There are steps you can take to protect your trees and the roots below from damage during construction on your property, however, plans aren’t always followed and mistakes are made. So what do you do to provide care to your damaged trees?

If your tree has experienced damage to its exterior, the first place to start is with the bark. Any tree bark that has been damaged should be shaved away to encourage healing. Lawn care experts recommend using a sharp knife to trim around the wounded area in a rounded motion, not cutting any deeper than is necessary to avoid cutting into healthy bark. Removing the damaged bark will promote moisture and nutrients into and around the bruised area. Just like a wound on human flesh, the tree will have a scar, but if the bark is properly cared for, the tree should heal around the wound.

If a large section of the tree has been damaged, for instance more than half of the tree’s circumference, you may want to consult your local lawn care company to save it from dying. Trees will not immediately exhibit symptoms of damage, but without proper nutrients and moisture getting to all the parts of the tree, branches will become brittle and break off, leaves will fade and eventually the tree will stop growing at all. Your tree company can stop the dying process of the tree through intensive lawn care that involves corrective pruning, fertilization and curative irrigation.

If your tree has become damaged during the construction process, call your local lawn care company as soon as possible to save this vital feature of your Bucks County landscape.

If you live in an area of the country where clay soil is an option, Bucks County landscape specialists say this might be an ideal alternative to typical soil in order to produce a beautiful Bucks County lawn.

Typical soil is often subjected to erosion, especially in climates with heavy rainfall. When the soil is washed away, the roots of your Bucks County lawn and other plants become exposed, making them vulnerable. Clay soil also is better for retaining moisture. If you live in an area where the heat often dries out your Bucks County lawn, clay soil could be a better alternative so your Bucks County lawn doesn’t become brown and brittle. Because clay soil holds moisture in better and longer, you can save money by watering less!

Another reason Bucks County landscape specialists recommend clay soil is because its pH level rarely needs adjusted. Most clay soil is neutral, which is exactly what it needs to be in order to grow a perfect Bucks County lawn. Soil Bucks County lawns need to be tested annually to ensure the pH level is correct. If it is too acidic or not acidic enough, you need to apply pH conditioners, which cost money and take some guesswork to figure out the right amount.

Clay soil is typically devoid of nutrients, which may seem like a negative, but it is in fact a good thing. You can add the nutrients you deem necessary and have greater control over your fertilization regimen.

If you are considering a Bucks County lawn soil change, contact your local Bucks County landscape professionals and find out more about whether or not clay Bucks County lawn soil is right for you.

If nothing else, Bucks County landscaping professionals insist that you water your lawn. If you do nothing else, watering at least should be a priority. But as it goes, life has a funny way of getting in the way of things that you need or want to do and the next thing you know, a couple of weeks have passed and your lawn is as dry as dust. So what’s the remedy? Why, an irrigation system of course!

Many Bucks County landscaping companies are adding sprinkler system installation to their menu. It does no good to aerate, fertilize and maintain your lawn’s pH level if you’re not properly hydrating your turf. Grass needs water more than it needs anything to remain healthy, durable and vibrant. A lawn that is dehydrated is susceptible to disease and will often have brittle grass blades and look dull in color, sometimes even brown if the dehydration is severe enough.

Installing an irrigation system might seem like a luxury, but if you take into the consideration of what you might have to pay to renovate or repair your lawn after a severe bout of dehydration, it’s more than worth the cost. A sprinkler system can include features such as timers to ensure that your lawn is watered at the same time everyday and with just the right amount of water. Don’t want a visible system? No problem! Most irrigation systems are installed underneath the ground and some Bucks County landscaping companies also offer products that blend in with your Bucks County landscaping.

If you’re looking for a guaranteed method of keeping your lawn hydrated throughout the growing season, consult your local Bucks County landscaping company and ask about how an irrigation system can benefit you!

The Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive beetle that rapidly kills Ash trees, was recently found in Warrington, Bucks County by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.  Since its arrival in 2002, this deadly insect has killed more than 50 million Ash trees in more than 10 states. Penn State has put together a website with extensive information about the Emerald Ash Borer in the state. Now that it has been found in our area, the Emerald Ash Borer poses a threat to Bucks County PA, Montgomery County Pennsylvania, and the Main Line.

Left untreated, Ash trees die within two years of the tree showing symptoms. The most common symptom homeowners notice is die back in the canopy. Fortunately, with proper detection by a Willow Tree Service ISA Certified Arborist and professional Emerald Ash Borer Treatment by our certified applicators, your ash trees can be saved. The cost of Emerald Ash Borer Treatment and Prevention can be as little as $50.

If you wish to learn more about how you protect you trees, set up a free estimate with Willow Tree Service now.

Cedar trees are a favorite tree to plant on many Bucks County landscapes and are relatively easy to take care of due to its drought tolerance. This tree has a pyramidal shape and grows relatively slow. There are different varieties of cedar trees and their height varies from one species to another. The eastern red cedar typically grows anywhere from 30 to 50 feet high, while the western red cedar can reach heights of up to 200 feet (however this is usually only typical for western red cedars that grow in the wild).

Many homeowners or commercial property owners use cedar trees as a pleasant-looking privacy screen on their Bucks County landscape. Others may plant cedar trees for the purpose of being windbreaks or hedges. Whatever the reason you choose to introduce cedars onto your Bucks County landscape, Bucks County landscaping specialists say that mulch is an important part of caring for this special tree. Mulch will help keep the soil around the tree damp and loose.

Your professional Bucks County landscaper can help you select the best type of mulch for your cedar tree. There are several different options:

• Sawdust or straw: Cost-effective, but doesn’t offer much in the way of nutrients to the soil.
• Bark nuggets/wood chips: Offer an eye-pleasing aspect to your Bucks County landscape, has a slow rate of decomposition and stays put even through strong gusts of wind.
• Composted yard waste: Cost-effective, eco-friendly and offers an abundance of nutrients.
• Grass clippings: Making use of yard waste is always a plus, but Bucks County tree care authorities warn of using grass clipping too much. The clippings can become compacted when frequent or hard rain occurs and stop moisture from being absorbed into the soil, dehydrating the roots of your cedar tree.

Once you have decided on the right kind of mulch for you, you or your Bucks County landscaping authority will need to pull out all of the weeds around the area to be mulched, so the mulch can be applied to bare soil. If mulch is applied on top of existing weeds, it will not only appear unkempt, but it also won’t prevent the growth of the weeds.

An area of three to six feet in diameter and two to four inches thick around the tree should be covered with high-quality mulch during any time of the year except in the beginning of spring. The ground is still thawing from the cold weather and the soil and the roots need time to thaw and respond to the warming sun. Mulch will prevent that transfer of heat. Although you want a wide area around the tree to be mulched, leave a gap of about six inches between the base of the tree and the mulch to deter insects and other unwanted pests.

If you want more information on mulching your cedar tree, call your local Bucks County landscaping professional for expert advice.

Ever wonder what to do with those scraps of food that shouldn’t go down the disposal, but create a terrible smell if left in the garbage for more than a day? Or perhaps you’re looking to enhance the growth of your Bucks County landscape plants in a more natural and cost-effective manner? Landscaping experts recommend using your kitchen waste to make your own all-organic mulch.

The first step in this journey toward a more eco-friendly way to fertilize your Bucks County landscape is by choosing the right type of composter. Many Bucks County landscapers recommend using worm bins. Filling the bin with live worms, your kitchen waste will be broken down by the worms and voila! You have a nutrient-rich fertilizer for your Bucks County landscape! Using a worm bin is also beneficial because you can keep it inside your home if you wish for easy access. The only rule when it comes to worm bins is to not leave it in direct sunlight.

If you’re not sure how to use a worm bin or where to get the materials (or the worms), check with your community’s Department of Water and Power; they may offer worm bins as well as instructions on how to use them.

So what can you throw in the worm bin? The ingredients that make up worm bin mulch can range from fruit and vegetable rinds and pieces to most Bucks County landscape debris, according to landscaping experts. So instead of throwing your kitchen scraps in the trash, or even to the dog, think about creating your own personal brand of all-organic mulch.

If making your own mulch is too much of a hassle but you still want to bring a more organic approach to fertilizing your Bucks County landscape, call your local landscaping company and ask about their organic fertilization program.

All grass types are susceptible to diseases and weeds, however, there are ways to prevent, deter and combat these issues through proper Bucks County lawn care techniques. But even with the absolute best care, you cannot guarantee that disease or insects will never be a problem with your St. Augustine Bucks County lawn.

St. Augustine grass is a sturdy type of turf and is able to assert itself over weeds as long as it is healthy and is receiving adequate care. If St. Augustine grass is left to fend for itself, it may become weak, at which time opportunistic weeds will stop popping up throughout your Bucks County landscape. This is especially true if the Bucks County lawn is already infested with insects or has been infected with a disease. St. Augustine turf is usually found to have broadleaf and grassy weeds, however, chickweed, clover and henbit have also been found by Bucks County lawn care specialists to be a menace to this type of grass. These weeds respond best to hormone-type herbicides that are applied in the early spring. Other weeds such as fescue, crabgrass or annual bluegrass require a different type of treatment that includes precise applications of pre-emergent herbicides.

In addition to fighting off weeds, St. Augustine grass is also susceptible to a number of turfgrass diseases including Helminthosporium, brown patch, SAD, Pythium, gray leaf spot, rust, downy mildew and more. Most of these diseases are caused by the presence of fungi and can be easily controlled by a knowledgeable Bucks County lawn care company. SAD is a virus disease for which there is no chemical solution, which means only defiant types of St. Augustine grass are resistant to the disease.

Brown patch and gray leaf spot are the most severe diseases caused by fungi infecting St. Augustine turfs. Although these diseases seldom destroy St. Augustine, they weaken and thin the grass to the degree that the Bucks County lawn is extremely unattractive. Precautionary treatments of fungicides are most effective against these diseases.

To keep your St. Augustine Bucks County lawn primped and pristine, call your local Bucks County lawn care provider and ask about their weed and disease control programs.

Leyland Cyprus trees are generally resilient to most insect infestations because they are coniferous trees. Many insects prefer to nest and feed off of deciduous trees, however not all of them. One such pest is the spider mite. Tree care experts say spider mites are one of the top tree pests that can have a serious and damaging effect on the Leyland Cyprus tree. Thankfully, with the help of professional Bucks County tree care specialists, you can protect your tree from the negative effects of this insect.

According to Bucks County tree care authorities, spider mites have proven, along with bagworms, to be one of the most difficult insects to control. Since spider mites have been an irritant for Leyland Cyprus trees for so long, they have developed an immunity to many of the different chemicals that had been used to eliminate these destructive insects. They negatively affect the Leyland Cyprus by piercing the tree with their mouths and sucking out the sap (which is essentially the life force of the tree), resulting in discolored needles. If spider mites are allowed to feed without interruption, the needles will ultimately turn brown, die and fall off.

Spider mites can be a death sentence to the Leyland Cyprus, so it is important to have qualified Bucks County tree care experts help you get populations under control as soon as possible. Tree care authorities do not favor the use of insecticides because other beneficial bugs will also be killed when the insecticide is applied. It is important to allow spider mite predators such as ladybugs to remain on the tree and create a natural pest control solution. For this reason, miticides are the recommended solution to heavy spider mite infestations.

To learn more about keeping your Leyland Cyprus safe from unwanted pests, call your local Bucks County tree care company.

Winter pruning allows tree care experts to fully assess the health and structural integrity of the tree without the interference of foliage. It is important to have this process scheduled early on in the winter in order to give tree care specialists time to accurately diagnose any problems and devise solutions to keep your Bucks County landscape looking beautiful.

Winter is the ideal time for pruning because the limbs can be fully assessed without the weight of foliage on them. Pruning is generally known to encourage growth, so when it occurs during the growing season, new tissue and bark are constantly being added to the branches. When the foliage is no longer on the tree, proper pruning can take place to establish how much dead or decaying material is on the tree.

Pruning during the growing season is encouraged, but can disrupt the tree’s energy. Tree care authorities say that since leaves are the primary food source for trees, the pruning that goes on during the summer actually decreases the amount of energy the tree is getting. Obviously the tree is capable of getting through the winter on reserved energy sources, so pruning does not have as much of an impact.

Another reason why winter pruning is ideal and beneficial is because the tree is completely dormant, including disease and insect activity. Pruning sometimes makes trees vulnerable to insect infestations and diseases, especially if the pruning techniques aren’t performed correctly and the tree is wounded. If perchance the tree is wounded during winter pruning, it will be able to seal before or during the early spring before insects and diseases become active once again.

For more information on winter pruning, contact your local tree care company and schedule a consultation!

Bagworms are often the bane of any homeowner’s existence. These stubborn insects can take a perfectly healthy and beautiful landscape and destroy it in a matter of months. Their incessant feeding depletes trees and shrubs of the nutrients necessary to keep them alive and thriving, thus killing the plants if there is no intervention.

The presence of bagworms is usually not diagnosed until early June, at which time the introduction of pest control applications is usually effective. The key is to eliminate them before they begin to reproduce, which they do at a rapid rate. If nothing is done about their presence in your trees until mid- to late summer, landscaping experts say saving your trees might be much more difficult, if not impossible. As time passes, the “bag” becomes thicker, making it more resilient against insecticides.

The primary method used by many landscaping specialists is removing the bags from the trees and burning them. In addition to this process, professional-grade insecticides are applied to stop reproduction and ward off future infestations.

If you have had problems in the past with bagworms and can’t afford to lose more trees to these destructive critters, contact your local landscaping professionals and ask them for their help in reducing these populations before it is too late.