Tree Care encompasses the overall health, beauty and vitality of woody plants. This starts with proper species selection and installation, but continues throughout their lives.
Regular pruning can help reduce hazard potential by removing diseased or damaged branches. Soil treatments provide aeration and enrichment to compacted soil around roots. Contact Higuera Tree Care now!
Stump grinding removes unwanted stumps and helps prevent future sprouting and tripping hazards. Other specialized services include storm damage cleanup and pest management.
Soil Management
Managing soil is an essential component of tree care that improves root growth, strengthens the roots, and helps the soil retain water. This process is especially important for young plantings and established trees to maintain their health. It can also protect against diseases and pests. Keeping your soil healthy is an ongoing practice that includes monitoring the pH level, organic content and nutrients in the soil.
The roots of your tree obtain the necessary water and nutrients from the soil, so they are particularly vulnerable to changes in the soil, compaction, and drought. Soil health is the foundation of a tree’s overall well-being and should be addressed in every season. For example, in the spring it is important to test the soil and add compost or fertilizer to give the root system the proper nutrition for the year. In the summer, aerating the soil will help roots to grow and allow for the maximum penetration of water. In the fall, applying slow-working fertilizer and putting mulch around the root zone will help your trees survive the winter.
In addition to these seasonal practices, regular soil management is essential for a beautiful landscape and healthy trees. Carroll Tree Service recommends testing your soil regularly for nutrient deficiencies and other concerns. Our team can determine the chemistry of your soil, which allows us to develop a plan for improving its structure and quality.
Soil structure is a huge factor in plant health and is determined by the amount of organic matter in the soil, the size of the pores, and the drainage. Ideally, soil should have a healthy balance of sand, silt and clay with a high level of organic material. This encourages microbial activity, balances soil pH, and creates an environment for trees to thrive in.
Unfortunately, most soil in urban areas is compacted due to traffic or construction which limits the space for roots to spread and blocks important air and water pore spaces. Adding organic matter such as compost and shredded leaves, will improve the soil structure. Another way we can improve your soil is by using high-velocity air tools to aerate the critical root zone (CRZ), which loosens the soil, creating macro and micropore space for the roots to grow.
Fertilization
Fertilization is a key aspect of tree care that can significantly improve the health and vitality of your trees. This service involves applying specific fertilizers to supplement the nutrients that might be lacking in your landscaping soil. Regular fertilization is important to support a tree’s growth and development, as well as strengthen its resistance to disease and pest infestations.
Trees are able to absorb and utilize the nutrients they need from the environment, but this process can be impeded by nutrient-poor soil. In urban and suburban settings, the natural cycles of nutrient replenishment that would normally occur through decomposing leaves and debris might be interrupted. In addition, competition for nutrients and water from lawns, roads, sidewalks, and driveways can also interfere with a tree’s ability to absorb essential resources.
Soil management is a fundamental part of tree care that includes services such as soil aeration, mulching to retain moisture, and pH adjustment. These services can help to simulate the optimal growing conditions found in nature, ensuring that your trees are receiving all the nutrients they need.
A tree’s nutrient requirements can be determined by a soil test. Once the results are available, a certified arborist can recommend an appropriate tree fertilization schedule. There are a number of different options for tree fertilization, including fast-release fertilizers, which provide immediate availability of the nutrient. Slow-release fertilizers, on the other hand, release nutrients at a rate based on soil temperature, moisture, and conditions.
Injections of liquid nutrient solutions into the bark or primary roots are a method that is sometimes used for tree fertilization. However, this technique can open up holes in the bark that can become entry points for disease organisms and insects. As a result, this method is typically not recommended. A more effective method of providing supplemental nutrients is deep root fertilization, which delivers the nutrient directly to the root zone. This process involves drilling small holes into the trunk and roots of a tree and using specialized equipment to inject the fertilizer into the sapwood. This method bypasses the challenges of nutrient-poor and compacted soil, resulting in more effective nutrient absorption.
Pest and Disease Management
Trees provide a number of benefits, including shade, oxygen, food, and shelter for wildlife. However, they are susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases that can damage or even kill them. Pests and diseases can be managed by utilizing preventative treatments, regular monitoring, and correcting issues as they arise.
Pests, such as aphids, bark beetles, and caterpillars, can cause serious harm to plants by sucking the sap from them. They can also transmit disease to the plant. Wood boring pests, such as borers and beetles, can tunnel into the trunks or branches of trees to feed and lay eggs. Diseases, such as leaf blight, powdery mildew, and cankerworms, can defoliate a tree in a short period of time and may weaken the structure of a tree.
Preventing and controlling pests and diseases starts with planting the right trees in the right place based on soil type, climate, and species preference. This helps ensure the best chance for a healthy tree and reduced need for pesticides. It is also important to regularly monitor the health of a tree and remove any that are showing signs of problems, such as pitch tubes on pine trees and discolored bluish-gray bark.
The most effective way to treat a disease or pest problem is through an approach called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM incorporates prevention, detection, and management strategies into a comprehensive tree care program. It allows our team of ISA Certified Arborists and Colorado Department of Agriculture licensed pesticide applicators to work together to keep your property looking its best while using the least amount of harmful chemicals.
It is also important to be proactive in treating invasive pests, such as vines and other non-native species that can quickly become out of control and interfere with the natural growth pattern of your trees. Our experts can identify and remove these species before they take hold and threaten the health of your trees. Once a tree is treated for a pest or disease, it is critical to monitor the health of the tree to make sure the treatment was successful.
Removal
When a tree becomes dangerously unhealthy, it may require removal. Whether the damage is caused by pests, disease, or simply old age, it can be a serious threat to property and public safety. Professional arborists are trained to identify and address problems at the earliest stages, allowing them to restore and preserve trees whenever possible.
The first step in the removal process is a thorough assessment of the tree’s condition, size, and position relative to structures and utility lines. This evaluation helps professionals develop a plan that balances safety, health, and aesthetics.
Before starting work, professionals cordon off the work area to protect both crew members and bystanders. They also ensure that there are clear routes out of the area once the tree falls. This is especially important if the tree is large or if it’s located in a hazardous location. A secondary route is especially crucial in the event that the tree falls in a direction other than planned, and can prevent expensive property damage.
Invasive plants such as vines can also interfere with a tree’s health by competing for sunlight and nutrients. A professional arborist can remove these and other species that aren’t native to the area, protecting the overall health of your landscape and making it more aesthetically appealing.
When a tree does need to be removed, a professional can perform the work quickly and efficiently. They’ll take care to avoid damaging other property, and will clean up the area afterward. This helps reduce the cost of cleaning up after a removal project and prevents harmful bacteria from infesting the surrounding environment.
Following a removal, professionals can perform stump grinding to prevent tripping hazards and deter insects. They can also provide soil remediation and replanting services to maintain ecological balance. This can help restore a yard’s beauty and value, while also reducing the need for costly maintenance and home repairs. This is the kind of work that should always be left to professionals, who have the tools and training needed to safely and expertly handle it. Homeowners who attempt to take on these projects themselves can risk injury and end up spending more money in the long run.