Sprucing Things Up

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The story below is from our September/October 2023 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you! 

Local experts weigh in on good tree maintenance practices so property owners can keep themselves and their valuables safe from damage.

When you step outside your home, it’s likely you’ll spot at least one tree. While pretty to look at, trees are also vital components of our region’s ecosystems. Unfortunately, they can also pose a danger when they become unhealthy or aren’t regularly maintained. Local professionals share their tips for keeping your trees in tip-top shape so they can perform at their best and you can avoid unexpected disasters. 

Tree Benefits

The presence of trees plays many crucial roles in urban locations like Roanoke. While our area is doing an impeccable job of preserving this natural resource, it’s also undergoing expansions and land clearings to make room for new commercial and residential spaces. It’s the trees the region is safeguarding that are keeping our air clean in the midst of all these changes.

“With expansion comes traffic and with traffic comes higher amounts of carbon dioxide,” says Josh Salb, owner of AAA Tree Works. “A mature tree can absorb 48 pounds of carbon dioxide annually, about the equivalent of driving 50 miles.” He also indicates that trees have the capability of reducing runoff, which is helpful in places like Roanoke that are prone to flooding.

Trees also offer many benefits to individual properties and the folks who own them. In the summer months, shade trees located around homes can help reduce energy costs and provide homeowners with a little extra privacy. 

Carrie Poff, owner and CEO of Brown Hound Tree Service, says that in addition to well-maintained trees giving a property’s curb appeal a boost and even increasing its value, they do wonderful things for a person’s overall health. “Spending time around trees can help lower blood pressure and reduce stress.”

Proper Planting

We’ve all heard horror stories of trees falling on people’s homes and cars during a storm, but our tree care pros say that in some instances, prevention of catastrophes like these can be avoided before a tree is even planted.

If you’re considering adding trees to your home’s landscape, the two key questions every property owner should ask themselves before picking up their shovel is what type of tree they want to purchase and where they hope to plant it.

“Where you decide to plant a tree is very important,” says Poff. “While that baby pine tree looks cute now, when it matures, it will be very tall. Place young trees that will gain a great deal of height away from your home, communication lines and power lines.”

Kyle Rose, Business Development Officer for The Green Team, seconds this statement and emphasizes that when in doubt, get in touch with an arborist or someone knowledgeable about trees at your local nursery for advice when deciding what species to plant.

Prevention & Maintenance Tips

Once your tree is in the ground, give it all the tools it needs in order to thrive. “Many trees … attract certain insects. It’s recommended to treat the trees with the proper insecticides, miticides and fungicides before they have issues,” Rose advises.

Salb states that having them on an appropriate fertilization schedule from the get-go is another way to keep trees growing at their best. Using a gradual release fertilizer ensures that nutrients are evenly distributed. “You should also conduct regular tests on your soil to see whether or not any of its components are deficient or absent.”

You can’t forget the water! “In general, mature trees require one inch of water once every seven days. During the first or second growing season, a new tree’s watering needs might range anywhere from four to 10 gallons per week,” says Salb.

As they grow, it becomes more imperative than ever that property owners do what they can to keep their trees in good shape. There are several ways to do this, with one of the most essential involving a little tidying up.

“If you have shorter trees, purchasing a telescoping pole saw and a hard hat and removing sucker growth or smaller dead limbs is perfectly safe,” says Poff. Another way to help keep your trees healthy is by mulching around them in the spring. “Just don’t create a mulch volcano! Mulch pushed up against the trunk of a tree can cause it to rot.”

When to Call the Professionals

Proper diagnosis and treatment of tree diseases as well as tree removal often require the help of an expert, but there are some characteristics property owners may notice that could be indicative of a compromised tree. These include:

  • Spotted or wilted leaves
  • Blotches on leaves that are white, black or gray in color and look powdery or fuzzy
  • An abundance of broken branches laying around the base of the tree
  • Abnormal bark coloration
  • Holey leaves
  • Patches of leaves missing on branches
  • Cracks along the trunk of the tree
  • Mushroom growth on the tree

Arborists are trained to spot any signs that could mean your tree is unwell, so it never hurts to call one out to perform a quick check if you’re unsure.

For anything involving larger trees, it’s always best to call in a reliable tree service for help. “Too many homeowners are injured and killed each year trying to climb them, prune them or remove dead limbs from them. Let a professional with training, safety gear, equipment and knowledge examine your tree,” says Salb.

Finding the Right Tree Care Service

One size certainly doesn’t fit all, but there are some basic characteristics of a reputable company you should look for when choosing a tree care crew.

Arguably the most important is ensuring they have insurance and proper licensing. “If the company you call cannot produce a COI [Certificate of Insurance], don’t go there,” says Poff.

You should also ask how long employees at the company have worked in the tree care service industry, where they received their training and any other relevant information pertaining to their credentials.

Additionally, communicate your needs directly to the person who will be doing the job. “Ask to speak with the person who is actually going to be doing the cutting,” advises Salb. “Make sure that person knows what you’re wanting to have done, not just the person who gave you the estimate.”

Finding the right business to help with preventative measures that don’t include tree trimming/removal is a little simpler, says Rose. “You just want to make sure the company you hire has a program that includes seasonal fertilization and insect and disease controls.” 

Tree Fast Facts!

  • Treatment for damaged tree bark is similar to the process used for treating a skin wound. Arborists trim away any rough edges so as the tree grows, the wound can “scab” over.
  • Trees repel deer by emitting bitter acids when they sense the animals are nibbling on their leaves.
  • While Bradford pear trees are very prevalent in our area and are gorgeous in the spring, They’re known for snapping during storms and also give off an unpleasant odor. If you’re looking for a tree to plant in your yard, it’s best to pass on this species!
  • Trees have the ability to defend themselves when insects attack and can even send out distress signals to other trees around them so they can also go on the defensive.
  • Of the estimated three trillion-plus trees on earth, there are over 60,000 different species!

Homeowners Insurance - What Does it Cover? 

“The only time homeowners insurance kicks in is when the tree has caused damage to your personal property, injury to people or worse. But don’t just assume that you’re covered in the event of a tree falling on your home,” cautions Carrie Poff. 

Because coverage can vary by plan, she and Salb concur that it’s always best to analyze your policy and contact your provider if you have any questions.   

The story above is from our September/October 2023 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!