Selecting and Caring for your Christmas Tree

ISA Certified Arborists at Giroud Tree and Lawn want to help you find the perfect Christmas tree and maintain it safely through the Holidays.  Just follow our Holiday tips.

1. Tree Selection: it's important to buy a well hydrated tree. Test the branches to make sure they bend easily and the needles remain attached. Heavy shedding and snapping branches are signs of dehydration or dying trees.
2. Tree Set-up: Cut a few inches off the bottom of the trunk and put the tree in a clean bucket of warm water to encourage uptake.  Locate the stand as far away as possible from heat sources such as space heaters, fireplaces and hot air vents.  Put the tree in the stand and fill it with cool or lukewarm water.  
3. Check the water level daily and keep the trunk base covered with water.
4. Turn off the lights at night or when you are away for safety and to save electricity.
5. When the tree starts to lose needles and dry out, please take it outside. 

 Giroud Tree and Lawn wishes a wonderful Holiday Season!

Giroud Donates $1,000 to Abington YMCA To Make Trees Safer

The Abington YMCA's parking area and neighboring homes are now safer thanks to a $1,000 grant for hazardous tree removal from Giroud Tree and Lawn.  The tree service grant is discussed in a YouTube Video.  The video also shows the Giroud tree removal crew setting up to safely take down the tree.  

The $1,000 grant from Giroud Tree and Lawn focuses on the Abington YMCA’s most urgent tree service need.  According to Rob Nagy, Giroud Arborist and ISA Certified Arborist, “Safety was the top priority for Giroud’s grant.  A hazardous Locust tree, located on a sharp slope along the border of the YMCA parking area, had a shallow root system that was at high risk for toppling.  Tree removal was required to protect the safety of neighboring homes and the YMCA members using the parking area.  

Missy Di Massa, Abington YMCA Associate Executive Director and Rob Nagy, Giroud Arborist Representative, getting ready to meet the Giroud tree crew doing the hazardous tree removal.  

“The well-being of our members, staff and neighbors is a priority for us,” says Missy Di Massa, Associate Executive Director, Abington YMCA. “Giroud’s donation helps to ensure that people who utilize and live near our facility can continue to do so knowing that they are in a safe and secure environment."

Giroud Tree and Lawn’s donation is part of the “Giroud Treework for Charity” program which donates free tree care services to parks, historical sites and other non-profit organizations located in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.  “Giroud Treework for Charity” was established in 1997 to help local non-profit organizations preserve their irreplaceable trees and ensure safety. It has already provided over $65,000 in free tree care to numerous area organizations. Giroud welcomes applications from any 501(c)3 organization that is open to the entire community on a nonsectarian basis. An organization must be located within Giroud's service area. For more information on “Giroud Treework for Charity,” contact Giroud Tree and Lawn at 215-682-7704.

Top 5 Warning Signs of Tree Problems

Premature color change and leaf drop are warning signs of health problems.  

Are your trees already showing their fall colors?  Are the leaves starting to fall too early?  

These are two of the big warning signs that your tree has health problems.  Most deciduous trees stay in full leaf and green through September.  Learn more in our latest article on the Top 5 Fall Warning Signs and the actions you can take now to protect tree health and safety.  

Lawn Health Tips from Penn State

When the grass isn't always greener. From mowing and lawn treatments to water conservation,  Peter Landschoot, Professor of Turfgrass Management at Penn State provides proven tips for keeping your lawn healthy during the summer.

Giroud Line Clearance in Hatfield PA

Tree removal and line clearance in Hatfield PA to make way for PECO to move poles and power lines back from the street.  Video includes both before and after views of the job.  With safety always paramount, the job was completed one of Giroud Tree Service's EHAP certified crews., Located at a busy intersection in Hatfield PA, flagging team was set up to direct traffic and keep motorists safe. To protect surrounding houses and properties required precision tree trimming and tree removal.

Top 3 Tips for Summer Storm Protection

When Philadelphia weather heats up so do odds for summer storms.   Take a look at Giroud's Top 3 actions for tree service to prevent damage from summer storms:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/tree-service/giroud-tree-service-pa/prweb9705312.htm 

Tick Populations Exploding!

Tick Populations in Philadelphia PA are exploding thanks to a mild winter. Peak season for ticks is summer; just when families and pets are enjoying the great outdoors. 

Ticks are dangerous.  One bite from these tiny pests could infect you or your pet with Lyme Disease, a debilitating and often difficult to cure illness. 

Read about more ways to protect your family from ticks with Giroud's Top 5 Tick Control Strategies.

In the video below, Rob Nagy, Giroud Arborist, and his dog, Nugent demonstrate how to find ticks on your property and the actions to take.  Watch the video on our blog.

Tree Cables Protect Historic Barn

As a violent storm raged outside her home in Horsham, Judy Lightstone worried about her much loved barn. Would the Red Maple towering over the barn’s roof stand up to the storm?

Judy didn't have to worry. Two weeks before the storm hit, she asked Giroud to inspect the trees and take action. “To protect the barn, we installed three through bolt cable systems in the Red Maple.” says Robert Poley, Giroud Arborist. “Additionally, we thinned the canopy to improve air flow.”

When the storm cleared, Judy warily looked out to see the damage. While a Douglas Fir on another part of her property had fallen, Judy was thrilled to see that the Red Maple and her barn came through beautifully.

Tree Pruning for Safety and Health

Tree pruning is the best way to keep it healthy and safe. In this tree pruning video, a 100 year old Oak tree in Jenkintown PA towers over two houses and detached garages. 

High up in the tree's massive crown, Mike Teti, CTSP and ISA Certified Arborist and Jose Orellana,Giroud Climber work together to remove hazardous deadwood and raise limbs off roofs and wires for better clearance and air flow. The tree climbers use a natural tree pruning technique to maintain the tree's beautiful shape and promote healthy growth. 

Do your trees need pruning? Summer storms are coming.  Experience shows that recently pruned trees sustain the least damage in storms. Call your Giroud Arborist to evaluate your trees for pruning today!

Cedar Apple Rust

It's one of nature's unique relationships. Spores from Cedars and Junipers cause problems on Apples and Crabapples.   Learn how Cedar Apple Rust can stress trees and the treatment options by watching this video of Erik Rodgers, ISA Certified Arborist at Giroud, at a home in New Hope, PA.

Treatment options can include fungicide application in Spring, pruning diseased limbs and tree removal of Juniper or Cedars growing near Apple or Crabapple trees.  If you suspect your trees have Cedar Apple Rust, please contact us!

Stop the Beetle! Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week

Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week is May 20-26 to focus national attention on the dangers and ways to control this deadly pest.  Stop the Beetle asks consumers to pledge to do their part to slow the spread of Emerald Ash Borer.  

Tree Removal over House and Deck

Tree Removal of White Oak Tree growing through deck and over a house in Wyncote PA.  The tree removal is shown from start to finish including Mike Teti, CTSP and ISA Certified Arborist, setting up each cut so the limbs can be safely removed over the house with the crane.

Giroud Donates $2,880 to Pennypack Trust for Hazardous Tree Removal

Hazardous tree removal from the Pennypack Creek was the focus of Giroud Tree and Lawn's donation of $2,880 in volunteer time and equipment to the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust in celebration of Earth Day.  Two large beech trees had fallen across the creek and were causing a damming hazard.  Giroud volunteers and ISA Certified Arborists, Drew Slousky, Mike Teti and Rob Nagy stood in the creek to cut down the trees and remove them with Giroud's crane.

Emerald Ash Borer Endangers Local Ash Trees

Emerald Ash Borer, a deadly pest, has been confirmed in Warrington PA by the PA Department of Agriculture. Watch the video as Drew Slousky, Giroud Vice President and ISA Certified Arborist, explains that Emerald Ash Borer is a threat to all Ash Trees within 15 miles around Warrington PA which covers most of Bucks and Montgomery County PA and parts of Philadelphia and the Main Line. Homeowners need to have your Giroud ISA Certified Arborist survey your property for Ash Trees. If you have Ash Trees that are valuable to your landscape and good candidates for Emerald Ash Borer treatment, Giroud will recommend an Emerald Ash Borer treatment protocol to give your tree its best chance of survival. Contact Giroud Tree and Lawn to schedule a free evaluation at 215-682-7704 or visit: Giroud's Emerald Ash Borer Page.
 

Hazardous Tree Removal in Elkins Park

Tree removals can be a challenge. "Every tree removal job is unique." says Rob Nagy, Giroud Arborist. "The tree's proximity to the house, garden beds, lawn, and electrical wires are just a few of the challenges that must be considered to safely remove a tree." 

Watch our video, you'll see how our Giroud Tree crew removes a hazardous Tulip Tree in Elkins Park and transports the wood from a remote part of a customer's property to our chipper truck while protecting the customer's lawn and surrounding structures.

Why Trees Need Winter Pruning

When you have trees around your house, storms can put you on high alert.  What will happen to your favorite tree? Is your house safe?  How will the limbs hanging over the roof handle the wind, snow and ice? 


Pruning is one of the best ways to help your trees stand-up to winter.  The difference after pruning is dramatic.  Watch this video as Giroud Arborist, Scott Slousky shows you a Silver Maple before and after pruning and explains how pruning makes trees safer.  While you watch this video, it's important to note that this tree was improperly pruned many years ago by another company.  Our crew performed corrective pruning of the weakest limbs and deadwood to achieve the best results possible. 

Giroud Field Development Day

Practice makes perfect. That’s why the Giroud Field Team dedicated an entire day to skill building and reinforcing safety procedures.  

Watch practice aerial rescues by Crew Leaders Doug Muth and Will Cowley.  Then, join crew members as they hone their skills in tree felling, chainsaw maintenance, log handling and sharpening. 

Get Your Arborvitae Ready for Winter!

Arborvitae often sustain damage under heavy ice or snow. As shown by the damage sustained last February at Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in Bensalem, PA, trunks split apart, tops lean over precariously and trees uproot. Erik Rodgers, Giroud Representative and ISA Certified Arborist, explains the problem and how to repair the damage. Bill Santry, Giroud Crew Leader demonstrates how to tie together split trunks. Have Giroud protect your Arborvitae from winter damage by pruning excess weight, pulling together and bracing split trunks and staking leaning or uprooted trees back into an upright position. Call Giroud: 215-682-7704.