Tag Archives: westchester tree life

How Trees Fight Climate Change

Have you ever wondered how trees fight climate change? Planting trees is a great way to leave a positive imprint on the Earth while helping in the fight against climate change. Here are how trees fight climate change at your home and in your community.

How Trees Fight Climate Change

We only have one Earth, so we all have to do our part to make sure we minimize our carbon footprint. Ensuring future generations have a comfortable climate, functional eco-system and enough natural resources to sustain them is vital. Westchester Tree Life wants you to get involved in the fight against climate change by planting a tree. By planting a single tree you are giving back to your community. Learn more from Arbor Day here.

Combat Climate Change from Your Home

Adding trees to your Westchester residence has many benefits. The U.S. Department of Energy have reported that planting trees on the south and west sides of your house you can reduce heating and cooling costs. This is a great way to cut costs while benefiting the environment. The U.S. Forest Service Center for Urban Forest Research has stated that you can save up to 30% of energy use simply by properly placing three trees around your home. Read more about how trees can help fight climate change at home from the Arbor Day Foundation here.

Local Action: Fighting Climate Change in Your Community

How can you take action to fight climate change in your community? Stay knowledgeable about current climate change topics and statistics; if you’re looking to take action, think up a creative, effective way to get involved. Not sure how to begin? Try simply by getting a few neighbors together to discuss the benefits of planting some trees in your neighborhood! The U.S. Forest Service Center for Urban Forest Research has stated neighborhoods with well-shaded streets can be up to 6–10° F cooler than neighborhoods without street trees. Though it seems small, that temperature difference can make a world of difference. For more ideas and information on fighting climate change in your community, click here.

Gorgeous Hydrangeas

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Curating the perfect garden is an art. Selecting which flowers, shrubs and trees to integrate can be difficult. Gorgeous hydrangeas always make for a wonderful addition; here’s why.

Hydrangea Westchester Tree Life

Beautiful Bushels of Flowers

Did you know Westchester Tree Life can help customize a plant health care plan just for you?

Hydrangeas bloom from spring to late fall. Their tiny flowers grow in clusters and can be pink, purple, blue and cream. The cool thing about hydrangeas is how easy it is to manipulate their color; all you have to do is control the pH of the soil. If you would like your hydrangeas to yield pink blooms, you can raise the pH of the soil with limestone. Lowering the pH with elemental sulfur will result in blue flowers.

Healthy Hydrangeas

Westchester Tree Life can assist with your soil! Call today: (914) 238-0069

Whether you prefer your hydrangeas potted or planted, well drained soil is key. If you are planting hydrangeas, dig a hole slightly larger than the plant. This will result in loose, pliable soil. If you are potting hydrangeas, do not plant any deeper than one inch above the original pot height. Select a place where your hydrangea can get a little bit of morning sun as well as afternoon shade.

Spring Gardening Checklist

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Spring is officially here! Our Spring Gardening Checklist makes preparing your Westchester home for warm weather easy.

Spring Gardening Checklist

Westchester Spring Gardening Checklist

Each homeowner’s spring gardening checklist will vary. Before you create your spring gardening checklist, write down any goals you have for your Westchester property. Consider long term and short term goals for your yard.

Walkways & Walls

Spring Gardening Checklist Westchester Tree Life

Westchester county’s past snowstorms may have taken a toll on your yard’s walkways and walls. Check your stone walkways and walls for damaged or missing pieces. This is the perfect time to re-position your yard’s layout.

Tree Removal

Tree Stump Grinding Westchester Tree Life

Westchester Tree Life can professionally remove that unsightly tree stump from your yard.

Spring cleaning is the perfect time to remove that dead tree or stubborn tree stump from your yard! Westchester Tree Life’s certified arborists can offer tree removal and tree stump grinding services. Request a consultation online here.

Tree & Shrub Planting

Let Westchester Tree Life take care of tree and shrub planting this year!

Trees can provide the perfect amount of privacy, while adding aesthetic appeal. If tree and shrub planting seems overwhelming to you, our team of professional arborists can help! We can assist you in selecting the best trees and shrubs for your yard, and provide a customized plant health care plan for you. View all of Westchester Tree Life’s services here.

Garden Shed Organization

Storage Secrets for Your Garden Shed, bhg.com

Don’t forget to add garden shed organization to your spring garden checklist! Starting the season with a tidy workspace will entice you to spend more time outdoors. Throw away any tools which are broken, clean and stack gardening pots, and keep additional potting soil and mulch on hand. Check out Better Homes & Gardens’ “Storage Secrets for Your Gardening Shed” article here.

Anatomy of a Tree

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How knowledgeable are you when it comes to the anatomy of a tree? Being able to identify parts of a tree is helpful in identifying tree illnesses and safety hazards. Tweet your tree anatomy questions at us: “@westchestertree”.

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Starting from the Bottom: The Root System

A healthy root system makes for a healthy tree! The purpose of the tree’s root system is to anchor the tree, as well as absorb water and minerals from the soil. There are two kinds of roots, large perennial roots and small, short-lived “feeder” roots.

Did You Know: Tree roots are typically found in the top three feet of soil.

The Five Parts of a Tree Trunk

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Did you know a tree trunk has five parts? A tree trunk is comprised of the outer bark, the inner bark, the cambium cell layer, sapwood and heartwood!

The heartwood is the innermost layer of the tree trunk, and acts as the supporting pillar of the tree. Though the heartwood is technically dead, it does not decay or lose strength while the outer layers of the tree are intact. Heartwood is a composite of hollow, needlelike cellulose fibers which are bound together by a chemical-like glue, lignin, making it almost as strong as steel.

The layer which covers the heartwood is the sapwood, which later hardens and turns into heartwood. Sapwood acts as the trees pipeline for water, helping it move up to the tree’s leaves.

After the sapwood is the cambium cell layer. The cambium cell layer annually produces new barn and wood in response to auxins, the hormones which are passed down through the tree. Auxins stimulate growth in cells and are produced by leaf buds at the ends of a tree’s branches.

Next is the Phloem, or the inner bark, which acts as the pipeline for food. The Phloem only lives for a short time before turning to cork; this cork is part of the tree’s protective outer bark.

Lastly is the outer bark, which protects the tree from the outside world. This outermost later helps keep out moisture and prevents the tree from losing moisture; the outer bark also insulates against extreme temperatures.

Branches, Twigs and Leaves

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A tree’s branches and twigs spring out of the trunk and are the supportive structure for leaves, flowers and fruit. Through the process of photosynthesis, leaves make food for the tree and release oxygen into the air.

3 Signs a Tree Is Dying

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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.

Fire Pit Design

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Enjoy more of the outdoors by creating your own outdoor fire pit! Customizing your own fire pit design to fit your backyard is easy and fun. Here are some of the best fire pit design ideas we have found.

via DIY ‘N Crafts

Fire Pits for Spacious Backyards

via The Creativity Exchange

Adding a fire pit to your spacious backyard is a great way to break up the large space. We love how a stone walkway leads from the house’s back patio to a fire pit. This is the perfect space to host summer cocktail hour!

via Morning Chores

The fire pit featured on the Morning Chores blog is a great example of how creativity can create the perfect design. Mapping out a circular section, these homeowners cultivated the perfect outdoor seating area for their fire pit.

Fire Pits for Small Backyards

via BestofDIYideas.com

via Apartment Therapy

It’s not the amount of space you have, it’s how you use it! This beautiful backyard design, as seen in Better Homes and Gardens, is a great example of how you can transform your small space to incorporate your vision.

Firewood: Burn Where You Buy

Don't Move Firewood

Westchester Tree Life would like to remind you to purchase firewood which will be burned within a 50 mile radius. Moving firewood can result in the spread of an infestation of an invasive insect or disease. For more information, read our blog “Don’t Move Firewood” 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.

ACRT Urban Forestry Training

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In Westchester Tree Life’s dedicated effort to further cultivate its ever broadening culture of safety, teamwork, professionalism and arboriculture, its employees recently engaged in its annual ACRT Urban Forestry Training.

In early December, the entire company went to Wagon Wheel Camp in Chappaqua, NY to participate in several safety training, safety awareness and teamwork building exercises during a three day collective. ACRT professional, Keith Norton, lead classes in line clearance operations, electrical hazards, aerial rescue, knot tying skills, tree identification and much more. Once employees successfully completed the training they became certified (or, re-certified) Line Clearance Arborists.

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As an employee of Westchester Tree Life and a ISA certified, tree-care safety professional, I will be the first to say that the knowledge we attain during this training is not only invaluable in the field but in other aspects of life as well. During the three days we spent about half of our time learning in the classroom and the other half outdoors participating in guided, interactive tutorials. We saved dummies from trees in mock aerial rescues, engaged in climbing skills tests that stress a full spectrum of safety awareness, participated in electrical safety exercises involving all aspects of associated risk potentials—all while under the seasoned eye of ACRT professionals.

This training helps to build a culture of safety, teamwork, camraderie and mindfulness as well as instilling a framework of problem solving skills that extend into many other areas of life. Westchester Tree Life is more than just a company; it is a synergistic family, that is actively concerned with the well being of its members, and the community around it.

Girdled Roots

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Did you know just one girdling root can kill or stunt the growth of a tree? A girdling root grows around the tree’s trunk, strangling the tree. Girdling roots act as an ever-tightening tourniquet, restricting the tree’s flow of nutrients and water. The dangers of girdled roots can be prevented with routine tree check ups from a professional arborist. Once identified, girdled roots can be properly treated.

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Girdling root on a cherry (Prunus) caused by mulch being piled against the trunk.
via Missouri Botanical Garden

Preventing Girdled Roots

Inspection is a key step in preventing girdled roots. When you are planting a new tree, be sure to give the root ball a thorough review to check for any roots which are not radiating out from the tree.

The Dangers of Girdled Roots

When roots girdle a tree, pressure is placed on the water and nutrient pipeline located under the bark. This pressure increases as the tree grows and it’s diameter becomes larger, making it impossible for water and nutrients to move up toward the tree’s canopy. If a tree’s girdled roots are left untreated, the side of the tree with girdling roots will suffer and can result in death.

Removing Girdling Roots

Before the girdling root was removed by Westchester Tree Life

After the girdling root was removed by Westchester Tree Life

When removing girdled roots, consult a professional arborist! Request a consultation from Westchester Tree Life using our online form here.

Signs Your Tree is Suffering from Girdled Roots

If you’ve spotted a girdling root around your tree, check for some of these symptons that your tree is already feeling the ramifications of girdled roots:

Declining branches or uneven growth in the canopy of large trees
Branches with reduced growth on one side of the tree
Your tree’s trunk goes straight into the ground versus flaring outward at the base

Tree species that often have problems with girdling roots include pines, maples (excluding silver maple), lindens and magnolias. This is a tree care matter that should be handled by a professional arborist; schedule a consultation with an ISA-certified Westchester Tree Life arborist today.