BE A GEORGIA TREE KNOW-IT-ALL: AMERICAN HOLLY

Get to know Georgia’s beautiful array of trees and how you can take care of your own! Each month, we feature some of the most popular trees in the state. For January, we are showcasing the American Holly. Learn all about American Holly trees below!

 

Pleased to Meet Yew: Five Winter Trees We Love

The White Christmas has passed (whether or not it was white), but that doesn’t mean all light and beauty is gone from the world. When you plant the right trees, you’ll enjoy color and life even in the depths of winter. Here are five of our favorite choices.

  1. Yew

Of course, we would be amiss if we didn’t first introduce you to our pun-tastic friend, the yew. This conifer is a bright green all winter long, giving your bare yard some winter cheer. Plus, it will sprout anew even when cut back to bare wood, which most evergreens will not. Just make sure you keep livestock away from it, as browsing could kill them – and warn children against eating the toxic seeds.

  1. Camellias

Famous for blooming sporadically between fall and spring, and often re-blooming all winter long, camellias are one of the most beautiful cold-season options. With more than 200 species and around 3,000 hybrids, you have no lack of color options: pink, white, red, purple, salmon, variegated, and more.

  1. Japanese Flowering Apricot

In the same family as cherries and apples, the winter-flowering apricot is a lovely sight to behold against a drab seasonal background. With delicate blossoms of pink, white or rose, this tree will draw you to the window again and again.

  1. Holly

Especially beloved at the holidays, Holly is a lovely plant all through the cold season. Its berries may be red or white, and its sharp and waxy leaves shine a deep green. If you prefer the dappled effect, opt for the Variegated English Holly, with white-edged leaves.

  1. Dogwoods

Famed for their bright red and yellow stems, dogwoods are often at their best when bare. Their spring flowers are also showy, but nothing beats a warm and glowing hue when the winter wind is nipping at your cheeks.

Those aren’t your only options, of course, so for more ideas on winter trees and shrubs, see the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s many lovely suggestions.

Want to learn more about the best trees for your yard, and get help planting some eye-catching new statements for the year to come? Get in touch with Premier Tree Solutions, your Atlanta experts on all things arboreal. In addition to planting, we’d love to help you with trimming, thinning, cleanup and removal, a one-stop-shop for a beautiful yard. All you have to do is give a shout at 404-252-6448 or contact us here.

Ciao, Christmas: Now What Should You Do with that Tree?

It’s that time of year again.

The lights come down. The clove-studded oranges have to go (although if you made clove-studded oranges, you deserve to take a picture and frame it). The Christmas tree is on its last legs, and goodbye is imminent.

But you want to do the goodbye right, disposing of your tree in the smart, environmentally friendly way. Here are a few of the best options.

  1. Recycle Curbside

If you live in a neighborhood or suburb that picks up trees for yard debris, go ahead and throw it out on the curb. However, beware that if you only have garbage pickup, the tree will head to landfill, where it will rot instead of decomposing, not helping the environment.

  1. Put It in a Wood Chipper

Trees make great mulch, which protects your plants, shrubs, and other trees all through winter. If you have a wood chipper, cut the tree up and pass it through. You can also do garlands and wreaths.

If you don’t have a chipper, just saw the trees individual branches off and lay them on the ground to protect the roots of other plants. You can then chop the tree up for firewood (though beware, most sappy trees will snap and pop, so use a fireplace screen).

  1. Make a Winter Bird Shelter

You know who doesn’t mind a dead evergreen tree? Birds who are busy preparing nests for springtime and babies. Put your tree outside, upright, and wait for feathery cuties to move on in.

Want to take the cuteness to the next level? Rodale recommends you hang ornaments made of suet and seed from its branches.

  1. Hand It Off to a Yard Debris Cleanup Crew

Sometimes the easiest thing to do is just set the tree in an out-of-the-way location and wait for someone else to deal with it – preferably your trusty maintenance crew.

And hey, while you’re at it, why not clean up the yard a bit? Premier Tree Solutions is the friendly, local business to call. We serve the Atlanta area with a huge number of tree- and yard-related services, including tree and stump removal, branch trimming, storm (and Christmas tree) cleanup and more. All you have to do is give a shout at 404-252-6448 or contact us here.