Tag Archives: arborists

Effects of Drought on Trees

Westchester county has now had two dry summers in a row, resulting in a lot of stress in our urban forest. What are the effects of drought on trees? How can you help? Westchester county’s tree care experts, Westchester Tree Life are here to answer your questions!

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The Impact of Drought

Like most life forms, plants are reliant on water. Water instigates the chemical reactions inside a plant cell, urging growth and health. The impact of drought is the slowing of the metabolic processes which keep the plant healthy, including the vital process of photosynthesis.

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When there is a drought, water in the soil shrinks away. As the plant continues to lose water through the process of transpiration, the integrity of the plant’s cell membrane may be destroyed.

Symptoms of Drought

A California forest’s visible drought damage

The effects of drought on trees varies case to case. Factors including the zone the tree is rooted in, as well as other environmental issues play a major part in the resilience of the tree’s health. Immediate symptoms of drought include wilting, scorch, and defoliation due to a loss of turgor in plant cells as well as the irreversible shrinking of cell membranes.

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Long term symptoms of drought include a dieback of tree branches as well as death, as the plant’s capacity to absorb water is permanently damaged.

Westchester Tree Life

If you are unsure whether your plants, trees and shrubs are healthy, call Westchester Tree Life to assess your trees at (914) 238-0069 or e-mail us directly for a consultation here.

View all of our services here.

Summer Pruning

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Maintain your Westchester County residence looking its best this summer with summer pruning from Westchester Tree Life! Our professional arborists can properly and safely prune your tree branches and shrubs.

Summer Pruning Westchester Tree Life

Summer Pruning

Summer Pruning Westchester Tree Life

Summer pruning is ideal when attempting to direct the growth of your tree branches. Pruning can also reduce the total leaf surface, which overall reduces the amount of food which is created and sent to the roots.

Defective Limbs

Removing defective limbs should be left to professionally-trained arborists, due to the serious danger risks associated with the process. Westchester Tree has the training and equipment to properly removed defective limbs. Defective limbs can be defined as dead branches or limbs that hang down too far.

Westchester Mulch Guide

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Did you know that mulch helps your soil to hold its moisture? Adding organic mulch to your garden is also a fantastic way to introduce extra nutrients into your soil! Westchester Tree Life can also create your own mulch with a wood chipping service, if you have a tree that needs to be removed; this is a great, eco-friendly way to clean up a hazardous tree. Westchester Tree Life Mulching

Benefits of Mulch

Mulching Playground Westchester Tree Life

Mulch is not only aesthetically-pleasing, it works wonders for your garden! Mulch slows weed growth, increases soil quality and gives your property a finished, manicured look. Overall, adding mulch to your garden will save you time and energy, making it an amazing addition. Adding mulch to your swing set’s area is also a great idea!

Mulch Varieties

There are so many varieties of mulch to choose from. If you are unsure which mulch would benefit your Westchester garden best, ask Westchester Tree Life! Call Westchester Tree Life today at (914) 238-0069!

Mulch Westchester Tree Life Shredded Hardwood mulch is natural and can last anywhere from one to three years. To add dark, rich color (and a temporary chocolatey fragrance), try Cocoa Mulch; though this is a more expensive option, you can get away with using a thin 1″ layer. If you are looking for a sustainable, eco-friendly option, consider using compost! Chocked full of vitamins and nutrients, compost will enrich your soil and is a perfect soil additive for new gardens.

Westchester Tree Life Tip

Fresh wood chips are a traditional mulching option which provides an elegant finish, while making use of any trees that you would like removed. To request a consultation for a wood chipping service in Westchester County, fill out Westchester Tree Life’s online consultation form here.

Professional Tree Care in New York

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Looking for professional tree care in New York? Kick spring and summer off the right way with help from our team of professional arborists in Westchester County, Westchester Tree Life! There are so many great ways we can help you care for and cultivate beautiful plants, trees and shrubs; fill out our online consultation form here.

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Westchester Tree Life: The Professional Tree Company

We understand that searching for a professional tree company in New York can be difficult! Since 1985, Westchester Tree Life has built a business on client trust and outstanding results.

Have a tree care question?

Speak with a tree specialist today; call Westchester Tree Life at (914) 238-0069.

Westchester Tree Life Services

Plant Health Care Programs

Need a tree surgeon? Westchester County’s Westchester Tree Life includes a team of passionate arborists who are here to thoroughly evaluate your tree care needs and offer a Plant Health Care Management Program to keep you on the right track!

Tree Care in New York Westchester Tree Life

Maintaining Your Trees

From tree trimming to tree cabling, we can help maintain the beauty and health of your trees. Westchester Tree Life is professionally trained to safely remove dangerous tree limbs or trees, and offers stump grinding services as well. Let us help raise your property value in Westchester County! View our full service menu here.

Evergreen Tree Care

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Evergreen trees are not only a beautiful addition to your Westchester residence, they can provide year-round privacy if strategically planted as well! We’re going to review basic evergreen tree care as well as discuss the benefits of this beautiful conifer.

These beautiful evergreens have been around for a while!

Selecting the Perfect Evergreen Tree

Choosing the perfect evergreen tree for your home begins with a healthy root system. Because the root system is the tree’s main source for collecting and dispersing nutrients and water to the tree, it is vital to have a healthy root system.

Growth Rate

Evergreen Tree Growth Example Westchester Tree Life

An example of one evergreen’s growth rate

Once planted, a healthy evergreen tree can grow anywhere from 8-16 inches per year, though your evergreen tree may grow less the first year. During the first year, your evergreen is establishing it’s root system into the newly introduced ground. If you selected a healthy evergreen tree, your tree will have a healthy growth rate.

Protecting Your Evergreen

Westchester county’s tree care experts are here to keep your evergreens safe and healthy!

When food is scarce, deer, moles, and mice will eat any vegetation they can find, including your evergreen’s new growth. Moles and mice attack from underground, eating the root system of your tree. To protect your trees against deer, call Westchester Tree Life! We can assess your trees and landscape and provide solutions to keep your trees healthy.

Make sure your evergreen trees are ready to take on winter 2015 with the help of Westchester Tree Life! Call (914) 238-0069 to make an appointment with a tree care professional today.

Pruning Trees 101

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Pruning Trees 101 is a condensed guide to help you understand the needs of your tree while pruning your tree properly.

Why Prune Your Tree

One of the most common procedures for caring your your tree, is pruning. Pruning is the process by which superfluous branches and twigs are removed from the tree. While pruning your tree, it is vital to keep in mind that each removal must have a cause; unnecessary or improper trimming can result in the growth change of your tree!

Pruning Westchester Tree Life

Common reasons for pruning are to improve the tree’s form, remove dead branches, and reduce risk. When properly pruned, your tree may gain increased light and air penetration to the inside of the tree’s crown and the landscape below!

When to Prune Your Tree

Photo Courtesy of www.citytrees.org

Routine pruning of your tree can take place during any season, with little to no effect on the tree. Ideally, growth and wound closure are maximized if the pruning takes place before spring’s growth flush.

Avoid heavy pruning of the tree’s “live tissue” just after the spring growth period to avoid stress on the tree. After spring growth the tree has just exhausted energy to produce new leaves and early shoot growth; the healing process after this period will be slower.

Pruning Young Trees Vs. Pruning Mature Trees

Pruning must be done with an understanding of tree biology. Westchester Tree Life’s professional staff of arborists are trained in the proper procedure of tree pruning, and can ensure that your tree is being pruned in the best way possible. Ensuring that your young tree is properly pruned is vital in setting it up for a long, healthy life; properly maintaining your mature tree is just as important.

By properly pruning your young tree from the beginning, you are setting it up to grow with a strong structure and desirable form. Young trees which receive proper pruning will require less corrective pruning when they are older. The goal in training your young tree is to establish a strong central trunk with sturdy branches which are well spaced. Remember that poor pruning can cause lasting damage to a tree!

Making the Cut

When making the cut we cannot stress enough how important it is to have a reason for cutting. Improper cutting can result in the tearing of bark.

To prune your tree, you will need hand pruners, lopping shears, and a pruning saw; be sure to use tools which are sharp and clean. Do not use hedge shears to prune your tree. Once you have evaluated which branches need to be removed, be sure to make your pruning cuts just outside the branch collar. The branch collar contains trunk tissue that should not be damaged or removed.

If you are removing a large tree limb, reduce the weight first. Before you begin cutting, mark an undercut about 12 to 18 inches from the limb’s point of attachment; make another mark to cut a few inches farther out atop the branch. Afterward, remove the stub of the tree limb by cutting back to the branch collar.

Once again, we stress that the improper pruning of both young and mature trees can result in the stress and damage of your tree. If you are unsure how to properly prune your tree, call Westchester Tree Life at (914) 238-0069.