Monthly Archives: December 2015

Are you already dreaming about fruit trees, cherry blossoms and a veritable smorgasbord in your yard? Some fruit trees aren’t just OK with being planted in the winter — they actually prefer it!

There’s no need to wait until the spring thaw to give your green thumb a workout. Plan early and you’ll have a bountiful harvest before anyone else. Plant these options bare-root and it won’t be long before you’ll have a real yard-to-table dining experience.

Peaches adore cold weather planting, but they don’t care for too much dampness. Plant them next to a south-facing wall if you can, for extra warmth.

Homeowners with an abundance of rails, fences and gazebos have grapes as an option. The American strains are toughest against mildew, easier to grow and generally sturdier than their European counterparts.

For an extra pop of color, consider strawberries as your ground cover — and remember that although strawberries are technically perennials, it’s best to replace them every two to three years.

A Berry Merry Christmas

But strawberries aren’t the only berry option for winter planting. Blueberries do very well in almost every region. They also offer gorgeous color and double as a garden plant as well as a food source. However, if fruit flies trouble you, keep in mind that blueberries may attract them, but row covers (garden fabric) can help keep your fruit safe.

You can also go with cherries, but it’s best to choose a yellow variety (birds can’t resist the red). Another alternative is to net the tree. Surprisingly, cherries don’t like a too-mild winter, so states with four seasons are great for this fruit.

Apples come in all shapes and colors, but the early ripening types do best if planted in winter. Unfortunately, they also spoil fast. This makes them excellent for making applesauce or to store for later. Moths are attracted to them, but a simple sticky strip is usually enough to keep these fruits secure.

Talk About an Early Gift!

’Tis the season of giving, and your local nursery has a treat for you! Winter is notoriously the slow season for nurseries, which means you’ll have prime picking and maybe score some great deals. Overall, bare-root plants are more affordable, since they haven’t been potted. They’re also lighter, simpler to transport and get settled faster than plants in a container.

You’ll also have plenty of time to get your organic gardening habits down before spring rolls around, since you’re only pampering a few, favored fruit trees and shrubs.

Need a little extra help with your tree TLC this time of year? From pruning to fertilizing and everything in between, count on the local experts at Reliable Tree Care. We’re your fruit tree service specialists, available throughout the holidays for all your maintenance needs.

’Tis the season for holiday lighting, and if you want to tap your inner Griswold, that means decking the outdoors as well as the halls.

Exterior holiday lighting looks stunning, but it’s not quite as much fun to DIY. That’s why so many homeowners rely on holiday lighting experts who can stand the snow and cold (and have arborist training, too). If you want to try to tackle this job yourself, your first step is to ensure the lights and other decorations you choose are made for the outdoors.

Inspecting light strands is (still) a holiday tradition, especially the outdoor variety. A frayed cord or any otherwise faulty material can be a serious fire hazard.

You’ll also need to plot how to hide cords the best you can. You can use garlands or match the cords to trees, patios or house trim.

Before the actual stringing begins, you’ll also need a quality ladder and tools for hanging. That alone can cost you a pretty penny (and be dangerous!), which is when savvy holiday revelers call for professional help.

Deck the Yard!

Light clips can hold even heavier lights and attach to your home and trees without damage. Avoid hanging your light strings with nails, which cause permanent marks and can also be tough to remove once the season is over. Clips can be re-used each year, are affordable and can be selected to match the color of the backdrop, whether it’s a porch or your favorite birch tree.

Where you have your lights is equally important—and remember that not all trees and shrubs are sturdy enough to support lights.

Only string lights from branches that are strong, solid and unlikely to break. Hanging strings a little closer to the trunk helps, as does keeping an eye out for nesting animals, pre-existing damage, rot or infestations. These aren’t always easy to spot, and an expert can inspect your trees and shrubs while also decorating your landscape.

All About Aesthetics

This is one time of year you don’t have to have just one focal point. You can use various points around the yard, especially if you’re going all out. Homeowners lucky enough to have a pine tree or other seasonal-looking tree can decorate it just like the one in the living room.

Outdoor ornaments that are durable (but you won’t miss if they go missing themselves) are key. You can also go with a variety of tree toppers, so if you’ve never been able to choose between a star and an angel, now you can have both.

Decorating is a thrill, but just like indoors, it’s the lights that can be the biggest pain. You don’t want to damage your home or trees in the process, nor do you want a fire hazard. Call Reliable Tree Care for fast, professional and gorgeous holiday lighting.

How difficult can tree removal be, especially if the tree is far from any homes or structures?

It’s much more treacherous than you think, which is why only a professional tree removal specialist should handle this task!

For starters, homes and structures are just one part of the equation — don’t forget about power lines. There’s a good chance that the tree you’re removing is near a power line (otherwise, you probably wouldn’t be bothering to remove it at all). You should always assume wires are live.

If any part of the process, from you to the tree or the tools, touches the power line, you could take out power in your entire neighborhood — and that’s the best-case scenario.

Electrocution is a very real risk that tree removal workers face every day. Some homeowners have heard the old wives’ tale that power lines with a black coating are insulated and won’t electrocute you. This is false. That black coating is actually just weatherproofing so the power lines keep working in snow, rain and sleet.

There’s absolutely no electrocution-proofing with weather-proofed lines. You don’t want to learn this the hard way.

The Right Tools

No regular homeowner has the necessary equipment to remove a tree. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ensures that professionals have special gear to keep them safe.

Plus, these experts also have been well-trained in how to use the tools, from cranes and wood chippers to ropes and chain saws. Workers begin by apprenticing, learning firsthand from a seasoned removal expert how to fall a tree. It takes months and sometimes years of strategic exposure and practice to be able to do this safely.

Decayed trees are even more dangerous, partly because you can’t always tell if they are decayed, and if so, how severe it is.

A decayed tree can be incredibly unstable, which is why even the best pros may use a crane. If you suspect a tree is decaying, tell the tree removal expert when he or she comes for the initial inspection.

Decayed trees can collapse seemingly out of nowhere, so call a professional right away if you’re suspicious. Trees have intensive biological processes, including the decay process, and best practices need to be used for this type of removal.

You Can’t Fight Gravity

Even a tree that seems relatively small can wreak havoc if it’s felled improperly. Gravity takes over. When a tree starts to fall, it’s going to continue on that path no matter what. Non-pros might try to encourage a tree to fall in a certain direction with ropes and indents, but there’s always the chance that something can go awry.

A lack of judgment and skill or the use of inadequate tools can lead to a tree falling on a person, home or power line. It’s never worth the risk. Call Reliable Tree Care today for fast, safe and affordable tree removal services.