The Science Behind Falling Leaves

Autumn is famous for the gorgeous colors it brings to our trees and foliage. But when the oranges, reds, and yellows fade, we’re left with dead leaves scattered across our yards. While it can be annoying to deal with leaf blowing and raking, we can take comfort in knowing this process is a vital part of a tree’s life cycle. 

Have you ever wondered why leaves fall from trees in the fall? We’re explaining the science behind falling leaves and this seasonal phenomenon below!

It’s All in The Leaf’s Design

Deciduous trees are the types of trees that exhibit brightly colored leaves that fall during the Autumn. Their leaves are usually very thin, which means if they stayed on during the winter they would rupture from freezing water in their veins. 

When the temperatures start to change with the new season, hormones within the tree are activated. The process called abscission begins. Chlorophyll, the part of the leaf that controls the pigment and also plays a major role in photosynthesis, stops being produced. That’s why green leaves fade into the gorgeous reds, yellows, and oranges we all know and love. 

Then, the vessels that provide the leaves with sugars and water close up. A layer of cells called the abscission layer develops. It grows between the leaf stalk and the branch holding it, cutting it off from the tree without creating a wound. Finally, the tree enters its dormancy stage, meaning it’s resting and saving energy until it’s time to grow new leaves in the spring. 

Overall, this is an important part of a tree’s life cycle. When leaves fall, it allows the tree to have a fresh start during the spring, giving them ample time to develop new food sources instead of holding onto ruptured leaves that can’t provide any nutrients. Having no leaves also protects the tree from damaging snow and winds during the winter. 

But Some Trees Don’t Lose Their Leaves?

That’s right! Those types of trees are called evergreens, which means that they have leaves with thick waxes and resins that protect them from the cold weather that comes. Some great examples are pine trees and magnolias.

Have any questions about caring for your evergreen or deciduous trees in your yard or the science behind falling leaves? Feel free to reach out to us by clicking here or by giving us a call at 404-252-6448.

BE A GEORGIA TREE KNOW-IT-ALL: DEVILWOOD TREE

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. This month, we are showcasing the Devilwood Tree (Cartrema americana). Learn all about the Devilwood Tree below!

Devilwood Tree infographic

What Wood Is Best for Fires?

With colder temperatures in the air, there’s nothing better than warming yourself up and getting cozy next to a crackling fire. Whether you’re enjoying a backyard bonfire or cuddling up on the couch by your fireplace, the most important element of a good fire is the wood that is used to create it! Unfortunately, the wrong wood choice can lead to excess smoke or short burn time. 

Curious about what wood is best for fires? We’re answering that question below! 

Pick These Logs for Recreational Fires 

The options listed below are known to be the best types of wood for recreational fires. They produce nice heat, burn slowly, light up quickly, and won’t leave you coughing over excess smoke. 

  • Ash
  • Beech
  • Birch
  • Black Cherry
  • Cedar 
  • Dogwood 
  • Fir
  • Hickory 
  • Madrone
  • Maple
  • Oak
  • Pine

Want help supplying these types of trees for your yard? Feel free to reach out to us by clicking here or by giving us a call at 404-252-6448.

How to Plan for Fall and Winter Tree Care

We’ve made it through another hot summer season in the south! But the cold weather is coming quickly, which means it’s time for a different plant care plan. While watering over dried soil was the main focus throughout summer, now it’s time to get ready to protect your soil and roots from damaging cold temperatures. 

As chilly air rolls in, here are the steps we recommend all tree owners take for how to plan for fall and winter tree care. 

Prune Dead and Broken Limbs 

It’s always a good idea at the start of any new season to do a lap around your yard and find any broken or dead tree limbs. That way, you can prevent them from falling and potentially damaging your house or property. It’s even easier to identify potential danger during the winter months when leaves have fallen off your trees. 

Fertilize

During the cold seasons, roots will be quietly growing underground. When you fertilize before the soil freezes, you’re helping to maintain the nutrients in your yard, as well as giving your roots an extra boost of nutrients which will carry them into the spring. 

Protect Your Roots 

Adding new mulch, pine straw, or even a protective wrap over the top of your tree’s roots protects them from damaging winter weather. These things also help to keep moisture locked in your tree roots if you live in a dryer climate. 

Have further questions before the cold temperatures set in? Our experts are here to assist anyone in the Atlanta area with prepping their yard and for how to plan for fall and winter tree care! Feel free to reach out to us by clicking here or by giving us a call at 404-252-6448.

BE A GEORGIA TREE KNOW-IT-ALL: OGEECHEE LIME TREE

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. This month, we are showcasing the Ogeechee Lime Tree (Nyssa ogeche). Learn all about the Ogeechee Lime Tree below!

Infographic of Ogeechee Lime Tree

Want to Harvest Sap from Your Trees? Read This First!

On top of having fruit to harvest or beautiful bark to make into paper, certain trees can also produce sap that is ripe for the taking. In fact, some people successfully bring in extra income by planting and harvesting from trees, and that includes draining sap.

But if you’re not a professional in this field, getting started can be daunting. Whether you’re collecting sap from a pine or a birch tree, read this step by step guide to help understand how to harvest sap from your trees. 

Needed Tools 

The first step is to gather the necessary tools to get the job done! You will need:

  • A gathering item, such as a gallon sap bag or a bucket. 
  • Tapping bit. 
  • Drill. 
  • Rubbing Alcohol. 
  • Spouts.
  • Hammer. 
  • Cloth. 

Guide to Gathering Sap 

  • Pick a Tree. You’ll need a healthy and tall tree if you want to harvest sap. Avoid picking any trees that have damage, aren’t fully grown, and have diseases or pests. 
  • Choose Your Side. You can either pick the south side or the north side of the tree to use for collecting sap. While many experts say that the south-facing side runs sap earlier, the north-facing side is best to use if you plan on preserving your sap. 
  • Drill a Hole. Use your drill to create a hole that is approximately one and one half inches wide. Make sure to do this at a slight upward angle and do it as quickly as possible. Once done, verify the wood you drilled into is white and not brown. If it’s brown, move onto another tree. If it’s white, use a nearby twig to get rid of the shavings. 
  • Install Your Spout. The first important step in doing this is to sterilize your spout with your rubbing alcohol. Next, tap the spout into your drilled hole with your hammer. Do so gently without damaging the tree too much. A good rule of thumb is to ensure the spout is tight enough to hold some weight (such as a gathering bag) but not so tight that it’ll split the wood. Once the spout is in, you’re ready to collect sap! 
  • Keep an Eye Out. The entire process will usually take about 14 to 21 days. However, some trees release sap much quicker, so you’ll want to check on your bucket or bag every so often. Otherwise, some of your hard work may go to waste! To put it into perspective, trees produce anyway to ¾ to one gallon of sap a day. 

Have further questions about your trees? Feel free to reach out to us by clicking here or by giving us a call at 404-252-6448.

Understanding the Different Types of Soil

Whether you’re looking at new plants to buy or looking at homes and the yards they rest on, chances are soil has come up in your research. That’s because understanding soil means giving your trees, bushes, flowers, plants, and garden the best chance at thriving under your care. 

If you don’t know the different types of soil yet, you’ve come to the right place. To help you make the best-informed decisions for your plants and yard, we’re describing the different types of soil below!

Different Types of Soil

  • Chalk: Both light and heavy because of its levels of calcium carbonate and lime, this type of soil is perfect for plants and trees that need high levels of acidic. 
  • Clay: This type of soil holds onto a lot of nutrients and levels of water. However, it can dry out quickly and crack while also remaining wet and cold for long periods of time during the winter. Many gardeners and yard owners find it very frustrating. 
  • Loam: A mixture of sand, silt, and clay, this soil is the perfect combination of all the other types! It’s easy to work with, fertile, and has great drainage. 
  • Peat: Most often used to create a fantastic base for planting, peat soil is known for containing a high level of organic matter. It can also retain large amounts of moisture. 
  • Sandy: Light, warm, and dry; sandy soil drains quickly and is easy to work with. However, it can dry out quickly and also has very little nutrients to work with. 
  • Silt: While this soil is very prone to washing away during storms, it does have a high fertility rate. It also drains well and also holds moisture. 

Which Type of Soil to Use?

Now that you know the different types of soil, you might be wondering which one is best for your project. 

  • Want an indoor jungle? It’s best to look up what specific types of soil your plants enjoys. However, in general, loam soil is great for indoor plants. 
  • Planting a garden? Clay soil works wonderfully for gardening. 
  • Want what’s best for your trees? While it always pays to do the research for what soil your particular tree will like, sandy soil is a great, generic option. 

Providing the best type of soil and care for your yard and trees is our speciality. Have further questions about the different types of soil? Feel free to reach out to us by clicking here or by giving us a call at 404-252-6448.

BE A GEORGIA TREE KNOW-IT-ALL: TWO-WINGED SILVERBELL TREE

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. This month, we are showcasing the Two-Winged Silverbell Tree (Halesia diptera). Learn all about the Two-Winged Silverbell Tree below!

Infographic of Two-Winged Silverbell Tree

Summer Storms Got Ya Down? We’ve Storm Cleanup Services

When people think of summer, they usually think of sunshine and time spent by the pool. However, summertime is also the season for thunderstorms, especially if you live in the south where in a matter of minutes storm clouds can take over. Sometimes, this means a nice, gentle afternoon shower to cool things off. Other times, it’s a fierce storm that does a lot of damage, particularly to your trees.

That’s where our experts are proud to step in. After a particularly bad storm, our company will step in and clean up any leftover debris from a nasty thunderstorm or, even worse, tornado or hurricane. But what exactly does that mean? We’re explaining our storm cleanup services below and how we can clean up any messes that mother nature might produce on your property.

How Premier Tree Cleans Up Storms

When violent storms or tornadoes rip through your property, we show up ready to work. Our services cover a large variety of cleaning options. Whether you have a tree that’s fallen over and needs to be removed, or you just have a large amount of branches and leaves strewn about, we do it all. Our expert team will arrive and pick up all debris for you, without you having to get your hands dirty.

Especially when it comes to removing uprooted trees, you need someone you can trust to ensure the process doesn’t do any further damage to your property. We treat your property like it was our own and we’ll leave nothing behind, including no signs of a storm. You also can rest easy knowing that our prices will not increase when a storm catosphere arises.

In short, when your property is at its worst, we are at our best. Have further questions about our storm cleanup services? Feel free to reach out to us by clicking here or by giving us a call at 404-252-6448.

Trees That Produce the Best Shade

During a hot, summer day there’s nothing better than hiding from the intense sun underneath a tree. If you dream of lounging outside while swinging on a hammock or enjoying a picnic, finding trees and shrubs that provide large amounts of shade is essential, especially if you live in the south where the heat can be brutal. Or, maybe, you want to plant certain types of flowers or vegetables that grow best in shade and have no way to provide that on your own.

This is where planting the right type of tree comes in. But with many species out there to choose from, how do you know the trees that produce the best shade? The experts at Premier Tree Solutions are here to make your decision easy.

Feelin’ The Need for Shade? Plant These Trees!

Have further questions about trees that produce the best shade? Our experts are here to help! If you’re interested in utilizing our expertise, feel free to reach out to us by clicking here or by giving us a call at 404-252-6448.