How to mulch around a tree

Dressing your trees with Mulch: Mulch looks great around a tree. It also can provide healthful benefits.

The key is putting down the right amount of mulch in the right place. Spread the mulch so that it is no more than 2 inches high at the outer edge of the bed tapering down to flat around the trunk. Never mound mulch around the trunk! Use organic mulches rather than stone. These mulches provide the tree with nutrients as they break down overtime and also attract beneficial insects.

Tick Alert! Protect Your Family from Lyme Disease

Just when we’re enjoying the great outdoors, we need to be on high alert for ticks. These dangerous pests spread of Lyme Disease as well as other serious illnesses such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Ticks like the shade. They seek protection from the sun in ground level vegetation such as high grasses, underbrush, shrubs and woods.

You can protect your family from ticks and tick borne illnesses by having your Giroud Arborist inspect your property to identify high risk areas, cleaning-up shady tick habitats, deer repellant and tick control treatments.

For more information on tick control actions, ask your Giroud Arborist or go to: www.giroudtree.com/seasonal.htm.

Top 5 Pests of the Season!

Here are Giroud's Top 5 Pests for Summer

Ticks: Protect your family and pets from Lyme Disease. Giroud can help with pruning, perimeter clean-up and spray treatments now and again in the Fall.

Aphids: (pictured) Attack a variety of trees including Hemlocks, Spruce and Tulip Poplars. A professional diagnosis is critical before treating the tree.

Scale: Is a real heavyweight for damage. With 12 varieties of Scale, we must first identify the type of Scale to determine the best time for treatment.

Japanese Beetles: Swarms start in late June. If you are concerned about beetles, get on our schedule now. That way, we’ll be able to treat your property at the first sign of an outbreak.

Bagworms: Often mistaken for harmless cones, bagworms are irregular, loosely woven bags that harbor destructive pests. June is the best time for treatment.

Find out more at: www.giroudtree.com/seasonal.htm

Summer Storms--Protect Your Trees

High winds and pounding rain are not a good combination for trees. Storms expose any weakness in a tree. Trees that haven’t been professionally pruned can catch the wind like a sail and topple. Cracks open wide to split trees. Dead limbs snap and weak roots give way.

Homeowners can prevent storm damage by taking the following actions:

1. Start with a professional tree inspection: Spotting problems early is the main purpose of the inspection. Your Arborist will be looking for cracks, decay, excessive deadwood, structural defects and other problems that may require action.

2. Check tree roots for health problems: Look for warning signs such as mushrooms growing out of the root system, decayed roots or raised ground around the tree’s trunk. These signs often signal fungus diseases, root rot or soil compaction. Your Arborist may recommend fertilizing the tree in the Fall with a time release formula that stimulates root growth.

3. Install Cables or Bolts: Trees with multiple trunks or weakly attached limbs are prime targets for splitting. Cables or bolts should be installed to secure the limb or trunks. It’s essential that your Arborist chooses the right hardware and uses it in the right way to successfully brace the tree.

4. Have your trees professionally pruned: Pruning reduces the risk of storm damage from breakage and uprooted trees. Your professional Arborist should remove dead, rotted and weakly attached limbs. He should also thin the crown to reduce strain from wind and top heavy limbs.

5. Select Trees That Can Stand Up To Storms: Trees with genetically weak crotches like Bradford Pear, Ash and Mulberry are more likely to sustain damage in a storm. Trees that are known to be more storm resistant include Holly, White Oak, Bald Cypress and Linden.