If you've put in a lot of money and time into your landscape, the last thing you want is for all of your incredible trees, plants to get marred by winter elements. Below are ways of protecting shrubs in the winter, reducing the chances of damage. Protecting Shrubs in the Winter from Cold, Wind, and Sun The cold, wind, and sun could destroy bark, roots, and trees and harm evergreen foliage. Damage from cold usually occurs in late spring and early fall when it's still cold. However, there's no snow to shield them. Sun damage happens when the sun stimulates cambial activity in the tree. However, when the sun sets, the freezing, bitter temperature destroys the active part. Young shrubs and trees are more susceptible. Evergreens may lose color, becoming brown or blotchy. This discoloration happens because of the extreme wind and sun, which makes the tree lose moisture. Because the earth is typically frozen, the tree can't replenish the necessary moisture. A burlap wrap could efficiently safeguard your evergreens from these harmful factors. If you can't wrap the burlap securely around your shrubs, you could construct a frame out of wire and stakes. Additionally, some sprays work as anti-drying agents for use on some plants, shielding them from winter wind's dryness. Ice and Snow The weight of snow and ice can be too severe for numerous shrubs and trees, causing cracked limbs and even fallen trees. Clumping trees and upright evergreen shrubs that usually grow near each other are prone to ice and snow damage. They offer a vast surface space for buildup and don't have the durability to hold weight. To safeguard from the heaviness of ice and snow, cover littler plants with burlap. Protect little shrubs with "shrub-shelters," two boards in an A-framed position across the front or back by another board. These can be put on top of the shrub, shielding it from the winter elements. Other Things to Do Never over-fertilize or overwater at the end of the season. If you progressively lessen the amount of fertilizer and water in early fall, the plants will start to harden off for the impending winter. Call us at Syracuse Tree Service with your questions about winterizing your trees and shrubs. The winter months bring out the rarest version of our trees. Wrapping your trees for winter is one way to help them endure dry, harsh air and severe cold temps. Regardless what tree type you have, you must step up and safeguard your tree from winter's most severe elements. Wrapping Trees for Winter Protection Young trees, mature trees, or trees of any age with thin bark, gain from winter protection. Whenever the sun peeps out on a cold winter day, it heats the tree's bark. Then, the tissue under the bark perks up. However, when the sun vanishes behind a cloud or building, the bark's temperature drops rapidly. This process might destroy the tissue, leaving the bark dry and cracked. If you wrap your precious trees, you help safeguard them from sunscald. A similar situation could occur to evergreens in the wintertime. Their needles absorb the sunlight on warm winter days. Though, when it becomes cold again, the tree might dry out and turn from green to brown. The Best Tree Wrap for Winter The best tree wrap for winter depends on what type of tree you own. For example, a Japanese maple has fragile bark and loses its leaves in the autumn. The best way to safeguard it is by using a plastic tree guard to wrap the trunk. Besides a Japanese maple, you should cover the trunk if you have a poplar, linden, aspen, or sycamore tree. It's important to note that if you have an evergreen or arborvitae tree, use burlap to wrap your tree. Using Burlap to Wrap Trees There are a couple of ways to protect your evergreen trees with burlap. Wrapping your evergreens stop the deer from eating them and keeps the cold air out. Option One:
Option Two:
To learn more about wrapping your trees for winter protection, ask us at Syracuse Tree Service. Each year, many tourists take a trip along the New England woods to enjoy the incredibly colorful autumn trees. Below are the best trees for fall color, offering fabulous hues of orange, red, and yellow. These trees possess a distinct look and are super easy to maintain. The Best Trees for Fall Color in Your Landscape Maple is an essential tree for fall color. Maple trees command attention with vivid apricot-colored leaves. Maples come in a host of sizes, so they look good in any outdoor space. Sweetgum is a rapid-growing tree with fabulous red leaves that glow in fall. Sweetgum trees have star-shaped, shiny leaves that remain longer on the tree, letting you chill in the energetic colors into late autumn. Sweet Birch turns metallic yellow in the fall. Sweet birch trees provide high amounts of shade in the summer and have a sweet sap that can make homemade soda. Katsura welcomes fall with a tangy orange color and sweet-spicy smell. This tree flourishes in a pyramid shape with heart-shaped leaves and a straight trunk. Ginkgo trees display a radiant yellow on their fan-shaped leaves every autumn. With the capability to develop over 80 feet tall, ginkgos fight disease, insects, and pollution. Smokebush transforms into a deep red after a summer overflowing with yellow flowers. You can trim your smokebush shrub into a tree with the help of an experienced arborist. Witch hazel is a little tree with vast yellow coloring. Witch hazel provides the complete package, including flowers, fragrance, and shining color in every season. Red Twig dogwood has red stems and ruby red leaves. This dogwood blossoms with bunches of white flowers that develop into purpled-colored fruit to entice birds. Sassafras trees fend off mosquitoes and amaze with pumpkin-colored leaves of various shapes. Sassafras possesses licorice, making it a wonderful treat for wildlife. Redbud has goldenrod leaves in the autumn and soft pink flowers in the springtime. The redbud tree is a little tree with a bright-colored, forked trunk. Contact us at Syracuse Tree Service for more suggestions on colorful fall trees to plant. Delighted sweetgum tree owners understand the plant's brilliant summer glow, and colorful fall leaves can't compare. However, enchanting colors don't make up for those pesky brown balls that fall all over your yard. You've perhaps heard about tree injections to deter the balls from growing. Do they work? Read on to find out. Why Sweetgum Tree Balls Fall Sweetgum tree balls are balls of fruit with little seeds inside that squirrels and birds love eating. By the middle of autumn, the balls are dead. Similar to leaves, the balls have to fall so the tree can get ready for new growth. The only difference between sweetgum balls and leaves is leaves drop in the fall, and balls drop all fall and winter. You can't eat sweetgum balls. However, you can convert the balls into mulch and put a layer around your trees and plants. You can also use the balls as holiday trinkets. Sweetgum Tree and Injections Using injections on your sweetgum tree is complex since the moment has to be on point. For the best way to stop sweetgum balls, hire a professional and experienced tree care company. Use the injections right before the tree flowers in the springtime. The result is the flowers fall, stopping the balls from developing. An arborist can pinpoint the top application time every year using software that calculates peak pest emergence and bloom. There are also a couple of DIY growth-regulating sprays. Abide by the directions precisely. Using too much spray might stress or stunt the growth of your tree. Timing is everything. You have just seven days to stop the balls. If not, your tree will still make those irritating balls. Alternative Trees to Plant If you want to adios to sweetgum tree balls for good, swap your tree with a fruitless sweetgum tree. This tree is famous for being a topnotch alternative to the sweetgum tree. It delivers the same appeal that other sweetgum trees do tall stature, the star-shaped leaves, and the fantastic fall colors. A real plus is that the round leaf sweetgum tree grows extremely fast. If you want more information on sweetgum ball trees, contact Syracuse Tree Service. Trees rely on their root systems for a host of reasons. But root damage is a common problem among trees in urban and suburban areas. Since roots are critical for a tree’s survival, promptness is key in treating damaged tree roots. Without accurate care, root damage can make a tree deteriorate and die. Below are some common causes and symptoms of root damage. There are also a few damaged tree root treatment techniques. Common Causes of Root Damage Tree roots can become damaged from many causes, but some of the most common include: Animals A host of animals, mainly insects, feed on tree roots. Fortunately, many such issues are somewhat self-limiting and respond excellently to various treatments. Soil Compaction Compressing the soil around a tree’s roots can hinder their growth and even create physical damage. Soil compression can result from numerous causes, but lots of foot traffic and the use of heavy machinery are two of the most well-known. Luckily, there are many ways to handle compacted soil. Trenching or Digging When you dig in the area around a tree, you jeopardize harming its roots. Unfortunately, this sort of damage can happen while digging the shallowest holes or trenches. Most of a tree’s absorbing roots are around the upper 12 to 18 inches of the soil. Symptoms of Severed Roots Depending on the seriousness of the root damage, trees can display numerous symptoms. Some of the most obvious and well-known are: Crown Dieback Crown dieback is the gradual death of a tree’s canopy. In some instance, the damage will be just to a single branch, while other instances will be the complete death of the canopy. Poor Growth or Vigor Trees with damaged roots cannot thrive and grow as they should. This can make them grow slowly, display poor health or not reach their usual size. Ways to Help Trees with Damaged Roots Sadly, significant root damage can be the death of a tree. Though, trees can typically overcome minor cases of root damage, especially when supportive measures are used. Some of the most well-known steps taken to support trees with root damage include: Mulch – Mulch helps to nourish and protect tree roots, helping them live and make new roots. Radial Trenching – Radial trenching is the digging of soil in the root space and adding mulch or topsoil, helping to aid the tree’s roots and entice new growth. If one of your trees has suffered from root damage, contact a local, experienced, certified Syracuse arborist. Disease in a tree can come in many forms, usually spreading from the ground up. There are a huge variety of causes of tree diseases, the symptoms of which differ just as vastly. You might see the roots of your tree starting to rot due to a fungal infection or harm done to the bark as a result of an insect invasion. Sometimes, you might see the top of the tree dead, but the bottom still alive. This is referred to as dieback. If you observe signs of dieback in your trees, you’ll want to start an investigation to find out the reasons. Soil Health The health of the soil is a huge factor in the tree’s health. There are numerous ways you can see if your soil is healthy. The first thing you can do is check the soil itself. Dense, healthy soil will have plenty of organisms living inside of it. There will be insects, worms, and plant growth in any handful of soil you examine. If you can’t find any signs of life, that’s a true indicator that your soil isn’t healthy. Reach out to Syracuse Tree Care to get a professional opinion. Fungal Diseases Fungal diseases are another possible reason for tree dieback. There are numerous types of fungal infections that can happen, threatening many species of tree. Elm yellow disease, beech bark disease, Dutch elm disease, and oak wilt are just a few examples of the diseases that can threaten trees. Prevention is the most crucial measure you can take to keep your trees healthy. If you notice any section of the tree that is dead or decaying, you should remove it. Sometimes, you might have to get rid of a whole tree to stop the infection spreading to other trees in your landscape. If Dieback Happens If you’ve taken preventative measures and still notice dieback happening in your trees, you can use some other measures. You can trim dying or dead limbs. This treats the symptoms, but not the cause. You should also eliminate any overgrown root stock to enhance the health of the soil. It’s an excellent idea to plant a number of small plants and local shrubs as you can. These will attract spiders, wasps, and local birds that can serve as predators to disease-spreading insects. Spring is the perfect time to spend time outdoors enjoying the sunshine. Also, it’s a good time to consider which type of tree to plant in your landscape. Trees enhance your home’s curb appeal, improving the aesthetic of your home’s exterior. Plant a tree that is both fragrant and beautiful. Below are some of the best smelling trees to entice your senses and brighten your landscape. Linden Trees The leaves and blossoms from the linden tree are typically used to make herbal tea due to their medicinal benefits. Linden is said to aid in digestion, sooth headaches, and have several other positive effects on complete health. This is truly a tree that will stimulate your sense of smell, taste, and sight. If you don’t know the best spots to plant trees in your yard, contact a Syracuse Tree Care Arborist with any questions. Jasmine Trees Having a jasmine tree is another great way to fill your yard with an exotic fragrance. Since an assortment of jasmine trees can be grown in any landscape, notes of jasmine are frequently found in perfumes due to their sweet aroma. Similar to linden, jasmine is used in tea and is said to have several health benefits. Wisteria Trees The wisteria tree makes a dramatic landscape testimony both in terms of its visual appeal and fragrance. The tree’s lavender or blue-purple blossoms give it a stunning look. The aroma from the blossoms is equally amazing. Since the blossoms usually bloom in the springtime, it’s an ideal spring-planting Syracuse tree. In order to be sure the wisteria tree is in complete bloom, you’ll need to plant in an open area where it receives plenty of sunshine. Though a wisteria tree can flourish in partial shade, its flowers probably will not. Of course, the blossoms are crucial for the tree’s fragrant aroma. Cherry Blossom Trees Another tree to brighten up your yard is the cherry blossom tree. Similar to jasmine, many body products are scented with cherry blossom. The Japanese flowering cherry tree has a slight almond fragrance in the springtime. Their faint aroma will make your landscape fragrant without being overpowering. As a homeowner, it’s your aim to meticulously consider the best trees to add to your landscaping, make your home beautiful and bringing it added value, as well. for many people, landscaping isn’t only about aesthetic appeal. It’s about attracting wildlife. A popular choice of plants is trees that attract cardinals. Cardinals are the most preferred of any yard birds. They are charming in any season with lovely songs to match their vivid plumage. Also, they are one of the easiest birds to entice to your yard if you have the right bird baths, feeders, and nesting areas. What Makes Cardinals Special Cardinals are one of the most well-liked birds on earth. With their lively red plumage, they stand out from the landscaping in both winter and summer. Even the females have beautiful red highlights to complement their pale colored feathers. Cardinals usually don’t migrate. If they have what they need in the area, they don’t want to relocate from a place that is safe and secure. As with any living thing, cardinals need water, food, and shelter to survive. By satisfying all these needs, you turn your yard into a preferred habitat. Picking the Right Food Like any creature, birds are inspired by food. If you have a food source cardinals crave and enjoy, they’ll visit your yard over and over again. Cardinals like to eat in the late evening and early morning. Make sure to check your feeders often, making sure they are filled. When cardinals realize your yard is a good source of food, they will make it their permanent residence. Using the Right Feeder Besides having the right food, it’s also critical to have the right feeder to fulfill a cardinal’s needs. Your feeder has to be durable enough to support birds while they eat. Hanging, lightweight bird feeders are best avoided since they’ll sway and swirl under a cardinal’s weight. Instead, buy a bird feeder with the trays included or a platform feeder that offers plenty of room for a cardinal to perch while it eats. Offer A Water Source Cardinals need access to water for both bathing and drinking. A birdbath is a good way to fulfill both. With bird feeders, a birdbath is needed to accommodate the size of these big birds. Be sure the birdbath is two to three inches deep. For help on picking and installing the right birdbath, call a Syracuse Tree Care professional. When folks think about what can damage trees, rain and heavy winds might come to mind. Or even some type of disease or pest. But many people don’t think about how ice can damage trees. The fact of the matter is ice damage trees are quite hazardous. While icicles are nice to look at, constant ice could be harmful to your trees. You get an ample amount of ice on your trees both when it snows, and the temps drop below freezing. Examining Your Trees Before you examine your trees, you must be aware of some safety concerns. First, if your tree is near power lines, do not touch it. You don’t want to be part of an accident that involves water and electricity. Contact a certified arborist to see if your tree can be pruned back to get rid of dangerous branches. Sometimes, an ice-damaged tree can’t be repaired and has to be removed by a professional. It’s crucial to remember that broken branches cannot be repaired, so they need to be removed too. It’s best to trim them back to the next adjoining branch. You should never leave a branch as a stub. This promotes decay and rot. If you do this, the tree might die, leaving all the work you did as a waste of time. Removing a Tree If you have to remove a tree, think about swapping it with a more durable type like an oak, bald cypress, or crape myrtle. If you just replace the tree with the same one, then you could run into the same problem again. Protecting Your Tree There are things you can do to protect your trees if an ice storm is coming your way. Wrap small trees with carpet or strong cloth. Once spring comes, you have to take off the wrapping, so you do not hinder any growth. You can also request tree bracing and tree cabling, which entails installing steel cables in the trees to lessen the stress created by heavy snow and high winds. This isn’t a DIY job. Get in touch with Syracuse Tree Service to schedule the work. Even small yards can be a place for an assortment of incredible trees offering shade or fruit. There is nothing better to have in your landscape than a beautiful, tall tree. Trees are just amazing. From a single small seed, you can grow a fairly huge air-purifying, hydraulic, solar-powered equipment that does everything it needs from water, soil, and sunshine. Science is fantastic, and technology is great, but science has never created a tree by nothing but planting a seed or taking a cutting (clone). Its nature then takes over and grows a tree based on its genetic makeup based on its internal design. Below are some trees that will work in a small yard. Serviceberry: Numerous species are available with various heights going from shrub-sized to small tree. Some produce delicious fruits after the aromatic white flowers are pollinated. Crape Myrtle: Trees are compatible with full sun locations, as well as being heat tolerant, and make showy flowers even in lousy soil. Japanese Maple: These are common landscape trees and with good reason. Its bold colors and little statue can be an incredible accent in a bit of space. Japanese maple trees come in hundreds of selections with a vast range of colors, growth habits, and leaf types. Most are compatible for partially shaded locations. Even though the flowers are modest, the fall leaf colors make up for that. Apple: A full-sized apple tree could overwhelm a small yard. However, dwarf apple trees remain at or below eight feet while generating a good-sized crop of full-sized fruit. There are around hundreds of varieties of apple trees, lots of them grafted onto dwarf rootstock which keeps the trees littler while the upper portion dictates the type and quality of fruit. From sweet summer apples to late season apples, there are varieties for just about anyone’s preference. While some types can still grow bigger than intended getting the tree pruned by a tree specialist can keep it in check. These favorite fruit trees are available in smaller sizes that could fit a small yard: apricots, pears, cherries, peaches, and more. |
AuthorWe at Syracuse Tree Service want to help you with your tree service needs, our blog is where we provide helpful tips and ideas for the health of your trees. Archives
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