you will see photos of the White Oak tree in the spring/summer, fall, and winter months.

When choosing a tree to plant, it is always a good idea to check to make sure how large your tree will get to not disturb any structures. If you do not want to do any maintenance on your tree, make sure the tree does not require yearly trimming. To get the desired look for your landscape, I like to look at what the plant will look like during all the seasons of the year. Trees thrive in different soils based on locations. Before planting, you always want to make sure the tree you want prefers the type of soil you are planting it in.

The post Our Favorites first appeared on Marshall's Tree Service.

The first thing we should look at is how long the tree service has been in business. Marshall’s Tree Service has been in business for over 30 years. That sounds a lot better than a business who has only been relevant for less than 10. Businesses do not stay running if the customers are not happy. This means that your business of choice has been successful for many years and will most likely be successful for your needs.

The next thing we recommend looking at is reviews. Are the previous customers happy with the work that has been done? While companies can buy 5-star reviews, it is not common many do it, unless they have thousands and thousands of reviews. Marshall’s Tree Service currently has a five-star rating on Google with about 70 reviews. That looks a lot better than another tree service company with only 5 reviews. Generally, only customers who are really pleased with the work are the ones who will typically leave a review. Yelp is also a good source to look at reviews on. If the business owner is replying to the reviews, it often means the office side is organized, and they value the customers and the feedback of the customers.

One of the most important factors to consider in my opinion is insurance. Does the tree service you are thinking about hiring have insurance and is it good insurance? If the worst happens, and the tree that you have removed falls in the wrong direction or even worse- onto your home, then can the tree work company afford to pair for the damage? If the company does not have updated insurance, I would highly recommend going with a different company. Most companies will also provide proof of insurance.

While getting the job done as soon as possible is another factor that makes customers steer in different directions while choosing certain companies over another, it may also be that the tree service is not desired. If you have a tree service that can almost immediately do the work, then that means they have no work on the books. Now, this could be for a reason of it being a slow season or it may be because the tree service is not desired for some particular reason or another.

We also recommend checking what services your friends and family use. If they have a tree service they recommend, you or your friend or family member could receive a discount on the service or a future service. Asking the referrer questions that are important to you about the service they did is important to make sure you are choosing the right company. After all, every tree service companies are different and have different techniques for doing work.

Lastly, the most important factor we recommend considering is payment methods. We never recommend paying the entire price up front before the job has been completed. A deposit to start the work is sometimes required and understandable. However, at Marshall’s Tree Service, we do not require you to pay up front and agree to only accept payment when you are happily satisfied with the work that has been done.

We hope this blog helps you and others to choose the right tree service company for your tree work needs! When in doubt, always ask around! Some tree service companies are better in different aspects than others. Always do your research, you’ll be happy you did!

The post Choosing the Right Tree Service first appeared on Marshall's Tree Service.

Let’s start with bagworms. The scientific name is Thyridopteryx ephemeraformis. They are very common on the eastern half of the United States and most commonly affect conifers and many ornamental shrubs. They are the beginning stages of moths, and after they hatch, they form bags that hang from the tree typically growing to about an inch. This explains the term “bagworm.” With this “bag,” they are able to move from tree to tree feeding on the tree, thus killing it. The unfortunate fact about this insect is that they usually are not detected until the damage has been done. The good news is that you can prevent them using insecticides if caught early or as a preventative.

One insect that you probably thought was harmless is the webworm. The fall webworm, also known as the Hyphantria cunea as its scientific name, develops large webs around limbs or branches of tress. They are primarily targeting deciduous trees and feed on the leaves of the tree. Now you can see why this would be problematic because they are technically eating your tree. However, at first glance most people do not see the harm in them because they are unaware that while the caterpillars are in their webs, they are also feeding, and this is not just a hibernation time for them. Besides the unwanted appearance they present, they are also taking away vital nutrients for your tree to grow and thrive. With webworms present, your tree is having to work harder to provide the nutrients it needs to survive because of these unwanted pests. Webworms are a little bit easier to get rid of than other types of pests. You can remove them by hand or spray them with pesticides.

Now on to the next probably most dreaded insect- termites, also known as Isoptera. A common misconception is that termites only infest dead trees. This is false! Some termites head directly for live trees first! You can tell if termites are present if there are hollow cavities the termites have eaten through or along the tree. You can also check to see if you have termites at the base of your tree- they often create mud tubes along the bark. These are used for the termites to travel. We recommend if you suspect you have termites to call a professional. Termites are strong enough to eat enough of your tree away that it will compromise the tree and put it at risk of failing or dying which then leads to falling. Of course, like most things you can also prevent termites using insecticides but also controlling your property and making it a not-so-desired location for them. For example, while not all termites go for live wood, the majority of them go for dead or dried wood. You want to avoid stacking firewood near your house. Another common misconception is that leaving tree stumps is totally safe. While the stump has no threat of falling on your house, it could damage it in other ways. Stumps that are left from trees that have been cut down invite a feeding area for termites and other insects that may eventually move on to your house when they have had enough of the stump. It is always best to get a termite inspection at least once a year and get prevention, that is if you wish to keep your trees healthy on your property.

The post The Enemies of the Tree first appeared on Marshall's Tree Service.

Tree topping is an aggressive pruning approach that compromises your tree’s health and structure, making them weaker. It involves trimming back large branches or leads of your tree and may also involve cutting the entire top of your tree in hopes of reducing the height of the tree. It is a much faster way to trim a tree, but like most events, faster is not always better. Tree topping, also known as “hat-racking” or “heading” often leads the tree looking less than appealing. It leaves the tree with ugly stubs or ends of the leads and often takes years to grow back to the tree’s past appealing appearance. Below is a picture of a tree that has been topped. You may often see trees that have been topped to avoid touching powerlines or homeowners that are scared limbs may fall during a storm. It is also much cheaper than other pruning methods because it is much quicker. Most customers that have their trees topped do not know that it puts the tree in danger of dying. Tree topping puts the tree at a much higher risk of developing disease, bark damage, root death, structural loss, and pest problems. It makes the tree have a much harder time making food, protecting itself from damaging UV rays, adapting to temperature changes during the summer and winter, and not to mention, looking beautiful. While tree topping is cheaper than additional pruning methods, it often leads to becoming more costly overtime because you have to maintenance the tree more frequently, and often the trees die, and you must remove them entirely.

What can I do instead of topping my tree?

There are numerous ways to afford tree topping. The first question is what are you trying to do or why are you topping the tree in the first place? Are you trying to decrease the size of the tree? Or are you worried about limbs falling during a storm? Is your tree blocking a view that you would like to be able to see better? The second step is removing any branches, leads, or limbs that may be harming your tree. Any dead or damaged limbs pose a risk to the tree itself if those limbs decide to fall, it could take more of the tree than you want. Also having dead limbs on the tree is dangerous because the tree is trying to provide for said limb. If your tree has any diseased branches, this poses a huge risk to the tree because the disease will spread to the entire tree and eventually kill the tree which leaves you with an even bigger problem-removing the dead tree. If your tree has any of these dead, damaged, or diseased limbs, it is best to cut them off at the trunk. Your tree also may have branches you’d like to remove because they are overhanging a pool or near a structure like a house or shed. Depending on your preference, you may want these limbs just trimmed. However, this can be very costly, and we do not recommend this. The limbs will eventually grow back leaving you with paying for this work numerous times to keep it trimmed to your liking. We recommend pruning the limbs or leads completely down to the trunk or at the collar, so your tree can focus on growing in the other safer directions. Trimming at the collar will allow the trunk to grow healthy, covering the cut instead of leaving the cut open for disease and pest.

Another type of pruning is crown thinning. This is the process of selectively removing branches to increase light and reduce the force on the tree from wind. Removing certain branches of your tree helps wind come through the tree, and this reduces the risk of your tree falling or limbs breaking off during a storm.

Crown reduction is also another type of pruning method, and this is often what the client wants when they decide to “top” their trees. Crown reduction is the process of reducing the overall size of a tree by trimming selective higher branches. This usually does not involve taking down huge branches, instead it involves taking down numerous smaller branches that are higher up in the tree. Yes, this may be a more costly way to trim your tree; however, in the long run it is the more cost-effective option because it does not put your tree at risk of dying like tree topping does. You could say the opposite of crown reduction is crown raising. This involves trimming the lower branches of your tree that risk touching your car or in the line of humans walking like over sidewalks. These limbs have grown so large that they are lower than you would like them to be. Usually if you want to do this then you have no problem with how large your tree is getting. If this is the case then we recommend trimming these branches or limbs back to the trunk, so you do not need to keep trimming them. This makes it a much more cost-effective way to trimming the lower limbs of your tree because it only needs to be done once.

Understanding how to currently trim your tree is very important to the overall health and appearance of your tree. It is best to let a well-known professional handle the pruning of your tree to ensure its survival. Pruning your tree promotes growth of healthy and larger branches, helping to ensure your tree is growing strong. It helps your tree handle heavy weather conditions and limits the risk of them falling or becoming damaged during storms. If your tree is a fruit producing tree, trimming the dead or unhealthy branches will promote fruit growth and the growth of new spurs. Pruning helps your tree live a long and healthy life and is essential to maintaining a healthy tree.

The post Tree Topping: Your Tree’s Nightmare first appeared on Marshall's Tree Service.