Tag Archives: westchester tree care

3 Signs a Tree Is Dying

Knowing how to properly care for the trees on your property is key when maintaining a safe environment. A dying tree is a danger to the surrounding buildings, power lines, pedestrians and more; knowing how to spot a dying tree easily can save you from damages. Here are 3 signs a tree is dying.

Trunk Damage

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When assessing the health of your tree, start at the trunk! If the damage to a tree’s trunk is sufficient enough, it compromises the future of the tree. Look for any cracks in the trunk and check the bark; a lack of bark may be a tell-tale sign that your tree is not so healthy. Though it is normal for a tree’s bark to fall off as it ages, it’s not a good sign if the bark won’t grow back.

Damaged Roots

Tree roots can cause thousands of dollars in damage to sewer lines. Prevent plumbing problems by following these tree-planting tips.
via Popular Mechanics

A healthy root system is essential for tree healthy. The roots are where water and nutrients are absorbed and distributed throughout the tree. If your tree’s roots aren’t visible, call Westchester Tree Life to assist in your tree care evaluation; we can help spot damage properly.

A leaning tree; via CBS New York

Is your tree leaning? A noticeable lean can be a sign of serious root damage. Leaning trees are a damage to their surroundings, especially during the stress of winter storms. As ice bears down and wind pushes, the tree can give way and land on a nearby home, business, car or person.

Bare Branches

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If you are concerned a tree on your property is dying, check it’s branches come springtime. A tree which is not producing leaves is a warning sign. If you notice that only one side of your tree has dead or dying branches, you may want to have a professional arborist come to check for serious trunk and root damage.

If you are concerned a tree on your property is dead or dying, call a professional arborist from Westchester Tree Life today at (914) 238-0069. You can also request a consultation using our online form here.

Branch Breakage

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Start the new year on a safe note! Winter weather is here and that means it’s the season for branch breakage. Branch breakage happens during winter storms and can cause potential property damage. Stay safe with Westchester Tree Life!

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Branch Breakage: Understanding the Problem

Westchester’s winter storms can be abrasive. Minimize property damage and ensure your property is safe by taking the time to check your tree branches on a clear day. If you need help identifying branches which are susceptible to breaking, our professional arborists are more than happy to help.

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If you have deciduous trees planted on your property, take note that their wood hardens during the winter, making branches more apt to snap. Once ice and snow accumulate, the branches are further weighed down, causing potential branch breakage risks. Evergreen trees are also prone to branch breakage due to snow and ice accumulation.

Minimizing Branch Breakage

Routine tree maintenance is the best way to minimize tree branch breakage. Our tree care professionals offer concise plant health care plans tailored to the specific needs of your trees, plants and shrubs. Year-round tree maintenance is essential in protecting and preserving your trees, plants and shrubs.

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Prepare for next year by scheduling your tree maintenance, especially for fall 2017. Good fall tree maintenance is key; this is when we prune weak and vulnerable branches. Do you have a question or concern? Request a consultation with one of Westchester Tree Life’s arborists with our easy-to-use online form here.

Hardiness Zone FAQ

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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.

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.

Tree Cable Inspection

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Have you had tree cabling installed? It might be time to call Westchester county’s leading tree care experts, Westchester Tree Life for a an inspection of cables in trees that were previously installed to make sure they are still in good working order.

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About Tree Cabling

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Cabling involves installing steel cables between major limbs, or leaders, to help support the tree and to reduce strain. Cabling also lessens stress damage that can come from high winds, ice or snow weight.

Preventing Storm Damage

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Prepare for winter storms with help from Westchester Tree Life! Asking a professional arborist to visit your property and inspect your trees to ensure they are healthy enough to withstand a storm can save a lot of stress.

Westchester Tree Life: Tree Cabling Inspection

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A great way to prevent storm damage is with tree cabling. Installing cabling can help reduce stress during strong winds and heavy snow; strengthening weak branches helps to ensure your tree’s longevity. Made of extra high-strength steel, tree cables assist in limiting the movement of the tree’s supported branches, making them less likely to break and cause damage.

Stay safe and stress-free this upcoming season with assistance from Westchester Tree Life! Call us today at (914) 238-0069 or request a consultation online here.

View all of Westchester Tree Life’s services here.

August is Tree Check Month

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Did you know August is Tree Check Month? August is the peak time of year for the Asian longhorned beetle (also known as the ALB) to be found in your trees! The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is asking for your help to find and eliminate the ALB, which is a harmful and invasive pest.

Heavily ALB Infested Maple Tree in Massachusetts

ALB Infestation

About the Asian Longhorned Beetle

Long Horned Beetle Westchseter Tree Life

The Asian longhorned beetle is easily identifiable; they have long black and white antennae, six (possibly) light blue legs and a body which is black with white spots and an inch and a half long. Once you identify your first ALB, you might notice that they also can be found in your pool filters, on walls, outdoor furniture, cars and sidewalks. Westchester Tree Life

While these beetles are slow to spreading on their own during the early stages of an infestation, containing the infestation is critical. The most common way to spread an ALB infestation is through moving fireword (which we urge the Westchester community not to do).

Reporting the Asian Longhorned Beetle

What to do if you see signs of the ALB (via USDA):

Make note of what you found, where you saw it and take a photo, if possible.
Try to place the beetle in a container and freeze it for easy identification by the USDA.
Report findings by calling 1-866-702-9938

Sudden Oak Death

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If you have beautiful oak trees on your property, maintaining their health also means checking for signs of Sudden Oak Death, also known as Phytophthora ramorum. Though this is not an endemic to the Northeast, trees can be made susceptible even if a single oak tree from a nursery is integrated into your landscape. Much of the tree loss attributed to Sudden Oak Death has effected California.

A hillside in Big Sur, California, devastated by sudden oak death
via wikipedia

What are the symptoms of Sudden Oak Death, and how can you check your oak tree properly? Symptoms of Sudden Oak Death include bleeding cankers on the tree’s trunk as well as a dieback of the tree’s foliage; this eventually results in the death of your tree.

Sudden Oak Death Westchester Tree Life

If you were to take a slice from the trunk of an infected oak tree, you would see the following:

via reddit

Sudden Oak Death Life Cycle Westchester Tree Life

If you suspect that your tree is suffering from Sudden Oak Death, contact our team of ISA-certified, professional arborists at Westchester Tree Life today: (914) 238-0069

Drought Stress and Watering

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During a drought, your trees need special attention. The trees in your yard are probably used to a regular water source.

Tip: If your trees are looking distressed and unhealthy, call Westchester Tree Life for a personalized Plant Health Care Plan!

To prevent stress, you’ll need to make sure your trees still receive enough water to stay in good health. While a healthy tree should be able to survive a drought, the stress from lack of water can lead to secondary problems such as disease and susceptibility to pests.

If you’re affected by drought, it’s important to monitor the soil in yard for moisture. Check the soil around your trees regularly; if the soil is dry and crumbly at a depth of 6 to 8 inches, you should water. Water slowly to give the soil time to absorb the water. If you are under water use restrictions, try to gradually reduce the water you supply to trees rather than suddenly stopping the water supply.

To water your trees without waste, use a soaker hose. Place the hose in a spiral pattern around the tree, beginning a few feet from the trunk. Check the soil often to see when it is saturated at a depth of 6 to 8 inches before turning off the water. Rather than water trees on a schedule, use the moisture content of the soil as your guide an only water as needed.

If you need to conserve water and can’t water your trees as often during a drought, slowly reduce the watering time over a period of weeks. This will allow your trees to adjust to less water. If possible, try to give your trees an inch of water when the surrounding soil becomes dry at that 6 to 8 inch depth.

From spring through fall, trees should be watered three times a month. You don’t need to water your trees as often as you water your tomatoes! To further conserve water, consider using wastewater to water your trees. Cooking water, the water dispensed while you wait for the shower to warm up, water from your rain gutters, and water from the kiddie pool can be used to keep the soil around your trees well hydrated.

Signs of drought stress include wilting, curling, and yellowing of the leaves. if you are concerned about the health of your trees during a drought or would like specific advice about responding to a drought, give us a call and we’ll be happy to advise you!

Summer Pruning

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Summer pruning is a great task to add to your to-do list! Pruning trees and shrubs is often necessary to keep these plants healthy and looking their best. There are a few times during the year when pruning is effective, but for now we will focus on summer pruning.

Summer pruning is the ideal way to slow and direct the growth of your trees and shrubs. During summer, these types of plants rely on leaves to absorb sunlight and make nutrients; pruning reduces the overal number of leaves and therefore causes an overall slow down in growth. This is a particularly effective way to keep decorative shrubs in good shape and looking their best. Shaggy, overgrown hedges and bushes that receive a summer pruning make all of your landscaping look tidy and well manicured.

There are also good reasons to prune trees in summer. The weight of the leaves helps identify weak branches. Branches with dead leaves stand out and are easy to identify for pruning. This is also a good time to look for defective branches to prune as well.

Keep in mind that pruning can be a dangerous task. Branches that are higher in the tree or too thick to easily cut should be left to the care of a professional.

Reduce Cooling Costs with Trees

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There are a couple of good reasons to do what you can to reduce your cooling costs during the summer months. Reducing cooling costs with trees is a very possible reality! It’s not only good for your bank account — it’s good for the environment. The less time you spend running your air conditioning, the fewer fossil fuels are being burned, meaning you’re leaving a smaller carbon footprint. Planting trees near and around your home is a great way to help reduce cooling costs.

Trees provide shade, keeping the sun’s warming rays from shining through your windows. To make the most of shade from trees, plant on the south and west side of your home. Choose trees that will lose their leaves in the winter, giving you the added benefit of letting the sun help warm your home during the coldest months. The large, leafy crowns of trees which shade your roof provide a lot of relief from summer heat.

You can also help keep your home cool by planting trees and shrubs that will shade surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks, and patios. These surfaces absorb and radiate heat. Imagine your patio gradually becoming a heater during the day, radiating warm air right up to your windows. By shading these areas, you help reduce the heat your home is exposed to, letting you use less energy to regulate the temperature inside your home.

Take the guesswork out of planting trees to reduce cooling costs by consulting a professional. We will be happy to evaluate your home, property, and existing landscape to offer advice on placement and species of trees to best shade your home.

Trees and Your Health

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New York’s tree care professionals, Westchester Tree Life believe in maintaining tree health, but did you know that trees also affect your health? The International Society of Arboriculture has provided evidence from global research supporting the fact that forests and green spaces have a positive effect on people’s health! Here are three ways trees and your health correlate:

Trees Benefit Your Environmental Health:

Trees remove carbon dioxide and pollutants from the environment. A study from the USDA shows that 100 trees remove 53 tons of carbon dioxide and 430 pounds of other air pollutants from the environment annually!

Trees Benefit Your Emotional Health:

The next time you are searching for a new neighborhood, consider one with lots of trees and vegetation! The United Kingdom’s conducted a national study which proved people exposed to the greenest environments have lowest levels of health inequality related to income deprivation. The bottom line? Lush deciduous areas of plant life and trees positively affect moods!

Trees Benefit Your Community’s Health:

Trees do a great job of keeping our community cool during the summertime. Westchester Tree Life knows that New England heatwaves are uncomfortable; planting trees will provide shade and cut cooling costs. A worldwide review of scientific literature showed that an urban park was an average 094 degrees Celsius cooler in the day than the surrounding metropolitan area, making warm days more tolerable.