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Ticks and Fall

Now that summer has wound down and temperatures have dropped, you can spend time in the Westchester County’s beautiful outdoors without worrying about ticks, right?  Wrong!  Today we’re going to discuss ticks and fall!

ticks-in-fall

Fall is actually a very active time of year for ticks.  The cooler weather doesn’t really affect their activity level while the cooler weather and attractive fall scenery has more people than ever spending time outside.  With a few simple precautions, however, you can get out to enjoy everything fall has to offer without the risk of tick bites and Lyme Disease.

Avoiding ticks in the fall starts with knowing where they are most likely to lurk.  Ticks hang out on low-lying plants, waiting for a potential host to brush past them so they can hitch a ride and grab a free meal.  Any time you are hiking, raking leaves, playing in a leaf pile, or getting a little fall yard clean up done, you’re at risk for a tick bite.  Keeping your yard neat and free of overgrown grass and weeds will cut back on potential places for ticks to lie in wait for a host.

fall-and-ticks

When you go out for a hike, stick to well maintained trails and avoid trampling through the off-trail underbrush.  Ticks are less likely to be found on clear trails but are sure to be waiting in the detritus, young trees, and other vegetation that covers the forest floor.

Whether you are in the yard or out in the woods, dressing properly and wearing insect repellent will help you avoid ticks.  Wear light colored pants and socks as well as long sleeves.  Tuck your pants into your socks and your shirt into your pants to help keep ticks away from your skin.  While this isn’t the coolest look in town, it really helps to deter even the tiniest ticks.  An insect repellent containing DEET is the most effective way to ward off ticks and other insect pests.  Make sure to read the label and follow instructions for how often to reapply the repellent.  If using DEET on children, be sure to consult a medical professional and help the child wash the repellent off at the end of the day.

Don’t forget to keep up with your pet’s flea and tick preventive throughout the fall and winter.  Ticks can be active all year, as long there isn’t snow on the ground.  Your dog or cat can easily carry ticks into the house.  Using a flea and tick preventive year round protects your pet’s health and the health of you and your family.

fall-ticks

Last, but not least, check yourself and your children carefully for ticks after spending time outdoors.  Some species of ticks are extremely small and difficult to see, so be sure to check thoroughly and often for ticks.  They often prefer hidden areas such as between the toes, behind the knees, and in the armpits.  Don’t forget to check your pets and any clothing or packs that may have also been exposed to ticks!

The health risks from ticks are a year round concern.  Westchester Tree Life can help by treating your yard for ticks.  Call us today for a consultation and to learn about our safe, effective tick control program.

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5 Beautiful Trees to Plant This Spring

Spring 2016 may come to Westchester County early this year!  Have you started to think about which trees you would like to plant?  Check out these 5 beautiful trees to plant this spring:

Dogwood Trees

Dogwood Tree Westchester Tree Life

Four seasons series of dogwood tree

Add year-round beauty to your Westchester home with dogwood trees!  These understory trees produce red, pink and white blossoms, offer bold red and purple foliage during fall time and grow red berries during the winter.

Norway Spruce

Norway Spruce Tree Care Westchester County

Full and green all year round, the Norway Spruce is a beautiful addition to your Westchester home!  You may recognize the Norway Spruce as being your Christmas tree!  The Norway Spruce’s dense branching pattern and tolerance of soil variations make it a popular choice.

Blue Spruce Westchester Tree Life

The Blue Spruce is also a beautiful alternative to the Norway Spruce!

English Walnut Tree

English Walnut Tree Westchester Tree Life

Have you considered adding a nut tree to your Westchester property?  The English Walnut Tree is a classic selection which, once fully grown, will offer shade and (hopefully) delicious walnuts!

Crabapple Trees

Crabapple Westchester Tree Life

Add a pop of color to your yard with a Crabapple tree (or two, or three)!  These trees yield beautiful blossoms come springtime and crabapples during fall and winter.  Bright and beautiful, your tree’s crabapples will provide much appreciated sustenance for passing and hungry birds!

Black Locust Trees

Black Locust Westchester Tree Life

Both statuesque and whimsical, Black Locust trees are beautiful and offer golden leaves come fall time!  The beautiful compound leaves of a Black Locust tree will be interesting for you and your loved ones to admire.

What kind of trees are you considering planting this year?  Let Westchester Tree Life’s plant health care professionals assist you with planting your new tree.  We can assist in choosing the best place for you to plant your tree, assist you in testing the soil and more!

To contact Westchester Tree Life, fill out our FREE online consultation form.

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.

March Contest

Have you entered Westchester Tree Life’s March Contest?  One lucky winner will receive our New York Nature Bundle!

Westchester Tree Life

The New York Nature Bundle includes:

  • Three bundles of split firewood

  • One pint of New York Maple Syrup

  • Local New York honey

 

To Enter:

Post your favorite tree in Westchester on our Facebook or Instagram page!

Westchester Tree Life

Contest ends Wednesday, April 1st, 2015!

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church’s Christmas Tree 2014

Westchester Tree Life recently donated time to help decorate St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church’s Christmas tree for Christmas 2014 in Armonk, New York!

The following article was featured in St. Stephen’s Weekly Touchstone e-mail:

Our Newly Lit Christmas Tree

New York Tree Specialists NYWe have been getting compliments from parishioners and residents on our beautifully lit Christmas tree. We have Westchester Tree Life, LLC of Chappaqua to thank. In the spirit of holiday giving, they donated the men, bucket truck, and considerable time to completely wrap our Blue Spruce tree with new multi-colored, energy-efficient, LED Christmas lights.  Vestry members Laura Desmarais and Trina Fontaine had been exploring different ways to replace the old lights that had either burned-out or were deeply hidden inside the tree’s canopy by years of branch growth, but were finding costs prohibitive.

Armonk Tree ServiceWestchester Tree Life Armonk New York

Hearing about the church’s need, Remington Arnold, a co-owner of Westchester Tree Life, LLC, volunteered his company’s services as a way to give back to a community that has been so supportive of his business over the years. “Rem” (as everyone calls him), remarked at the completion of the job, “The tree now looks like what a Christmas tree is suppose to look like … something of beauty, something that glows brilliantly in the night, and something that hopefully makes people feel happy when they gaze upon it.”

Westchester Tree Life Armonk NY

 

We extend our sincere gratitude to Westchester Tree Life, LLC, “Rem”, and the two employees who worked tirelessly at dizzying heights, decorating our church’s iconic tree.  We are especially touched that a local business made time in their busy holiday tree work schedule to accommodate us on such short notice.  We invite one and all to come view our beautiful Christmas tree!

Arborists Armonk New York Westchester NY