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 February, we are showcasing the Dahoon Tree. Learn all about Dahoon Trees below!
We think of trees as lovely additions to a yard’s verdant green space, and usually, they are. Sometimes, however, they become decidedly unlovely, or downright dangerous. Even if they don’t go marching off to war like Tolkien’s Ents, they can still cause serious damage if you fail to keep them in line.
Tactic Numero Uno? Pruning. Here are six signs you need to pull out those shears and get trimmin’ today.
Deadwood – parts of the tree that are gray or brown, and have stopped growing altogether – can fall out of the tree at any moment. This is extremely dangerous for people and property, so it’s critical you prune it out right away.
Cracks, splits, breaks, and other wounds are also signs that the tree may be compromised, making it more likely to drop branches. Again, prune immediately.
Sometimes roving branches just grow in the wrong direction and get in the way. This might be simply annoying, or it can be hazardous, especially if branches are growing into telephone wires, near fuse boxes, etc.
All trees have a natural shape, and pruning helps them maintain it best. This isn’t always intuitive, but online pruning guides can help you get a visual image of the proper methods of pruning trees, or you can ask an expert.
A leader is the trees vertical, topmost branch that runs up along the line of the trunk. Each tree should only have one. If it has more, you must remove the other(s), or else the tree will compete with itself. This makes it less healthy and less beautiful.
Sometimes a tree just gets too big for its spot. Many times people plant trees based on what they look like as saplings or juveniles and don’t take into account what will happen when they reach full growth. In that case, you may need to move the tree or remove it all together.
Of course, it’s often not possible to move a tree yourself – or even to trim them safely. If you need help, call Premier Tree Solutions, your amiable Atlanta arbor assistant. We offer tree trimming, pruning and removal, as well as storm cleanup, branch clearing, stump grinding, and more. If you’d like to learn more about us and how we can help you, please get in touch and contact us here.
You may have 99 problems … but proper tree planting technique shouldn’t be one of them. In this article, let’s walk through the five critical skills for planting a tree. Follow these tips and before you know it, your sapling will become the gorgeous tree it deserves to be. Here’s the scoop.
Most trees come with bare roots or wrapped in burlap, but either way, their roots are typically trimmed into a little ball. This can lend the false impression that trees only need a small planting hole. Untrue. Their roots need to be able to spread, and digging a wide hole full of loose dirt will give them the room they need.
If the tree has dirt around its roots, remove the dirt from the trunk until you can see where the roots begin. This is called the “trunk flare,” and should be just visible over the dirt once it’s planted. Dig the hole accordingly.
Nothing burns like going to all the work of planting a tree, only to check afterward and see it’s crooked. Have someone help you sight the tree and ensure it’s straight before filling in the hole.
Ideally, you shouldn’t have to stake your tree, because overreliance on a staking system can make your tree’s trunk and roots weaker. In some conditions, however, it’s necessary – think windy locations or where vandalism is a concern.
Never forget to mulch your new tree. A thick layer of organic debris (such as leaf litter or wood chips) will discourage competition from weeds, retain moisture, and keep the ground warm in winter and cool in summer. Apply the mulch in a layer 2-4 inches thick, and leave a ring several inches wide around the base of the tree to avoid trunk rot, pests, and so forth.
If you’re not quite sure you want to take on the project yourself, please feel free to get in touch with us here at Premier Tree Solutions. We’re always happy to offer tree-related advice or to tackle a project with you. In addition to tree care, we also provide storm cleanup, debris removal, and stump grinding. Get ready for a brand-spankin’-new tree … or yard and contact us here.
Direct: 404.252.6448 • Emergencies: 404.569.8897 • [email protected]
8525 Serenbe Rd, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268
