BE A GEORGIA TREE KNOW-IT-ALL: HONEY LOCUST

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 April, we are showcasing the Honey Locust. Learn all about Honey Locust trees below!

Are You Ready for Your Closeup? Preparing Your Yard to Go on the Market

It’s time to put your house up for sale. You have so many feelings: anxiety, excitement, dreams for the next house, dread at the mounting to do list, a strong desire to pizza/Netflix the day away and just forget it all.

Don’t do that. Or heck, go ahead and do that. When you’re done, though, it’s time to figure out what to do about the yard. People judge your home from the moment they step out of their car with their realtor to hand. If they don’t like what they see, they may just get right back in. At best, they’ll give a polite but cursory tour and head on to greener pastures (ahem, literally).

So how do you lower your literal “bounce rate”? Here are a few tips to put into action today.

  1. Clean, Clean, Clean: Before you do anything else, get rid of toys, broken pots, old swing sets, rusting cars and anything else that’s cluttering up the space. You don’t even want to see that; why would they?
  2. Remove Any Unsightly Plants: First and foremost, dig up dying shrubs or withered vines. Ditch sad attempts to regrow grass in shady areas. Take down that almost-but-not-quite-dead willow, and don’t look back. You’ll be amazed how much better this makes your yard look immediately.
  3. Give Everything a Haircut: Yes, we do mean everything. Look around your yard. Trees, shrubs, grass, perennials … it will all look better as soon as it gets a nice trim. Pruning and shearing keeps plants bright and healthy, and brings order to your environment. Start there.
  4. Assess Bare Patches: You will be left with some empty spots on your property. Ask yourself whether or not they should stay empty. Do you want to fill those spaces, and with what? A simple layer of bark chips is nice enough for some spaces, while for others you might want to put in some ground cover. Note that you’ll need 3-6 months for it to spread and naturalize, though, so if you need a quick fix, opt for a media like tanbark instead.

Need a little help? Well, that’s okay. Call in Premier Tree Solutions. We can give your yard the makeover it needs to get ready for showtime. Don’t hesitate to pick up the phone for pruning, trimming, tree removal, stump removal, and more. We’re here, we have clippers and saws, and we’re ready. Give us a ping today!

Don’t Let Thor Get the Best of You: Here’s How to Protect Your Trees from Storms

Want to keep the god of thunder and lightning from giving you trouble this season? Summer is the time of storms, and that’s not so good for your beloved birches, beeches, and buckeyes (and, you know, other species). Here are the dangers you face from good ol’ Thor, and what to do about them.

Avoid Falling Limbs: Trim Trees Regularly

One of the most common problems in stormy weather is dropped limbs. While you can’t always avoid this, especially with hurricane- or tornado-force winds, you can make it much less likely with dedicated and timely pruning.

Look for dead or dying limbs and get those out. Prune off branches that have weak crotches (limbs that form a wider angle than around 45 degrees or so). Remove extra branches to conform to the tree’s natural shape and offer more light and resources to remaining limbs.

Avoid Injuries Due to Stress: Water Well

Trees whose systems are already stressed are more likely to suffer damage in high winds. Their root systems may be shallower or less extensive, resulting in a greater readiness to tip or rip out of the ground completely. They may also be drier and crack or break more easily. Avoid brittle trees and weak roots with conscientious watering all summer.

Avoid Flooding: Maintain Yard Drainage

There’s no easier way to kill a tree than by drowning it. Subjecting roots to submersion for days or weeks after a storm can substantially reduce tree health, even if they live. Avoid this by funneling stormwater away from trees, perhaps with a bioswale or rain garden.

Avoid Lightning Strikes: Install Lightning Protection

We’ll just say this upfront: Lightning protection systems are expensive. However, if you have a heritage tree or a sentimental specimen on your property, it may be worth the investment. These systems don’t draw strikes; they reduce the charges between ground and sky to reduce the chances of strikes at all.

No matter what you need to protect your trusty trees, we’re here to help. Premier Tree Solutions serves Atlanta with the quality, dedicated tree care you need. Whether you want to protect trees before a storm or clean up after one, we’re the people to help. Get in touch and contact us here if you have any questions!