Scorching summer days are right around the corner. While many of us retreat beneath a shady canopy for a break from the heat, we often overlook the toll hot weather can take on our favorite shade-giving trees. Long periods of heat and direct sunlight can have a serious impact on your trees, so here’s what you should know about keeping them cool through the coming season.

Know the Signs of Heat Stress

Heat stress occurs when trees lose water faster than it can be replaced. Under normal circumstances, trees absorb water from the atmosphere through their leaves and branches, as well as from the soil via their root system. During extreme heat, however, the transpiration process accelerates, and trees lose water at a faster pace. Periods of drought can make the issue even worse.

Signs of heat stress include wilting leaves, internal leaves becoming yellowed, an inability to produce new growth, scorching, dropping leaves, and brown or red spots on leaves. The best way to prevent any of these heat stress symptoms is to keep that damaging heat stress from happening in the first place.

How to Keep Your Trees Cool in Hot Weather

Provide Adequate Water

Most established trees can weather droughts, but you can minimize the risk of heat stress by giving them a soak at least once a month. Be sure to water at the drip line, or the edge of the canopy, which is where most of the trees’ roots will be concentrated. If you don’t have a drip irrigation system set up, direct a garden hose to the area at a low flow.

For young trees (those that have been in the ground for three years or fewer), double up on your normal watering routine during periods of intense heat. Many new trees need 15 gallons of water at least twice a week if the temperature is 90 degrees or higher for an extended time. Water either in the early morning or after sunset to reduce evaporation. Provide water slowly using a slow-release watering bag, drip system, or trickling hose directed at the roots for up to 20 minutes.

Remove Dead Branches

Summertime isn’t the ideal season for pruning, as it’s best to do this when trees are dormant. But if they have seriously compromised branches, address them promptly. Doing so will keep your property safe through summer storms, while also ensuring all the water and nutrients are reserved for healthy growth.

Mulch Around Your Trees

We often think of mulching as a method for retaining heat to protect roots in cold weather — but it can have a similarly beneficial effect in summer, too. Mulch can help your trees’ roots retain moisture during droughts, and provide a buffer against extreme heat. If you haven’t already done so this year, be sure to apply fresh mulch around your trees before the hottest days arrive.

Incorporate Shade

While it’s true that trees provide shade for people, some smaller varieties could benefit from shade themselves. Air beneath trees can be as much as six degrees cooler than air in the direct sun, or even 25 degrees cooler than the air directly above asphalt. Plant deciduous trees with sprawling canopies to the south of any smaller trees or shrubs you’d like to protect from the sun. Maples and oaks are a few of our favorite species to consider.

For healthy trees year-round, turn to Premier Tree Solutions for top-notch care from certified arborists. Our team can help maintain your landscape through trimming and pruning, storm damage cleanup, and care for diseased or damaged trees. Call us at 404-252-6448 for an expert tree consultation or by sending us a message online.

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

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.

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.

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.