Giroud Tree Gets Training on Honeybee Protection and Safety (+playlist)

Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild President, Suzanne Matlock, presents a workshop on Protecting Honeybees to Giroud Tree and Lawn. Honeybee populations are declining and could create severe impact on the world's food supply. Tree service companies can help protect honeybees. Giroud Tree employees learned about the honeybee's vital role in crop pollination, how to identify honeybees and resources to contact for safe and humane honeybee removal.  For more information check out our news release on Honeybee Protection

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 Arbor Day Fair at Pennypack Trust Celebrates Trees

With Arbor Day fast approaching, Giroud Tree and Lawn and Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust joined together for an Arbor Day Fair on April 17th to celebrate and preserve trees.

The Pennypack Preserve came alive with children, parents and other nature seekers ready to have fun and learn about trees in a whole new way. Rope climb and saddle rides, nature themed crafts, and aerial lift rides were were among the popular attractions.

The Fair culminated with Giroud's donation of $1,000 in free tree care to preserve a giant European Beech that posed a safety hazard to visitors and cars. Visitors watched as Mike Teti, Giroud Trainer and Champion Climber, thinned the crown, installed two cables and inserted a bolt to brace the trunk and make the tree safe.

Giroud and Pennypack Trust hope to make the Arbor Day Fair an annual event to raise awareness about the importance of trees in our landscapes and encourage more people to enjoy the Pennypack Preserve, a beautiful resource that is right in our backyard.

White Pines Damaged by Winter Storms

Recent ice and snow storms caused serious damage to many White Pines. Erik Rodgers, Giroud Representative and ISA Certified Arborist along with Bill Santry, Giroud Foreman, explain how pruning and weight reduction can protect your White Pines from damage. When damage occurs, the jagged stub from a broken limb can act like a highway for insect, disease and decay. Erik demonstrates how to properly remove the stub so that the wound can fully heal.

Safety Training Day At Giroud

It's all about Safety! Braving freezing temperatures, Giroud Field Team members dedicate a full day to safety with training sessions on Aerial Rescue, CPR and First Aid.

Watch as Giroud Foremen, Mike Teti, Will Cowley and Bill Santry practice rescuing Rob Nagy, Giroud Arborist, who poses as an injured climber high up in a tree. Additionally, Giroud Foreman, Doug Muth, practices resuscitation for CPR recertification with the help of Emergency Trainer, Andy Gerth of the Willow Grove PA Fire Company. The Safety Day is part of Giroud's ongoing focus on practicing safe working behaviors everyday.

Watch Clean-up of Spruce Toppled in Winter 2010 Storm

Winter winds topple a giant Norway Spruce in January 2010 storm. Weakened by decay, the tree, at Laura Christman's home, snapped liked a toothpick destroying Hemlock and Crabapple trees and damaging a porch. Video shows the clean-up operation with Giroud Foremen, Doug Muth, Dan Rombold and Bill Santry joined by homeowner, Laura Christman. Trees with decay and other hazards are most likely to sustain damage in a storm. Call Giroud, 215-682-7704 to have your Giroud Arborist inspect your trees and determine if action is needed to prevent damage.

Protect Your Trees from Winter Storms...Prune Now!

Heavy crowns, dense branches, and overweight limbs make your trees a big target for winter storm damage. When storms strike, Bradford Pear, Silver Maple, Birch, Arborvitae, and White Pine typically are hit the hardest with broken limbs, split trunks and total tree failure.

Maintenance is far cheaper than cleaning up after a storm. Ask Giroud to prune your trees to open up air flow, reduce the weight in the crown and repair structural weaknesses.

Are your trees targets for winter damage?

Splits, cracks and other structural defects make trees prime targets for winter storm damage. Cable systems create a safety net for your trees.

When the wind hits, cables reduce the strain on weak limbs and hold them in place. For cracked trunks, a bolt that goes through both sides of the trunk helps to keep it from splitting further.

Now is a great time to order tree care! Ask about our $50 Winter Tree Care discount when you call our office.

If you are concerned about the structural safety of your trees, or, had a cable system installed before 2009, please call our office at 215-682-7704 to schedule a free inspection. Don't wait until a storm hits to take action!

Get Ready for Snow!

Trees and shrubs can take a real beating from snowplows, deicers and storms. Giroud recommends the following steps to protect your trees:

1. Prevent snowplow damage: Meet with your snowplow service about where to pile the snow. Mark the location of your ornamental plantings with tall stakes tied with bright ribbon to keep the plows away.


2. Beware of Deicers: Read the label on your Deicer. Many Deicers can damage or kill shrubs and trees. Use a Deicer that is friendly to your plants and soil such as Calcium Chloride or CMA.


3. Shake ice and snow off shrubs and small trees: Use a long pole or rake to gently lift branches and dislodge snow or ice. The heavy weight can break or split trees and shrubs.

Cables Installed in Giant Poplar

Get a bird's eye view from high up in a giant Poplar to see how cables are installed in a tree. Giroud team members: Mike Teti, Will Cowley and Luis Borges install cables to support weak limbs and protect an Ambler, PA family's favorite tree. Watch as Giroud Climbers position the cables to properly support the limbs, drill the holes, set through bolts and adjust cable tension.

Cables help trees stand up to winter storms. Have Giroud check your favorite trees now to see if cables are needed!

Giroud Removes Hazardous Oak Between Two Houses

It's like threading a needle. A hazardous Oak is carefully rigged, cut and lowered piece by piece through a narrow space between two houses.

Trees Damaged by Drought and Record-breaking Heat

What did the dry, hot summer do to your trees? “Dead limbs, leaves falling off or changing color too early and insect or disease damage are just a few of the signs that your trees are under stress," says Rob Nagy, Giroud Representative and ISA Certified Arborist.

"Assess the damage," recommends Rob. Have your Giroud Arborist do a root to crown inspection. If your trees are stressed, a deep root injection of fertilizer is the best way to strengthen the tree and rebuild its root system. Additionally treatment needs to be scheduled for serious insect and disease problems.”

Giroud Helps Bucks County Housing Group

Giroud donates removal of dangerous limbs over playground at a shelter for homeless families in Doylestown, PA. The donation is part of the Giroud Treework for Charity program which was established in 1997 to help local non-profits care for their irreplaceable trees.

Tree Spotlight: Syringa Reticula

With a profusion of perfect, creamy, fragrant flowers and cherry-brown bark, the Syringa Reticula (aka Japanese Tree Lilac) is possibly the most trouble-free lilac you can grow. Hardy and tough, the Tree Lilac is resistant to mildew, borers and scale. It grows 20-30 feet tall and blooms in early to mid-June.

Follow these steps to maintain a healthy and beautiful plant:

• Provide water during bloom and heavy growth periods.
• Prune to ensure good air circulation and to maintain shape.
• Prune immediately after flowering to avoid removing flower buds.

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.