Happy Arbor Day!

Celebrate Arbor Day by getting outside to see how your trees are doing.  How did they stand up to the fierce winter?  Do you see new growth and buds on branch tips or signs of decay and deadwood?  

Below is a list of our Top Spring Warning Signs of Tree Problems:

Maple is leafing out later than
 other Maples which is a sign
of health issues. 

1. Delayed or Partial Leaf Out: When a tree leafs out later than others of the same type, has lack of new growth, dwarf leaves or only some sections of the tree leaf out, the tree may have health issues.
2. Damaged Leaves: Chewed, yellowing or discolored leaves may be signs of insect activity or disease.
3. Borers: One of the biggest concerns is Emerald Ash Borer which recently invaded our area. Emerald Ash Borer is 100% fatal to Ash trees. Professional treatment is the only way to protect Ash from this deadly pest.
4. Decay: Mushrooms and shelf fungi are symptoms of decay when growing out of the root system or trunk of a tree. Another sign of decay is a cavity. If the decay is extensive, then the tree may be hazardous.
5. Excessive deadwood: Dead branches can be a serious safety hazard to people and property. Brittle branches tend to break more easily in storms.

If you spot any of these problems, get a health inspection by your Giroud Arborist!  He will check your trees for hazards, insects and disease issues and let you know the best actions to take.

Giroud Celebrates Safety!

Giroud Celebrates 535 days of Safety with certificates and cash awards presented to 21 team members.

October Snow Storm

The weekend's snow storm has brought lots of damage to trees in Montgomery County and Bucks County. Our office is receiving calls to have our Certified Arborists come out and take a look at visible damage as well as checking for any hidden damage.

Call Giroud Tree today to get on the schedule for a property inspection!

Why Do Leaves Change Color?

Ever wondered what makes leaves change color in the Fall?  The most common answer is colder temperatures.  But leaves actually begin to turn before the cooler days of Fall arrive.

So what gives us the beautiful display of fall colors?  The answer is a combination of less sunlight, colder temperatures and the production Chlorophyll, a green pigment.  Less sunlight and colder temperatures slows chlorophyll production and leaves lose their green color.  The result is a real treat.  We get to see the reds, yellows and oranges that are normally hidden by the overpowering presence of green Chlorophyll.  Want to learn more?  Check out this video from The Weather Channel.

  

Not Out of the Woods Yet

On my way to work today, I heard that there is a hurricane brewing called Katia. It is too early to tell if it is going to affect us yet, but it brought to mind the importance of having your trees checked by a Giroud Arborist after a large storm such as Hurricane Irene.

Tree Fertilization

After all the rain we just had, you would think trees and lawns would be in great shape. I never knew until I started working at Giroud Tree that too much rain is bad for plants. Heavy rain washes away the nutrients in the soil. That’s why Tree Fertilization and Lawn Fertilization is so important. It replenishes the nutrients in the soil so our plants can thrive.

Tomorrow our Tree Service and Lawn Technicians will be doing Tree and Lawn Fertilizations in Philadelphia, Huntingdon Valley, Abington, Jenkintown, Elkins Park and Richboro making our world a little greener!

Tree and Lawn Treatments Resume After Hurricane Irene

Tomorrow we’re sending out Tree Service Technicians to spray Beech trees with fungicide to combat Bleeding Canker. What’s Bleeding Canker?! It’s a bark disease and a noticeable symptom is reddish ooze coming from small cracks in cankers on trees. If untreated it can cause branch die back and eventually kill the tree.

We’re also going to be treating Hemlocks in the Philadelphia area for Scale and Adelgid, serious pests which can cause significant damage.

The Lawn Care Department will be super busy tomorrow with routine lawn fertilizations as well as the start up of lawn aeration and seeding jobs!