6 Critical Tree Services

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: Dise

Tree Trimming Tips for Late Summer

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

Arborist & Landscaping Trends to Watch

Your arborist is your go-to source for all things trending in landscapes. The reality is that your back yard isn’t very different from the inside of your home, and both locations can be outdated. You wouldn’t go without updating your living room for 20 years, and the same care should be taken with your landscape architecture and tree trimming. Just like everywhere else, a move toward sustainability is taking place in back yards everywhere, and it’s time you caught up. Drought-tolerant, native plants are not only environmentally friendly, but also easy on the pocketbook. Foraging is also enjoying a big comeback – planting food-bearing plants such as fruit trees and having herbs double as design elements are both beautiful and sensible ideas. Easy Trends to Try Introduce

Becoming an Arborist

What does your arborist know that you don’t? Quite a bit — as arborists should, considering the extensive training required to become certified. The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is the big kahuna of credentials and certification for arborists. Six ISA certifications are available, each of which requires an exam. The six certifications are: ISA Certified Arborist: In order to be eligible, applicants must have 3-plus years of experience in a full-time job working in arboriculture and/or they must have achieved a degree in forestry, horticulture, arboriculture or landscape architecture from an accredited institution. ISA Certified Arborist Utility Specialist: Candidates need at least 2,000 hours of experience in a two-year window specializing in electric utility

Tree and Shrub Fertilization Tips

If you’re looking for tree and shrub fertilization tips, it seems like everyone has a different opinion — and with good reason. The best fertilization strategies depend on the plant, its age, the region, current weather conditions and what your preferences are. (Organic? Open to manmade chemicals? Not sure?) Money also plays a factor, since different fertilizers come with different price tags. Younger trees and shrubs require more fertilization, around three times per year on average. The best time for young tree and shrub fertilization is early in the spring before buds form, early in the summer once the leaves have opened and in autumn as the leaves start to fall (if applicable). However, older trees only need fertilization once or twice per year. It might seem like fertilizat