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.

Prune Before the Bloom: Why It’s Best to Prune Trees in the Early Spring

Early spring tends to be the best time of the year to get out in the yard and trim trees. Tree pruning is the most effective during this time of the year for several good reasons. From reducing allergy effects to keeping your yard looking its best, if it’s springtime, it’s time to trim and prune your trees and bushes.

Undoing Winter’s Damage

One of the main reasons to trim trees in the early spring is that it can help undo winter’s damage. If you had a harsh winter, then there are likely lots of trees and bushes in your yard that have weakened or broken branches. If you leave these branches as they are, this can be dangerous. With this in mind, spring is the perfect time to remove weak and broken branches to ensure they don’t fall on you or someone else.

Take Advantage of Stronger Immunity

Spring is a time of the year in which rapid growth and renewal of life take place for your trees. Their immune systems tend to be extremely strong during spring, meaning they are less likely to die from wounds. When you prune and trim in the spring, the trees can use their stronger immunity to be more resilient to wounds and not become sick.

Be Aware of Dangers

Although the springtime is a great time of the year to prune and trim, this doesn’t apply to all trees. There are certain species of trees that don’t do well with spring pruning and trimming, which are:

  • Elm trees
  • Oak trees
  • Ash trees

All of these species of trees have a high susceptibility to certain diseases, many of which are spread by insects. If the trees have wounds due to trimming or pruning during the spring, this means the insects are more likely to be attracted to the wounds and infect the trees. Because of this, it is usually best to prune and trim the trees during late summer or early autumn.

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.

Save Your Trees With These Tips! 3 Must-Know Tree-Pruning Tips to Keep in Mind

If you properly prune your trees, shrubs, and flowers, you will greatly enhance the look of your landscaping. And while proper pruning can do a lot to increase your curb appeal, you must keep in mind that improper pruning can do just the opposite. In fact, if you don’t know how to prune correctly, you should avoid doing it altogether. For those of you who want to tackle pruning your landscaping yourself, make sure you sharpen your pruning tools and follow these helpful tips.

Start in the winter

The best time to prune plants is during winter, preferably in February, depending on where you live. Plants are usually dormant during the winter, which means when you prune them, it won’t shock them. Heavy pruning should always be done in the winter, while minimal pruning and trimming can typically be performed any time of the year.

Cut branches correctly

If you’re cutting back to an intersecting branch — a lateral branch — make sure it forms an angle no larger than 45 degrees with the branch you want to remove. The diameter of the branch that you are cutting back to should be at least half the size of the branch you want to cut off. To help ensure water is prevented from collecting in the cut you make and to expedite healing, make slants when cutting. Also, when pruning, a woody plant needs to be “opened” to cut out some of the center growth; this allows you to cut back terminals all the way to the buds. Remember, you are cutting them back to the terminals that are pointing outward. If you are pruning thick and heavy branches, you will need to remove them flush with the collar that is found at the base of the branch. DO NOT remove them so that they are flush with the trunk. There is a chemically protective zone found in the area of tissue in the collar, which then helps prevent any serious trunk wounds from developing.

Topping versus thinning

Topping is generally not a recommended practice. This process involves cutting the top of a tree into unnatural shapes, such as completely flat or a dome-like. Unfortunately, it can negatively affect the structure and appearance of a tree because weakly attached branches that have grown back during regrowth can be severed during wind and rain storms. With this in mind, thinning is almost always recommended over topping.  Thinning out a tree keeps the trees general shape while selectively cutting away unwanted branches.

Premier Tree Solutions can help. We specialize in a number of arboreal areas, including tree removal, tree trimming and pruning, storm damage reparation and cleanup, branch clearing and debris removal, stump removal and grinding, Bobcat work and more. If you need tree-related help this winter, either cleaning up after a tree incident or taking preventative measures to ensure cold weather doesn’t affect your yard, give us a shout. Let us know how we can help today at 404-252-6448 or contact us here.

Introducing JAWS: Changing the Way Tree Removal is Done in Georgia

We at Premier Tree Solutions are the FIRST in Georgia to own and use JAWS – a Palfinger PK40002 Knuckle Boom Crane with a Mecanil SG280 Grapple Saw from Palfleet in Tiffin, Ohio. And while most homeowners probably haven’t heard of this new piece of innovative equipment, it is revolutionizing the tree removal industry. Boasting a wide range of features, the JAWS increases safety for tree removal workers and simplifies the entire tree removal process. It’s a win-win for everyone — property owners and tree removal workers alike.

What’s so great about it you ask? The JAWS enables tree removal service providers to cut down entire trees without having to climb them. You got to see this to believe it! Workers use remote control operations from the ground, which eliminates the dangerous possibility of falling from trees during the tree removal process.

Known as the safest and most efficient way to remove trees, the JAWS makes it unnecessary for tree removal workers to climb trees and cut them by hand. This new type of equipment enables tree removal to be performed much quicker than traditional methods, and it also helps save money while promoting safety and reducing the need for redundant cleanup tasks. It also eliminates damage to your property that can be caused by the traditional way of dropping trees and limbs on the ground. We call it low impact/no impact tree removal because you will never know we were even there!

There is no denying that tree removal is a dangerous type of work, whether the job is big or small. In 2015, according to the Tree Care Industry Association, there were a total of 125 fatal accidents in the tree removal industry as well as 59 serious accidents. Workers are often called to job sites where dying and hazardous trees must be cut through for removal and this is why the JAWS is proving to be of such value to the industry. Utilizing the proper tools and pieces of equipment can greatly minimize the occurrence of injury and death in the tree care industry, and when using a grapple saw like the one you see on the JAWS, there is no need for a climber, which ultimately reduces the exposure to severe or fatal injuries that are often seen in tree removal.

Premier Tree Solutions is the first to bring this innovation to Georgia and we want you to be among the first to experience the difference! Check out our photos and video clips on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Let us come out and provide you with a free assessment to determine if the JAWS is right for your job. Contact Premier Tree Solutions today at 404-252-6448 to learn more about the JAWS and how it is changing the way tree work is done in Atlanta. You can also contact us here to schedule a free assessment.

The Ultimate Damage Control: How to Undo a Storm’s Mess

Did a storm smash through your yard and leave wreckage in its wake? Whether you’ve suffered damage to trees and shrubs or other areas of your property, it’s important to follow the correct steps and ensure you put things back to rights as soon as possible. Here are five steps we highly recommend for you to take to get your property back from damage.

1. Assess Trees

Signs to look for include cracks or splits in tree limbs or trunks, dropped branches, or burnt areas from lightning strikes. These all indicate serious damage to trees and potential instability, which could result in injuries to people or further damage to your property if left unattended.

2. Call in the Specialists

If you need major clean up, significant pruning, to de-limb a tree, or to ensure the safety of your remaining trees and large shrubs, you want to work with specialists. Make sure they’re licensed and insured; otherwise you’re liable for anything that happens on your property, including the injury of tree workers themselves. Call them to come out and inspect your property, then make a recommendation on whether or not you need services.

3. Repair Structures

Once you’ve ensured there will be no further damage to your property and all hazards have been removed, you should repair any structures that may have been damaged. Unless you’re handy yourself, you’ll likely need to call in a contractor.

4. Perform a Main Clean Up

With or without the help of tree care specialists, you want to clean things up as soon as possible. That includes de-clogging your gutters if you see a lot of debris in them, picking up sticks and leaves that might be suffocating other plants, and performing minor pruning on shrubs and small trees. It’s especially important to inspect plants for damage or open wounds and remove those parts, as they can lead to infection.

5. Tidy

Now all you need to do is tidy up. If parts of your lawn were damaged, try to put the sod back in place as best you can. Replant smaller plants such as flowers or herbs, right overturned pots or ornaments, and put your yard back the way it was.

If you need help cleaning up your yard after a storm, call Premier Tree Solutions today. We specialize in helping you get your property shipshape again, from tree trimming and pruning to removal and stump grinding, and everything in between. Let us know how we can help today at 404-252-6448 or contact us here.

New Year, New Yard: 5 Yard and Tree New Year’s Resolutions You Should Make

The New Year is a time for fresh beginnings. This go round, don’t just confine your goals to that disregarded gym membership or finally, finally giving up the Cheetos habit (we’re not there either). Show your tree some love as well. Without further ado, here are five arboreal aspirations to put on your list.

1. Prune with Precision

Pruning is crucial for trees, especially young ones. If you don’t take the time to trim your trees, they may grow beyond their capacity to support their own limbs, making breakage more likely. Pruning helps to ensure that branches are strongly attached to the tree, with narrow crotches rather than right angles. Plus, it makes trees look more pleasing to have elegantly spaced limbs and twigs.

2. Deal with Damage

If your tree does summer damage from a storm – which can happen year-round, not just in winter – make sure you deal with it immediately. Leaving trees cracked or wounded invites infection and can make it more likely that they will drop branches. This poses a danger to people and property as well as the trees themselves.

3. Make Mulch Happen

Mulching keeps trees warm in winter and traps moisture during dry periods. Cover the ground around the tree to a depth of 2-4 inches with leaf mulch or bark chips, leaving a 6-inch ring around the trunk clear.

4. Water Well

Watering your tree is important in the summertime, as well as in hot spring and fall weather. During the dormant period, avoid it. But during times of growth when you’re not getting enough rainfall, make sure you give long, well-spaced drinks, waiting until soil is dry then saturating to a depth of 12 inches within the drip line (the area covered by branches above).

5. Support with Space

Avoid planting smaller trees or shrubs within the drip line of a tree, which can compete with its water sources. Instead, dedicate that space to grass, wildflowers, or steppable plants such as mosses, wood violets, or low-growing herbs.

Premier Tree Solutions is a growing tree removal business in Atlanta, Georgia. We specialize in a wide range of tree care services, including tree removal, pruning and trimming, storm damage and clean up, stump and branch grinding, clearing and debris removal. If you want help keeping those tree resolutions, make sure you let us know right away at 404-252-6448.