Author: Grant

4 Winter Tree Care Tips

When we think about trees in our yard, we often think about the growth of spring, the abundance of summer, and the beauty of fall. The bare branches of winter are not high in our love for trees so this season is often forgotten when it comes to winter tree care tips.

However, there are still plenty of tasks to complete in winter for optimal tree health all year round. Before deep winter sets in and the weather becomes too cold and too snowy, invest a bit of time in your yard and your trees. We guarantee that is will be worth it. To help you out, here are our top 4 winter tree care tips for 2020.

Protect Your Trees From Freezing

Some trees are better suited to cold weather than others. If you only have trees and plants that are native species, then you won’t have to worry about them freezing. However, if you have a more diverse garden, then your trees may not be able to survive the winter.

The first step is to know what gardening hardiness zone you are in. The second step is to know what zone your trees belong to. You can find this information at a local gardening center, or online.

If the zone you are in and the zone your trees belong to aren’t the same, then you should take further steps to winterize your tree.

You can use a mixture of materials to cover your trees. These include sheets, tarps, or burlap. Before the temperature drops, take the time to wrap each vulnerable tree.

The best way to wrap a tree is to use a frame so that the covering doesn’t actually touch the tree. The less contact there is, the more protection you will provide for your trees.

If you have shrubs, plants, or even saplings that are in pots, you will also want to take care of these. Potted shrubs don’t offer the same protection to the elements that plants dug into the ground have. Be ware of bringing potted plants and trees indoors, though. It can shock them too much, especially when you bring them outside again.

Instead, think about placing them in a more protected area outside. Either sheltered from the wind, or in a make-shift greenhouse are good options.

Mulch Around the Base Of Your Trees

One of the most important winter care tips is to provide a thick layer of mulch around your trees. Mulch is organic matter, usually consisting of wood chips that are about 1-inch in size and leaf matter. Wood mulch takes about 3 to 6 months to break down. When it does, it releases much needed nutrients into the soil, including nitrogen.

Around each tree should be 3 to 5 inches of mulch. It should start 3 inches away from the base of the tree and extend up to 2 feet around in all directions. When completed, you should have a large circle of mulch around each tree.

If you have trees that shed a lot of leaves, start by raking this up and distributing it around the tree. If you have large leaves, you can always run a lawnmower over them, breaking them up into smaller pieces that break down easier.

The mulch rings should be even in height. While you might see rings that peak in the middle, like a volcano, it’s better to have it spread evenly.

Don’t Forget To Water

When we think about winter, we automatically think about snow. But in many areas, snow doesn’t really start to accumulate until January. November and December can be pretty dry months. Furthermore, when it is cold and dry out, a lot of moisture evaporates and your trees can start to suffer.

If you have newly planted, young trees, be sure to water them every week or two. Young trees need about 10 to 15 gallons of water. Young trees go through a lot of stress when they are transplanted so they need a lot of love and attention, even in winter.

Mature trees only need to be watered once a month. Give them about 10 gallons of water for every inch they measure in diameter. For example, if your tree is 10 inches in diameter then it needs 1000 gallons of water.

When you water your trees, it’s best to do so slowly. Give the trees and their roots plenty of time to absorb the water. You may need to water a mature tree multiple times throughout the day.

Even if you have some rain or snow, it’s always a good idea to check the soil around your tree. The moister it is, the more warmth it will absorb, which is then radiated out at night time.

Prune Your Trees

Towards the end of fall and the beginning of winter, trees start to become dormant. This is actually a great time to prune your trees.

Once the leaves have fallen, it’s actually easier to spot what branches should be pruned and which ones need to stay. The winter dormant season of trees really is ideal for pruning.

Pruning trees is incredibly important. It establishes a sounds structure to your tree that will keep it healthy in the future and prevent damage.

Important components of pruning your tree include removing dead and dying branches. You should also take the time to look for any diseased spots. The sooner you notice a diseased part of a tree, the greater the chance your tree can be saved.

If pruning your trees sounds too complicated, or you just don’t want to brave the cold, it’s best to contact a tree care expert.

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How to Deal with Gypsy Moth Infestation in Ontario

Post author By Grant
Post date November 15, 2020
No Comments on How to Deal with Gypsy Moth Infestation in Ontario

What are Gypsy Moths?

Gypsy moths are one of the most invasive species the world over. They are a pest whose sole purpose is to consume the leaves of trees and shrubs. While there are over 500 species of flora that gypsy moths consume, they particularly like hardwood trees, such as cottonwood, elm, and birch. A gypsy moth infestation is not something you want.

It’s important to identify gypsy moths in the caterpillar stage as other types of caterpillars are not as detrimental to your garden. Gypsy moth caterpillars are about 2 inches in length and are very hairy. They are distinguished by five pairs of blue dots and then six pairs of red dots.

While gypsy moths don’t live very long as actual moths, you can identify them by their hairy bodies. Male gypsy moths are grey while female gypsy moths are white. Interestingly, though, female gypsy moths can’t actually fly.

Life Cycle of a Gypsy Moth

Like all moths, gypsy moths have a standard life cycle. They begin as eggs which are laid on branches of trees and shrubs. However, these eggs can also be found in sheltered areas such as beside rocks. When the eggs are laid, a covering of hairs protects the eggs, insulating them from the cold and protecting them from predators.

After a month, the eggs essentially hibernate over winter. Gypsy moth larvae aren’t born until 8 or 9 months later. Once spring arrives, gypsy moth caterpillars, or larvae, are born. This is when the most amount of damage occurs.

Once they emerge from their eggs, gypsy moth caterpillars eat the protective hair around them and then the leaves in their vicinity. They don’t really stop eating until they reach the next stage in life, the pupal stage, which occurs from June to July.

Finally, gypsy moths emerge from their cocoons in July and August. Once they are fully-formed moths, they only live about one week, just enough time to lay eggs and start their life cycle all over again.

Signs of Gypsy Moth Infestation

The good news with gypsy moth damage is that your tree can recover. The bad news is that it can take a real toll on its health.

Start by looking at the leaves of your trees. If you have giant holes in your leaves, or your healthy leaves have seemingly disappeared overnight, this is a sign of a gypsy moth infestation.

Another key sign to look for is masses of gypsy moth eggs. This can look almost like a giant spider’s web, thanks to the fibrous hairs that cover the eggs in a protective layer. Each egg mass can have about 300 eggs, so it should be fairly obvious.

Solutions to Gypsy Moth Damage

The best solutions to gypsy moth infestation is to targe their different life cycles.

Egg Stage: September to April

One benefit pest control agencies have against gypsy moths is that the insect has a very large egg intubation period. After laying their eggs in September, gypsy moth eggs lay dormant for much of the year.

Furthermore, the eggs of gypsy moths are usually in clusters. You can destroy a large amount of eggs in just one location.

In the fall, perform a through inspection of your yard. Remember to look both up and down for gypsy moth eggs. They can be high in the treetops and low in the rocky ground. Look for large masses of fibres or hair, to spot their egg masses.

If you have seen an egg mass, collect the whole substance and place it in mild soapy water. Leave the egg mass in the water solution for a few days so that it can fully penetrate the egg sacs. You will want to wear gloves when handling the egg mass as the hair fibres can be a bit sticky.

Another method of destroying the gypsy moth eggs is to take a dull knife and scrape off the eggs from a branch. Once they hit the ground, be sure to crush the eggs fully so that there are no accidental survivors.

Finally, if you have a leaf blower/vacuum you can suction up the eggs. Just be sure to empty the vacuum to destroy the contents.

Larva Stage: April to May

Despite your best intentions, you may have missed some egg masses in your yard. The next step is all about preventing the gypsy moth larva from finding their way to an open food source.

Prevent the gypsy moth caterpillars from moving up tree trunks by taping duct tape around the base. Then, apply a sticky substance to the tape. This will prevent the caterpillars from crawling up the tree, thus removing the higher leaves as a food source.

Late Caterpillar Stage: June to August

As the larva grow in size and become full-fledged caterpillars, their eating patterns change. They become nocturnal and will eat at night.

You can start to trap the caterpillars by using burlap sacs. Take a piece of burlap that is about 3 feet in width. Wrap it around the tree trunk and then place a rope around the middle of the burlap. The top will fold over, leaving a very convenient place for caterpillars to hide during the day.

Once it becomes late afternoon, perform a quick inspection of your burlap. If there are gypsy moth caterpillars hiding, you can trap and kill them before they are able to climb higher and reach the tree leaves. Always use gloves when handling gypsy moth caterpillars as they can lead to skin irritation.

Will my Trees Recover?

Thankfully, if you are able to remove a gypsy moth infestation from your yard, your trees will recover. You may even find that once the caterpillars are removed in the summer, your trees will naturally restart growing their leaves right away.

However, if a gypsy moth infestation is allowed to continue for multiple years, your trees will become quite weak and will therefore be prone to damage. Tree removal might even be a necessity.

Prevention and education are the two tools that will keep your yard healthy and stop the spread of gypsy moths. If you’re still not sure how to deal with a gypsy moth infestation, be sure to contact us and an expert can help you.

Need Help With Gypsy Moths?

Pesticide Tree & Garden

705-437-1652

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5 Signs Your Tree Is Sick

Post author By Grant
Post date November 1, 2020
No Comments on 5 Signs Your Tree Is Sick

On the outside, you may think your tree is perfectly fine. But what if it’s not? An unhealthy tree can cause a lot of damage, including fallen limbs and even infecting other, nearby trees. It’s important to inspect all the trees on your property, at least once a year, to see if any of them are sick. To help you out, follow these five warning signs to tell if your tree is sick.

The Bark is Abnormal

One of the most obvious signs that your tree is unhealthy lies in the bark. This is the first step to see if your tree needs a bit of help.

The bark layer of a tree works as a protector. It should be solid so that the inner part of the tree is completely protected. A major red flag with your tree’s health is if the bark has a large split in it. There may also be holes in the bark.

When looking at the structure of your tree’s bark, be sure to look all around the tree and even higher up. While weakened bark often happens at the base of a tree, it can also manifest in higher branches, so you may need to use a ladder.

Your Tree is Decaying

If your tree is decaying, or rotting from the inside, it can be hard to see if there is a problem. However, a weakened tree does have some tell-tale signs.

Look for mushrooms or other fungi that are growing on the outside of your tree. Mushrooms like to grow from rotting wood, and if they like your tree, then it is a sure sign your tree is sick.

Some fungi can look similar to bark, so you will need to perform a close inspection. Look for fungi that is circular in appearance, almost in a specked manner.

Another sign your tree is sick is if the bark crumbles when touched. Take a small piece off your tree. If it holds tight, then your tree is probably fine. If the bark crumbles in your fist, then your tree is sick.

There are Dead Branches

There is always a reason your tree has dead branches. And most likely, your tree is sick. With larger, bushier trees, it can be hard to tell if there are dead branches. However, dead branches are more than just a sign your tree is unhealthy. Dead branches are a very big hazard. A windstorm can bring these weakened branches down, causing damage to your home or even a person.

A good time to look for dead branches is during the spring when buds and leaves are starting to come out on branches. Look for branches that are bare. You will want to perform this inspection before summer when fuller branches hide weakened branches.

The Leaves are Discolored

Leaves should look a vibrant green in summer and a rusty gold or red in fall. If they are different colors, then your tree is likely sick.

Take note in summer to see if there are any leaves that are discolored. Often, only a few branches will be sick and so part of the tree will have brown leaves while the rest will still be green.

If some of the leaves are discolored, take a closer look at the branches to see if they are dying. The good thing is that these branches may be removed to keep the rest of the tree healthy.

The Tree is Lopsided

Trees should grow straight up and they should be symmetrical. If they aren’t, then there’s a good chance your tree is sick.

A lopsided tree means at least half of it isn’t getting enough nutrients and as a result, it isn’t strong enough to stand tall. The biggest risk with a lopsided tree is that it may fall over due to the imbalance, thus potentially causing damage to your property.

One reason your tree is lopsided is because it is growing around something like another tree or even the foundation of your house. If there isn’t enough room for the roots to grow, then this can greatly weaken the tree. The result would, again, be that the tree could fall over and cause damage.

While cables and braces could help if a tree is crooked, you may need to remove it if it is growing into a foundation.

Going Forward

Trees are an important part of any yard and can live for decades and even centuries. However, they do require some maintenance. In addition to regularly pruning, watering, and fertilizing your trees, you also want to inspect them for signs of disease and decay.

After performing your inspection, the next step is to fix the problem. Contact Nature’s Shade Tree Care and we can discuss all your tree options.

Whether it’s removing dead branches, bracing a lopsided tree, or even removing a dead tree, we can help with all your tree care needs.

Tree removal

Do I need a tree removal when a tree falls on my neighbors fence?

Post author By Grant
Post date September 11, 2020
No Comments on Do I need a tree removal when a tree falls on my neighbors fence?
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What happens when my neighbor’s tree falls on my property?

Did you wake up this morning with your neighbor’s tree fallen on your fence?

There are several things that may have happened:

There was a very strong storm, the tree fell and now you need a tree removal.
Your neighbor forgot to call his tree trimming service and now you have a bunch of tree dead branches on your property.
Your neighbor’s tree was sick and that’s why it fell

Now you’re probably wondering:

Do I need to go to my neighbor to ask him to remove his tree from my garden?

The answer is NO, you may think it is your neighbor’s responsibility to call an emergency tree service, but in Ontario homeowners are responsible for what falls into their own yard.

What do I have to do when my neighbor’s tree falls on my property?

Take some photos to document what happened and to request a quote from the emergency tree service.
Call your insurance company to determine what type of coverage is available for damage or tree removal.
You will probably have to file a claim with your insurance company and wait for a claims adjuster to come to your house and evaluate the damage.

Note that your homeowners insurance may or may not cover the cost of tree removal, depending on your policy and the company you work with.

Always remember to use a company with trained arborist removal professionals to remove the tree safely.

What happens if the tree takes down the power lines with it?

This can put you, your family and neighbors at risk, be sure to shut off the power at your breaker box and immediately call the power company to send the appropriate personnel to resolve the situation.

What happens if the insurance company denies my claim?

Your insurance company should not deny your claim if the tree fell it is due to thunderstorms, ice storms, and high winds, but if the tree falls down due to your or your neighbor’s negligence, your claim might be denied and you or your neighbor would have to pay for the damage.

What if I see that my neighbor’s tree is in poor condition?

You should contact your neighbor to tell him that his tree is in bad condition. In case your neighbor does nothing, the best thing would be to send him a certified letter and take photos of the tree, this way if the tree falls, you have proof that you warned about the risk.

Homeowners should know they have dying, diseased or unstable trees, and it is their responsibility to prevent and take care of the health of their trees.

What should I do if the tree or branch damages my house?

If the tree or branch made a hole in your roof or any damage to your house, call the contractor to remove it promptly and repair the damage.

Remember to keep all the receipts for all the expenses you incur related to the damage because you will need them to ask for a refund from your insurance company.

Why is it important to take care of the health of my trees?

You must take care of the health of the trees that are on your property, not only to prevent accidents, they also increase your property value, reduce air pollution and provide habitat for wildlife.

How to take care of the health of my trees?

This is what you can do:

If you are going to plant new trees, choose one that suits the climate of your home.
it is important that you identify the species of your trees to know which are the most common diseases of their species.
Control the pest that can damage or weaken your trees.
Avoid parking the car under the tree because the soil can compact over the years and slowly kill the tree.
If you have mature trees, you don’t need to feed them with water or fertilizer, only when you see that the tree is yellow or is poorly growing.
Check if the leaves have any insects, if there are mushrooms growing around the base of the tree or any odd spots on leaves. This could be a signal of tree disease.
Call a tree trimming service at least once a year.
Keep a grass-free mulched area around your tree because it can deprive the tree of air, water and nutrients.
Mulch the soil to improve soil structure, oxygen levels, temperature, and moisture availability. This practice is very beneficial for the health of young trees.

These are some things you can do to take care of the health of your trees however it is important that you use an expert, a professional arborist who can analyze the tree and see if it needs any special treatments, pruning or complete removal.

Do you have any questions about your tree’s health?

We would love to hear from you.