Tree Service Tips

April 7, 2022

6 Common Warning Signs of Tree Damage From Pests

When you see insects crawling across one of the trees in your yard, you probably don’t give it a second thought. After all, plants and insects have a reciprocal relationship, don’t they?

While this is often true, certain types of insects are greedier than others, and a large enough pest infestation can wreak havoc on your tree’s health. Over time, the tree damage can act like a sickness, making it difficult for your tree to create and transfer the nutrients it needs to survive.

That’s why it’s crucial to keep an eye out for warning signs that the insects on your tree aren’t causing harm. Here are a few things Texas homeowners should look for.

1. Chewed Foliage

One of the most obvious signs that you have a tree infestation is chewed foliage.

Check the leaves of your tree with care for any signs of holes or damage. You might see small, round holes, leaves with jagged edges, or leaves that seem to be chewed through in lines. In some cases, you may only find the “skeletons” of leaves, meaning that the veins are in place, but the middle part between them is gone.

The culprit here could be one of several pests, including beetles, weevils, or insect larvae, depending on the pattern of the damage.

Note that it’s not uncommon to see a few leaves with holes here and there on a well-established tree. This cosmetic damage is often temporary and won’t harm your tree in the long run.

However, when you start to notice that a significant portion of your tree’s leaves have been eaten away, especially when you’re only seeing a single chewing pattern, it’s time to call an expert. This systemic damage can be tricky to treat without help.

2. Damaged Tree Bark

While some tree pests stick to the softer foliage for their diets, others eat away at the protective bark on your tree. Most tree borers, such as termites or certain beetle species, will lay their eggs inside of your tree, allowing the emerging larvae to eat away at your tree as they grow.

Unfortunately, this damage isn’t just cosmetic. Tunneling damage can impact your tree’s vascular system, which can prevent it from pulling essential nutrients from its roots into its leaves and branches. If left untreated, parts of your tree will begin to wither and die over time.

Be on the lookout for signs like bark holes or winding tunnels around the outside of your tree. You may also see something that looks like sawdust or wood shavings collecting around the base of the trunk.

3. Misshapen or Curling Leaves

One common infestation can leave a rather odd sign behind: distorted foliage.

Aphids are tiny pests that are often small enough to go unnoticed, but in large numbers, they can eat away at the sap in your tree’s leaves and stems. This removal drains the substance that helps leaves keep their form, which can cause them to look misshapen, curled, or even yellow.

4. Mold or Mildew

Often, homeowners notice a strange growth on their tree’s bark, leaves, branches, or twigs. Sometimes, this growth may look like mold or mildew, or it may even look like a fungal growth. This worrying type of tree damage may appear white and cottony, black and sooty, or like a patch of grey flecks.

You might be surprised to know that this “mold” is often a colony of insects!

Certain species of aphids can appear white and cottony in color, as can certain types of scale insects. These bugs can be as small as 1/16”, which can make them difficult to see unless they’ve gathered in a group.

In addition, certain insectoid eating habits—like those of aphids—can create a byproduct you may notice on the underside of your leaves or branches. This sticky byproduct, called “honeydew,” isn’t easy to spot on its own—but you’ll often notice the sooty, black mold that tends to collect on it. In some cases, honeydew may promote bacterial growth that can eventually help kill off your aphids, but it’s always better to take care of this problem as soon as possible.

5. Stippled or Faded Foliage

Where aphids suck the sap from your tree’s foliage, other insects often suck the juices from them. This can have a different effect on the leaves: it gives them a stippled, polka-dot look. It can also make their color appear faded or dull from afar. This effect is common when your tree is home to mites or lace bugs.

6. Leaning

A leaning tree trunk can be the result of many different issues, including underground damage or interior decay.

However, in some cases, the culprit may be plant pests, especially in younger trees or trees with a severe infestation. If insects have had a chance to bore away at your tree’s trunk for an extended period of time, your tree may become unstable, making it a dangerous hazard to have in your yard.

What to Do About Tree Damage From Pests

If you’ve noticed any of the signs of damage above, it’s a good idea to do a visual inspection of your tree to see the damage and to see if you recognize any of the common pests in Texas. Equipped with this knowledge, you might be tempted to call an exterminator to get rid of your unwanted tree pests. Not so fast!

Calling an experienced arborist is always the solution when you want to preserve a healthy tree. In some cases, an expert might recommend a few smaller changes before trying to treat the area for pests, such as pruning or soil amendments to help make your tree less vulnerable to the infestation. These small changes can help your tree regain health and better defend itself, whether or not you’ll need additional insecticide.

Contact an Arborist to Save Your Tree

If you’ve noticed any of the signs of insect infestations above, it’s time to act fast. Most of the common pest species here in Texas are fairly small, but they can cause a great deal of tree damage in large enough numbers!

That’s where we come in. Our team of ISA-certified arborists specializes in high-quality tree service, including pest removal. To learn how we can help, contact us today.

March 30, 2022

5 Signs That You Have a Dying Tree On Your Property

You value the trees on your property. They provide shade for you and your family and help make your landscaping efforts beautiful.

While fully-grown trees are very robust and resilient, diseases and certain environmental conditions can threaten their health. Sometimes, spotting these signs of sickness is easy, but other symptoms aren’t as obvious.

It’s imperative that you learn to recognize the signs of a dying tree, as its falling branches can pose a safety hazard to you and your property. These branches can seriously injure a person or cause a significant amount of property damage.

These are the top five signs that your tree is dying.

1. Cracks In The Bark

If you notice that the bark on your tree is cracking and has started sloughing off the tree, it’s a sure sign your tree is dying. Of all the signs of a distressed tree, this one is probably the most obvious.

It starts with the bark deteriorating. It’ll become brittle and slightly discolored before falling off the trunk.

Over time, cracks will appear in the bark that remains on the tree. Some of these cracks can even penetrate deep inside the tree, reaching its internal cavities.

Cracks in the bark can also lead to danger. A cracked tree trunk is not as sturdy as a healthy trunk, so the tree may pose a safety hazard in the event of a storm or strong winds.

2. Abundance Of Deadwood

Perfectly healthy trees may have some dead spots, which can easily be pruned away to allow for new growth. However, if you notice an excessive amount of dead branches, your tree may be dying.

Deadwood poses a serious safety hazard. These dead branches can fall from the tree at any time, causing injuries to people and pets and damage to property.

Deadwood is relatively easy to spot on your own, but you may need a professional’s help to diagnose its cause and recommend a course of action.

3. Dead Leaves

A healthy deciduous tree sports bright green leaves during the growing season. If your tree’s leaves are still brown long after winter has passed and other trees in the area have grown lush, vibrant leaves, your tree is probably in trouble.

You’ll also notice peculiarities in autumn. These dead leaves won’t change color and fall to the ground. Instead, they stay on the branch.

With coniferous trees like pine trees, you’ll notice spots of red and orange needles.

A tree’s foliage is an important part of its ecosystem and signs of dying leaves or needles are an indication that your tree is distressed.

4. Damage To The Roots

Most trees have an elaborate root system that extends deep underground. They allow the tree to feed and thrive, so any damage to a tree’s roots could prove devastating.

Of course, root damage won’t just crop up overnight. If you’ve recently performed landscape work on your property, there’s a possibility that some machinery may have damaged your tree’s roots. Soil issues and lack of nutrients in the environment can also contribute to root damage.

Root damage may be difficult to assess, given that roots are usually out of view. However, if a tree is suffering from serious damage to its root system, roots can actually break through the soil and come into view above ground.

Other signs of root damage include yellowing and thinning leaves, lack of new growth, and dead branches.

5. Fungal Or Pest Infestations

Infestations, whether it’s from pests like ants and beetles or a fungus, are a sure sign your tree is sick. Healthy trees aren’t attractive hosts for these sorts of parasites and are typically able to ward off infestations.

On the other hand, a dying tree is a perfect host for pests like carpenter ants, bark beetles, and various forms of fungus. An affected tree has deep recesses that they can settle into and it’s easy for certain insects to carve out a home in the tree’s softened wood.

Spotting a fungal infection may be difficult in the initial stages, so look for an abundance of ants and beetles and stay vigilant while searching for signs of fungus.

The infestation will become more apparent as it develops. Oftentimes, you’ll be able to see mushrooms sprouting at the base of the tree. Another sign is the development of “cankers” on the trunk. These are weakened areas of decaying bark.

Can You Save A Dying Tree?

Fortunately, it’s possible to save a diseased tree if you notice the issues and take action immediately. You may need to enlist the help of an arborist to diagnose the problem.

Moisture is the most likely cause of an unhealthy tree. If the area around the tree has poor drainage, issues are likely to occur. You may need to alter your landscaping to allow for better drainage.

Another problem that can affect tree health is an abundance of mulch at its base. In the proper amount, mulch can help a tree’s roots retain water and keep the soil cool.

However, too much mulch can suffocate the root system and lead to the development of fungus. Clear away some mulch if you notice issues with your tree’s roots or spot fungal growth.

Finally, pruning away dead areas can save your tree. However, you’ll have to be careful, as certain trees require more precise tree trimming methods. You’ll need to sterilize your cutting tools and research proper pruning practices before you begin.

In fact, it’s best to let a tree care professional assist you with pruning your distressed tree. Pruning too much could kill the tree.

Arbor Tech Tree Service Can Help

A dying tree can pose a problem for you and your family. Its limbs can fall at any time, resulting in injury and property damage.

Look out for the signs of a distressed tree. If you notice decaying spots, cracking bark, or dead leaves, your tree may be in trouble.

Fortunately, professional tree services can help save your tree’s life. Reach out to Arbor Tech Tree Service to see how they can help you.

March 15, 2022

7 Ways to Keep Your Trees Healthy

Tree Care: 7 Ways to Keep Your Trees Healthy

It is essential to keep up with routine tree care in order to keep your trees thriving. Here are 7 things you can do to keep your trees healthy.

Keyword(s): tree care

Are you tired of seeing your trees struggle to survive and don’t know what to do to bring them back to life?

It’s important for every homeowner to have healthy trees. By providing shade on hot days they cut down on energy costs. They also attract animals and insects to your yard and decrease soil erosion.

Despite their great value, many people struggle to care for them correctly. This is why so many trees become unhealthy. Fortunately, there are several tree care techniques that you can make use of in order to grow healthier trees.

If you want to find out how to care for your trees, then read on and we’ll tell you what you need to know.

1. Make Sure You’re Planting The Right Kinds Of Trees

If you want to grow a tree that will thrive and last a lifetime, this is one of the most important things that you can do. You should make sure to search for a species of tree that grows well in your climate.

You should also be aware of what soil conditions the tree you want to plant grows best in. If the tree you want to plant thrives in clay-like soils but the soil on your property is loamy, it’s probably not a good idea to plant it on your land.

You should also take note of how much light is available on your property. If you live in a forested area that doesn’t get a lot of sunlight, it’s important that you choose to plant trees that grow well in these conditions.

If you are not sure what kind of tree will be best to plant, it can always be a good idea to plant a species that is native to your area. If you live in Texas, several native species that will probably grow well in your yard include live oak, cedar elms, black cherries, and Mexican white oaks.

2. Get Rid Of Stakes Early On

Did you know that trees that are allowed to sway in the wind while they’re still young will grow stronger trunks? This is why you should only use stakes to support your tree when it is very young.

Try using a two-stake system by placing on on either side of the root ball. After you’ve done this, tie a string between the two stakes which is also wrapped around the tree.

In the months after planting a new tree, you should also keep a close eye on it. As soon as it shows signs that it’s able to grow on its own without support, consider removing the stakes. Though there is no set amount of time how much time a tree will need to have stakes, it’s usually a good idea not to keep them attached to a tree for more than one year.

3. Properly Water Your Tree

If the trees you’re growing are still young, they’re going to need to be watered regularly. Even if you have mature trees, you’re going to need to water them in times of drought and in the middle of the summer heat.

When you water your trees you should give them lots of water. You want to make sure that the water reaches the entire root zone, which can be up to three feet deep for mature trees.

Don’t simply water at the base of the trees, and don’t count on your lawn’s sprinklers to do the job for you. It’s a better idea to use a hose in order to water the soil beneath the entire tree canopies. You can also set up a drip irrigation system if you like.

Before you water your trees again, give the soil a chance to partially dry. This will help the tree’s roots to expand and be healthy.

4. Fertilize Your Tree When You Need To

If you want to grow healthy trees it can be a good idea to fertilize them every once in a while. With this being said, it’s not a good idea to assume that you need to do it every year.

Young trees need an occasional fertilizer, but older trees only rarely will need it. You’ll know that you’ll need to apply fertilizer when your trees are not growing well or if their leaves are brown and yellow. Along with applying fertilizer, there are other important steps you should take in order to save your dying trees.

5. Tree Health Tip: Prune Your Trees Properly

When you prune trees, you enhance their strength and structure. The pruning process involves making thin cuts in order to remove limbs at their origin. Many people make the mistake of making heading cuts, which means they cut along the length of a branch. By pruning your trees correctly, you’ll help them to be more healthy and more beautiful.

6. Protect The Roots

Protecting the roots is one of the tree maintenance techniques that people often overlook. You should never drive cars or heavy equipment on top of your trees’ roots. You should also never remove or change the soil that’s under the tree canopy, as this can be harmful.

7. Add Mulch

You should occasionally add about two or three inches of mulch around the canopy of your trees. Try to use a mulch that is rich in organic compounds such as pine straw or compost.

Use These Tree Care Techniques To Grow Healthy Trees

If you’re trying to grow healthy trees, make sure that you’re using the best tree care techniques. Give them plenty of water, add mulch when needed, and fertilize them when they’re young. You should also know that it is extremely important to prune your trees with the correct techniques and at the correct times.

If you live in the Southlake or Frisco area and are looking for professional help to trim and care for your trees, we’re here to assist you. Please contact us to schedule a free estimate.

December 15, 2021

How to Hire the Best Commercial Tree Trimming Service

There are countless reasons why trimming your trees is worth it. However, for most, it’s a process that is best left to the professionals.

A commercial tree service can get the job done quickly and correctly. It’s extremely important that you look for a quality company to work with, or the job can go wrong.

Are you wondering how you can find the right commercial tree service to work with? We’ll go over everything that you should be asking and looking out for before you choose one to work with!

Services Offered

Before choosing a commercial tree trimming company, you should consider the services that they offer. While tree trimming will be the main service you’re looking for, you may also be able to have them do some other work around your yard as well.

Many companies can also provide services like tree removal if that’s something that you’d like as well. They can also work with other types of plants to promote their health and growth.

While you may need their tree trimming services right now, you want to create a good relationship with the company. Knowing you can trust them can help you choose them again when you need other services as well.

Going through the process of searching is hard enough the first time!

Licenses, Certifications, and Insurance

Choosing commercial tree care services also involves checking up on the company’s background. It’s crucial that you work with a company that has all of their paperwork in order so that you can rest assured that the job is done correctly and safely.

Be sure to ask the company about their licenses and certifications. They should be happy to provide you with proof of their certifications.

This will tell you that they are trained and can be trusted to complete the job safely and effectively.

For example, we are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture. With this accreditation and over 20 years of experience, we can assure you that any work completed by us will be done with integrity and care.

Insurance is another important part of working with the right tree trimming service. Any service that you work with should have insurance in case of the unexpected.

This protects both the company and you as the customer.

Types of Equipment

When dealing with trees, there’s lots of different equipment needed. It’s important to know what type of equipment to expect and if the workers are certified to operate it.

It’s common for a crane to be used in tree trimming as the branches are typically too high to reach. You’ll need to know if your property can accommodate this and be prepared to have space for it.

They’ll also have to bring along tools like trimmers and chainsaws if needed. It’s important to give the technicians adequate space and a clear area to work for this reason.

You can inquire about the tools that the technicians will be bringing to ensure that everything will go smoothly for them.

Estimates

There are two estimates that you should ask for from a potential company; a time estimate and a cost estimate.

The time estimate can give you an idea of how long the job is going to take. This allows you to plan to be there and give the technicians an idea of what you’re looking for.

A cost estimate is important so that you can budget for your service. The company that you choose should be able to give you a general idea of both before you start.

They may ask a few questions to better understand the situation and give you a more accurate estimate of both. Be sure to ask for this before scheduling!

Safety Protocols

Aside from being safe with the equipment, there are other safety protocols that a company should have in place. The technicians should be wearing protective gear to keep them safe while on the job.

You can ask the company if they will be providing this for their technicians. Goggles, overalls, and other personal protective equipment are typically a staple when it comes to being an arborist.

Choosing a company that cares about their employees and their safety can give you peace of mind that everything will go well once they arrive for the job.

References and Reviews

Looking for reviews is often an important step in the process of choosing commercial tree services. You can learn a lot from looking at reviews, however, don’t forget to take them with a grain of salt.

Don’t take one good or one bad review at face value. Instead, look for similarities in the reviews to get a better idea of what the company will be like to work with.

You can also request some references from the company that you choose. They should be able to give you contact information for someone that they’ve worked with before.

This gives you a chance to get first-hand information from someone who has worked with them before and get their feeling on the experience.

Previous Experience

One last thing you can ask a potential company is whether they have worked on jobs similar to yours before.

For example, your business may be close to other businesses, but you still have a few trees that you need to be trimmed. You would need the arborists to come in and work in close quarters to another business.

You can ask if the company has ever worked on a project where they’re tight on space before, and how it went.

For companies like Arbor-Tech Tree Services that have been in business for over 20 years, we’ve seen it all.

A Quality Commercial Tree Service Awaits

If you need some tree trimming done around your business, you need to choose the best commercial tree service that you can. By looking for these qualities in a potential company, you’ll make the right choice to get the job done correctly.

At Arbor-Tech Tree Services, we’re happy to serve customers in the Southlake and Frisco, Texas areas. Contact us today to find out how we can help you with tree trimming!

November 4, 2021

Fallen Tree in Your Yard? Your Five Immediate Next Steps

When a tree falls in the forest, it may not make a sound. But it will make an impact when it falls near you.

Falling trees kill more than 200 Americans every year. Scientists have found nearly 100,000 dead yet standing trees in the eastern United States alone. Any one of these trees can fall over at any moment.

What should be your first response to a fallen tree? Who can you call for help, even when you are in the middle of the storm? How can you prevent another fallen tree from happening?

Answer these questions and you can keep your home from significant storm damage. Here are five things you should do after a tree falls in your yard.

1. Assess the Fallen Tree Damage From a Distance

As soon as a tree falls down, you should assess the situation. Start with the room you are in. If the power went out or if the room shook, you should assume the tree hit a power line at a minimum.

Try to get to a window and look out to see what is happening. Even if you can’t see the tree, you can see where you can go if you need to evacuate.

If there is no apparent damage to your home, you can go to a location where you can see the fallen tree. Do not go outside or get any closer than you need to. Pull out your phone and take photographs of the damage.

If a tree fell on your house, you should evacuate. It does not matter if there is no immediate damage. Rainwater and wind can push on the tree and puncture a hole in your ceiling.

Try to find an area where you can place a phone call. This may involve going to a store or an area near a radio tower.

Call 911 if anyone has been injured. Keep in mind that a branch may have fallen onto your neighbor’s property or into the road. Try to see if everyone around you is okay.

2. Call a Professional Tree Removal Service

You can call a company as soon as your tree falls. You should keep in mind that they may not respond to you right away. A major storm will cause other trees to fall over and block roadways.

But placing a call will expedite the removal process. Tell them what storm damage from trees you have. Tell them where and how big the tree is.

Try to assess their experience and skills. Ask them about how to remove a fallen tree. If they are not clear in the details, talk to a different company.

You can ask about prices, but keep the focus of your call on the immediate situation. Tree removal is more important than saving money.

3. Call Your Insurance Company

Once your call with the tree removal company is over, you should call your insurance company. Tell them what happened, what has been damaged, and where you are.

Be as detailed with your descriptions as possible. Try to itemize your damaged belongings, including your fence and car.

As with a professional removal company, you should not expect immediate treatment. Many people may be calling your insurer. You may be put on hold or connected to a representative you do not know.

They may ask you to send photographs of the damage. Do so as soon as possible. You may need to move to an area where you have Wi-Fi access.

4. Secure Your Home

After you are done with your insurance company, focus on your safety. Wait for the inclement weather to pass before you go outside. You can wait in a neighbor’s house or your car if you feel unsafe inside your home.

Lock your doors and windows before leaving. Remove your valuables and secure them in drawers away from sight.

Place boards or solid objects over any holes in your wall or broken windows. This will prevent animals and floodwater from entering your house.

Do not try to remove the tree itself. It may have damaged the integrity of your home or knocked down a power line. Do not go near a downed power line, even if you are wearing protective equipment.

Ask a home inspector to come into your house and inspect the foundation. A tree that fell in your hard may have damaged it, even if it missed your house entirely.

Do not stay in a house with a damaged foundation or destroyed walls. Allow someone to make repairs, but stay at someone else’s place until your home is whole again.

5. Get Your Tree Removed

Let the professionals take care of the tree for you. You can supervise their work, but let them do their jobs.

After the tree has been removed, think of some steps you can take so damage does not happen again. You may want to remove dead or decaying trees from your property. You can also hire a tree trimming service that will remove extended branches.

Reinforce your walls and roofing for added security. You can install stones, plywood boards, and metal grids to increase your home’s strength. Try to remove fragile objects from your walls so a tree in your backyard will not rattle them.

Prepare an evacuation plan in the event that your home gets damaged again. Figure out where you will go if you need to leave and decide what you need to take. If you are in an area that has a lot of storms, you can prepare a go-bag with medication and important documents.

Get Your Fallen Tree Out of the Way

A fallen tree requires immediate intervention. Assess the damage near you and outside. If you are at risk, get out of your house.

Call a tree removal company so they can respond to you right away. Then talk to your insurance company about the potential damage.

Board up any damaged areas and do not go near your tree. Let the removal company come and do that work for you. Take steps to improve the integrity of the house and your personal safety.

Don’t hesitate to get tree removal help. Arbor-Tech Tree Service serves the Southlake area. Contact us today.