Tag Archives: westchester tree life arborists

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.

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!

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.

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!

Ecological Benefits of Trees

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The ecological benefits of trees are all around us . . .literally! They affect the air we breathe, the soil we stand on and grow our food in, the wood we build our homes with, the water we drink, the sun that shines on us, and even our minds on a psychological level.

Can you imagine living in a world without any trees? Well luckily you won’t have to, because without them we actually wouldn’t survive. Trees absorb the CO2 that we breathe out, and release the oxygen that we breathe in.

Trees also help the soil too. Trees use soil to grow their roots into, which in turn holds the soil in place. Without roots holding the soil, rain or hills would cause the soil to erode.

Ever sit under a tree for some shade on a hot summer day? Trees are great for providing shade, whether its for one person, or a whole house! Having tall, leafy trees around your house can block out a lot of the sun, and thus keeping your house cool without the use of an expensive air conditioner!

So many of the fruits we eat come from trees. Apples, pears, peaches, lemons, oranges, you name it! And it’s not just food that we humans eat, many animals and birds get their food from trees as well.

Sometimes trees just make us feel good. Whether we realize it or not, our brains just like to see trees. Studies show that trees can make us feel more calm and focused, as well as less violent.

We at Westchester Tree would love to help you take care of your trees so they can continue to provide you with these benefits, so give us a call at (914)238-0069 or visit our website to learn more.

Winter Tree Emergencies

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It’s February in New York without at least one heavy snowfall, and with that comes the risk of property damage if your trees aren’t quite up to the challenge. The same branches that provided you lots of shade in the summer are now catching all the snow and being weighed down to the point where you might have a winter tree emergency. Luckily there are some steps you can take ahead of time to prevent these winter tree emergencies, rather than waiting until a big snowy branch crashes through your living room.

Take some time before it snows to have an arborist prune back some of the branches on your trees, especially if they look dead or weak, and/or hang over your roof. Trees that are covered in vines or ivy are at higher risk as far getting weighed down with snow, so be sure to remove or have someone remove any invasive vines in your trees.

Risk Signs of Winter Tree Emergencies

Dead areas – Dead wood is more brittle and prone to snapping.
Decay – Hollow or decayed trees are not necessarily unsafe, but it is best to have a trained arborist evaluate any decay.
Cracks – Cracks indicate that a tree is not structurally sound, and can be made worse by the weight of heavy snow.
Poor root stability – If a tree is not rooted properly into the ground it is more likely to blow over in heavy winds or snow
Leaning – A leaning tree is not necessarily unsafe, but again, a trained arborist can assess if it poses a risk to your property.

If you have a possible winter tree emergency that involves powerlines or other hazards, make sure you call in a professional. Falling branches might hit wires and knock out your power, but attempting to prune those branches yourself can be very dangerous.

Westchester Tree Life can help you prepare for snow and prevent winter tree emergencies, just call our trained arborists at (914) 238-0069 or request a consultation here.

Source: Preparing Your Trees for Winter

Dutch Elm Disease

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Elm trees are a great, beautiful variety of tree, but they’re vulnerable to something called Dutch Elm Disease which can cause unsightly patches on the tree, or even tree death.

Dutch Elm Disease is due to a fungus spread by the elm bark beetle, and is not limited to just any one kind of elm tree. Once a tree catches Dutch Elm Disease, the tree tries to block the affected area from spreading the fungus, but this process also cuts off parts of the tree from receiving water and nutrients, which slowly kills the tree. The disease originated in Asia, but has since spread to North America, Europe, as well as New Zealand due to the spread of the beetles that carry it.

So what are some symptoms of Dutch Elm Disease, and how can you prevent your elms from the disease altogether? The first sign that a tree may have become affected might be a barren branch or a branch with yellowing leaves towards the top of the tree during the summer or other times when leaves would not normally be turning their fall colors. This will spread throughout the rest of the branches and eventually reach the roots, which kills the entire tree.

If you can get diseased branches pruned from the rest of the tree before the fungus spreads, you may be able to save the rest of the tree. Don’t forget to burn any affected branches after they are removed so they don’t accidentally infect anything else.

If you think you have an elm tree that is being affected by Dutch Elm Disease and would like help containing the damage or removing the tree if too much damage is already done, contact us at here on our website, or call us at (914)238-0069

The Sugar Maple

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The Sugar Maple, also known as Acer saccharum, is a beautiful addition to any yard! Sugar Maples are known for their bright, eye-catching foliage during Autumn, especially in New England, and are one of the largest trees in the hardwoods family!

Sugar Maple trees flourish in cool, moist climates, and are able to grow on sands, loamy sands, loams, and silt loams, but does best when planted on well-drained loams! A loam is defined as a fertile soil of clay and sand containing humus. Sugar Maple trees tend to do best when placed in an environment with abundant organic matter.

Sugar Maple Forest Westchester Tree Life

Image Courtesy of http://www.nhdfl.org

Why are Sugar Maple trees an ideal choice for your yard? The Sugar Maple is a tree that continues to grow up to 148 ft., and has wide, dense leaf coverage which offers a great amount of privacy. Consider planting a string of Sugar Maple trees instead of a fence, when considering privacy options for your residence or business. The large, looming Sugar Maple tree also offers cover from direct sunlight, and a windbreak, which are factors that play into the cost of your home or business’ heating and cooling bills.

Spring Grove Nursery Westchester Tree Life

Image Courtesy of springgrovenursery.com

The resilient Sugar Maple Tree is a fantastic option when considering what trees to plant on your business or home property!

Never Move Firewood

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As winter approaches, so does the season for bonfires and warming up with indoor fireplaces. This time of year, it is important for us to stress that you never move firewood. What are the effects of moving firewood? How can this be damaging to your surrounding trees and wildlife? We will answer all of those questions and more in this concise mini-article.

Image Courtesy of www.lenexa.com

The “Never Move Firewood” rule began as a result of the damaging effects brought on by the Emerald Ash Borer beetle, or the EAB. The EAB is an invasive bug, small enough to fit on the head of a penny, and difficult to track and detect in nature. When you move firewood, you are transporting the EAB beetle, therefore spreading it in new regions, ultimately endangering more trees.

The larvae of the EAB beetle tunnels under the bark of the tree, disrupting the tree’s system of transporting food and water; this starves and eventually kills the tree. Tens of millions of trees have died due to the effects of the EAB beetle, which can now be found in various states, such as New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and many more.

To prevent the transfer of the EAB beetle and further damage to our trees, we ask that you burn local firewood, versus purchasing wood which has been transported from another area. Another great way to prevent the transfer of this invasive insect, is to purchase kiln-dried firewood!

Stay tuned for more seasonal tips regarding the health of your trees!