The post 5 Reasons Why Winter Pruning is Important appeared first on ArborTech Tree Services.

The winter season provides the Arborist with a clearer picture of the structure of the tree as a whole, including defects.  Below is the base of a crab apple tree with a split trunk.

This is a great example of a structural weakness that is vulnerable to winter damage.   With snow and ice load on the trees upper branches, the already compromised base is more likely to split apart, essentially collapsing the tree.  While cabling and bracing won’t necessarily “save” the tree, it will provide support that will help keep the tree’s limbs and leaders moving together rather than apart.

This crab apple in particular had certain sentimental value to the customer and he wanted to do whatever he could to preserve the tree as long as possible.  Given the split, we decided to install a through-rod to support the base as well as a cable in the upper canopy.

A cable was also installed in the upper canopy between the two main leaders.  The through-rod and the cable work in tandem to minimize movement within the tree, thereby adding additional support during harsh weather conditions.

The end result is a barely visible support to an important tree in our customer’s landscape.  It is important to periodically check on the installed hardware to monitor its effectiveness.  

Winter is a good time to assess the “bones” of your landscape’s trees and a great opportunity to remedy structural issues if possible.  Call ArborTech today to schedule a free assessment of your landscape’s trees & shrubs. 

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In winter, deciduous trees cast off their coverings giving a much better view of their structure. It’s like having an x-ray for Arborists! We get a clearer picture of the entire tree, allowing us to identify weak branch connections; cracks in limbs; crossing limbs and unsafe dead wood. Winter is the ideal time for addressing structural flaws, that can eventually lead to branch or tree failures. The frozen ground also makes pruning and removing trees safer and simpler because a tree care professional can move the heavy equipment closer to the trees without harming lawns, shrubs, and perennials.

Winter is a busy pruning season for orchards because many of the flowering trees and shrubs, like apples, cherries, and magnolias, have already formed their buds for spring flowers by the end of fall (of the previous year). By selectively pruning these plants in winter, we can improve the saturation of flowers and fruit they have in the growing season. If you do your own pruning, make sure you pick the right season for each tree or shrub and use the proper cutting techniques. Pruning the wrong plant this time of year can lead to fewer blooms in the spring and making haphazard cuts will affect the healing process.

At ArborTech, our Certified Arborists are experienced in assessing the structure of trees and shrubs during the winter months. So, when the hustle and bustle of the holiday season quiets down, give ArborTech a call to schedule an appointment with one of our Certified Arborists. They can help you make a plan to prioritize the concerns that you might have about the trees on your landscape. Why wait till July?

The post The Benefits of Winter Pruning appeared first on ArborTech Tree Services.

Indeed, the colder days have arrived and we can no longer deny the coming of winter. As we get out the extra sweatshirts and hats, it’s also a good time of year to think about preparing our trees and landscapes for the long winter months. What can be done?

Pruning – Get your trees ready for winter by doing some preventative maintenance pruning on all your trees and shrubs. Removing the deadwood, diseased branches and hazardous limbs will minimize the risk of winter storm damage – at least predictable storm damage. While no one can anticipate the disastrous effects of an October snow storm, it is still valuable to do some pruning now so that whatever CAN be prevented, WILL be prevented.

Newly planted trees – Because they have not established extensive root systems yet, your newly planted tree faces some extra challenges in the coldest months of the year.  Make  sure to provide a 2-3” layer of mulch around the base of the tree, ideally, out to the drip line.  *Don’t pile up mulch too close to the trunk* (See earlier blog post for more about that!)

Mulch – In addition to benefitting newly planted trees, mulch is useful to all trees and shrubs. A good layer of mulch helps insulate the soil, prevents damage to the trunk, and helps maintain moisture year round. In winter especially, the layer of mulch helps reduce the fluctuation of soil temperature.

Additional support – Some trees and shrubs, especially multi-stemmed varieties such as Arborvitae, can benefit from being lightly cabled together to help reduce snow damage. Unfortuanately, Arborvitae seem destined to collect snow and ice and split apart in more places than one. It is wise to hire a professional Arborist to put in cables, not only for proper installation but for the critical, follow up care that homeowners often forget about and may result in damage to the plant.

Lastly, and possibly quite obviously, it’s a good idea to take a walk around the yard with one of our arborists to assess the overall health of your trees and shrubs.  So often when we at ArborTech are cleaning up storm damaged trees, it is obvious to us what the problem or structural defect was.  As trained arborists we have the eyes and the know-how to spot defects and potential hazards ahead of time.  Let the professionals help you prepare your trees and shrubs for winter.  Contact ArborTech today! Next  big snow storm, you’ll be glad you did.

The post Preparing Trees for Winter appeared first on ArborTech Tree Services.

Let’s face it, folks, summer is over! Beach vacations are behind us, the school schedule has begun and the landscapers are raking leaves like there’s no tomorrow. With all the outdoor summer projects coming to a close, people often forget about the benefits of pruning trees in the winter months. The dormant season is an excellent time to remove trees as well as care for them. ArborTech Tree Services is one of the few companies that work year round. We are a committed group of professional arborists who know that even when the trees aren’t actively growing there is valuable work to be done.

“Is it okay to prune trees in winter?”

Yes! Pruning can be done any time of the year, depending on many factors, namely the species and the objectives or goals of the pruning. Obviously, if a strong wind cracks a large leader, over your house, NOW is a good time to prune. However, even without a storm event, the dormant season provides the pruning Arborist a clean view of the tree’s structure. Any problems are easily identified and enable the arborist to make smart pruning decisions.

What’s good about pruning trees in winter?

• The ground is frozen, or at least partially frozen, which minimizes any impact to your lawn and gardens.  Your perennials are fast asleep and won’t even notice the activity going on around them.
• There can be pest management benefits.  Pruning in the dormant season lessens the risk of disease pathogens being spread through pruning cuts. This is also true for some insect populations.

The post Winter Tree Work appeared first on ArborTech Tree Services.

The results of poor pruning, at any age, remain with a tree its entire life, creating structural defects and inherent hazards.

For most trees a single, dominant, central leader is desirable.

Unfortunately many trees, especially Silver Maple, are famous for developing two leaders (or more) that need to be properly pruned.  These leaders compete for dominance which results in significant structural weakness and storm susceptibility.

Co-dominant leaders will most often have what’s called Included Bark.

Included Bark is where critical, connective tissue is not present and the joint becomes prone to failure.  As you can see, it is very difficult and undesirable to remove one of the competing leaders in a mature tree.

The winter is also an ideal time for pruning mature deciduous trees and ornamentals.

With the leaves gone, the Arborist has a clearer picture of the tree’s structure for determining what cuts to make.  You’d be amazed what a full canopy of leaves can hide!

Pruning is just one component of ArborTech’s Plant Health Care (PHC) program that is designed around your landscape’s tree and shrub care needs.  Our program takes a proactive approach to caring for your trees and shrubs which in the long run, saves you money.  To learn more about this PHC program click here, or call (413) 525-0060 to schedule an appointment for a free consultation.  Let’s avoid having the conversation that begins with “it’s too late to do anything now, but….”

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