What are Tree Trimming and Stump Grinding?

If you own any sort of commercial, residential, investment or rental property with trees on it, tree trimming and stump grinding are two services you may need to take advantage of sooner or later. 

Benefits of Tree Trimming

Tree trimming is the pruning and cutting of trees and shrubs for appearance and safety. Trees that are regularly trimmed and pruned look better. This can increase the value and enhance the appearance of your property. For example houses with good looking foliage out front are often easier to sale or rent.

There are safety reasons for trimming of trees as well, limbs can grow into power lines and buildings. They should definitely cut before this happens. If limbs are not trimmed back you can end up paying thousands of dollars for repairs. If the limbs on your trees grow into a neighbor’s building or the power line you could be liable for the damages.

It is best to have your trees pruned and trimmed by a professional service. Such a service can do the job safely, effectively and quickly. Pruning can be very dangerous especially to those who are inexperienced at it. It can also cause damage that you would have to pay for, for example if the limbs you cut fell on your neighbor’s car, he could sue you.

Something else that people may not realize is that pruning limbs at the wrong time of the year can spread tree-killing funguses and insects. Obviously you do not want to do that.

What is Stump Grinding?

A stump grinder is a special machine that literally turns stumps into sawdust. Such a device can get rid of a stump without tearing up your yard or damaging your lawn or gardens. It can completely and totally get rid of a stump so you can plant a new tree, put in a garden or do some building.

Stump grinding can get property ready for building and get rid of unsightly stumps that are in your way. It has to be done by professional services but it is cheaper, safer and less destructive than traditional alternatives such as bulldozers and dynamite.

Like trimming, stump grinding should be done by the pros because stumps from dead trees need to be removed completely. Such stumps often contain fungal disease and insect pests that can spread to the rest of your trees or shrubs and kill them.

Choosing the Right Maple Tree Species

A red maple in spring

Maple trees are a wildly popular and prolific species, treasured by sightseers and nature enthusiasts everywhere. Those who grew up in the Midwest can remember the fun seed pods that turn into “helicopters” when thrown into the air - just one of the few free pleasures left to youth. But not every maple is created equal; the decision of which maple species to plant at home takes time and research to make.

Unique Maple Benefits

Depending on the desired location and traits, some maples serve several purposes quite well. Striped maple or moosewood stands up to shade well, growing only up to about 33 tall – making this the perfect species of tree to grow under power lines in certain cases with careful tree maintenance. Red maples make a great ornamental tree, especially as the blazing fall colors begin to develop. These native beauties can grow up to 75 feet tall and provide ample shade.

Avoid Undesirable Traits

Sometimes it can be difficult to spot the weakness of a tree for all the benefits and beauty the same species may contain. For example, the striped maple species mentioned above has plenty of distinguishing features: one of which is soft bark that can buckle under ice or strain. While this may be fine in temperate climates, it certainly will not do well in others. The Norway maple is one species that should be avoided in many areas despite the good traits: these maples are one of many invasive species that are difficult to contain once planted!

How can a landowner ensure they are planting a beneficial species of maple tree, instead of one that could be potentially harmful? Consulting with a certified arborist or tree service professional can take some of the guesswork out of tree planting – and the effort may save precious time and money in the future!

Forcing Branches for Beautiful Winter Blooms!

The wintertime can be rather boring for those with a green thumb: no luscious blooms of vibrant color, no weeds to pull or plants to water, nothing to occupy our hands until the frosts ease up and Spring pops in for a welcome visit. Are you itching to pull out your shears yet? Many gardeners forget that we can “trick” plants to give up their flowers – as early as late January! If you want to fill your home with fragrant blossoms without paying flower shop prices, consider forcing a few branches from trees that bloom early! With the proper technique, you can coax the most beautiful floral display even in the dead of winter!

Selecting Branches

Trees and shrubs that bloom early in the springtime develop flowering buds in the previous autumn before dormancy. We will be forcing these types of samples into bloom. By mid-January, many types of early-blooming trees will have already received enough hours of cold temperature and are technically no longer dormant. This stage is often called “quiescence”, or a period of quiet. Select young, vigorous branches that have a large number of flower buds. These buds are often larger than regular leaf buds – but if you have trouble telling them apart, do not be afraid to split a few open and take a look inside. Choose branches that are over twelve inches long, and prune them flush with the trunk or main branch to avoid tree damage.

Forcing the Branches
Once branches have been pruned from the flowering tree or shrub they should be put into water immediately. If you have a large tub available, it may be better to totally submerge the selection in room-temperature water overnight. After the buds have softened, move the branches to bucket of water and frequently mist for the next few days.

Now it is time to recreate the conditions of springtime, which will bring these babies into full, spectacular bloom. Move your selected branches to a relatively cold location (around 60 degrees). Warmer temperatures will create a smaller quantity of flowers, but the blooms will develop rapidly with diminished size and color. Branches will need plenty of natural sunlight, but they should not be placed directly in the sun. Mist occasionally, and wait for the results!

Luscious Winter Blooms!

Once the buds are beginning to show a bit of color, remove them from the buckets, and arrange them in your choice of containers. Your beautiful bounty will unfold right before your very eyes! To make them last even longer, move the branches to cooler temperatures (around 40 degrees) overnight. Send them as gifts to surprise a friend with a fresh winter bloom, or place the flowering branches throughout the home to introduce an early touch of spring. Beware: your friends my begin begging you for the secret to fresh winter flowers!

Redecorate For Wildlife - Feed Wild Birds

Now that the holiday season is over, it’s time to start taking down the lights and decorations that adorn our trees and shrubs. Soon we will be left with nothing but bare branches until the leaves come in during the spring, left with nothing to do until the all-important tree maintenance season. Wouldn’t it be nice to fill that empty space with something beautiful and beneficial to local wildlife? Consider swapping out those holiday ornaments for some tasty bird snacks that look great and are definitely fun to make!

Popcorn Garland

Remember sitting at home on those chilly winter evenings stringing popcorn garland to adorn the tree? Well, that favorite family activity can be adapted to entice all kinds of winter birds to your yard. These attractive and nutritious decorations simply require threading your standard unsalted popcorn through a string of raffia with a large needle. Raffia is attractive and durable, but also safe for birds to peck. To make the popcorn more appealing, you can roll the kernels in peanut butter and coat with all-natural wild bird feed, or even tie sprays of millet for a more ornamental approach.

Seed Bulbs

This one takes inspiration from the decorative bulbs often hung on holiday trees. Spruce up your hedges with pinecones rolled in black sunflower, corn, millet seed, and safflower for a colorful outdoor ornament. Remember to hang any decoration with raffia, which will degrade over time unlike fishing wire which presents an entanglement hazard. If you want to get creative, hang festive looking apple rings for color, or hollowed out half oranges filled with unsalted peanuts.

Be Creative!

Anything that is safe for birds to eat can be smeared with peanut butter and covered in quality birdseed. This may include stale bagels and grapes that have gone past their prime. To really spice up your gorgeous trees, add sections of winterberry, staff vine, and holly sprigs. Birds will seek out anything fresh and full of moisture- since water is much harder to come by in the winter than food is. Regardless, your outdoor visitors will absolutely love livening up your property with the cheerful chirping of full bellies!