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.

Superior Bucks County landscaping involves many steps, but perhaps none is as important as proper hydration. After all, a Bucks County landscape cannot succeed without water. Adequately hydrating your Bucks County landscape is not an exact science, but it is close. The best plan is to install a sprinkler system that ensures your Bucks County landscape is watered every day at the same time. Sprinkler systems with a timer are even more ideal, but you still have several options there. Landscaping specialists highly recommend pulsating sprinklers for the best results.

Pulsating sprinkler systems spray water into the air and allow the water to fall back down to the ground in a fine mist. There are five different types of pulsating sprinklers: impulse, traveling, stationary, oscillating and rotary. Impulse sprinklers are the top choice of Bucks County landscaping professionals because they cover larger areas.

It is important to know if you have high or low water pressure, as that also factors in to which type of pulsating sprinkler you choose for your Bucks County landscaping needs. If you have low water pressure, an H-base is a better choice than a spike-based sprinkler which is better suited for high pressure.

Pulsating sprinklers have the benefit of being designed with gusty winds in mind, as well as low-hanging trees or tall shrubs. The height of the water spray can be adjusted accordingly and since the water is typically sprayed close to the ground, its spray is unaffected by the wind.

If you think a pulsating sprinkler may be beneficial to your lawn, contact your local Bucks County landscaping company. Many Bucks County landscaping companies also install irrigation systems, especially since proper hydration makes their job that much easier!

Mowing might seem like the simplest of Bucks County lawn care tasks, but it is actually quite important to know how to properly mow your Bucks County lawn to ensure the best results. Over-mowing or mowing at the wrong times or height can have detrimental effects on your Bucks County lawn. Here are some Bucks County lawn care tips on proper mowing procedures.

Most Bucks County lawns are dormant during the winter months, so once spring rolls around, it is time to drag the mower out and get back into the routine. But when you should begin mowing? Lawn care technicians recommend keeping the mower stored away until the ground is thoroughly thawed. Once the ground is soft, that means that grass is growing and mowing it will not cause any damage to the crowns or the shoots.

Most people know that allowing the excess clippings to remain on the Bucks County lawn is beneficial because as the clippings deteriorate, they become natural fertilizer for the soil below. However, for the first few cuts, attach the bag and gather the clippings. Allow your Bucks County lawn to grow and breathe without the weight of clippings on top of it.

Lawn care professionals recommend mowing your Bucks County lawn at a slightly shorter height than you may typically have your mower set. If you normally mow at three inches, take it down to two. This will allow your Bucks County lawn better stimulation to get the season started off right.

If you have any questions about spring mowing, contact your local Bucks County lawn care professionals.

As we get out our heavier sweaters and winter coats to protect ourselves from the cold, it’s also time to think about our trees, shrubs and plants.  Just like many of us don’t like a dip in temperatures and unpredictable temperature swings, neither do most plants.  But there are some things you can do to help make sure your precious ornamentals will survive what mother nature has to dish out this winter.

One of the biggest problems is that trees and shrubs lose a lot of moisture during the winter and tend to dry out.  To help prevent that from happening, it’s important to continue to water all your trees and plants throughout the entire fall, as long as possible.  Mulch is also important.  It’s recommended that a layer of mulch two-to-four inches thick is placed around the base of your Bucks County landscape plants and trees to help them retain moisture.  Anti-desiccant sprays can also help.  They leave a waxy coating on evergreen needles preventing moisture loss.  You can also wrap your trees in canvas or burlap.  That will help them retain moisture during windy days and help prevent breakage from heavy snow.

Fertilization is also a key to keeping your trees and shrubs healthy, but you have to make sure you do it at the right time.  You must fertilize after they’ve gone dormant so the nutrients can help the plants overwinter and recover in the spring.  If they’re not dormant, the fertilizer may spur growth making the plant vulnerable to damage.  Now is also the time to protect against hungry critters.  Place a metal guard or liquid repellent around the base of trees and shrubs to keep small animals from eating them for dinner when the food supply diminishes.  It’s also a good time to put up windbreakers and tie branches together with twine or netting to prevent breakage from the weight of snow.

Also beware of salt or ice-melting products.  Just like they’re hazardous for animals, they’re also hazardous for your plants and trees.  Use sand instead and make sure you protect your ornamentals from salt thrown by road crews, with plastic sheeting.  And when the white stuff sticks, be sure to remove all accumulating snow on your Bucks County landscape plants and trees with a broom so they’re not damaged.

As the cooler temperatures arrive and you’ll soon be exchanging your leaf rake for snow shovel, consider a few simple leaf raking tips that will help winterize your Bucks County lawn while increasing your chances for a better spring green-up.

How well you maintain the leaves in your Bucks County lawn is a large indicator for how healthy and prepared your Bucks County lawn will be for next season. When neglected, leaves can suffocate and rob turf of sunlight, water and other essential nutrients. For every leaf that lies on top of your turf, multiple blades of grass beneath it run the risk of browning or even worse, developing patches of mold or fungus depending on how low temperatures drop in your area.

Depending on your yard, raking once a week should be sufficient in at least warding off fungus and disease from developing in your Bucks County lawn. If you do step up to twice a week, try to keep it to a light raking as it will be gentler on your Bucks County lawn. Raking is a natural form of dethatching but a little layer of thatch build up is actually healthy for your turf. Just be sure the second raking doesn’t over do it.

If you want to save time and utilize leaves for compost, a mulching mower is a smart investment. A mulching mower can be very beneficial to your Bucks County lawn as it will chop up and shred leaves to easily decompose in the soil. This granulizes leaves into a natural fertilizer to be absorbed into your Bucks County lawn.

Check back next week for more information about the absorbing of nutrients in your Bucks County lawn.

Gazebos are a fairly traditional addition to most Bucks County landscapes, but a wrought iron gazebo will add class, charm, luxury and style, not to mention an element of uniqueness.

One of the most advantageous qualities of having a wrought iron gazebo on your Bucks County landscape is that the iron does not wear out. Typical Bucks County landscape gazebos are made from wood will deteriorate over time, and will eventually need to be replaced. But with a wrought iron gazebo, the structure will remain standing for as long as you desire. There is the risk of the iron rusting, but it can easily be painted and treated with material that will prevent rust from occurring. You will want to re-paint your gazebo anyway every few years to maintain the luster of the gazebo’s appearance.

Wrought iron gazebos not only add aesthetic appeal to your Bucks County landscape and give you and your family a distinctive and stylish place to enjoy the outdoors, but they are also popular for having ceremonies such as weddings or providing a special backdrop for your family photo. The gazebo can be decorated with flowers, ribbons and netting to add even more beauty and charm.

Wrought iron gazebos are available in so many distinct shapes, sizes and styles. Most iron comes in black or white, but with the help of metallic and rust-proof paint, you can use paint to blend your gazebo in with the rest of your Bucks County landscape or match your home’s motif.

If you have fallen in love with the possibilities a wrought iron gazebo can bring to your Bucks County landscape, call your local Bucks County landscaping company and schedule a consultation!

Plum trees are like many other fruit trees, which means they are a haven for insects and fungi. Unfortunately, fruit trees require a fair amount of tree care to prevent either of these factors from damaging or possibly even killing the tree. Many tree owners mistakenly believe that tree care is only effectual during the active growing season; however, effective tree care needs to take place year round.

Plum trees begin to actively produce in the early summer months. Preparation for this growth cycle needs to begin in the winter season. Your tree care regimen during this time should include pruning to encourage circulation and to remove dead or dying branches. It is important to remove these parts so destructive insects will not be attracted to the area near your tree. You also need to remove any fruit from the previous season for the same reason. In the late winter and early spring months, after you have thoroughly pruned your plum tree, protect your tree from pests with an organic dormant oil spray.

In spring, leaves will begin to develop, at which time an effective fungicide should be applied to the entire tree to prevent brown rot, black knot and root rot. Tree care experts say this is also the time to apply fertilizer to encourage further growth. The fungicide and pesticide regimen should be continued through the summer months, even after fruit have begun to emerge. Remember to keep removing fallen fruit from the area around the tree so insects will not be attracted to the area.

As fall begins to roll around, the plum tree will again become dormant. During this process the tree will shed its leaves and remaining fruit, which need to be removed and discarded. Tree care specialists recommend spraying copper spray on the entire tree to protect it during the dormant season.

If you aren’t sure exactly when you should apply these treatments, contact your local tree care company and ask about their tree care programs.

Fertilizing your own Bucks County landscape can be quite an ordeal and usually requires (or should require) a fair amount of research. Many Bucks County landscaping companies have fertilization programs that have been perfected over the years by experts in the Bucks County landscaping industry. However, if you’re looking to take on the project yourself, you may want to explore the types of spreaders that are available to make your task easier.

When it comes to fertilizing your Bucks County landscape, there are generally two types of spreaders you can use: broadcast and drop spreaders. Broadcast spreaders are a popular choice for Bucks County landscape fertilization projects for a few reasons. One reason why many homeowners prefer to pay a Bucks County landscaping company to fertilize their Bucks County landscape for them is because of the mundane, monotonous walking back and forth across the Bucks County landscape. This can be a particularly tedious task if you have a large Bucks County landscape. However, the broadcast spreader is perfect for spreading fertilization over a large area because the granules fall down through the hopper and onto a rotating disc. This disc disseminates the fertilizer in every direction possible, allowing you to spread more fertilizer over a larger area of your Bucks County landscape without walking back and forth as much.

While you may be fertilizing your Bucks County lawn, the plants, trees and shrubs in your Bucks County landscape will be getting fertilized as well, essentially killing two birds with one stone. Although this process sounds simple enough, you will still need to figure out how much fertilizer is needed and when it should be applied. You may find that the fertilizer you purchased at the store isn’t as effective as more professional-grade products. If you want to rid yourself of the burden of fertilizing your own Bucks County landscape, contact your local Bucks County landscaping company and have the pros provide you with perfect fertilization.