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.