Tree Service Bakersfield

The hemlock woolly adelgid is a sap-sucking insect that feeds specifically on hemlock trees. As the insects feed, they damage the tree by removing sap and disrupting the flow of water and nutrients. Though all species of hemlock are vulnerable, damage is particularly severe in eastern hemlock and Carolina hemlock When large populations are present, an infested tree can die in just a few years. This invasive insect is native to Asia and the Pacific Northwest. It has now become well established in much of the Eastern United States, killing thousands of trees since its introduction.

The white, cotton ball-like masses that indicate a hemlock woolly adelgid infestation. Small nymphs are also visible.

Signs of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

Hemlock woolly adelgid is an incredibly small insect. Detecting its presence is made easier by the white coverings of the egg sacs. These have a woolly appearance, hence the name, and look like miniature cotton balls lining the underside of branches.

Typically the insects begin feeding in the lower part of the tree. With that, early signs of their presence can usually be found there. Needles near the base of the hemlock tree will fade in color or fall off. The lower twigs and limbs will eventually begin to die. Hemlock woolly adelgid populations can grow very quickly.  Each female can lay up to 300 eggs on a host tree.

In the native range of the pest, hemlock species are more resistant and populations are further controlled by natural enemies.  Unfortunately, in the non-native areas of the eastern U.S. where the pest is now widespread, these natural checks and balances are not in place.

There are a number of options for controlling hemlock woolly adelgid. Catching infestations early is very important as these insects reproduce very quickly. Regularly monitoring hemlocks for signs of hemlock woolly adelgid is the first step in maintaining plant health and preventing the loss of trees.

The post Tree Damage from Hemlock Woolly Adelgid first appeared on Tree Topics.

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Every landscape looks great when flowering trees and shrubs are blooming. When the right plant is in the right place, it’s magic! Ornamentals are a great choice for adding a pop of color in a landscape since they are usually small and easily managed. Here are a few that will do well in many situations.

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

This species has a lot of variations, each one with features to love. “Forest Pansy” has purple foliage with red branches. “Oklahoma” has dark red flowers with shiny foliage. “Alba” has white flowers. With a mature height of 25-35 feet, redbuds perform for the landscape all year long. Spring produces flowers on bare branches. Green heart-shaped leaves follow in the summer months and then turn yellow in fall. During winter, the attractive bark enhances its surroundings. These trees are hardy and will grow in sun or shade, alkaline or moist soils and even in containers. Redbud adapts best to hardiness zones 5-7, but can grow in zones 4-8. Get additional recommendations for caring for redbud.

Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)

This deciduous tree grows slowly, eventually up to 40 feet or more. Its natural growth is multi-trunked with branches that spread to provide filtered shade. However, it can be trained as a single trunk tree that has a vase-like shape when mature. The leaves seem to constantly change color, from reddish purple in spring to dark green tinted with red in summer. In autumn, the colors are scarlet and gold. The Katsura species tolerates moist soil and shade but hot sun and drying winds should be avoided. It is pest resistant. Plantings grow best in hardiness zones 4-8.

Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata)

This deciduous tree has a rounded outline with widespread open branches to a flat crown. It is well proportioned, fast growing and retains its symmetry with a little pruning. Spring buds open to become beautiful yellow flowers. If watered well, the plant produces fruit pods that look like lanterns. Honeybees are highly attracted to the blooms. Hardy to an extreme, it is tolerant of high winds, alkaline soil, drought conditions and changes in temperature. It does not sustain much wind damage or salt injury nor does it seem to have problems with soil nutrient deficiencies. It is resistant to insects and disease.

Snowdrop Tree (Halesia carolina)

The snowdrop tree is common to the southeast. It exhibits slow to moderate growth of up to 25-30 feet. The tree is pyramid shaped in youth and becomes more rounded as it matures. Its white blooms, which look like wedding bells, appear in May. When paired with under plantings like azaleas or rhododendrons, the effect can be striking. The bark is attractive, scaled and very dark. The leaves are yellow-green in summer months turning to yellow in fall. Moist, well-drained soil is preferred. This species does well in shade and may need a pruning to maintain shape.

Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria)

The smoke tree achieves moderate growth to 15-25 feet and has a broad urn shape with a rounded crown. Pruning can produce a multi-trunked form. The smoke tree takes its name from its stunning flowers. After blooming, the flowers resemble wisps of smoke. Leaf color is blue-green and there are even varieties with purple blossoms. All varieties exhibit a beautiful, orange-red fall color. Smoke tree is hardy and drought tolerant and prefers dry soils with good drainage.

The post Add a POP of Color with Flowering Ornamentals first appeared on Tree Topics.

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The telltale signs of various tree diseases and insect infestations are often most evident in summer. Populations of many types of scales, mites, and aphids are particularly noticeable at this time. Some problems can be spotted and treated immediately. However, when certain insect pests are present and visible, it may already be too late to treat. Even in these cases, learning now that these insects are present is important. You can get a jumpstart on planning for treatments for next year and implement cultural practices, like proper mulching and irrigation, that will keep trees healthier and more resistant to infestation. By regularly looking at your trees you may notice some of the common signs associated with tree pests or disease.

Signs of a Tree Issue

Strange bumps, or galls, on leaves can indicate insect feeding and egg-laying activity.

Discoloration, spots, or bumps on leavesBranch dieback, wilting, or stunted foliageMushrooms or fungal growth near a tree’s trunkDark areas or oozing liquid on the trunk or rootsPresence of defoliating insects, nests or caterpillarsSmall exit holes in the trunk or branchesSap-sucking insects secreting honeydew that leads to sooty mold growthSawdust-like debris caused by wood-boring insectsPremature autumn color and leaf drop

Scale insects can be difficult for property owners to spot because of their unusual appearance.

Correct Diagnosis is Key

Some symptoms may indicate problems that cause negligible damage and require little to no intervention. Conversely, others may reveal that a serious problem exists or could develop if the symptoms are ignored. Therefore, correctly diagnosing the cause of symptoms is critically important in caring for trees and shrubs.

The post Monitor Trees for Signs of Insects & Disease first appeared on Tree Topics.

The polyphagous shot hole borer is a recently introduced, non-native beetle that is having a devastating impact on landscapes, forests and agriculture in southern California. This insect pest bores into trees, creating galleries where it feeds and lays eggs. Wood boring insects are known for being destructive to trees as their activity inside the tree disrupts the flow of water and nutrients. The polyphagous shot hole borer is especially damaging because it also introduces a pathogenic fungus that rapidly kills trees.

This pest has dozens of host plants so they are broken down into three categories:

Non-hosts: beetle attacks the plant and is repelled without fungal introductionFungal hosts: beetle introduces the lethal fungus, but does not reproduceTrue hosts: beetle introduces the lethal fungus and reproduces successfully

Small holes surrounded by wet bark indicate a shot hole borer infestation.

True hosts are plentiful and include many native California trees such as coast, valley, and Englemann oaks, sycamore, big-leaf maple, boxelder and blue palo verde. Non-native true hosts in the same region include several other oak and maple species, avocado, coral tree, camellia, acacia and many others.

Infested trees will have multiple small, round entry holes. These holes are often surrounded by white crust, wet bark, or both.

Since management options for this insect/pathogen combination are still being researched, regular monitoring to identify infestations is currently the best course of action. Trees that are severely infested should be removed.

The post Invasive Shot Hole Borer Affecting California’s Trees first appeared on Tree Topics.

Spring tree care is an investment that can provide significant returns and leads. Attractive and healthy trees go a long way in enhancing the appearance of your property and in adding value as well. As a certified tree service in Fort Worth, we can take care of your maintenance and spring tree care needs. Maintaining trees and shrubs requires a certain level of knowledge and expertise.

You could save a lot of time, money, and effort by hiring a certified tree care expert for your spring maintenance.

Highly Trained and Professional

We staff ISA certified arborists and tree care experts that are highly trained and specialized. Our crew is equipped with the proper training to analyze tree related issues and to correct them with proper tree care. Our arborists can do a lot from identifying potential hazards or harmful concerns to implementing the right services to help your trees.

Arborists have the experience to come up with a plan of action that will help your trees and ensure a healthy and happy yard. Not paying attention to sick or decaying trees can eventually cause your other plants to show signs of sickness. It doesn’t take much for pests and diseases to jump from one tree to the next. An arborist will make sure that all signs of damage, decay, and disease are caught early before they can wreak havoc in your yard.

Required Services Provided in a Timely Manner

Spring care is something that needs a lot of time and attention. It is not enough to give your yard a quick once-over. We have a keen eye and enough time and hands on deck to assess the health of your individual trees and take adequate measures to protect them.

As certified tree care experts, we know the kind of services that your trees require for staying healthy and the best way to provide these services. Not to mention, our arborists have experience offering a wide range of care options, such as tree pest control, tree disease control, planting, tree removal, stump removal, and tree trimming or pruning among others.

We are your one stop shop for everything that needs to be done as part of spring tree care. Call today for a free quote: 972-743-9959.

The post Why Hire a Certified Tree Care Expert For Spring Tree Care? appeared first on Chippers Tree Service.

Spring is right here and your trees have already started feeling it. This is the perfect time to be considering spring tree services. There are several tree service in Fort Worth, TX that offer everything you could require during a spring tree service. Let Chippers Tree Service prepare your tree for spring growth. We can inspect your properties trees and recommend ways of maximizing their beauty, health, and safety.

Spring is one of the most exciting times of the year for a tree lover. With over 30 years combined experience and cutting edge equipment we can handle all your tree car. Tasks such as tree cutting, pruning, stump grinding can be dangerous if you don’t have the experience or proper equipment to undertake.

Get Spring Ready

There are several things you can do to ensure that your trees remain vibrant, healthy and beautiful in the peak of the spring season. A few of these include:

Conducting an inspection

You should schedule an inspection of your yard and trees by an arborist. You don’t want pests to set up shop in your trees. Here you will be able to find any signs of pest damage, uncovered root systems, and weak spots in the tree. They will also look for other damages that may be hampering growth. This inspection will allow you to understand the things that need to be done for protecting your tree and ensuring a healthy growth system.

Removing dead and dying branches

There are lots of branches on most trees. However, these branches need to be routinely cut back or trimmed to prevent the tree from getting overwhelmed. This is especially true for dead and dying branches on healthy trees. Pruning will ensure the tree keeps growing as it should.

Fixing standing water issues

Standing water can be a problematic issue for any tree. This is especially true for their root system. Early spring is when water could be standing around the tree system. You should have a professional take a look at the tree root system to identify if there is any standing water issue. They will also recommend ways for fixing the problem by installing drainage and other methods.

Keep Your Trees Healthy

You can stay rest assured that your trees will grow the way they are supposed to, throughout the spring and year-round. Damaged and decaying trees can quickly turn into a liability instead of an asset. You can have several issues fixed during spring tree services. This includes keeping pests away, pruning problem branches and ensuring a healthy landscape. The time is now to seek professional services for keeping your trees in the peak of their health.

The post Is It Time to Call Spring Tree Services? appeared first on Chippers Tree Service.