Giroud Removes Hazardous Tree Over Electrical Wires

Giroud removes dead Oak tree over primary electrical wires and house. Scott Slousky, Giroud Representative and ISA Certified Arborist, shows removal from setup in the tree, cutting and lifting major limb and putting the tree limb through the chipper. Dead trees are hazardous since they are an easy target for damage in storms.

Tree Spotlight: Crataegus Viridis ("Winter King" Green Hawthorne)

Aptly named “Winter King,” this variety of Crataegus Viridis, (Green Hawthorne) is crowned with a regal display of red berries in winter. For added interest, the Hawthorne's beige bark peels and flakes to reveal a coppery cinnamon beneath. The show continues in the Spring and Summer when clusters of white flowers are set against glossy green leaves. For a grand finale, its leaves turn gold with traces of red and purple in Autumn.

Unlike most Hawthornes, the "Winter King" is relatively pest and disease free. It also tolerates a variety of soil types as well as urban pollution. A large tree, the Hawthorne can reach 25-35 feet in height and width.

The Hawthorne is best as a focal point tree and doesn't usually need a backdrop. If one is necessary, light colors are superior or else the foliage becomes lost in the background. If only planted for winter interest, plant it in front of dark evergreens such as yews or hemlocks.

Do It Yourself: Plant Your Holiday Tree

Planting trees is one of the best ways to help our environment and beautify your property. If you are planning to buy a live tree for the Holidays consider getting a tree that you can plant in your yard in January.

Here are the most important steps to to ensure your tree is beautiful in your home and yard.

1. Select a healthy tree wrapped in burlap that thrives in our region such as: Concolor Fir, White Spruce, Douglas Fir or Colorado Blue Spruce.
2. Dig the hole now since the ground might be frozen after the Holidays. Be sure you don’t make the hole too deep! When planted, the top of the root ball should be one or two inches above ground level. Cover the hole with hay or mulch. Put the loose soil in a wheelbarrow or trash can and leave it in the garage. You'll need loose soil to back fill the hole.
3. Store the tree in a cool, enclosed location. Keep the root ball moist, not wet, and well-mulched to prevent freezing. Spray the tree with an antidessicant or antiwilt product to minimize needle and moisture loss.
4. No earlier than 5-7 days before Christmas, bring in the tree and place it in the coolest part of the room—away from heating ducts. Don't spray it with fake snow; use cool-temp lights and lightweight decorations.
   
5. Water your tree to keep the roots moist. Then wait to water again until the water is almost gone.
6. Leave inside no longer than 7-10 days. Do not move he tree directly from a warm house to freezing temperatures. Instead, move it to a sheltered area first for four days to allow it to adjust to colder temperatures.
7. Before planting, remove plastic string or wrap from the root ball or trunk of the tree. Wire or burlap may be left around the roots.
8. Place the tree in the hole and tightly pack soil around the root ball. Spread two inches of mulch around the the base of the tree.
9. Do not fertilize the tree now. Wait until spring. If you have compost available, mix it into the loose soil while planting.
10. Stake the tree to prevent wind tipping or damage during the first growing season.

For more information, go to the National Christmas Tree Association

Tree Spotlight: Acer Griseum (Paper Bark Maple)

With copper-brown bark peels into thin, shimmering strips, the Acer Griseum (Paper Bark Maple) is stunning in the winter, especially if contrasted with a snowy or solid green background on sunny days. It's branch structure is also interesting with branches usually starting a few feet above the ground, creating an upright multi-branched effect. But the show doesn’t stop there. Dark green leaves in the summer turn to shades of orange, brick red or buttery gold in the Fall.

The Paper Bark Maple is a slow grower maturing to about 20 feet tall by 15 feet wide. It can be planted in full sun to partial shade and is adaptable to a wide range of soils, pHs, heat and drought. Shine a spotlight on this standout tree to show off its bark and branch formation. It makes an excellent focal point tree in any garden.

Cleaning-Up Wild Growth

This Fall, many landscapes are looking more like jungles. Homeowners are experiencing an explosion of growth in their trees and shrubs thanks to heavy rainfall over the past several months. Giroud demonstrates how a Brushcutter machine and crew can clean up your overgrown landscape. Video includes before and after images as well as a video clip of the Brushcutter in action.

Do It Yourself: Raking Leaves and Composting

It’s more than aesthetics, raking leaves is important for your lawn. Leaves left on your grass over the winter will smother your lawn. Come Spring, you’ll find bare spots that will open the door for crabgrass and weeds.

Take special care when removing leaves from recently seeded lawns. Use a blower to protect tender seedlings. If you don’t have a blower, please use a light touch to gently remove leaves from newly seeded areas.

If you are industrious and interested in composting the leaves you rake up, be prepared for a time consuming but very worthwhile process. You'll need a composting bin in which you regularly mix or "turn over" the pile of leaves. You can make your own bin using discarded pallets that will allow air flow. Leaves in the homemade version will need to be turned with a pitchfork. You can also buy a compost tumbler with a hand crank to frequently turn the leaves. To speed up the composting, shred the leaves with a mulching mower before putting them in the bin. Learn more about composting.

Tree Spotlight: Euonymus Alata (Burning Bush)

With leaves that turn a fiery red, the Euonymus Alata (aka: Burning Bush) is a real stunner in the Fall. The Burning Bush a hardy shrub that likes well drained soil, tolerates full sun, but also does well in partial shade. A beautiful hedge, it can also be planted alone as a focal point. The Burning Bush is a fast grower that can reach 15'-20' in height and width. To ensure that it doesn't outgrow its space, choose your planting location carefully and control its growth with regular pruning.

Prune Trees Now for Health and Safety

Pruning improves tree health and safety. Giroud Arborist, Drew Slousky and Climber, Will Cowley are joined by Giroud Customer and homeowner, Mr. Pillsbury to discuss how pruning will remove ugly deadwood, clear overgrown limbs from wires, house and gutters and prevent breakage in storms.

Tree Spotlight: Sugar Maple

A landscape standout, the Sugar Maple has medium to dark-green leaves that turn yellow, burnt orange or red in fall. The best time for planting is in the Fall. Versatile and drought tolerant, it can be planted in a variety of soil types and grows well in shady conditions. Be sure to give the Sugar Maple ample space to grow since it can reach a height of 70 to 90 feet with crowns that can spread 60 to 80 feet.

Why Trees and Lawns Need Fertilizer

Fertilizing your trees and lawn has never been more important. Heavy rains through the growing season have washed away key nutrients from your soil. Giroud Arborist, Robert Poley explains why your trees and lawn need fertilizer while Rodney Stahl, Jr., PA Certified Applicator, demonstrates how Giroud does fertilizer treatments. Injecting Giroud's time release fertilizer now will provide steady doses of nutrients through the winter and into the growing season.

Tree Spotlight: Persimmon

Drooping leaves and branches, give the Persimmon a languid, almost tropical appearance. In autumn, its leaves turn dramatic shades of yellow, orange and red. Learn more about its growth habits and features at: Tree Spotlight

Want a Beautiful Lawn Next Spring…Start Now!

Beautiful lawns begin in the Fall. Take the following steps now for a healthy, thick, green lawn in 2010:

1. Soil Test:Comprehensive Soil Analysis (CSA): Now is the best time to identify soil problems. Giroud takes soil samples from around your lawn for testing by a nationally recognized Agronomic Lab. Based on the test results, your Giroud Technician custom blends your Fall fertilizer treatments and determines if other actions are required.
2. Lawn Treatments (including Fertilization): Our special fall formula or CSA Custom Blend helps your lawn establish strong root systems and prepare for winter stress and spring growth. If you don’t already have our Annual Lawn Program, ask about our Fall Treatment package.
3. Core Aeration: Every lawn can benefit from aeration. Aeration breaks through dense patches of thatch and fractures compacted soil. It stimulates healthy growth, gives your lawn’s roots immediate access to fertilizer, lime and other amendments and accelerates seed germination and growth. It is a must for any lawn that is being seeded.

Heavy Growth Topples Trees

Day after day of rain has produced thick foliage and branch growth.

When heavy rains and strong winds hit, overgrown tree canopies become like a wall that wind can’t break through. Mix this wall of leaves and branches with waterlogged soil and heavy crowns and you have a recipe for uprooted trees, breakage and damage.

Frequent check-ups, reducing weight and lowering wind resistance is the best way to protect your trees.

Keep your trees off the storm casualty list. Schedule a free inspection with your Giroud Arborist to evaluate if your trees are overgrown and need pruning.

Heavy Rains Wash Nutrients From Soil

Heavy rains have diluted your soil's nutrients. Your trees and lawn depend on the soil to provide these vital elements to get through winter and emerge strong and healthy in the Spring. As we move into Fall, Giroud recommends injecting your trees with custom blend fertilizer which will provide the right combination of nutrients in a slow release formula that lasts for 12 months. Your lawn also needs fertilizer now. Giroud offers a special fall blend that helps your lawn establish strong root systems and prepare for winter stress and spring growth. Schedule your fall fertilizing treatments now!

Giroud Lawn Soil Testing and Aeration

A soil test and aeration are the first steps to building a healthy, green lawn. Giroud Arborist, Mike Taraborrelli, explains how a soil test reveals problems that impact your lawn's health and beauty. The next step is aeration which can benefit every lawn by fracturing the soil and allowing your lawn's roots to get air, water and nutrients.

Tree Spotlight: Franklinia

Discovered by the Bartram's in 1765, the Franklinia was named in honor of their friend, Benjamin Frankilin. A multi-stemmed tree with year-round interest, its creamy white fragrant flowers bloom from late July into September. The dark green leaves turn orange and red in the fall, often in combination with a few late flowers. Subtly striped branches and persistent seed capsules add winter interest. Sometimes this plant will try to grow as a shrub, but it can usually be trained into tree form.

Bartram's Garden recommends the following tips for planting and caring for your Franklinia:

• Proper site selection and pre-planting preparation are crucial.
• Plant a Franklinia in a site with excellent drainage, acidic soil enriched with organic matter with a pH between 5-6, and protection from strong winds.
• The Franklinia tolerates full sun as well as dense shade, but fares best in partial shade (about a half day of sunlight).
• Apply mulch lightly over entire root area and make sure it has adequate water in the summer, and through the fall when it still growing and flowering.

How to Stop Ticks!

Ticks spread Lyme Disease! These shade lovers are usually found around the fringes of your lawn in high grasses, underbrush, shrubs and woods. Deer are one of the primary ways that ticks are carried to your property.

In the video below, Scott Slousky, ISA Certified Arborist, explains how Giroud stops ticks by: cleaning up shady tick habitats, spreading wood chips and using monthly tick and deer repellent treatments.

If you're worried about ticks, ask your Giroud Arborist to inspect your property to determine the best ways to stop ticks from invading your property.

Giroud Evaluates Lawn Health

Learn how Giroud evaluates lawn health. ISA Certified Arborist, Mike Taraborrelli, explains the steps to develop a lawn care program that produces a healthy, thick, green lawn.

Tree Spotlight: Umbrella Pine

Handsome shape, rich, dark green color and unusual needle formation make the Umbrella Pine (Sciadopitys verticillata) a stand-out specimen tree. A slow grower at about 6 inches per year, it can achieve height of 25-30 feet tall in the urban landscape. The Umbrella Pine should be planted in moist, slightly acidic soil in a sunny location with good protection from the wind.

The bark of the umbrella pine is brown or grayish-brown, and peels off in long strips. The tree has two types of leaves. Small, triangular, scalelike leaves are scattered along the stems. At the ends of stems, radiating like the ribs of an umbrella, are narrow, glossy, dark green needles. Male cones form in dense clusters while the female cones grow individually at the tips of branches. Over a period of two years, the cones mature and change from green to brown.

See Giroud's stump machine in action. Rob Nagy, ISA Certified Arborist with Giroud Tree and Lawn, demonstrates how Giroud removes a large tree stump.

How to Spot Hemlock Problems

Adelgid and Scale spell serious trouble for Hemlocks. ISA Certified Arborist, Robert Nagy, with Giroud Tree and Lawn in Pennsylvania, explains how to spot the pests on your Hemlocks and provides advice on the best action to take.
Watch This Video

Duck Finds Unusual Nesting Spot

An interesting thing recently happened at a customer's property. We were walking around checking out a few items in the rain. The ground was wet and puddles were everywhere, As everyone knows, it's been raining for what seems like months so there is no shortage of water on properties, streams, ponds etc.

I was inspecting some cables in a large multi-leadered Silver Maple, when I noticed something out of the ordinary. To the customer's and my surprise, I noticed a female duck nesting 5 feet off the ground in the crotch of the tree. She was laying on approximately a dozen eggs. I guess this duck just was trying to stay dry?? Posted by, Rob Nagy, Giroud Arborist, ISA Certified Arborist

Winning the War Against Weeds!

Weeds, including crabgrass (pictured right) and nutsedge, are actively growing in lawns and garden beds.

The best defense against weeds in your lawn is a healthy, thick lawn that leaves little room for weeds to grow. If weed control is necessary, use Sedgehammer or Drive herbicides. Always follow the label and use caution when applying herbicides. If your herbicides contains dicamba, do not use it near trees or shrubs. Never use Round-Up in lawns unless you're doing a complete reseeding.

Weeds in beds may be treated with a non-selective herbicide such as Round-Up. The herbicide will break down into harmless components in the soil . Take care not to let this product come in contact desirable plants.

Rainy Spring Perfect for Fungus

Tree and lawn alert! The past two months of rain and cool temperatures have created the perfect breeding grounds for fungus.

Practically any tree can get fungus. Crabapples, Dogwoods, Ash, Sycamores and Pines are most susceptible. Discolored leaves, leaf loss and trunk or root rot are primary symptoms. (Pictured right: Dogwood leaf infected with Anthracnose)

Your lawn is also vulnerable. Excessive rain has promoted fungal diseases such as Red Thread, Pink Patch and Dollar Spot. Pink or brown patches of grass are a warning sign. (Pictured left: Lawn infected with Red Thread fungus)

Fungus diseases have a tendency to spread quickly so early detection is key. If you suspect your trees or lawn have a fungus, please call us to schedule an inspection.

Organic vs. Traditional Lawn Care

Which approach is right for you?

1. Traditional: This approach produces the greenest lawn with the fewest weeds at the lowest price. Giroud minimizes chemical usage by monitoring the lawn throughout the growing season and only treating specific problems.


2. Organic: Giroud’s program is 100% organic.No herbicides, fungicides, or synthetic pesticides are utilized. Instead, Giroud relies on non-chemical strategies to address any problems.


3. Hybrid: If you prefer organic but your lawn is thin or weed infested, you can jump start with our traditional program to make your lawn thick and healthy. Then, shift to our 100% organic program to keep it green and chemical free.

I recently took down a tree at my Hatboro home. I didn't do it alone however, I enlisted the help of two friends I met on the job as an Arborist Representative for Giroud Tree and Lawn Care.

The large Wild Cherry was not only in the location I desired for my future shed, it was in poor condition and had been dropping branches.

In four hours, we had everything on the ground. My friends' work was over but I'd be busy for the next month cutting and stacking the fresh supply of fire wood. One question we all had, but couldn't answer was why the bottom 6 feet of trunk had a vertical split and the center of the trunk had a large core of rotten wood!

Tonight, as I finished splitting the last section of a 3 ft diameter log, I saw the answer. A rusty piece of wire was buried deep inside the trunk. It had probably been tied around the tree when the house was first built. When the tree was just a 10 inch diameter sapling in the late 50's. Unfortunately, the orriginal owners never removed the wire.

The take home message of my experience is to never stop getting the word out to everyone I meet. "Don't wrap objects around trees."

Take the Weight Off...Your trees!

Trees can be overweight too! Top heavy crowns and dense branches make your trees a target for storm damage and other problems.

Pruning opens the crown. It also eliminates dead and weakly attached limbs as well as branches that obstruct or interfere with pools, walks, patios, roofs and other structures.

Help your tree lose weight. Ask your Giroud Arborist to evaluate the condition of your trees. He may prescribe a weight loss program of professional pruning to help your trees look their best and keep you safe.

A great company all around....

What Happened to This Tree?

Mr.Lulek was concerned about his Pin Oak (pictured right). Can you guess what happened?

“After inspecting the tree,” says Drew Slousky, Giroud Vice President and ISA Certified Arborist, “I searched the yard for clues and found the culprit: a golf club. Apparently, young children were playing with a golf club and hit the tree. Unfortunately, the damage will kill the tree.”

While a golf club is unique, trees are often victims of mechanical damage from every day weapons like lawn mowers, weed eaters and cars. A ring of mulch is good protection…unless you have an industrious child, who likes golf.

Tree Tales: No Deer Around Here!

A customer was concerned about insects or disease on her arborvitae hedge. I inspected her tree and it took me no more than 2 seconds to see that the local deer herd from the nearby woodlots were having a buffet on her plants.

After explaining the problem to her, she told me that: "There are no deer around here. I've never seen one."

We continued walking around the back of the house and both burst out laughing. An adult female deer was standing behind her Arborvitae just looking at us with her 2 yearlings. I guess they were having a late breakfast??? Posted by: Rob Nagy, ISA Certified Arborist serving: Abington, Rydal, Meadowbrook, Elkins Park, Cheltenham, and Wyncote, PA (pictured above)

Great company and great people, always there to help you !!

Do It Yourself: Weed Control

Before you plant, take time to minimize weeds.

1. Apply a pre-emergent weed and grass control: Last year’s weeds left their seeds in your shrub and flower beds. Apply Preen or ask Giroud to manage your beds for you with a professional grade treatment.
2. Use Organic Alternative: Great for vegetable gardens and organic gardeners, spread newspapers on the bare soil before you mulch. The newspaper keeps weeds down and eventually decomposes to become organic matter.


3. Add Mulch: Spread a thin layer of mulch to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.


4. Control Perennial Weeds: Apply a post-emergent spray like Round-up. Or, ask Giroud to take control as needed with professional grade treatments in your gardens, patios, walks and driveways.

How to get a healthy, green lawn

Sign up for Giroud Lawn Care Today!

Now the trust, integrity and quality that you count on for your trees is available for your lawn.

Beginning this Spring, Giroud is offering a lawn care program to keep your lawn green and healthy. Giroud Lawn Care includes:

• Free evaluation
  
• Fertilizer Treatments
• Insect and Disease Control
• Weed Control
• Seeding
• Aeration

Choose Giroud and Save $25! Call our office today at 215-682-7704 to schedule a free evaluation and ask how to save $25 on our Annual Lawn Care Program.