Trees That Just Want to Have Sun: Best Summertime Tree Choices

So summer has rolled around, and you’re wondering whether it’s too late to put a few saplings in the ground. Good news: it isn’t. In fact, summer is a great time to plant trees because it gives them plenty of time to adapt to their new surroundings before winter hits. However, that doesn’t mean all tree needs are the same.

A Species Surprise

Most people assume that only very heat-tolerant species can be planted in the summer. But guess what? ‘Tisn’t so! Any tree can technically be planted in summer, which is good news if you want to grow a privacy hedge or install that statement tree during this planting season. However, needs do vary a bit between deciduous and evergreen trees.

Deciduous Versus Evergreen Plantin’ Time

Both deciduous and evergreen trees can be planted in summer, as well as spring. However, while deciduous trees can be planted in fall, you should confine your evergreen planting to summer, or the first month of fall at the latest. This is because they need considerably more time to adjust to soil temperatures than deciduous trees do.

Protecting Branchy Babes

When you do plant trees in summer, however, you have to be extra careful. They need a lot of water to get established and can burn easily, especially the smaller saplings. Make sure to plant trees at the correct depth to prevent damage to the trunk and ensure an adequate root system. Water them once a day for two weeks after planting, then once weekly after that for a year. Thereafter, you can water them thoroughly whenever the top 10 inches of soil become dry.

No matter what time of year you plant, you should ensure the safety and longevity of your trees by spacing them appropriately. This should be based on their space requirements when they are full-grown as opposed to when they are small.

Arboreal Assistance

Not sure how to get your trees in the ground with the best chance of a healthy outcome? No problem! If you need help, call Premier Tree Solutions. We’re a growing tree removal business based in Atlanta, Georgia, and specializing in a number of areas, including:

  • Tree removal
  • Tree trimming
  • Tree pruning
  • Storm cleanup
  • Stump grinding
  • Branch clearing
  • Debris removal

… and more. Any time you need your trees cared for, we want to help you out. All you have to do is call 404-252-6448 or email us here to set up a consultation or service today.

Branch Out Your Trimming: The Best Ways to Trim Your Trees

Trees whose branches are thinned out and growing disease-free in the proper direction are much healthier than their crowded counterparts. They can’t do it themselves, however; trees count on you for their yearly haircuts. Here’s how to trim right.

Prune to Natural Shape

When pruning, you should have an overall vision in mind. Unless you’re going for the full-on Versailles effect – in which case, let’s get your topiary on! – you want to take your cue from the tree itself. Go with its natural shape, leaving the strongest, prettiest branches, and removing everything that grows downward or back in toward the crown. If you have to raise the crown, meaning remove lower branches over a sidewalk or building, that’s okay.

Remove Dead and Dying Branches

One of the most important jobs when pruning is to get dead and dying branches out of there. These not only suck up tree resources when they’re already doomed, but they may spread a disease to other parts of the tree or other plants. Dead branches also invite predatory insects to the feast. No Bueno.

Respect the Leader

According to the University of Minnesota Extension, topping trees – or trimming the tall, straight “leader” branch that comes from the trunk – is never a good idea. It promotes suckering (sapling growth from the ground) and destroys the form of the tree. Instead, leave the tallest, most upright branch in place and remove any competing leaders. If your only option to fit a tree in a certain space (say, under an eave) is topping, you’re better off transplanting it.

Say NO to Disease

While pruning is good for trees, it’s also one of the easiest times to spread disease (oops, now we’re rhyming). That’s why it’s important to disinfect your tools. Here’s a good primer, but basically it means soaking your shears in a cleansing solution before each use and, if you’re dealing with diseased wood, between each cut.

Of course, you don’t have to trim your trees yourself. Sometimes it’s best to leave things to the experts, such as when you’re busy or you have one of those King Kong oak trees on your hands. In that case, call in the pros and leave it to us. Premier Tree Solutions, based in Atlanta, can help with pruning as well as storm cleanup, tree removal, stump grinding, and more. All you have to do is give a shout at 404-252-6448 or contact us here.

Tree-t Yourself: Plan a Visit to the Seven Best National Parks for Trees

Everyone loves a good stint in nature, and while you may not think about it while you’re enjoying the view, trees are among the most soul-satisfying wilderness sights. If you’d like to get more out of your next national park trip, here are seven of the best destinations for arboreal aficionados.

  1. Sequoia National Park, California

You’ve no doubt heard of Redwood National Park (and its state park cousin), but did you know sequoias give redwoods a run for their money in the awesome department? Yup. Sequoia National Park, in fact, is home not only to the world’s biggest tree species but flat-out the world’s biggest tree: General Sherman.

  1. Great Basin National Park, Nevada

The bristlecone pine is a tree that demands respect, growing onto weathered surfaces with gnarly persistence and living to many thousands of years. Head to Great Basin National Park for some of the country’s best specimens.

  1. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Okay, we didn’t say the trees had to be living, now did we? Gotcha! Petrified Forest National Park is full of fossilized trees, not to mention scary Phytosaur remains (think monster crocodile) and stunning badlands vistas.

  1. Congaree National Preserve, South Carolina

Sure, you can hike through a forest, but how often do you get to canoe through one? In Congaree National Preserve, the trees are extremely water tolerant, growing right out of the swamp. That means while viewing these trees, you can rest your legs and work those arms instead.

  1. Olympic National Park, Washington

Knowing for its soaring, ancient trees, Olympic National Park is a true wonder to behold. As well as being home to the largest known examples of Sitka spruce, Western red cedar, and hemlock, it also houses a huge collection of temperate rainforest flora and fauna.

  1. Everglades National Park, Florida

Okay, so we lied. Canoeing through a forest isn’t actually that rare because you can do it in the Everglades too. Check out the famous mangroves, whose roots grow right into the water, and which form a major barrier against inclement weather. Lucky Florida!

  1. Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

This huge park, located on the big island, encompasses an active crater, beaches, and miles of forest. You can hike along jewel-green cliff sides and traipse through soaring forests, the floors of which are relatively clear of other plants, offering unobstructed views of banyans and other tropical trees.

See? No need to wonder … next time you’re planning a national park vacation, make sure it’s a truly tree-tastic one.

Premier Tree offers tree removal and trimming, pruning and storm cleanup, branch clearing and debris removal, and many other services needed to maintain a beautiful yard. Give us a call today at 404-252-6448 or contact us here.

Beauty and the Bush: How a Beautiful Yard Impacts Your Home’s Value

A beautiful yard speaks for itself. The tranquility and expansion of living space brought by a pretty garden are awesome assets to any home, but they become all the more valuable if you are trying to sell your home. A nice yard not only brings potential buyers in, it makes them more likely to put down an offer – which in turn means more people will bid on your home and you can get a higher price.

Even if you aren’t planning to list your house quite yet, it’s still helpful to start thinking ahead about how to improve your home’s value, and cultivating a beautiful yard can help you do just that.

The Psychological Impact of Curb Appeal

“First impressions” isn’t just a phrase. Sometimes, no matter how nice your interior is, you’ll lose buyers if they aren’t greeted with a well-maintained garden. If you want to make that first impression count and increase the number of people willing to bid on your home, your yard counts.

Impressive ROI

Did you know that something as simple as greening up your lawn can have a 303% return on investment, according to the National Association of Realtors Research Department? That means whatever you pay to up your lawn’s loveliness factor will be returned to you three times over when it comes to your home’s value. Pretty neat, right?

Moreover, reports Houzz, quoting a study by RealEstate.com, return on investment for hardscaping projects can be as high as 150%. Not quite as high as the rewards for your lawn, but still impressive, especially if you complete several projects. Think fire pits and walkways, they suggest.

Forgotten Yard Attributes

If you really want to capitalize on curb appeal, don’t forget often-overlooked aspects such as the driveway, which should be pretty too. Also address issues such as poor drainage, unstable tree limbs, and other practicalities that can turn buyers off.

Affordable Help

Luckily, achieving your landscape goals doesn’t mean you have to buy a cherry picker and get to work yourself. Premier Tree Solutions is a growing tree removal business based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in a variety of landscape services, and we can help.

We offer tree removal and trimming, pruning and storm cleanup, branch clearing and debris removal, and many other services needed to maintain a beautiful yard, substantially increase your curb appeal and inflate your home’s value. Give us a call today at 404-252-6448 or contact us here.

How Trees Could be Pollen You Down: Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month

Allergies are a wide-sweeping problem that affect around 50 million people in the United States, representing 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Hundreds of species of plants release pollen to which people are allergic, and many of the culprits are trees.

Pollen and Your Nose (+ Other Parts of the Body)

An allergen is anything that causes a histamine response in the body, which is when your body attacks foreign pathogens. If your immune system recognizes pollen as a pathogen, then congratulations: You have an allergy!

Unfortunately, late winter and early spring are the high seasons for tree allergies. During these sneeziest of weeks and months – starting as early as January and continuing into April, or later – trees release tons of the stuff, which wafts easily on the breeze. The good news? Only about a hundred species of trees actually cause allergies.

The Allergy-est Trees

Some of the worst culprits include:

  • Alder
  • Ash
  • Aspen
  • Beech
  • Birch
  • Box elder
  • Cedar
  • Cottonwood
  • Date palm
  • Elm
  • Hickory
  • Juniper
  • Mountain elder
  • Mulberry
  • Oak
  • Pecan
  • Phoenix Palm
  • Red Maple
  • Silver Maple
  • Willow

This is by no means an exhaustive list, so when you go to purchase trees at the nursery, make sure to ask if they cause allergic reactions. If you can, avoid them.

Protect Yourself

If you want more pollen protection from trees causing allergies, you can take a few simple steps. Stay out of the yard during midday and afternoon, as these are the worst times for pollen. Try to get outside after rainstorms, which clear pollen from the air, and always wear gardening gloves, so that when you take them off and scratch your nose, fingers are pollen-free. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and, if you can stand it, a bandana to cover the nose.

Get Trees Under Control

If you’re hoping to avoid an allergy onslaught in coming years, you would do well to contact a tree removal business. They can help you trim and prune your trees to reduce the number of branches, and therefore the amount of pollen being released, as well as make your trees lovelier to look at.

Companies such as Premier Tree Solutions in Atlanta can also help remove brush and suckers, tree starts that may grow up into full-blown pollen producers. If you’re looking for storm cleanup, crane services, or stump removal, we can help you there too – just give us a call today at 404-252-6448 or contact us here.

April Showers? Make Sure They Only Bring May Flowers

April showers bring May flowers, right?

Well, sometimes. Sometimes they bring something else, such as the standing water and constant moisture that fungus just loooove to take root in. You already know there’s lots of rain coming our way this spring, so now’s the time to take protective steps. Here are five of the best.

  1. Beware of Rainy Dangers

First and foremost, you need to be ready for the rain, which means swales and runoff channels that divert water from the roots of trees. Protect trees close to houses by ensuring that drainpipes don’t empty onto their roots, which is a perfect condition for root rot, and clear out gutters so they don’t spill large amounts of water on the trees from above.

  1. Create a Safe Environment

You can also protect trees by maintaining a fungus-unfriendly yard. Don’t leave decaying leaf litter or branches lying around. Pick up and coil hoses on carts or hooks. Stack firewood neatly, somewhere away from trees. Prune trees carefully at their appointed pruning time (many can be pruned in early spring) to clear out branches and create circulation for light and air, both of which combat fungus.

  1. Spray Trees

Fungicide can be used, but be sure to use it properly. “Apply a protective fungicide spray to the newly emerging foliage,” horticulturist Jerry Goodspeed tells Utah State University. “Repeat the application every 10 to 14 days. When buying a spray, be certain the target tree is on the label.”

If you prefer a natural alternative, well… try good old-fashioned pee.

  1. Stay Alert

One of the best ways to fight fungus, though, is to use the simple “keep your eyes peeled” approach. If you see the stippling or spotting that fungus causes, it’s best to remove affected branches, leaves, or even full trees immediately. Also, watch out for yellowing or shriveling that seems at odds with the amount of rain; this often indicates root rot and means you need to remove a tree entirely.

  1. Get Help

Think you might have a fungus problem? NOT a problem. The guys at Premier Tree Solutions have your back. Our growing tree removal business in Atlanta specializes in a number of areas, including tree pruning and removal, storm cleanup and stump grinding, branch clearing and debris removal.

Whether you’ve got a small infection on your hands or a full outbreak, we know exactly how to help you get your yard back into shape, and fast. Just get in touch. Let us know how we can help today at 404-252-6448 or contact us here.

Happy Earth Day! 5 Ways to Celebrate with Trees

Earth Day, which falls on April 22nd every year, is the perfect time to take a step back and honor all that trees do for us. They purify the air, fix nitrogen in the soil (which other plants need to grow), exchange carbon dioxide for life-giving oxygen, and perform endless other good deeds in a weary world.

Earth Day is all about loving our Planet Earth, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by giving back to our forest friends. Here are five ways to do it in style.

  1. Plant at a School

Tree-planting parties make every kid smile, beautify school grounds, and give our air a purifying kick. Join an Earth Day planting party at your children’s or other local school. You do a good deed, they get a tree, a tree gets planted. Everybody wins.

  1. Make a Tree Pledge!

EarthDay.org suggests you register your trees. This small, fun accountability measure both celebrates people who take good care of their trees, and encourages future planting with their pledge. It doesn’t have to be Earth Day to plant more!

  1. Take Care of Your Arboreal Angels

Our planet also benefits greatly when you take care of the trees you already have. Make sure to protect them from pests and diseases by watering during hot times, pruning to increase penetration of light and air, diverting spring runoff away from sensitive roots, and calling in the experts for bigger jobs like limb or stump removal.

  1. Donate to the Canopy Project

Donating to the Canopy Project is one of the simplest ways to fight climate change, and at only a dollar per tree, is pretty darned affordable. You can head to this link to start sponsoring trees without ever getting your hands dirty.

  1. Buy Native Species

Native species are more likely to grow happily in our area than exotic plants, and when trees thrive, they produce more good effects for the environment as well. Happy trees = happy world, so do your part by honoring our native species, such as ash, beech, hickory, and more.

Want to protect trees or get more going in your own yard or at your business? No problem. Premier Tree Solutions loves helping people green up their properties and keep trees healthy over the long haul. Give us a call to find out more about how we can help you create a bounteous, tree-friendly yard today. Let us know how we can help at 404-252-6448 or contact us here.

Watch out, Bud!: What Happens if a Tree Buds Too Early?

Caring for plants is a difficult process, and trees are no exception. While you may look at a tree as the sturdier and thus more resilient alternative to a potted plant, the truth is that trees are at a huge risk for much of their life—especially for those that produce fruits or flowers.

Trees, like any other plant, rely on weather patterns to know when and at what rate they are supposed to mature and bloom. When weather patterns are unusual, trees can easily be thrown off their anticipated schedule. Just as you may grow confused when the temperature hits a sudden high or low mark for the season, your plants are going to grow just as confused. The difference is that while a sudden drop in temperature for you may simply mean you’re without the proper jacket for the day, it could leave your tree at dangerous odds for survival—especially if your tree is rather young.

Trees maintain a growth cycle that is designed to have them blooming when the season is right, most typically in the spring. A warm winter can throw that growth cycle off, causing a tree to begin budding in the winter. If the weather stays warm and there are no sudden shifts in temperature, then this may only cause your tree to have an odd but not otherwise unhealthy blooming schedule. The danger comes when a tree buds in the winter and then a cold front moves through, leaving all those buds exposed to freezing temperatures.

It is for this reason that blooming too early can put unnecessary stress on trees. When this happens, any new growth that has developed could become shocked and damaged, potentially causing long-term damage to the tree. This is especially a concern for fruit and flowering trees, of which the buds are most vulnerable.

There is not all too much you can do if a tree begins budding too early, but you can make some interventions in the best interest of your trees. Cutting off buds as they develop will cause the tree to put its energy toward growth within the trunk, helping the tree to become sturdier and thus more likely to survive freezing temperatures and sudden temperature drops. This is an especially helpful tactic with young trees. But if you have already let the buds develop, then the next best thing you can do is try to support survival by covering your tree during hard frost and freeze warnings.

Premier Tree Solutions can help. We specialize in a number of arboreal areas, including tree removal, tree trimming, pruning, storm damage reparation and cleanup, branch clearing and debris removal, stump removal, grinding, Bobcat work and more. If you need tree-related help, give us a shout. Let us know how we can help today at 404-252-6448 or contact us here.

Holy Shiitake: Which Mushrooms are Safe?

Mushrooms are easily among the most intriguing of all the plant species. Though technically fungi, there may not be another plant that will so quickly garnish a reaction from just about anyone as much as the mushroom. Countless varieties exist, from the highly colorful to the highly ugly. While some are delicious and nutritious, a regular culinary staple, others are incredibly dangerous to consume, causing side effects that can range from poisonous to psychedelic. While this information summarizes the range of interactions between mushrooms and human consumption, it does not even begin to touch on the relationships that mushrooms have with other plant life.

When you see a patch of mushrooms growing in your yard, it is a good idea to take a close look at what is going on and how the mushrooms may influence the life of your trees and other plants. Mushrooms are a physical formation of a collection of fungus, which is why they are referred to more scientifically as “fungi.” They can grow in grassy patches, in wet areas or even out of a rotting log. The location of the mushroom, its color, and its shape are all determining factors as to whether or not the mushroom is safe to touch, let alone safe to be near your beloved trees.

Before addressing any mushrooms in your yard, it is essential that you note the marking attributes, including:

  • Color
  • Shape
  • Size of the pores
  • Size of the stem
  • Habitat in which the mushrooms grew
  • The number of mushrooms present

Use this information and check the images against an encyclopedic reference. You can easily find online listings of the types of mushrooms you most typically will find in your region.

In general, there are some benefits to having mushrooms around your yard. Mushrooms can help clean up dead plants and plant parts that are decomposing on your property. This helps to improve and maintain soil fertility, enriching the microbiology of the soil and thereby improving plant performance and veracity with symbiotic associations between root structures. However, some mushrooms can actually cause plants to develop diseases — some of which are actually quite serious.

Just because a mushroom is toxic for human consumption doesn’t mean that it is going to cause damage to your greenery.  Simply pulling a mushroom out of the ground may give the superficial appearance of removal, but in some circumstances, it could actually cause further spreading of the fungi. Too close to one of your trees and that could mean long-term damage if you are dealing with a particularly troublesome type of mushroom. Before touching a mushroom, and certainly, before attempting to remove it, you need to consult a professional to ensure that you understand the type of mushroom you are dealing with.

Premier Tree Solutions can help. We specialize in a number of arboreal areas, including tree removal, tree trimming, pruning, storm damage reparation and cleanup, branch clearing and debris removal, stump removal, grinding, Bobcat work and more. If you need tree-related help, give us a shout. Let us know how we can help today at 404-252-6448 or contact us here.

Ah-choose Premier Tree: Why Proper Tree Trimming can Reduce Allergy Effects

There are many ways to go about treating your allergies. From medications to making sure your home is well-dusted, both strategies are sure to reduce your symptoms. Another great way to help your allergies is to make sure you take advantage of proper tree trimming. Yes, you read that right. Proper tree trimming can, in fact, help reduce allergy effects.

Understanding how tree trimming can reduce allergy effects.

There are many types of allergens produced by trees and flowers. This is why your allergies probably tend to be a bit worse when you are outdoors. But just because allergies are worse outside doesn’t mean you have stay inside all year. Instead, you can keep the area around your home less prone to make you sneeze and cough by trimming the trees properly. Keeping your trees trimmed properly means you will want to trim off parts that produce pollen. Ideally, you will want to do this in late winter or early spring. When new growth appears on the trees, you can trim them as needed to further reduce pollen production, which of course, will reduce their allergy effects.

How else does tree trimming reduce allergy effects?

In addition to reducing pollen production, proper tree trimming is a great way to enhance vegetation control, meaning you are trimming the trees with the intention of keeping them out of the way of:

  • Outdoor areas with heavy traffic
  • Walkways
  • Doors
  • Patios

In doing this, you are lessening the chances that you will rub oil off one of the trees or bushes onto your skin, which can often lead to a rash and itching.

Other tips for reducing allergy effects in your yard.

When mowing your lawn, you should always mow low. The more you keep it trimmed and the lower you can mow — about two inches — the better the reduction of allergy effects. If you have severe allergies, you will want someone else to do the mowing and tree trimming for you. Lastly, if you are going to tackle trimming and mowing, make sure you do it on a day that isn’t particularly hot and dry. The hotter and drier the day is, the more pollen there will be in the air.

Premier Tree Solutions can help. We specialize in a number of arboreal areas, including tree removal, tree trimming, pruning, storm damage reparation and cleanup, branch clearing and debris removal, stump removal, grinding, Bobcat work and more. If you need tree-related help, give us a shout. Let us know how we can help today at 404-252-6448 or contact us here.