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.

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 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.

  

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.

Giroud Donates $2,800 to Hatboro Area YMCA To Make Trees Safer

Giroud Tree and Lawn has awarded a grant of $2,800 to the Hatboro Area YMCA for its “Strong Kids” program and tree safety.

Giroud's grant targets the Hatboro Y’s most urgent tree care needs. Rob Nagy, Giroud Representative and ISA Certified Arborist, inspected the trees surrounding the Y’s high traffic areas and identified safety issues. The video shows the crew setting up and completing a tree removal with the large crane as well as Gary Chamberlain, Executive Director of the Hatboro Area YMCA, meeting with Rob Nagy after the work was completed to discus the results accomplished including removal of hazardous limbs and trees from the Child Care Center, pool and parking areas.
The grant is part of the "Giroud Treework for Charity" program which provides free tree care to local parks, historical sites and other non-profit organizations who are struggling to preserve their irreplaceable trees and keep their facilities safe.

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.

Oak With Unstable Root System Removed

Tree removal of dangerous Oak tree with unstable root system by Giroud Crew Members: Dan Rombold, Mike Teti and Jim Shields, includes the step by step process of tree removal, how the lines are fastened around limbs to be carried off by a 165 ton crane and cutting limbs and giant sections of the tree.

Have Giroud evaluate your trees before storms strike. Trees with root problems, cracks, defects and deadwood are prime targets for damage in a storm. Your Giroud Arborists will inspect your trees and determine if repair or removal is required.

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 Successfully Treats Oaks at Jeanes Hospital for Bacterial Leaf Scorch

Drive down any street with Oak trees or just look in your own back yard. Many Oaks are infected with Bacterial Leaf Scorch (BLS), a serious, often fatal disease. “There is no cure for BLS,” says Drew Slousky, Giroud Vice President. “However, treatment with Oxytetracycline, an antibiotic, can dramatically improve a tree’s chances of survival.”

The proof is in the results. Giroud has been treating the Oaks at Jeanes Hospital for BLS for several years. The Oaks at Jeanes now display full crowns of lush green leaves. Just across the street, untreated oaks show BLS decline.

Bob Dugan, Head Groundskeeper at Jeanes, explains the treatment for BLS: “Bacterial Leaf Scorch is the tree version of cholesterol in humans. The bacteria clog a tree’s vessels. Oxytetracycline slows down the growth of the bacteria which enables nutrients and water to travel up and down the tree.”

Now is the best time to test for BLS. If your tree is infected, treatment must be applied in early Spring when the bacteria is most vulnerable.

Giroud Rebuilds Drought Stressed Lawn

Scorching heat and minimal rainfall through the summer months have left many PA lawns in horrible condition. As grass turned brown and thinned, patches of bare dirt became the perfect breeding ground for opportunistic weeds and crabgrass to invade and take over many lawns.
If more than 50-60% of your lawn is covered with weeds, crab grass or other undesirable vegetation, the best solution is to start from scratch with a complete renovation. Mike Taraborrelli, Giroud Lawn Care Manager, shows how to evaluate the condition of your lawn and the steps Giroud uses in a renovation to create a healthy, thick, green lawn.

Creating A Children's Fort In the Woods

Jenny Galiani, of Ambler PA, had an idea to make a tangled wooded area of her yard into a secret fort for her children to explore, play and let their imaginations run free. Enter Dan Rombold, Crew Leader for Giroud Tree and Lawn and the brush-hog. Dan shows Jenny, her son Thomas and friends, how the brush-hog works; discusses the design of the play area and mows down brush to create the fort.

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.

Giroud's Mike Teti Places 2nd in ISA Climbing Competition

Watch climbing at its best! After a five year hiatus, Mike Teti, Giroud Field Trainer, returns to competition at Penn-Del East ISA’s Championship. Placing 2nd out of 35 top climbers in the Preliminary Round, Mike moved on to the Masters Round to finish 2nd out of the 5 best climbers. As head of Giroud's training program, Mike helps each member of the field team perform at the top of their game.

How to Control Ticks!

It's Tick Season! Ticks spread Lyme Disease as well as other serious illnesses. Learn how to stop ticks from infecting your family and pets from Giroud representatives: Rob Nagy, ISA Certified Arborist and Rodney Stahl, Jr., PA Certified Applicator, along with Giroud Customer, Dr. Francis Felice, of Huntingdon Valley.

Ticks like the shade. They seek protection from the sun in ground level vegetation such as high grasses, underbrush, shrubs and woods. Giroud can help protect your family from ticks and tick borne illnesses through property inspection, cleaning-up shady tick habitats, deer repellant and tick control treatments. Call for a free evaluation today: 215-682-7704

Giroud Treats Destructive Pests With Horticultural Oil

Scale, Mites and Adelgid damage trees and shrubs. Horticultural oils are a Green approach to treating these destructive pests. Drew Slousky, ISA Certified Arborist, and Ken Watson, PA Certified Applicator, explain how Giroud uses Horticultural Oils and show treatment being applied on Pines, Azaleas and Arborvitaes.

Check your trees for the following warning signs: white cottony spots, rust colored needles, major needle loss or excessive thinning. Ask your Giroud Arborist to inspect your trees to determine if treatment is needed.

CBS Local News Interviews Giroud About Hiring A Tree Service for Storm Clean Up

From lifting trees off houses to hiring a qualified tree service, 3 on Your Side's, Jim Donovan, interviews Lou Giroud, President of Giroud Tree and Lawn. Watch: 3 On Your Side Interview.

Lou discusses how recent storms have left many trees with hidden damage. He encourages homeowners to have their trees checked from root to crown by an ISA Certified Arborist. When hiring a tree service, Jim Donovan advises to:

1. Use Referrals
2. Use Certified Arborists
3. Check for Workers Compensation and Liability Insurance
4. Be careful of door to door solicitations
5. Opt for local businesses