Tree Planting. What you should know.

Spring is just around the corner, and many of you will begin purchasing and planting trees.

We often get asked to recommend species of trees, however, it really does depend on why you are planting a tree.

If you are looking for privacy, many people are eager to plant evergreens.  They grow quickly, are also a great tree to block the wind.  However, they are more susceptible to being damaged in a storm.  One way of getting around this, is to plant them in a grove.  This will allow the roots to intertwine, reducing the risk of a tree being uprooted.

Hardwood trees are what we definitely recommend.  They do take longer to grow, but they are stronger, and are 3 times more likely to have the ability to withstand storms.  Again, planting them in groves, so they can all intertwine roots will help to prevent any of them from getting uprooted.

Many of you will remember the storm that whipped through the Kitchener-Waterloo area last summer.  As we went out to emergency calls, it was obvious to us that the hardwood trees had braved the strong winds much better.

With the warmer weather, does come storms, unfortunately.  We hope this has given you some ideas of how to protect your trees, and what to keep in mind when tree planting.

To Mulch? Or not to Mulch?

Mulching is a technique for covering and protecting the root area of a tree.  This is very effective in trees that are young, as they are more susceptible to harm.

A big reason we encourage our clients to mulch is because it can reduce the water loss up to 30% !!!
It can also help control weeds, which steal nutrients that should be going to the tree.

If you really want to spice things up and give your tree some TLC, the best method is to add some compost to the soil around the base of the tree, and then cover that with mulch. 

When selecting a mulch we have a few tips to guide you:
-VARIETY! find a mulch that is a combination of many kinds of trees
-stay away from bagged mulch whenever you can, as most often it comes in plastic bags.
-use coarse wood chips, not sawdust.  Air cannot penetrate through sawdust, which promotes growth of fungi and mold.

Tree Maintenance

The best time to do trimming and pruning is in the winter when the tree is dormant.  This is not to say that you can't trim and prune in the spring and summer months.  But, if you would like to take advantage of this winter that just goes on and on... :)

In the next couple of months, as the snow begins to melt we encourage you to get outside and take a good look at your trees.  If you still have any lights left on them, we encourage you to take them off.  If you forget about them, it can girdle the growth.
Check for any broken branches, or dying branches.  These are often the first to come down in a storm, which can be hazardous.
If you wrapped your tree for the winter, it will shortly be time for that protective layer to come off.

If you have any questions about your tree, be sure to call our office at 519-954-5649

Too Much Snow?

YES!!!
DEFINITELY!!!
Even for us...
We have actually had to pause most of our tree service as we wait for some of the snow to melt.

We are still doing estimates and can give you advice about a tree in question.  However, tree service will resume as soon as possible.

We are looking forward to Spring and seeing the green grass again!