Tag Archives: plant health care

Hardiness Zone FAQ

Easily determine what plants, shrubs and trees grow best in your area by knowing your hardiness zone!  Hardiness zones are defined by conditions such as minimum temperatures, and determine which specific category of plant life is capable of growing and thriving there.

What are Hardiness Zones?

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The United States and Canada are divided into 11 plant hardiness zones based on a 10 degree Fahrenheit difference in the average annual minimum temperature.

How Do I Determine My Hardiness Zone?

The United States Department of Agriculture has a map which can assist you in determining your hardiness zone.  View the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map here.

What Does “Suitable Hardiness” Mean?

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Suitable hardiness means a plant which can be expected to grow in the zone’s temperature extremes; this is determined by the lowest average annual temperature. (via arborday.org)

Are There Other Factors That Affect Plant Survival Aside From Hardiness Zone Limitations?

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Yes!  Soil moisture, humidity, the number of days of frost and risk evaluation such as the probability of a severe low temperature should all be taken into account.

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For more information, read our blog, “Hardiness Zones” here.  For assistance in determining the best plant health care for your garden or landscape, request a consultation from Westchester Tree Life here.

Anti-Desiccant Spray

Westchester county arborists Westchester Tree Life want to ensure your trees are healthy throughout the upcoming winter.  Protect your broadleaf evergreens from winter desiccation with anti-desiccant spray!

About Desiccation or Winter Burn

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Winter desiccation, also known as “winter burn” is a common plant injury which occurs once the amount of water lost by the foliage has exceeded the amount absorbed by the roots.

Symptoms of Winter Desiccation

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Symptoms of winter desiccation include the browning and discoloration of leaves, as well as leaf spots.  These visible signs of damage are linked directly to harsh environmental conditions.  If the damage from winter desiccation is extensive, the tree or shrub’s leaves will drop.

Protect Your Broadleaf Evergreens with Anti-Desiccant Spray

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via gardensolutions.com

The solution to ensuring the health of your beautiful broadleaf evergreens is anti-desiccant spray!  Westchester Tree Life’s professionally trained arborists can apply anti-desiccant spray to your broadleaf evergreens, trees and shrubs before the cold weather strikes.  Anti-desiccant spray is the perfect way to maintain the moisture-level of your broadleaf evergreens throughout dry, brisk weather.

anti desiccant spray westchester

Contact Westchester Tree Life today to schedule your anti-desiccant spraying!  Ask about our plant health care program and how it can help you.  Request a consultation online here or call Westchester county’s leading arborists, Westchester Tree Life at (914) 238-0069.

Seasonal Maintenance

Seasonal maintenance is a great way to keep up with the health of your plants, trees and shrubs!  Westchester Tree Life offers tree care in New York, and has a full service menu.

Tree Care

Westchester Tree Life has been offering quality, affordable tree care in New York since 1985!  Keep your trees healthy with our tree care services, including pruning, cabling, plant health care management and more!  View services here.

Tree Care New York Stump Grinding

Tree Stump Grinding New York Westchester Tree Life

Remove that unsightly tree stump from your property properly, with professional assistance from Westchester Tree Life!  We also offer wood chipping services, if need be.

Tree & Shrub PlantingArborist New York Westchester Tree Life

Considering planting a tree or shrub, but need help?  Let us help select the perfect area for your new tree or shrub, properly plant it, and explain the ideal plant health care management plan so your new plant can thrive!

Request a Consultation

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Select the most convenient date for your Westchester Tree Life consultation and our staff would be happy to get back to you!  Our ISA-certified team of professional arborists are trained in safety and precautionary tree care.

Don’t Move Firewood

Westchester county offers so many beautiful outdoor activities and attractions, especially during the fall time!  Whether you are hitting the trails and camping, or enjoying a late-summer fire in the backyard, it’s important that you use firewood from the area.  Moving firewood is more dangerous to your local eco-system than you think; here’s why you shouldn’t move firewood.

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Don’t Move Firewood!  Here’s Why:

Did you know that tree-threatening pests and diseases can lurk in firewood?  Though these insects and diseases are limited to how far they can travel on their own, the moving of firewood can transmit them to other forests and properties.  By using firewood from the immediate area, you are limiting what pests and diseases are being spread.  View the list of pests that could be spread from the moving of firewood.

If You Are Camping . . .

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A safe camping trip extends beyond bringing mosquito repellent and hiking gear!  Refrain from bringing firewood with you on your camping trip, hunting trip or RV adventure this fall.  This works both ways, as bringing firewood home from your campsite can be just as harmful.  Instead of bringing firewood with you, buy it where you will burn it!  Learn more from Don’t Move Firewood here.

Don't Move Firewood

How Far Is Too Far to Move Firewood

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Firewood should not be moved more than 50 miles maximum; ideally finding firewood to burn within ten miles of where you plan to burn it is the key.  If you are unsure as to whether you are transporting your firewood too far, stop; don’t risk the spreading of possible pests and diseases!  Instead, try to purchase your firewood in from a local source.  Here are more tips as to what you can do to stop the transportation of firewood.

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Late Summer Shrubs

Summer is almost over, but some beautiful shrubs still have yet to bloom!  Keep an eye out for these late summer shrubs around Westchester county and add your favorites to your garden in Westchester!  Here are our favorite late summer shrubs to admire and integrate into your landscape.

Candy Oh! Rose Bush

Candy Oh Rose Bush Westchester Tree

This colorful rose bush blooms from May until October (depending on temperatures).  While the Candy Oh! Rose Bush begins blooming at the end of May, it continues to bloom throughout the summer, adding a continuous pop of color to your yard.

Miss Ruby Butterfly Bush

Miss Ruby Butterfly Bush Westchester Tree Life

Welcome butterflies into your yard with the Miss Ruby Butterfly Bush!  The Miss Ruby Butterfly Bush thrives in environments with well-drained soil in full sun with medium moisture.

Sugar Tip Rose of Sharon

Sugar Tip Rose of Sharon Westchester Tree Life

Sugar Tip Rose of Sharon Westchester Tree

The Sugar Tip Rose of Sharon can reach up to 12 feet tall, producing large, soft pink flowers 3-inches in diameter.  Requiring regular watering and feeding to encourage growth, the Sugar Tip Rose of Sharon requires minimal pruning and is partial to full sunlight and moist, rich soil.  The Sugar Tip Rose of Sharon is also not very susceptible to pests.

Bluebeard Shrubs

Bluebeard Shrubs Westchester Tree Life

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The rare blue late-season flowers of the Bluebeard shrub grow into a compact, flattering shape.  Wispy bunches of flowers develop along the stems from midsummer to early autumn.

Plant Health Care

At Westchester Tree Life, we are devoted to the care of all of the plants on your property, not just your trees.  Plant health care is our business and expertise.  When it comes to caring for the plants around your property, we can not only advise you on species choices and layout, but on landscaping and maintaining the overall beauty of your yard.

plant health care 3How does plant health care improve your entire property?  When you focus on all of the plantings in your yard, from shrubs and turf grass to flower beds and trees.  All of these elements are linked.  When you treat your lawn or your flower beds, it affects your trees.  When you apply a treatment to your trees, it can affect your lawn.  The spread of tree roots may impact a wide area of your yard including nearby flower beds.  Diseases and pests can spread from one plant to another.  It helps to look at your yard as its own ecosystem, rather than a series of different plants.

plant health careHaving an arborist address the care of all of your plants is smart idea for many reasons.  An arborist will advise you on how treatments for trees can affect the rest of your yard.  He or she can assist you with determining soil quality, fertilization, landscaping, pest control, and the planting of trees and shrubs.  Westchester Tree Life offers all of these services and more.

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If you have questions about how an arborist can assist with plant health care on your property, give us a call and we will be happy to set up a consultation!

Plant Watering 101

For many back yard gardeners, knowing when and how much to water their plants can be a bit of a guessing game.  Westchester Tree Life knows it can be hard to know tell when plants need water; if you wait until they look droopy, you risk stressing the plants.  If you water too much, you can cause just as much damage.  So how do you keep your plants happy and healthy?

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Do you know how to properly water a plant?

A good rule of thumb is to simply keep an eye on the soil and maintain an even level of moistness to a depth of 6 to 12 inches (less for annuals and vegetables, more for trees, shrubs, and perennials).  If you have sandy, dry soil, this may mean watering more than if you have a heavy clay soil.  In general, vegetables need about an inch of water a week.  A simple rain gauge can help you keep track of rainfall so you only provide as much water as your garden needs.  Still have questions?  Our team of professionals are happy to assist you; call Westchester Tree Life today:  (914) 238-0069.

Rain Gauge WestchesterTreeLife

This rain gauge helps determine how much water your plants need!

When watering, you want to focus on delivering water to the roots of the plants.  Watering the entire plant is often a waste of water.  Wet leaves can even be more prone to disease, so if using a watering can or hose, direct the water toward the base of the plant.  You can also opt for installing a soaker hose.  The soaker wets the soil with less wasted water.  Simply set a timer to remind you to turn off the soaker hose after enough time has passed for your plants to have sufficient water.

A soaker hose helps prevent water waste.

A soaker hose helps prevent water waste.

Using a layer of mulch around your plants is the ideal way to conserve water.  Mulch helps the soil retain water, giving your plants a more consistent moisture level and conserving water at the same time.  In addition, mulch provides another source of organic matter to the soil.  A mulch depth of 2 to 4 inches can make a big difference in the amount of water you use over a growing season.  Mulch is also a great aesthetic addition to your Westchester county garden!

Watering Garden WestchesterTreeLife

Container gardening requires a somewhat different approach when it comes to watering.  Again, your best tool is simple observation.  When the soil in your containers is dry, water the plants with a focus on the root area.  Use pots with drainage holes in the bottom and add a layer of gravel before filling the pot with soil.  Drainage is important to prevent excess water from building up in the pot, while gravel prevents the water from draining too quickly.  If the soil in your container is very dry, you may need to slowly water over a period of time to allow the soil to absorb moisture.

Watering a container garden is easy with the right preparations.

Watering a container garden is easy with the right preparations.

The best time of day to water plants is in the early morning.  This allows them to soak up a good amount of water before the heat of the day.  Mornings tend to be less breezy, meaning less of your water will evaporate before it has a chance to soak well into the soil and be utilized by the roots.

When watering trees and shrubs, keep in mind that the roots which take in water are unlikely to be at the base of the plant.  Rather, these roots will be spread around a larger area away from the trunk so your watering efforts should be directed accordingly.

Keep a tree's root structure in mind when watering.

Keep a tree’s root structure in mind when watering.

If your lawn is in need of a drink, the old stand by of an oscillating lawn sprinkler is still your best bet.  Look for something that is easy to move around so your entire yard gets a good watering.  You’ll need enough hose length to cover your property.  Unlike other plants, grass will bounce back well after a dry period, so if you want to conserve water, the lawn is one place you can cut back without worrying about a die off.

A sprinkler is best for a healthy lawn!

A sprinkler is best for a healthy lawn!

With a little planning and consistency, all of the plants in your yard and garden will thrive!

 

Plant Health Care: The Solution

Creating a plant health care plan with one of Westchester Tree Life’s certified arborists will alleviate any stress you have regarding the care of your plants and trees!  In the past, have you had questions concerning discolored leaves, dead branches or early leaf drop?  Westchester Tree Life’s arborists are here to provide you with peace of mind and a solution:  plant health care management.

Plant Health Care Westchester Tree Life

What is a Plant Health Care plan and how can it help me?

Professional tree care provided from a certified arborist is valuable when searching to identify a plant’s anomoly in appearance or health.  While sometimes the cause of concern may be a minor problem which may easily be explained and corrected, occasionally problems are more complex.  When the problem is not easily fixable, Westchester Tree Life can assist you in mapping out a treatment remedy, or plant health care management plan!

Healthy Trees Westchester Tree Life

Why contact an arborist for a Plant Health Care management plan?

Westchester Tree Life’s team of professional arborists are certified in the proper safety training needed to take on difficult and potentially-dangerous tasks!  Our team has the experience and training necessary to detect potential tree and shrub issues before they become life-threatening or hazardous.

Healthy Tree Westchester Tree Life

You should consult with an arborist because . . .

Consulting with an arborist when mapping out your landscape can prevent a lot of stress.  Plant health care management is the key to cultivating a healthy and beautiful landscape.  Westchester Tree Life’s arborists know that great plant health care management includes multiple variables such as soil, tree roots, shrubs and bedding plants; all of these factors intermingle and compete for water and nutrients.  This is why lawn treatments, such as fertilizers and herbicides, can impact the appearance and health of your tree!

2015 is the perfect time to start your plant health care management plan with our team of certified arborists.  Remember, the difference between a team of landscapers and professional arborists is the knowledge and safety training!

Westchester County Tree Care