Spring Time Plans for Trees

Spring has seemingly sprung in parts of the southeast as temperatures are on the rise and gray clouds disperse. Now is the perfect time to perform professional tree care maintenance on your trees to ensure a healthy growing season. Not sure where to start? Here are a few tips to get you on track.

Start from the Bottom

Your trees’ root system is vital to a healthy appearance and mature growth. Taking care of these fragile lifelines is essential throughout the year, but spring has the most ideal weather conditions. The mild climate of Georgia thaws the soil and allows pesticides to absorb more effectively. Making sure roots are watered adequately and fertilized appropriately will help keep them strong and resistant to harmful insects and bacteria near Roswell. Using a mixture of water and pesticides that are specific to the types of trees in your area can also prevent tree diseases from spreading.

Work Your Way Up

Though most trees are trimmed in the fall when they’ve lost all of their leaves, early spring is still an ideal time to trim trees. Trimming off overgrowth gives the tree’s new blossoms room to breathe and corrects any abnormal growth patterns. It’s also best to cut away any broken, rotting, or diseased portions of the tree to maintain the trunk’s integrity. Average temperatures in Marietta give trees enough time to scab and heal before harmful insects take harbor. With newer trees, it may be time to trim lower branches to create proper height.

Eliminate the Middle Man (or bug)

Spring is the best time for burrowing insects to emerge, feed and breed. Protect your trees from the inside out to prevent defoliation and tree disease. Tree spraying in Marietta is the optimal safeguard for trees, plants and shrubs. Pesticides, insecticides and fungicides are all easy to administer to the soil around the tree’s root ball. Taller trees that are susceptible to defoliation may require professional tree spraying to reach the canopy.

Enlisting the expertise of a professional arboreal team will ensure that your trees get the proper treatment. Call on Premiere Tree Services to secure the health and well-being of your landscape through this spring and the next.

The History of Charleston's Palmetto Tree

Since the Revolutionary War the palmetto tree has been synonymous with South Carolina and a symbol of victory against the British. After Col. William Moultrie’s heroic defense of the palmetto-log fort on Sullivan’s island in 1776, the palmetto tree became an indelible emblem of triumph. In 1775 the original state flag depicted a crescent moon against a dark blue background, but was redesigned a year later to include the palm. The flag was adopted with its amendment in 1861. To this day, South Carolinians harbor a profound gratitude towards the tree that helped them fortify the coast and ward off a British invasion.  

Palmetto logs were used to construct the fort at Sullivan’s Island because they grew in abundance along the coast. Little did the troops – on either side – know how defensible the resilient trunks would be against British ammunition. The hearty stalks absorbed cannonball fire and sustained only minimal damage, leaving the fort intact. The British eventually retreated in 1782 and South Carolina laid claim to the city of Charleston.

Official State Tree

In 1939 the palmetto, also known as a sabal palm or cabbage palm, became the official state tree of South Carolina. Undoubtedly recalling the rich history of the state, the palm represents the fierce independence of the people who settled there.

Palmetto Tree Facts

Palmettos grow tall and lean, reaching heights of 40 to 50 feet. And though the tree can grow straight or curved, the fibrous trunk is surprisingly sturdy. The root system is equally strapping, making it easy to adapt to salty or dry soil conditions. A native to Spain, the palmetto could even thrive in desert landscapes such as Phoenix or Reno.  

Indicative of the coastal lands in and around Charleston, the palmetto also grows in parts of Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. Among the species of plants native to the southern United States, the palmetto is nearly hurricane proof, often the only tree standing after heavy rains and sea swells have snapped live oaks and pines. For that, it has become a favorite among coastal residents, often lining streets and shading homes.

Citizens of Charleston turn to professional tree services to trim the tall branches, which are susceptible to roaches and other sub-tropical insects. Palmetto trees are not only an important landscape feature throughout the city, the leaves are often used for salads and pickling.