Maple Tar Spot

Maple Tar Spot is yet another fungus that could attack the trees in your yard. Although it is a fungal infection, the Tar Spot is not fatal like Dutch Elm Disease. Instead it merely disfigures Maple Leaves. Maple Tar Spot puts black spots that look like tar on the leaves of maple trees. Property owners should not become concerned if they see signs of Maple Tar Spot because it is not fatal. Most experts recommend that fungicide not be sprayed when this disease is present. The best way to control Maple Tar Spot is to properly dispose of dead leaves in the fall. Professional arborists believe that the tar spot spreads from dead leaves. Keeping your yard clean and getting rid of waste should stop the spread of this pest. Even though tar spot is not fatal there are other fungal infections that can be. Therefore it is always a good idea to call a professional tree service whenever you see signs of an infection. Treating the infection early through spraying is the best way to keep it from killing your trees. A professional tree service should be able to take the necessary steps to protect trees from fungal infection. If trees cannot be spared, such a service should be able to remove and dispose of dead trees effectively. Maple Tar Spot has been reported to infect most of the common kinds of Maple in the US and Canada including stroma, silver, Red and Manitoba maples. Experts report that fungal infections in trees are on the rise so property owners should be on the lookout for them. A good way to prevent the spread of such infections is to use a professional tree service. Many arborists believe that improper tree maintenance can accelerate the spread of fungal infections. Even pruning trees at the wrong time of year can increase the chances of infection.

Why You Should Hire a Professional Tree Service

Every summer tens of thousands of homeowners get ripped off because they do not hire a professional tree service. Instead of a trained arborist they hire the guy hanging around the Home Depot parking lot, a neighborhood kid or worse somebody who knocks on their door to take care of their trees.

Using such amateurs is an invitation to disaster because most of them do not know what they are doing. For example they probably will not be able to spot trees that are infected with deadly diseases or infested by tree killing pests. Nor will they be able to spray the trees to prevent the spread of such destructive maladies. Many of these amateurs do not know how to properly trim or prune trees. They often end up damaging trees and your property. Worse they can do hundreds of thousands of dollars to your neighbor’s property that you will end up paying for. To make matters worse, quite a few of the door to door tree maintenance guys are actually professional criminals. Instead of coming to work on your trees, these characters are interested in cleaning out your pocket books quite a few of them actually take money upfront and do not do the work. Others are actually casing your property for burglary. Or they will do a shoddy and substandard job and leave town. These people do not care about your trees or your property. As soon as they get their money they will be gone. There will be no way to get reimbursed for any damage they do to your trees or your property. Worst of all if their amateur work damages your neighbor’s property you will be liable for it. If a limb they cut off falls on your neighbor’s car you will end up paying for the repairs. If they damage the power lines or your neighbor’s roof you will be liable for the repairs. That means you could be sued and the damage will not be covered by your insurance. Therefore you should hire a professional tree service. A professional service will have the proper training, expertise and equipment. It will also be bonded and insured so that any damage done will be covered. More importantly a professional service that is established in the community wants a good reputation. They want to come back year after year to work on your trees. So they will do a good job. The traveling tree services will not. It always pays to hire a professional tree service, the extra money you spend will make life easier for you and your trees.

Pruning, Trimming and Tree Pests

Many people do not realize it but pruning and trimming done in the wrong way can actually hurt trees. The reason these activities can hurt trees is that improper pruning and trimming can actually spread some diseases that can kill trees.

Tree killing diseases like Oak Wilt actually spread faster if trees are pruned at the wrong time of the year. To make matters worse the waste left from trimming and pruning can also spread fungus if it is not disposed of in a proper manner. Such wastes can spread some of the insects that attack trees. The best way for a property owner to prevent the spread of fungus like Beech Bark and Maple Tar Spot is to have trees maintained by a professional tree service. A good service will employ professional arborists who can prune and trim trees in such a way as to spread diseases. Unfortunately many home and property owners do not do this. Instead of proper maintenance they hire the first person who knocks on their door or that guy hanging around in the Home Depot parking lot. Yes these characters are cheap but they are probably not professional arborists. They do not know how to prune or trim trees properly. Nor do they know how to prevent the spread of fungus. In addition to proper pruning and trimming a professional tree service can spray trees for diseases. This can prevent the spread of the diseases, some of which can quickly kill trees. Unfortunately the trees most vulnerable to these blights are the big leafy ones that are the most attractive like oaks, willows and maples. These are the trees most likely to enhance property values and provide shade. They also give neighborhoods and towns their character. The best way to maintain these trees and preserve property value is through proper tree maintenance done by professionals. A professional service will cost more but it can keep your trees healthy and preserve the beauty of your property.

Palms Need Care and Maintenance Too

Contrary to popular belief palms need care and maintenance just like any other tree. Home and property owners in Southern California to take active steps to keep their palms healthy and attractive, after all palm trees are part of the California lifestyle. Pests like the Red Palm Weevil and the Royal Palm Bug threaten palms and palms also need special fertilizer and other kinds of care. The sad thing is that many homeowners do not perform simple maintenance such as fertilizing and applying insecticide.

That means they end up cutting down a palm which could potentially increase the value and appeal of their property. Worse they have the expense of tree removal and the problem of planting a new palm. This kind of expense can be easy averted with proper tree care. Quite a few property owners could avoid having to cut down a palm or replace it with a new tree - if they had just hired a professional tree service to maintain their palms. Simply having a professional arborist take a look at your palms or palm once a year could make all the difference. An arborist is a professional tree expert that can examine your palms and see if there is any problem. If you own a rental home or commercial property, a tree service can be tax deductible because it is a business expense. Spending some money on professional care to preserve the health of your palms and the appearance of your property makes a lot of sense.

The truth of course is that there is no tree that does need care. All trees need regular care to maintain their health. Without professional pruning and trimming and spraying trees not only become unattractive they can die. A good tree service can maintain all of your trees including willows, evergreens and eucalyptus as well as palms and preserve the unique appearance of your property. Spending a little money now to keep palms and other trees healthy and looking good makes sense.

Preventing the Pine Beetle from Killing Your Evergreens

Spring in Colorado and other Rocky Mountain States means the return of a very persistent pest called the Mountain Pine Beetle. Owners of suburban, mountain and foothills properties around Denver should be particularly worried about the Pine Beetle because Colorado is in the midst of a particularly bad infestation. The most common species of pine including Lodge Pole and Ponderosa are highly susceptible to the beetle. Property owners who do not get their trees sprayed could see a large percentage of their evergreens killed.

The pine beetle is a major threat to mountain properties because the trees it kills can increase the possibility of forest fire. The combination of beetle-killed trees and drought fueled the big fire near Boulder in March. Therefore homeowners should be on the lookout for the pine beetle and other pests such as the bark beetle. Signs of a beetle infestation can include: • Popcorn shaped masses of sap or resin on the trunks of trees. These are indications that beetles are tunneling into the trees. • The needles on pines turning brown. • Woodpeckers digging into pines. These birds like to eat the pine beetle. • Patches of missing bark which can indicate that woodpeckers have been at work. Pine Beetle Prevention People who buy or harvest firewood should be very careful because some wood could contain pine beetles. Much of the firewood sold in Colorado comes from beetle killed trees. Covering the wood with plastic and letting it dry in the sun should prevent the beetles from spreading. Other methods you can take to prevent the spread of pine beetles include: • Having a professional tree service inspect your property for the beetle. • Having trees sprayed for pine beetles this will have to be done by professionals. • Removing dead trees as soon as you notice them. • Thinning out the trees on your property to prevent the spread of the beetle. All of these tasks can be done by an experienced tree service.

The Threat from the Asian Long Horned Beetle

It is not just people that immigrate to America from other parts of the world. Pests from other countries love to make their way to our shores. Some of these pests can pose a huge threat to your trees and your property value. A growing threat to trees in the Northeast is the Asian Long Horned Beetle. This pest was first reported in New York City in 1996 but has now spread as far north as Worchester, Massachusetts, and in parts of Chicago. If it keeps spreading this menace could be found all over the Midwest and Northeast in a few years. The Asian Long Horned Beetle is native to China, and it probably came to the US with imported wood. This pest kills trees by boring into them and laying eggs. Larvae hatch from the eggs and bore tunnels through the trees which kill them. According to experts at the US Forest Service and State Universities the beetle likes to infest these species of trees: • Maple • Box Elder • Horsechestnut • Willow • Elm • Birch • Sycamore Since these are popular ornamental trees on residential properties the Asian Long Horned Beetle can be a huge threat to property values. Property owners in urban areas need to be on the look out for it. How to Stop Pests like the Asian Long Horned Beetle from Killing Your Trees The best way to stop pests like the Asian Long Horned Beetle is to employ a professional tree service. Regular inspection by professionals is the best way to detect pests before they kill your trees. The professionals can take the proper action needed to save trees including spraying and proper pruning. If trees are not properly inspected for pests by professional arborists, it is entirely possible that they will have to removed. Tree removal is an expensive process that will diminish your property’s value. You can protect your trees with professional inspection. Unfortunately the Asian Long Horned Beetle is not the only pest out there. There are now hundreds of tree-killing pests operating in the United States. It is only a matter of time before one of them targets your property. You can protect your trees by employing a professional tree service.

The Growing Threat to Your Trees

The threat to trees from insects, fungal diseases and other pests is growing everyday. Almost every species of tree found in the United States is now under threat from some sort of nasty bug or deadly fungus. To make matters worse new threats to trees are arriving from all over the world everyday. State officials in Southern California are now warning property owners about the Red Palm Weevil. A pest that they think could wipe out every palm tree in the Golden State. Back east Chestnut Blight almost wiped out American chestnut trees. Every year home and property owners loose thousands of trees to such menaces. Protecting Your Trees Fortunately there are steps that property owners can take to protect their trees and the value they add to properties. The first and best step you can take is to have your trees regularly inspected by a professional tree service. Such a service should employ trained arborists that can spot threats to trees and stop them. Once a threat has been identified there are steps that can be taken to protect trees, shrubs and other greenery. Almost all of the insects that kill trees can be stopped by spraying but to be effective and safe, spraying has to be done early and quickly. Fungus can also be also controlled by proper spraying. Improper pruning and trimming can damage trees and actually encourage the spread of fungus and some pests. Having this work done by a professional tree service can stop the spread of such menaces. Finally, dead, dying and infected trees must be removed as soon as you notice them. Such trees must be removed properly to keep pests and diseases from spreading. Professional tree removal is often the best means of protecting a properly from tree killing pests and diseases.