Quality Tree Surgery, Inc. » Lawn care

Icky, sticky, gooey stuff…

Quality Tree Surgery, Inc. — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 05:14:30 +0000

Did you experience a clear sticky substance or black mold on your deck, lawn furniture or car last summer? If you did, you may be experienc-ing the symptoms of the Asian woolly hackberry aphid, Shivaphis celti. Middle Tennessee hackberry trees experienced severe infestations during the summers of 2003 through 2006. The aphids mysteriously vanished during the summers of 2006 and 2007 and reappeared again in 2008.

Hackberry, Celtis occidentalis and sugarberry, Celtis laevigata are the host plants for this aphid. The aphids are small, about 2—2.5 millimeters long and are conspicuous due to the large amount of bluish white wax secretion from their abdomen. See Photo. The adults are winged and give the appearance of small pieces of cotton on the undersides of leaves.

Overwintering eggs hatch into females that, without fertilization, give birth to living females. The ability of females to reproduce without mating is termed parthenogensis. This ability allows young to be brought forth throughout the summer, accounting for rapid increases in population. The largest populations usually occur in late July or early August in our area. In late fall, males and females are born. After mating, the female deposits overwintering eggs, and the cycle contin-ues the following year.

During severe infestation the aphids excrete large amounts of honeydew, which coats the lower leaves and drips onto objects below the tree. The honeydew attracts ants, bees and other insects and serves as a medium for the growth of sooty mold fungus. In most cases little injury occurs to the trees; however, staining of wood, painted surfaces or fabric may occur from prolonged exposure to sooty mold.

If you are experiencing staining of decks, lawn furniture or other valuable items, you may want to consider treatment for this pest.

Prevention can be obtained by soil treatment in April or May with a systemic insecticide, such as imidicloprid. Reduction of populations can be obtained by spraying small trees with a contact insecticide or microinjection of larger trees in July through September.

The Long Race of Summer!

Quality Tree Surgery, Inc. — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:16:52 +0000

Imagine if you will, a group of racehorses
pacing in a field. They look eager for the
run; it has been a long off-season. You
can see the restlessness in their eyes, the
anxiousness in their body movements.
You can almost see them speaking with
one another, conversing about the challenges
to come and the obstacles to hurdle
over. As they gallop in the field and
spring around the practice track, you can
tell that they are driven beyond something
of duty, they are driven by a passion. Isn’t
this what makes them great and why they
are so quick and efficient on the track?
That love of the race?
They are no different than us, the workers of Quality Tree, Turf
and Landscape. When the long season ended last year and the
days became shorter and cooler we were relieved and enjoyed the
lighter, shorter work weeks! But not anymore. With spring comes
that anxiousness, that drive to once again put our skills and performance
to work. Yes, you can see it in our eyes; that push. Yes,
like an eager racehorse we have begun to pace. And why not?
This is what we love, this is our passion. You may see us during
our race in your yard, looking tired and exhausted, but also you will
see a deep satisfaction. You will see smiling faces streaked with
dirt and sweat and maybe even a thankfulness to do a job so rewarding.
For once again we are in our element – going the distance.
We are now beating our hooves on the ground waiting for the gunshot
to ring out so we may once more run the long race of spring
and summer.

By Joe Giansante

What is my Landscape Worth?

Quality Tree Surgery, Inc. — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:48:48 +0000

Most people are aware that trees and other living plants are valuable. They provide beauty to our properties, manufacture oxygen, reduce rain-fall runoff, provide sound barriers, and help us save energy by provid-ing cool shade in the summer and reducing the harsh winds in the winter. However, trees and other landscape plants are a part of your property and have a dollar value that can be measured by competent plant appraisers.

A U.S. Forest study conducted in Amherst, Massachusetts shows that real-estate appraisers estimated that trees contributed as much as 27 % increase in dollars for two thirds wooded compared to open land with no plants. Another study by Arbor National Mortgage, Inc., revealed that “ 84 % of the real estate agents feel a house on a lot with trees would be as much as 20 % more saleable than a house on a lot with no trees.” (Arbor National Mortgage 1993).

If you have trees or shrubs that have been damaged or destroyed, you may be able to recapture your loss through insurance claims, litigation, or as a deduction from your income tax. The extent of damage and how the damage occurred will determine which avenues are available to you to compensate for the lost value. If you have a portion of your property condemned for right of ways, utility easements or other condemnation proceedings, the value of any trees and shrubs on that portion of your property should be considered in determining your compensation for the loss of that property. In the event of a loss or damage to your landscape, you should obtain a written appraisal by a qualified plant appraiser to insure that you are properly compensated for the dollar value of your landscape.

Kim Cross

Benefits of Wood Chips

Quality Tree Surgery, Inc. — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:29:57 +0000

Saves Water – far less watering needed, and more rain absorption.

Saves Labor – no weeding, less time watering.

Stimulates growth – mulched trees grow faster than unmulched trees.

Keeps soil and roots from overheating in hot summers.

Eliminates injury to trunk from mower collisions.

Reduces soil compaction over roots.

Nourishes the soil by adding nutrients as it decomposes.

Reduces erosion under heavily shaded areas.

Reduces bruising of fallen fruit under fruit trees.

For FREE Wood Chips, delivered by the truck load, give us a call!!!

Fall, Best time to Fertilize

Quality Tree Surgery, Inc. — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:20:53 +0000

Common questions concerning fertilization are: What exactly is in fertilizer? What brands should we use? When to use it? Why it works? What are the proce-dures? In this article, you’ll find out why this process is incredibly beneficial to your trees.

What does going to the dentist every six months to clean your teeth accomplish? Keeps cavities away. What does visiting your doctor once a year accomplish? It keeps you attuned to your body’s strengths and weak-ness. What does eating an apple a day accomplish? I don’t know. But fertilizing your trees after November, when they begin dormancy, is extremely beneficial in preserving and main-taining the trees’ health and beauty. Tree roots are grow-ing any time the ground temperature is above forty de-grees, which is most of the time in the middle Tennessee area.

Truth is, fertilizer is not food for your trees. Trees make their own food independently, by absorbing sunlight and making starches and sugar from the car-bon dioxide, water and a combina-tion of nutrients from the soil. Trees are always eating something, and it’s called sunshine! Nutri-ents do play a very important role in this process, as sixteen nutrients are needed for a tree to grow and be healthy. If there is a lack in any of these nutrients, the tree falters and weakens. This imbalance is more common in urban areas where recent or past soil disturbance has occurred.

Deep root fertilization will promote a greater amount of foliage in the coming year. When it is injected into the root zone of the tree, it helps loosen soil and increase oxygen transfer. Fall fertilization is very good for the trees that have taken a toll throughout the year from insects and environmental damages (heavy turf, compacted roots, or construction). The basic life-altering motto we have to keep in mind for our property is the same as for our bodies: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”!

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By: Kaitlin Jones

You Make it All Worthwhile

Quality Tree Surgery, Inc. — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:02:35 +0000

I‘ve worked for some of Nashville‘s tree companies over the years. I‘ve never been involved with a clientele cut from the same cloth as the patrons of Quality Tree Surgery. I‘m almost always greeted with a smile. I hear friendly voices on the phone even at such odd hours as seven in the morning when I‘m calling to let you know that I‘m on the way to make an unscrupulous amount of noise outside your windows with my chipper and my crew‘s chainsaws. It makes all the difference in the world to my crew when they are treated with respect. Let‘s face it, tree climbers aren‘t usually thought of as the most intelligent group of people on the planet. We‘re used to getting dirty for a living and being treated like ditch diggers when we come into contact with the general public. There‘s absolutely nothing ―general‖ about you people. I‘m not just saying this to stay within your good graces. I truly mean it. Some of you have gotten to know me quite well. Some of you even actually read my articles in our quarterly. So, this time, I take great pleasure in taking the time to sit and write a short note to all of you. Ruel Jones told me once: ―This is a people business Jason. The trees aren‘t ever going to pick up the phone and call us.‖ Thank you for caring about your trees. More importantly, thank you for caring about us. No act of kindness goes unnoticed. No kind word is left unheard. You are all the finest people a man could hope to work with. May this new year be the best one you‘ve ever experienced.

-One of your ―Tree Men‖■

Jason Kenney

Safe at Sixty Feet

Quality Tree Surgery, Inc. — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:58:23 +0000

Over the past years, I’ve worked with quite a few of Nashville’s tree companies. Through tenacity, I finally got hired by Quality Tree Inc. One of my main concerns with past companies was their lack of any type of safety program. Let’s face it, climbing sixty feet off the ground on a half inch diameter rope and operating a chainsaw at a distance no greater than arms length from that rope is not a natural act. Quality Tree has a safety program that not only protects my coworkers and I, but our customers as well. I can still remember sitting in study hall during high school saying to myself “I’ll never use ANY of this stuff later in life!” One day, about two years ago, I found myself at the top of a Sugar Maple over someone’s house and patio contemplating the stress of the rigging, the angle of my rope, and how to explain my actions to my ground man who spoke no English at all. To perform tree care successfully, a climber needs to have a working knowledge of tree biology, physics, geometry and sometimes even Spanish. Quality Tree has a safety program that meets every other week. During these meetings we discuss topics such as tree physiology, rigging techniques, chainsaw operations and even how to back down the driveway without slaying the home owner’s garden gnomes. Every Quality Tree employee’s financial status is adjusted according to what they are willing to learn. How does this benefit the customer? To begin with, you’re guaranteed that the person performing the work on your living investment is a highly trained and proficient arborist. This dramatically reduces the risk of damage to the tree or your property. Where the rubber truly meets the road on this topic is when storm damage occurs or other more hazardous tasks present themselves. I’ve seen quite a few tree companies driving around town passionately declaring that they are “fully insured for your protection.” We insure ourselves here at Quality Tree as well. However, we do take it a step further. We seek the knowledge and training it takes to prevent the accident from happening in the first place.■

Jason Kenney

So what time of year should I plant?

Quality Tree Surgery, Inc. — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:46:55 +0000

How many of you have heard this statement: “Fall is a good time for planting trees and shrubs.” Ever wonder why? Let’s discuss a few of the most common reasons the Nursery Industry recommends the fall season for planting. The main benefit to fall/winter planting is that container and ball-and-burlapped plants are less stressed when transplanted during cool, moist weather. The shorter days of these months also trigger plants to slow down and terminate bud growth. During this time the metabolic processes of the plant slow down and the plant goes into a dormant state above ground. That’s right, above ground! What about below ground? Below ground the roots are taking on a more important role and becoming the plant’s main focus. Root growth continues to take place below ground, even though the shoot and leaf production has ceased above ground. This continued root growth is another reason for transplanting plants during the fall and winter months. Most people assume that because deciduous trees and shrubs lose their leaves that they are in a complete dormant state. Not true! A plant’s roots can still actively grow year round. How is this possible when it is so cold outside? We first need to understand that soil temperatures tend to lag behind air temperatures. The soil is holding heat that has been building up during spring and summer. So even though we may feel the chilly air temps outside, the soil around the plant is nice and warm. The plant roots are still growing and storing energy for the upcoming spring workload. Plants transplanted during the fall/winter months require less time and care. A thorough watering after planting is all the water plants will require until shoot growth appears in the Spring. Placing a blanket of mulch 2 to 4 inches in depth around your plants will also help keep the roots warmer and more productive during the cooler weather. Use good mulching materials such as shredded pine bark, bark chips, or pine needles. Be sure to keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk of the plant. These two simple steps are all the plant care required until spring arrives. So what time of the year should you plant? Anytime in our area is good for planting as the soil temperatures rarely dip below levels for root growth; however, as we have seen, plants are stressed less and the plant caretakers have fewer duties to perform when plants are installed during the fall/ winter months. This is a GREAT time for planting balland- burlapped and containerized trees and shrubs!■

How many of you have heardthis statement: “Fall is a goodtime for planting trees andshrubs.” Ever wonder why?Let’s discuss a few of the mostcommon reasons the NurseryIndustry recommends the fallseason for planting.The main benefit to fall/winterplanting is that container andball-and-burlapped plants areless stressed when transplantedduring cool, moist weather.The shorter days of thesemonths also trigger plants toslow down and terminate budgrowth. During this time themetabolic processes of theplant slow down and the plantgoes into a dormant stateabove ground. That’s right,above ground! What aboutbelow ground?Below ground the roots aretaking on a more importantrole and becoming the plant’smain focus. Root growth continuesto take place belowground, even though the shootand leaf production has ceasedabove ground. This continuedroot growth is another reasonfor transplanting plants duringthe fall and winter months.Most people assume that becausedeciduous trees andshrubs lose their leaves thatthey are in a complete dormantstate. Not true! A plant’sroots can still actively growyear round. How is this possiblewhen it is so cold outside?We first need to understandthat soil temperatures tend tolag behind air temperatures.The soil is holding heat thathas been building up duringspring and summer. So eventhough we may feel the chillyair temps outside, the soilaround the plant is nice andwarm. The plant roots are stillgrowing and storing energy forthe upcoming spring workload.Plants transplanted during thefall/winter months require lesstime and care. A thoroughwatering after planting is allthe water plants will requireuntil shoot growth appears inthe Spring. Placing a blanketof mulch 2 to 4 inches indepth around your plants willalso help keep the rootswarmer and more productiveduring the cooler weather.Use good mulching materialssuch as shredded pine bark,bark chips, or pine needles. Besure to keep the mulch a fewinches away from the trunk ofthe plant. These two simplesteps are all the plant care requireduntil spring arrives.So what time of the yearshould you plant? Anytime inour area is good for planting asthe soil temperatures rarely dipbelow levels for root growth;however, as we have seen,plants are stressed less and theplant caretakers have fewerduties to perform when plantsare installed during the fall/winter months. This is a GREAT time for planting balland-burlapped and containerizedtrees and shrubs!■

Gary Claiborne

Trees Have $Value$

Quality Tree Surgery, Inc. — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:30:37 +0000

Most people are aware that trees and other living plants are valuable. They provide beauty to our properties, manufacture oxygen, reduce rainfall runoff, provide sound barriers, and help us save energy by providing shade in the summer and wind reduction in theMost people are aware that trees and other living plants are valuable. They provide beauty to our properties, manufacture oxygen, reduce rainfall runoff, provide sound barriers, and help us save energy by providing shade in the summer and wind reduction in thewinter. In addition, trees and other landscape plants are a part of the property that have a dollar value that can be measured bycompetent plant appraisers. Trees and plants in the landscape may constitute as much as 20% of the total value of your property.If you have trees or shrubs that have been damaged or destroyed, you may be able to recapture your loss through insurance claims,litigation, or as a deduction from your income tax. The extent of damage and how the damage occurred will determine which avenues areavailable to you to recapture the lost value. If you have a portion of your property condemned for right of ways, utility easements orother condemnation proceedings, the value of any trees and shrubs on that portion of your property should be considered indetermining your compensation for the loss of that property. There are four factors that should be taken into account for a professionalevaluation of the value of trees and shrubs. These factors are size, classification (specie), condition and location within the landscape.All these factors can be measured to determine in dollars and cents the value of trees and shrubs, whether for insurance purposes,court testimony in lawsuits, or for tax deductions. These are steps to be taken that will enhance the value of your trees and preventfinancial loss if they should be damaged or destroyed:

1. Plan your landscaping for both beauty and functional value.

2. Protect and preserve to maintain the value.

3. Periodically take pictures of trees and other landscape plants. This will make “before and after” comparisons easier and will expedite the process of insurance or IRS claims should you have a loss.

4. Check your insurance to see what type claims are covered.

5. Keep accurate records of landscape or real estate appraisals for any losses.

6. Consult a competent consulting arborist at every stage in the life of your landscape – planning, planting, care, and to make sure you do not

suffer needless financial loss when a casualty strikes.

Information in this article was taken from the brochure, Tree Values, available from the International Society of Arboriculture.■

Kim Kross

Got Chips? We Do

Quality Tree Surgery, Inc. — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:44:11 +0000

GOT CHIPS? WE DO ~ And we deliver for FREE! How about some chips? They make greatmulch for play areas, paths through gardens, or even heavilyshaded areas where grass won’t grow. Some of our customerslet them set for a year or so and use the compost for enrichingthe soil of their plantings and vegetable gardens. It’s a greatproduct that we deliver for free. All you need is a place for thissize truck to back in and unload.