How Your Yard Can Support Bees

The plant life on your property plays an important role in supporting local ecosystems, and bees are no exception. These and other pollinators help to maintain more than 90% of the world’s flowering plant species, but like most creatures, they’ve become threatened by human activities. In honor of World Bee Day on May 20th, here’s how you can use your yard to support bee populations.

Plant Bee-Friendly Flowers & Shrubs

Bees use nectar and pollen in flowering plants as sustenance and for honey production. While there are plenty of bee-friendly trees to consider, you could also attract these special insects to certain spots of your landscape with specific flowers and shrubs. Blue wild indigo, wild bergamot, aromatic aster, and coastal plain Joe Pye weed are some of the best options for native bees. As an added bonus, each of these flowers will bloom in a different season, so you can support pollinators year-round with all four. If you’re interested in shrubs, try the buttonbush or sweet pepperbush.

Bee Mindful of Nests

When we think of homes for bees, a Winnie-the-Pooh hive may be the first image that comes to mind. While honey bees do indeed live in hives, 70% of the world’s bee species actually nest underground. If you’re concerned about yard damage or getting stung, fear not: their small mounds will only be in place briefly during spring nesting season, and will then wash away with seasonal rain. So to support bee culture, try to avoid any heaps of soil you spot on your lawn while mowing during the spring, as these are possibly entrances to their nests. You’ll also want to forego any pesticides, which could harm not only bees but other wildlife.

To make your lawn even more hospitable, leave your autumn leaves in place until spring, as this can help to provide coverage for better nesting. As an added bonus, the ground-burrowing insects will help to aerate your soil, which can facilitate healthier grass growth for the coming season.

Create a Place for Burrowing

While many bee species nest in the soil, honey bees prefer to dwell above ground. One of their favorite places for building honeycombs is a wood pile. Use scrap wood or dead logs to create a comfortable space for them to thrive. Just be sure to leave spaces between the logs so your bee neighbors can build their nest and come and go with ease. And of course, stay away from the pile to avoid the risk of getting stung — or bitten by other creatures that may have set up a home there.

Set Up a Water Source

Like all insects, bees need water. A stagnant water source like a bird bath could invite mosquitoes and bacteria. Instead, create an insect “puddling station” by filling a shallow dish with soil and small stones. Leave it near your bee-friendly plants and fill it with water as needed. If you’re really looking to upgrade your landscape and support an even broader ecosystem, you could also build a small pond with a water pump for circulation.

Keeping your trees healthy is an important aspect of supporting local wildlife. For top-notch tree maintenance including pruning and removal, turn to our team. Call (404) 252-6448 or send us a message online to get in touch.

When Should You Call in a Tree Expert?

For many homeowners, the DIY route is an economical and sometimes even enjoyable way to tackle yard maintenance. But there are certain tasks that always warrant professional help. Whether it’s to utilize special machinery and equipment, or the expertise only an arborist can provide, here are a few instances when you should call in a professional tree team.

Stump Grinding

Sometimes, homeowners attempt to grind a stump down on their own and quickly realize they won’t get very far. Even the best chainsaws are no match for Mother Nature; a tough trunk is sure to dull your blade at best. At worst, you could sustain serious injuries from flying bark.

Instead of attempting to take this task on yourself, turn to Premier Tree Solutions. We have special equipment built with this very purpose in mind, including a stump grinder that uses high-speed cutting disks to chip away at wood quickly and efficiently.

Pruning

When to prune, how much to take off, and how to do it safely — these are all questions that homeowners ask themselves when caring for their large trees. Fortunately, our experts not only know the answers, but can perform the task with precision. We have the right skills and equipment for trimming and pruning, including machines like specialized lifts on tracks to access hard-to-reach areas.

Fallen Trees

Removing a fallen tree promptly is important from a safety standpoint, but a downed tree is also a tremendous eyesore. If a tree falls on your property, you may already have other details to worry about, like contacting your homeowner’s insurance and pursuing storm damage repairs. Allow us to handle the task of removing the tree safely and efficiently. Our expert storm cleanup crew can remove uprooted trees and their debris without causing any further damage to your property.

At-Risk Tree or Limb

There are several signs that a tree is at risk of falling. Deep cracks, rot, leaning, pests, and limbs that have dropped or appear to be at risk of dropping are just a few. Don’t leave it to chance by waiting any longer. Not only does an at-risk tree create safety hazards for property and people, but many insurance companies won’t cover damage caused by a tree that was a known danger.

Pest & Disease Control

Trees are subject to pests and diseases that require the right interventions to stop them. Many issues require specialty response measures. While not every tree affected by pests or disease can be saved, professional intervention will stop the problem to prevent further damage to your landscape.

Planting Consultation

Planting new trees can be a financial investment — not to mention the time and effort you’ll put in while doing so. There’s nothing worse than dedicating these resources to your landscape only to have your new saplings die off in a matter of weeks. From the proper soil, to location and care, our experts can guide you through the planning process to give your trees the best chances at successful growth.

No matter your tree care needs, Premier Tree Solutions is the best team for the job. Our professional crew is trusted by homeowners in the Atlanta area for both routine and emergency services. Request your quote today by calling 404-252-6448 or by sending us a message online

Famous Trees in Popular Media

Trees have a longstanding history of playing symbolic roles in pop culture. From appearing in song lyrics and memorable movie scenes, to acting as central characters in novels, the presence of trees in entertainment is nearly as old as media itself. Brush up on your tree-via with a few of the most iconic trees found in popular media.

Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy

Marvel fans will recognize the lovable tree played by Vin Diesel in the Guardians of the Galaxy films. After sacrificing himself for others and being reduced to a sapling, Groot shows us that he’s a true friend, all the way down to his roots.

The Whomping Willow from Harry Potter

A landmark on the grounds of Hogwarts, the wizarding school Harry and his friends attend, the Whomping Willow is an enchanted tree that protects the property by violently thrashing its large branches. The wrath of the willow doesn’t discriminate, however, and even innocent parties have run-ins with the wooden beast throughout the series.

The Weirwood from Game of Thrones

Known for their blood-red leaves, weirwoods are a deciduous variety found within Westeros, one of the four known continents in George R. R. Martin’s fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire. Fans of the TV adaptation, Game of Thrones, will recognize the weirwood in King’s Landing as a site where several pivotal scenes take place.

Grandmother Willow from Pocahontas

A traditional guardian figure, Grandmother Willow is a sentient willow tree who delivers wisdom to Pocahontas in the 1995 Disney film. Wise and at times witty, she serves as an adviser to the Powhatan woman as she navigates the arrival of English colonial settlers.

Tree of Life from The Lion King

Hailing from another Disney classic, the Tree of Life plays a central role in The Lion King. It’s the home of Rafiki, the film’s baboon shaman, and is the site of his central discovery that the hero Simba is still alive after leaving the Pridelands. Today, the Disney theme park Animal Kingdom is home to its own Tree of Life, a 145-foot sculpture of a baobab tree which was constructed with more than 8,000 different branches and 102,000 artificial leaves.

The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein

Good luck getting through this children’s classic dry-eyed. The Giving Tree represents the sacrifices parents make for their children. As a young child grows into a man, he uses the tree’s resources until the charitable apple tree is reduced to a stump, perfect for the elderly man to sit upon in peace.

Sycamore Trees in “Dream a Little Dream of Me”

First recorded in 1931 by Ozzie Nelson, “Dream a Little Dream of Me” has been performed by at least 40 other artists, including Eddie Vedder, The Mamas & The Papas, Doris Day, Louis Armstrong, and Ella Fitzgerald. The lyrics are dreamy indeed, encouraging a lover to think fondly of tender moments shared, with “birds singin’ in the sycamore trees,” while they’re apart.

The Old Oak Tree in “Tie a Yellow Ribbon”

“Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree” was first recorded by Tony Orlando and Dawn. It’s told through the perspective of a soldier returning home from the military, and is based on the idea of a yellow ribbon being used as a symbol of devotion worn by women whose partners were serving in the war.

The trees in your own yard may not be famous, but they can provide years of enjoyment when properly maintained. Allow Premier Tree Solutions to help care for your trees with services like trimming and pruning. Contact us online or call 404-252-6448 to get in touch.

Homeowners Insurance & Your Trees: What to Know

Your trees add aesthetic value to your property and provide a number of other compelling benefits to our lives. But in certain conditions, trees could actually be a liability.

Because of this, homeowners insurance companies have strict requirements in place for policyholders, and failure to comply could result in a loss of coverage or denial of claims. Here’s what we want you to know about how your trees can affect your homeowners insurance coverage.

​​Please note: The following includes generalities of property-insurance policies and is not to be taken as legal advice or definitive information about specific coverages or specific loss. Every policy is different, and we recommend you consult a licensed insurance adjuster or an attorney in your state to interpret each policy.

Which Tree-Related Incidents Will Insurance Cover?

In many cases, homeowners insurance plans cover damage to your property caused by fallen trees or limbs — whether yours or your neighbor’s. This includes damage to your home’s structure and its contents, as well as sheds, fences, and other features on your property. Should a tree on your property fall and damage neighboring homes or structures, your neighbors’ homeowners policy should also cover those damages.

With that in mind, homeowners insurance companies hold their members responsible for maintaining the trees on their properties. For instance, trees that are dead or decaying should be removed promptly, as they pose known risks to surrounding structures and life. If a tree is poorly maintained, dead, or diseased and then damages your home, your insurance company may deny your claim.

If a tree you haven’t maintained properly causes damage to your neighbor’s property, your insurance might pay for those damages through subrogation, a reimbursement process during which they pay back a claim from your neighbor’s insurance company. But if the insurance adjuster believes you were negligent in the matter, your own homeowner’s insurance premium may increase. It’s even possible for your insurance company to deny coverage or refuse to renew an existing policy if they find the trees on your property are overgrown, dead, or otherwise risky.

How to Keep Your Property Protected

Fortunately, the issues of denied coverage and claims are almost always avoidable with proper tree maintenance. In general, most homeowners’ insurance companies prefer that their policyholders keep trees at least several feet away from the house and above the roof. (Be sure to check your policy for specific requirements, however.) In some cases, trees may need professional tree pruning or even tree removal to satisfy these requirements. Taking the time to address these problem trees now could wind up saving you thousands of dollars in the future.

Trees that are dead or diseased should absolutely be remedied, or if possible removed. Signs of an at-risk tree include:

  • Visible cracks and other noticeable trunk damage
  • Hollow trunk
  • Large, dead branches
  • A lean of more than 15% from vertical
  • Damage to more than half of a tree’s root system, such as from nearby excavating
  • Noticeable rot
  • Development of shoots or fungus on or around the tree

In some cases, it may be possible to remove only the affected limbs, including those that are at risk of falling due to a split or break.

While trees can be a valuable asset, you need a professional’s help to keep them so. Our certified arborists can help you determine whether a tree or its limbs can be saved, or whether removal is the safest solution for your property and your wallet. Request an assessment from one of our team members online or by calling 404-252-6448.

Spring Primping: How a Tree Removal Can Get Your Yard Looking Its Best

With spring’s arrival, all of the plant life in your yard will once again be in its prime. The best way to showcase your spring blooms and leafy greens is to ensure you don’t have any eyesores detracting from the big picture.

Whether it’s decaying branches, an unruly tree canopy, or a stubborn stump that’s taking away from your perfect landscape, Premier Tree Solutions can help. Here are a few ways we can get your yard primped and polished for spring.

Tree Removal

There are several signs of a dying tree, many of which can diminish the aesthetics of your property. Some warnings to watch for include:

  • Dry, brittle branches
  • Leaning
  • Little to no leaf growth
  • Mushrooms and fungi
  • Long cracks in the trunk

Of course, dead trees aren’t just a visual nuisance; they can also pose a serious threat to property and people. In the cases where a tree can’t be saved with revitalizing tactics like applying the right fertilizer or giving it a healthy pruning, it may be necessary to remove the tree completely.

Our team of certified arborists was the first in Georgia to own and use JAWS, a specialty crane that simplifies the tree removal process while enhancing safety. Operators remove the tree piece by piece via remote control, eliminating the hazards that come with climbing the tree and cutting limbs by hand.

As an added bonus, JAWS minimizes cleanup and damage done to your property that might otherwise come from dropping limbs and trunks. If you have a problem tree, you can still have it removed this spring without ruining the hard work you’ve put in to make your property look its best.

Tree Pruning

Tree pruning keeps your trees healthy and attractive. Not only does it remove wayward, unappealing branches, but it encourages optimal growth patterns. Pruning can also be done strategically to accentuate a tree’s best features, control and direct new growth, and eliminate dead or diseased branches.

Though pruning is paramount for healthy trees, it’s also an involved process that calls for professional help. Many well-intentioned DIYers make mistakes while pruning, such as injuring the tree’s bark, removing limbs improperly, and leaving open wounds in the tree. All of these factors can leave the tree more vulnerable to serious damage to both itself and your property — from disease to pests and storm damage. For this reason, it’s best to enlist the help of our professional arborists to get your trees pruned and ready for the warm weather.

Stump Removal

Stumps can make it more difficult for you to perform normal lawn care tasks, like mowing and weeding. But the bottom line is that a stump is also just an eyesore. Create a clean slate this spring and bring new life into your lawn with our stump removal services.

Our stump removal involves a self-propelled machine that eliminates stumps and their roots, chipping the wood away into small pieces. Eventually, any remaining roots will decompose, and you’ll be able to refill the area with soil and place sod over top.

Get your yard looking its best this spring with the help of Premier Tree Solutions. Our team is dedicated to finding the best solutions to fit your property and its unique needs. To request an estimate, call 404-252-6448, or send us a message online.

Want the Best Yard in the Neighborhood? Read This First

Drive down any residential street and it’s easy to pick out the most pristine yard on the block. These picture-perfect front lawns are the subject of envy throughout suburbia, and many neighbors often wonder, how do they do it? It may seem like magic, but having the best landscape on the street is actually achieved through a few simple steps.

Landscape strategically

An aesthetically pleasing yard starts with the right landscape design, which is based on several basic principles:

  • Proportion: The size of individual landscape elements should align with the size of the overall space. For instance, smaller yards will call for species that can be easily contained, whereas more expansive layouts can accommodate sprawling shrubbery, as well as trees that grow wider or taller.
  • Transition: For the best visual impact, elements of your landscape should flow, rather than starting or stopping abruptly. Trees and shrubs can be placed to offset hard lines of construction features, such as fence corners or driveways.
  • Cohesion: While beautiful landscapes have variety, colors and textures should complement each other instead of clash.
  • Rhythm: Use repetition to draw the eye to various points of your landscape. For instance, you might place a row of ornamental trees to border a fence, or line your walkway with a series of tulips.
  • Balance: Plants shouldn’t be all of the same color, shape, or size throughout your landscape. Instead, strike a balance that offers variety but overall cohesion with complementing hues and patterns.

Use mulch to your advantage.

Mulch can benefit your yard in several ways. For one, it helps to define spaces such as flower beds and areas around your trees, which creates clean lines. For another, mulch allows plants to thrive by protecting roots against extreme temperatures, suppressing weeds, and aiding in water retention.

Mulch can be especially beneficial for newly planted trees by providing insulation, preventing root competition, and reducing damage from lawn mowers and weed whackers. To mulch around a tree, remove all grass within a three-foot radius (or up to ten feet for larger species). Lay natural mulch such as bark or wood chips in the space at a depth of two to four inches. Keep a slight buffer around the tree trunk, and avoid placing the mulch directly against the tree’s base.

Care for your grass

A lush, healthy lawn is a must-have feature for an attractive yard. Optimal grass growth calls for a few basic practices, including mowing to the right height, watering on a set schedule, aerating, and seeding. You may also want to apply a weed control product specific for your grass type.

There are several common types of grass species in Georgia, including Bermudagrass, Centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, Turf-Type Tall Fescue, and Zoysiagrass. Start by identifying yours to determine the best care approach.

Don’t forget your trees

When so much focus is placed on your lawn, it’s easy to overlook what’s above. But the limbs, leaves, and small branches on your established trees need care, too. In fact, tending to them is an important aspect of overall landscape care. After all, a downed branch could destroy other aspects of your property, and a compromised tree could create issues like pests, fungus, or disease that could spread to otherwise healthy plants.

While you can DIY many aspects of lawn care to achieve and maintain the most beautiful property on the block, tree care is best left to the professionals. From pruning to removal and stump grinding, our experts have all your tree needs covered. Schedule an appointment by calling 404-252-6448 or by contacting us online.

DIY Hand Pruning Vs Professional Tree Pruning: Which One is Better for Your Yard?

Pruning your trees helps maintain their health, control their size and density, encourage future flowering, and give new life to older trees. Not doing so can result in property damage, disease, less-than-desirable yard appeal, and even potential bodily harm.

But which approach is better? Do-it-yourself hand pruning, or a full-on professional job? It depends on the answers to a few important questions.

Do You Have the Tools?

If you’re thinking that all you need to trim your yard is, say, a hatchet or a pair of sharp kitchen scissors, the answer to this question is decidedly “no.”  In order to avoid injuring your trees and shrubs, or making them more susceptible to disease and pests, you really need the proper tools. This includes hand pruners (both anvil and bypass), a pair of loppers, a pruning saw, and either hedge shears or motorized hedge trimmers.

Beyond this arsenal, you’ll need a cool, dry place in which to store your tools to prevent them from rusting or damage to the blades. And don’t forget equipment with which to clean them after each trimming, to prevent spreading bacteria or other diseases to fellow trees.

Do You Have the Time?

In general, pruning is best scheduled between the last winter freeze and consistently warming temperatures that indicate spring is coming before too much longer. You want to make sure you’re pruning after the risk of hard freeze damage has passed, but before your trees are gunning up for springtime blossoms. Depending on how many trees and shrubs you have in your yard, that could mean a lot of trimming all at once.

Keep in mind too though that there are several tree types that you won’t be able to trim at the same time. Oaks, elms, and ash all need to be trimmed later in the summer or early autumn to protect them from invading pests. Several other popular flowering shrubs (including the hydrangea and gardenia) actually respond better to an early autumn trim. This means, depending on your landscaping, you could find yourself doing quite a lot of pruning more than once a year.

Do You Have the Knowledge?

Crossed branches. Suckers. Branches that are turning inward, and those that are dead or dying — you need to be able to identify all of these by sight in order to avoid cutting a limb that still has good life in it. It’s also important to know the difference between cutting away enough to encourage balanced new growth, versus hacking off so much that your tree (and your yard appeal) suffers. You want to make sure you’re cutting back old growth, but leaving enough to provide adequate sunlight and moisture absorption for optimal health.

If all of this sounds like a bit much to juggle, we suggest you reach out to the professionals at Premier Tree Solutions. Our experts can oversee all aspects of tree maintenance (including cleaning up our tools), so that you don’t have to. Book an appointment with us online or speak to one of our friendly, helpful staff members by calling 404-252-6448.

What to Look for (and Avoid!) in a Legitimate Tree Removal Company

Early in the new year is a great time to assess a lot of lists, including your list of service providers. Who’s retired or moved to other areas, for example? Who do you know you need but haven’t reached out to yet? Who’s unfairly raised their prices or been doing a mediocre job that leaves you wondering if you should find a replacement?

If a tree removal or maintenance company is on that list, here are some things we recommend you look for when finding a new one.

License and Insurance

Just like driving a car, tree removal professionals need licenses that demonstrate they have the right education and the right equipment — so make sure your service has one. Certified arborists are even better, as they’ve received years of education and passed rigorous exams to demonstrate their knowledge.

Insurance is even more important, because without it, you’ll be liable for any damage that occurs on your property, whether to your home, vehicle, driveway, yard, or other trees. Go to great lengths to get written proof that they have all the required insurance (worker’s compensation, general liability, auto, umbrella), that it is up to date.

Proposals and People

Like a contractor for your home, a quality tree specialist will scope out a job ahead of time and provide you with a professional, detailed description of your desired project, including line itemed costs and estimated labor times. If the proposal provided leaves you with not more than a price to base your decision on, you could be left with an unexpected mess. Get everything that’s included in writing, and ask questions so that you’re clear on what will and won’t be done.

Similarly, a good tree company will provide you with good people. This means experts who specialize in tree maintenance, instead of jacks-of-all-trades who do a little landscaping or yard work here, maybe some fence installation and gutter cleaning there. Trees and shrubs are living beings that deserve the same professional care and attention we’d give to a pet or another loved one, so make sure they’re in qualified hands.

References and Reviews

If a company of any kind is hesitant to immediately produce a list of three or more people you can call as a reference, you may need to find someone else. Quality references of former (or better yet — current) clients or other professional business partners not only help establish credibility, but can help you verify the quality of their work and their approach to business.

Internet reviews can also be revealing, especially if you’re a discerning reader. Though five stars are great, be cautious of anyone who has only stellar ratings, as they may be manipulating their information. Instead of turning down someone because they have a low rating or two, read their response to the negative review. Did they apologize and work to correct the problem? Or lay blame on the customer? Checking for professional, courteous language and their tone can also tell you a lot about who you’ll be dealing with.

If you’re looking for a new relationship with tree service professionals, we invite you to check out the gallery of our team at work, read through our process, and call us directly at 404-252-6448 to have all your initial questions answered by our friendly staff. If you prefer to contact us online, we’ll be following up with you personally to get things started.

 

Attention Customers: Imposter Organization Using Premier Tree Solutions’ Name on Facebook

Recently, an unregistered and unaffiliated brand has been conducting business under our name via Facebook. If you encounter this company or are unsure if you’re dealing with us, here are some things to look out for:

While they may have copied our name, our quality and integrity can never be imitated.

Please be cautious when selecting a company for your tree care services and do your research to ensure it’s the company you intended to work with. Our services involve complex and potentially dangerous situations if not handled by a certified team. 

Our certified arborists can help you with any needed tree care or removal services. You can get in direct contact with us through our contact page or by calling 404-252-6448.

Owner of Premier Tree Solutions Jeff Roth Appeared on Lenz on Business

Jeff joined radio show host Jon Waterhouse on Lenz on Business to talk about his entrepreneurial spirit, the importance of diversification, the secret to employee dynamics, and more.

A US Navy veteran, Jeff moved out of the Armed Forces and into the nightclub business, eventually owning venues in Atlanta, Georgia and Orlando, Florida.

After stepping away from the bar world, Jeff began chopping his way into the tree service industry.

For more than a decade, he’s been the owner and operator of Premier Tree Services, which provides professional tree services to metro Atlanta clients. These services range from tree removal and trimming to storm damage, stump grinding, and crane work.

Listen to the entire episode to learn more about Jeff’s entrepreneurial story.

At Premier Tree Solutions, we’re here to service all and any tree service needs you may have. Whether you’re seeking removal for an at-risk tree or pruning services to help your trees stay safe and beautiful, you can trust and turn to our specialists. To request an estimate, call (404) 353-6448 or reach out to us online.