Tag Archives: tree care westchester new york

Evergreen Tree Care

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.

Evergreen Trees Westchester Tree Life

These beautiful evergreens have been around for a while!

Selecting the Perfect Evergreen Tree

Tree Care Westchester Tree Life

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

Evergreen Tree Westchester Tree Life

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.

Trees and Deer Damage in Westchester

Deer damage in Westchester is not unheard of due to the high population in the area.  Westchester Tree Life’s tree care professionals are here to assist you in assessing the damage to your trees and providing a custom plant health care plan moving forward.  If you need immediate tree care, call Westchester Tree Life today:  (914) 238-0069

Deer Damage Westchester County

These seemingly innocuous visitors are more harmful than you may think!

Rutting SeasonDeer Rutting Damage 2 Westchester Tree Life

From early September throughout November, deer rub their antlers on trees to shed their summer velvet, mark their scent to attract doe (female deer) and claim their perimeter; this season is referred to as rutting season.  During the rutting season (also known as the mating season for deer), you may notice bark stripped from the perimeter of your tree.  Westchester County is known for having a high deer population and deer often revisit the same place each year to claim their territory; each rutting process lasts approximately 24 hours.

Deer Rutting Damage Westchester Tree Life

Trees in Danger of Deer Damage

Maple, Magnolia, Birch, and Bald Cypress trees are especially susceptible to deer damage, and can quickly be reduced to stubs.  Deer damage is especially stressful to young trees with smooth bark.  Deer damage to your trees can impact your landscape as well as decrease your property value.

Deer Damage Tree Westchester Tree Life

Identifying Factors of Deer Damage to Trees

When identifying deer damage to trees, look for a shredding of bark ranging from one foot above the ground to three or four feet high; underlying wood will be exposed.  When a deer has damaged the entire circumference of a tree, the tree is said to be “girdled”.  Trees which are girdled often die due to the inability to transport water and nutrients. Trees which have experienced vertical damage often survive, though the growth on that side may be stunted.  Due to the high rate of deer in Westchester, it is advised to check your trees often.

Deer Browsing

Deer Browsing Damage Westchester Tree Life

Deer also damage trees by browsing on tree seedlings, tree shrubs and climbers from late fall to early spring.  This reduces stem densities, limits height growth and reduces foliage density, which makes for a more open understorey.

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?

Healthy Plant WestchesterTreeLife

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!

 

Reclaimed Wood DIY Projects

These reclaimed wood DIY projects are a great way to preserve a tree that meant a lot to you, reduce waste, and re-purpose old wood into a new, useful item!  Westchester Tree Life believes in always making environmentally-conscious decisions, especially when they directly involve wood!  Here are our favorite reclaimed wood diy projects:

Reclaimed Interior Design

1.  DIY Reclaimed Wood Headboard

Repurposed Headboard Westchester Tree Life

We love the idea of assembling pieces of wood into a beautiful new headboard!  This is a great way to give your bedroom an environmentally-friendly makeover without breaking the bank!

2.  New Shelves

Repurposed Closet Shelves Westchester Tree Life

Make your life a little more organized by repurposing that old wood into new shelves!  Not only does this project give your closet a new life, it makes storage simple!

3.  Rustic Kitchen Lighting

Repurposed Kitchen Lighting

Do you have wood from your old home that you want to work into your new interior design?  Recycle your wood into a rustic light fixture ideal for your cozy New England kitchen!

4.  Towel Rack

Repurposed Wood Towel Holder Westchester Tree Life

We love the idea of taking wood from an old palette and reworking it to create a towel rack!  This design is much easier than it looks to create; for a finished look, be sure to stain all of the pieces!

Repurposed Garden & Outdoor Design

1.  Garden Walkway

Repurposed Garden Path Westchester Tree Life

Repurposed wood gives a garden a personal touch.  Whether your wood is recycled from a favorite old tree that you had to have removed, or a wood pallet, this project is easy!

2.  Patio Swing

Repurposed Wood Swing Westchester Tree Life

Give your patio a fun swing crafted from recycled wood!

3.  Firewood Storage

Firewood Storage Westchester Tree Life

Prep your firewood for next winter with a firewood storage container!  This great DIY project will keep all of your firewood stacked and neat.

 

Check out more great DIY projects using reclaimed wood on our Pinterest board here.