Monthly Archives: August 2015

Get your final summer tree services taken care of by the last hot weather holiday — Labor Day — but leave the labor to the professionals. Whether you’re hosting a barbeque, taking it easy or heading out of town for the long weekend, make sure your to-do list includes scheduling tree services.

Autumn is right around the corner, and trees and shrubs need a little TLC (especially if they’re not evergreens). Start by getting insects under control. It’s prime season for aphids, beetles, scale and spider mites to take over, and nipping that problem in the bug is a must.

Fight Disease and Fertilize

Next up? It’s disease control for your trees. Whether your plants have a penchant for bacteria and pathogens, tree fungus or another common problem, you want to go into fall knowing your trees are as healthy as they can be. Give them a boost with fertilization, from foliar fertilizing treatments to deep-root feedings. Fertilization cycles depend on your region, the plant species and its age, but a trusted arborist will know if your greenery needs the help of fertilizer and which option is best.

If you have fruit trees, chances are high that you’ve enjoyed your bounty for the year. However, that doesn’t mean these trees are safe and sound. They might be falling victim to dormant oil, codling moths or borers, which are tough problems for non-arborists to spot. If you want to make sure you have fruit to enjoy next year, these trees could use a little extra attention.

All the Trimmings

Your picnic table isn’t the only place in the back yard that will have all the trimmings this Labor Day weekend. Your trees need trimming too, whether you need removal of dead or overgrown branches, crown restoration or a little shaping for autumn. Make sure the branch structure is properly trimmed and shaped, especially if you plan to use trees for Halloween decorations.

Holiday lighting is also popular, with many homeowners opting for white twinkle lights for late-night autumn BBQs. You might also be prepping for the haunting season, picking up orange and purple lights to string around the home. However, if you want all the beauty of lighting without any of the trouble or risks, now is the time to hire an expert to string lights for you. What might seem like an easy job of tree and roof lighting can quickly get overwhelming.

Is your yard in shape for autumn? It’s a major job, and non-experts can easily overlook red flags. Wait too long to care for your trees and plants, and it might be too late (especially if a disease or full pest infestation is at play). Contact Reliable Tree Care to schedule your Labor Day weekend tree services and head into autumn with the best yard on the block.

It’s a surprise for many first-time homeowners: Tree services are an integral part of maintaining your property. If you’re lucky enough to have older trees on your property, know that they also require ongoing maintenance just like young trees and saplings. What kind of tree services do you need? Read on to find out.

Trees and shrubs are alive, and just like humans they can be vulnerable to diseases, the elements and pests. They can get too big, fail to thrive and you may want to dress them up for holidays. Greenery dramatically improves the landscape of any home, and you want to ensure your trees are both healthy and not a threat to your home (such as with overhanging branches).

Here are just a few critical tree services many Utah homeowners need in their lifetimes:

• Disease control: Bacteria, fungi and pathogens are just some of the common causes of diseases among trees, although some trees are vulnerable to lesser-known ailments. It’s not always obvious that a tree is diseased, especially in the early stages of infection. Only an arborist can know for certain if a tree is diseased, and the best way to treat it if it is. Often, when caught in time, a tree can be saved, which is usually preferable to cutting it down.
• Insect control: You’re not the only one admiring your landscape. Beetles, borers, aphids and spider mites are just a few of the insects that may take a liking to your tree. Mammals, such as deer, or certain birds also may consider your trees or shrubs a free-for-all buffet. Your arborist can employ organic and cruelty-free ways of managing insect control.
• Fertilization: Sometimes trees and shrubs need a little help thriving, especially in their younger days. From deep-root feeding to foliar fertilizer and everything in between, fertilizing might sound easy — but one wrong move and you do more harm than good. Rely on a pro to take care of fertilizing so you can sit back and watch your tree thrive.
• Fruit tree care: These types of trees sometimes need a little extra TLC. They face unique pest situations, and what happens when fruit bearing becomes an issue? A great arborist can help literally bring your landscape to fruition.
• Trimming: Trimming is essential for durable branch structure, crown restoration and shaping. However, it’s also a dangerous task that requires extensive knowledge and training. Too much or too little trimming, and you’re in trouble.
• Holiday lighting: It’s not just for the winter holidays anymore. Dress up your trees for a special event like a wedding, in patriotic colors for your Fourth of July evening barbeque or in pink for a Valentine’s Day proposal.

Call Reliable Tree Care today for comprehensive tree services throughout the SLC area.

The ideal tree trimming season is when the plant is dormant, which is winter for the majority of trees and shrubs. However, year-round pruning is often necessary. The worst time to prune is in the spring, but late summer can prove an ideal trimming season in some instances. Dead branches and limbs can be trimmed at any time, and in late summer, when the leaves begin to thin, it can be easier to spot dead areas. Can’t tell if a branch is dead or not? Scrape it lightly with your fingernail—it there’s green underneath, it’s alive. If not, grab the trimmers.

Spring blooming plants can be pruned immediately after the last blossoms fall, which varies from plant to plant. For many plants, this happens in the autumn, which makes late August the perfect time to start watching for the final flowers to drop. However, be careful with moving from plant to plant. You might unknowingly carry diseases on your pruning shears, so rub them down with rubbing alcohol between each plant.

Keeping Trim This Summer

Every species has a best time to prune, so make sure you research the trees and plants in your yard. If this isn’t your forte, or you simply don’t have time, it’s a good idea to hire a skilled landscaper or arborist. These professionals are familiar with all of Utah’s plants and can help manage your yard, which will keep it looking gorgeous year-round. Feeling like a DIY approach is feasible? Make sure you know the proper pruning schedules of some of the most common plants:

• Almonds (flowering): Pruning should take place right after blossoming and in the summer months.

 

• Arborvitae: Late summer through early winter is the ideal season to prune this popular plant.

 

• Azaleas: Prune immediately after blossoming, and make sure to remove any hanger-on flower clusters as you go.

 

• Clematis: If you have a summer bloomer, it’s best to prune in late summer and early fall.

 

• Euonymus: You can begin pruning both deciduous and evergreen varieties in the autumn, and this practice can continue throughout the winter.

 

• Hydrangeas: For summer blooms, begin pruning in the autumn.

 

• Juniper: Autumn is the season for juniper trimming, but ensure the plant is dormant first.

 

• Mock orange: One of the few plants that calls for mid-summer pruning, August is the perfect time to start.

 

• Pussy willow: Mid-summer is a great time to start pruning, although you can begin earlier, as long as blossoming has begun.

 

• Quince: Prune in mid to late summer, then switch to cutting back to the ground come autumn.

 

• Wisteria: New growth should be pruned in late summer for shaping.

The unique needs of your trees, shrubs and plants depend on the variety, where you live in Utah and the seasonal shifts. For the best results, call Reliable Tree Care and have a local arborist take care of your tree trimming needs year-round.