Unless you’re a squirrel, bird, or beaver, trees may not be the first thing that leap to mind when you think of love, but they’ve certainly been the subject of adoration among many poets, painters, and other artists throughout history. And while we may be biased, we think English artist Reverend William Gilpin was onto something when he said, “It is no exaggerated praise to call a tree the grandest, and most beautiful of all products of the earth.”

From shade to sustenance, fresh air to flowering canopies, trees shower us with love in their own ways year-round. As Valentine’s Day approaches, here’s how we can return the favor.

Five Tree Care Tips for Valentine’s Day 

Check for Pests

No, we’re not talking about love bugs (they’re unlikely to cause tree damage). Now is the time of year to look for signs of pests that can cause bark damage, stunted growth, and defoliated branches. Beetles, borers, and other insects may not be active this season, but they’ll leave behind hints like pinholes and egg masses. Break up with any bad bugs before spring arrives with a targeted treatment, such as a dormant oil spray.

Watch for Winter Damage

Don’t let the cold, harsh winter break your heart — or damage your beloved trees. Ahead of a particularly harsh cold snap, protect young saplings by wrapping them in breathable fabric. Burlap works best, but even a set of old sheets will do in a pinch. Just be sure coverings are loose enough to allow air to pass through, and remove them once warm weather returns.

Make Use of Mulch

Surround your trees with a layer of love by mulching a three- to ten-foot radius around their base. Not only does it serve as a layer of insulation to protect root systems, but it also hinders weed growth and locks in moisture. Feel free to lay it on thick: A covering that’s two to four inches deep will work best.

Treat Them to a Drink

Before toasting to your loved one and clinking glasses this V-Day, check to see if your trees need a drink, too. Especially young or newly planted trees may need water during dry spells. You can assess moisture levels in the surrounding area using a soil probe, but a screwdriver or stake will work, too. If the tool slides in easily, there’s likely adequate moisture. If the soil is dry, water near the tree’s base until the ground is damp, but not flooded.

Prune to Prime for Spring

If there’s only one act of TLC you can show your trees this season, make this your priority. Pruning eliminates dead, diseased, or damaged branches before they create more issues. It also allows for shaping to encourage a desired growth pattern just in time for spring. And although we’ve said it before, just like “I love you,” it bears repeating: Winter is the best time of year for pruning. Dormant trees are better able to withstand cuts, and having little to no leaf coverage makes for a cleaner workspace.  

While you may find pruning small trees and shrubs manageable enough to handle on your own, be sure to call in the pros for mature trees. Not only is there a precise science to proper pruning, but larger trees introduce safety hazards.

Schedule a Service With Premier Tree Solutions 

Allow our team of arborists to help give your trees all the love they need to thrive for years to come.  From tree pruning to trimming, Premier Tree Solutions is well-equipped to handle all of your tree care needs. Request an estimate online or by calling 404.252.6448.  

During winter, bare branches give homeowners a break from many of the tree and shrub care activities that can keep you busy in other seasons. And while you can mostly kick back while the weather is cool, there are a couple of exceptions to stay on top of — one of which is pest inspection.

Even if your trees appear healthy, this thorough look-over is worth your time. Here, we explore why winter is the best time of year to check for common tree pests in Georgia.

Why Check for Common Tree Pests in Georgia This Winter?

Get a Good Look Without Any Leaves

Thick canopies and lush blooms look lovely in the spring and summer, but they do create barriers if you’re sneaking a peek at your tree’s bark and branches. When trees are dormant and leaf-free, you won’t have to fight your way through thick foliage to get a good glimpse.

Without leaves and flowers obstructing your view, you’ll also have a clear sight of any signs of pest problems. Specifically, you’ll want to watch for:

• Tiny pinholes used as entryways, caused by boring insects like pine borer or ambrosia beetles
• Peeling or flaking bark (also known as “bark scaling”), is a notorious sign of beetles, spider mites, aphids, and other common tree pests in Georgia
• Egg masses
• White spots (sometimes caused by powdery coatings found on mealybugs)
• Scale-like bumps that boring insects create as they tunnel through bark

Spot Signs of Pests Without Actually Encountering Them

While a colony of live insects may indeed be the most surefire sign of an infestation, stumbling upon them can be an unwelcome surprise. Catching their clues without actually coming into contact with the creepy crawlers is much preferred, which is why winter — when many are inactive — is a great time to scope things out.

Depending on the species and maturity of the pest, juvenile insects may overwinter deep inside dormant trees, while some adults can outlast chilly weather. In any case, you’re likely to see reduced activity — especially as eggs lie in wait for springtime hatching.

Set Yourself Up for a Successful Spring

Spotting signs of an infestation can be unsettling. Still, it’s better to discover an issue now — when you can treat it promptly — than to wait until the spring, when eggs have hatched and there’s an active infestation to cause damage. If you do suspect pest activity, you’ll want to apply a dormant oil spray. These petroleum-based solutions are toxin-free contact insecticides, meaning they kill pests that come into contact with the solution. Be sure to apply the product on a non-windy day to prevent it from spreading to sensitive species (such as evergreens), when the temperature will be above freezing for at least 24 hours. Target only the areas where pest damage is present to keep the rest of your ecosystem thriving.

Concerned About Tree Pests? Call Premier Tree Solutions

When caught early enough, most pest damage can be contained. But if you find a widespread insect issue and need professional help, turn to Premier Tree Solutions. Our team can assess your trees to determine the best steps for keeping your property pristine. For a free consultation, call us at 404.252.6448 or send us a message through our website.

Georgia is fortunate to have an array of native trees that are beautiful all on their own. But even the loveliest and hardiest species can use a little help sometimes, which is where expert pruning comes in.

Done either as a preventive or corrective measure, pruning eliminates dead, crowded, or hazardous branches, and makes way for new growth. And like many aspects of tree care, there’s a science behind the perfect pruning techniques. Here, we share some tips for pruning the species you’re most likely to have on your property in Georgia.

Pruning Your Pines

Pine trees are plentiful in our state, and these quick-growing evergreens call for careful pruning, especially when they’re young and vulnerable. As they age, they round out naturally, with many taking on an iconic cone shape and growing more robust. Virginia pines, white pines, and longleaf pines are among the most common species you’ll find.

Pine trees can sometimes achieve aesthetically pleasing forms without much shaping. But as they grow, you can encourage this even further by trimming any especially long or misshapen branches back by about one-third. Prune during late winter or early spring, when needles on new shoots are about half as long as more mature ones. (Longleaf pines are an exception, and can be pruned during any season except spring.)

Minding Magnolias

Like many Georgia native trees, mature Southern magnolias require little to no pruning, save for branches that have been impacted by storm damage, disease, or pests. But young magnolias can be pruned to produce bountiful blooms and grow in a desired direction.

After blooms have stopped and the weather is cooler, grab a pair of pruners and tend to brittle branches or those that interfere with your tree’s symmetry. Cut the branch about a quarter-inch above a healthy bud. Ideally, you’ll want to repeat this process each year until your tree reaches maturity, trimming just a few branches at a time to prevent stress.

Helping Along the Hickories

Pruning young hickories will set them up for robust growth and a greater yield of nuts. You’ll want to remove broken, brittle, or otherwise damaged branches when the tree is dormant — about six weeks before buds begin to open. Concentrate on the top fifth of the tree to spur new growth.

When making cuts, use an angle to force moisture away from the newly cut surface, which will prevent rot. Cut affected branches back to the nearest healthy node instead of shearing off a main stem.

Shaping Maples

While you could effectively trim your maple trees in early spring before leaves form, doing so will release a sticky mess of sap as it starts to rise. Not only is it unsightly, but sap will also attract insects and other pests. So if you have a maple that needs maintenance, consider waiting until late fall, when sap flow slows down.

Since maple saplings can be especially fragile, we also recommend waiting until the tree’s third year to begin pruning. Cut dead or damaged branches at this time, or those interfering with the tree’s natural growth pattern. Using pruning shears, make cuts parallel to the trunk. Avoid cutting too close to the base of the branch, as this can create wounds that may become infected or invite pest activity.

Schedule a Pruning Assessment With Premier Tree Solutions

With these tips and the right pair of shears, you can prune your young trees with confidence — but mature trees are a different matter. Our crews have the specialty knowledge and equipment to prune and trim trees of all sizes safely. To request a free assessment, use our contact form online or call 404.252.6448.

When is the best time to prune your trees? It’s a question we encounter often, and it’s even been the subject of blog posts past. And though past advice may seem contradictory to this season, read on, because — as with many topics tree-related — there’s no single, one-size-fits-all answer.

In some cases, early spring can indeed be an ideal time for pruning, as it can encourage healthy growth throughout the summer. But when it comes to certain tree species, autumn trimming and pruning may be the better option.

Here’s a closer look at when fall trimming and pruning will work best for your trees.

Why Prune or Trim Your Trees in the Fall?

Pruning in late autumn has several benefits. For one, you’re better able to see branches when they’re bare, so waiting until after leaf drop may lead to more precise cuts. It’s also just easier: without thick foliage in the way, you’ll have less working against you as you position your shears.

Another important reason to consider fall pruning is to keep your property safe throughout the coming winter. If there are any large branches that are at risk of falling, the extra weight of snow and ice could be enough to send them crashing down. But even for smaller trees and shrubs, winter precipitation can bend and snap branches. Evergreens like junipers and arborvitae are the most vulnerable to winter weather, while deciduous trees like silver maples are also at risk because their wood isn’t as strong as other species.

Which Trees Benefit from Fall Pruning?

Deciduous trees shed their leaves in the fall, so pruning them this season is ideal for controlling their size, promoting growth, improving safety, and maintaining their overall vitality. Pruning earlier in the year presents a risk of delayed wound closure, since the pathogens that could be present on the tree may interfere with the healing process. But by late fall, these pathogens have typically died off. Waiting until winter could work too, but beware of the “bleed:” species like maples are known for weeping when their branches are cut, which can get messy.

Some deciduous trees native to Georgia that you might consider pruning in the fall include:

• Maples
• Birch
• Flowering dogwoods
• Ash
• Sweetgum
• Sassafras
• Magnolia

This list isn’t exhaustive, so be sure to consult with one of our arborists if you’re unsure whether your trees and shrubs could benefit from a fall trim.

Tips for Pruning & Trimming Your Trees This Fall

While the words “trimming” and “pruning” are often used interchangeably, they’re actually two different activities. Pruning is the practice of removing dead or damaged parts to promote a plant’s health, while trimming is typically done to manage a plant’s appearance or size. You can certainly do both at the same time on small shrubs and low-lying branches, so long as you do so with care. Be sure to cut above any new growth — but not too close that you risk damaging it — at a 45-degree angle. Cut back any weak growth to also improve air circulation and thin out problem branches.

Schedule Your Seasonal Tree Pruning with Premier Tree Solutions

If this sounds tricky or you’re unsure how to tell which branches should be trimmed and where, eliminate the guesswork and enlist the help of Premier Tree Solutions. In addition to hand pruning your trees, shrubs, and bushes with precision, we’ll also tackle your taller trees with our specialty trimming and pruning services and equipment. Request a free assessment by sending us a message online or by calling 404.252.6448.