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 eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis). Learn all about the eastern redbud below!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Premier Tree is your local source for professional tree services in the metro Atlanta area. We provide tree removal, trimming, pruning, stump grinding, and more. Check out all of the services we offer, and contact us today for a free consultation!

No doubt you recognize dusty yellow pollen when you see it, and your nose is certainly familiar with it. But what exactly is it? Why does it cause the trouble it does? And what steps can you take in the yard and home to minimize your issues with it? Never fear; Premier Tree Solutions is here to answer these questions and more.

Just what is pollen, anyway?

The short answer: “Pollen is the male fertilizing agent of flowering plants, trees, grasses, and weeds,” explains the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, adding that “Pollen from plants with bright flowers, such as roses, usually do not trigger allergies.” However, the AAAAI continues, “many trees, grasses, and low-growing weeds have small, light, dry pollen that are well-suited for dissemination by wind currents. These are the pollens that trigger allergy symptoms.”

The first step in managing pollen, therefore, is to try and avoid the trees that produce the most of it.

Planting wisely

Some trees are much more allergenic than others. If you’re headed to the nursery this spring or summer to select new landscape specimens, TruGreen advises considering dogwood, Bradford pear, crepe myrtle, apple, and cherry. Each of these is quite allergy-friendly and will leave you feeling more peaceful all pollen season long.

On the other hand, steer clear of ash, elm, pine, and maple, all of which produce heaps of pollen.

Managing allergies to trees

You can also tend your indoor and outdoor environment in ways that minimize pollen in your space and therefore reduce your allergic reactions. Steps include:

• Taking off your shoes at the front door
• Sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, and dusting regularly
• Cleaning out (and off) your car regularly
• Washing clothes that have been in pollen-rich environments right away
• Keeping an allergy kit on hand at all times, including inhaler, allergy meds, Kleenex, and eye drops

Proper tree care

Lastly, it’s possible that with the right tree care, you can manage your allergies a bit better. For instance, regular pruning can reduce the number of pollen-producing parts on a tree and therefore significantly reduce your reactions.

Make sure you don’t take shears to your trees and shrubs unless you really know what you’re doing, though. However tempting it might be to just chop the tops off your trees or hack away at limbs to deal with your allergies, don’t. You can ruin the look and health of trees and end up with a much more expensive tree removal job on your hands.

That’s where a certified arborist comes in. Call Premier Tree Solutions to set up a consultation and start making headway against the sniffles today!

Walk down many a residential street in Georgia, and a sad sight will meet your eyes: rows upon rows of topped trees marching down the street. When the tree is in leaf, this manifests as a weird, flat crown with leaves and shoots pointing straight upward. In winter, the result is knobby limbs that end in large, unhealthy-looking bulges.

That’s because those trees are unhealthy. While topping is still promoted by some arborists, most now know that it’s a mistake. It destroys fall displays, makes trees more susceptible to damage in winter, and ruins their look. Here’s why you should avoid this move at all costs, and what to do instead.

What is Topping?

Topping, explains the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension, “is where trees are trimmed back to a few large diameter, older structural limbs.” The person topping the tree uses loppers or a chainsaw to cut off limbs regardless of their health, the position on the branch or the needs of the tree.

Why Do People Top Trees?

As the NC Cooperative Extension says, “Maybe you’re worried about limbs or the entire tree falling on your house during an ice storm, blocking your mountain view, or just creating too much shade in the yard.” In an effort to get those “nuisance” branches out of the way, they simply mow the tops off.

Why Should You Avoid Topping at All Costs?

Unfortunately, topping is a terrible idea. It:

• Forces the tree to compensate by producing unsightly vertical shoots that block the view anyway
• Produces quick-growing new limbs that are structurally weak and pose a danger
• Stresses trees and makes them more prone to disease
• Removes too much of the leafy part of the tree, which reduces photosynthesis and can effectively starve the tree

This isn’t the right way to treat a tree, folks. Instead, you need to look for other solutions, such as thinning the tree or, if possible, moving it to a more desirable location. But whatever you do, don’t go it alone.

Why Should You Speak to a Professional?

The simple answer is: so you don’t permanently maim or kill your tree. A professional such as Premier Tree Solutions will help you assess the health of your tree and find a different path to arboreal perfection, so don’t wait: Give us a call today.

Walk through any botanical garden, nursery, or serious home gardener’s yard in the winter, and you’ll likely notice at least a few snug sweaters adorning trees and shrubs. Which may lead you to wonder: Should you do the same thing?

The answer is a qualified yes. “Qualified” because most well-established native trees don’t need your help weathering the winter months, even during tough storms or cold spells. That isn’t necessarily the case, however, for exotic species and young trees – both of which would very much appreciate a warm jacket, thankyouverymuch.

So now the question becomes, if you have sensitive trees, how can you protect them? First, it’s important to understand why they need protection in the first place.

Chilly Challenges

Winter brings a lot of new challenges to trees that they don’t face the rest of the year, including:

• Trees are sensitive to salt and brine, which occasionally affect us here even in warm and sunny Georgia
• Cold snaps can cause tender new growth to shrivel and die off
• Freeze and thaw cycles endanger plant roots, cause bark cracking and prevent proper water uptake

Covering trees, however, can prevent this. Covers regulate temperature, warm roots, protect from salt spray and biting winds, and prevent predation from hungry herbivores. All that’s left is to get the job done.

Flora Frocking

When it’s time to dress your trees, here’s what to do:

1. Start with protecting roots by mulching in a circle around trees at a depth of 2-4 inches
2. Cover smaller trees and shrubs with coats of burlap or flannel that extend all the way to the ground
3. Try to avoid contact between plant and fabric, using string or stakes to minimize it
4. Use premade covers for baby trees or shrubs, upending them over the top
5. Make sure to provide airflow

Proper Protection

In addition to sweaters where necessary, it’s important not to set your trees and shrubs up for failure. That means keeping them dormant during winter at all costs. According to Gardener’s Supply Company, you can do this by:

• Avoiding fertilizer throughout the entirety of winter and for 6 weeks before the first fall frost
• Never pruning between midsummer and the following late winter, right before budbreak
• Watering routinely throughout the fall to prevent winter dehydration

Of course, you may still need help. If you have questions about winter tree care, feel free to contact us here at Premier Tree Solutions, your one-stop-shop for all things tree care. We can help you with tree protection, proper pruning techniques, yard cleanup and much more, so don’t wait to get in touch!

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 Georgia’s state tree, the southern live oak (Quercus virginiana). Learn all about the southern live oak below!