Everyone loves the gooey, golden goodness of maple syrup. We’re talking about the good stuff here. Right from the tree, 100% pure maple syrup. It’s sweet like caramel, but with a shot of environmental woodiness. If you’re wondering how to tap maple trees for syrup, you probably also want to know if tapping your maple trees will damage them. Read on if you want to find out if you can tap and collect maple syrup without hurting your cherished maple trees. Tapping Doesn’t Damage Maple Trees Trees are tough. They can mend from a tiny hole so that you can collect their maple syrup. Why Not Any Damage? Drilling a hole creates a wound. But if done correctly, your tree can withstand tapping. So How do you tap a maple tree? When you drill a hole to tap your tree for maple syrup, it’s usually 2” deep and less than a half an inch wide. To your mature 50-foot maple, that’s an itsy, bitsy hole. Also, the spot you drill through is full of tiny vessels that let the sap flow. Hurting a few is no big deal. If you aren’t confident about drilling a hole in your maple tree, hire a York arborist to do the task for you. By the time you take the spout out at the close of the season, your tree will start to repair itself. It will develop new wood to shield its wound. Within a couple of years, the hole will be covered entirely. If you think the wound is not closing properly, contact a local arborist to evaluate the health of the tree. Reducing the Chances of Damaging Maple Trees
Tapping maple trees is an age-old hobby. The procedure is not complicated, and you can learn all you have to know in one season. When you have the tools gathered, it takes no more than five minutes to tap a maple tree. You can enjoy naturally fresh maple syrup. Does pine make good firewood? Truthfully, it depends on how you want to use it. Pine is a softwood that is full of resin and quite sappy. A huge concern for most folks when burning pine is the risk for creosote buildup inside the chimney. Creosote Creosote is a hazardous buildup inside the chimney that can produce a deadly chimney fire. Creosote can start from cool unburnt gases that stick to the inside of the chimney. If these unburnt deposits catch fire, they’ll create a chimney fire. Creosote is created by a damp and fire. It's the way the fire burns that produces creosote, not necessarily the wood type. Any wood you use must be seasoned to make a clean, hot burning fire. Most people don’t use pine as indoor firewood because of the high resin and possibility of creosote buildup. Pine Trees Features These are over 110 different types of pine trees. Pine trees are evergreen trees that like acidic, well-drained, acidic soils. Pine trees grow excellently in the sand and can be used to stop soil erosion in sandy conditions. They are moderately hardy trees that have an extensive lifespan, anywhere between 100-1,000 years. Pine trees possess long slender needles that typically grow in clusters. They have a real unique pine smell and retain their needles all year long. The pine tree can create an excellent windbreak during the winter. However, a pine tree can buildup with snow and the soft wood can break due to the excess weight of the snow and the high winds. A unique feature of the pine tree that most children love is the pine cone. Pine cones house the seeds of a tree, but the cone is usually used in craft projects. Firewood Usage If the wood is cut into kindling, a tiny amount of pine can be used to begin a fire. Though, because of the characteristics of the wood, tree care experts suggest not using pine firewood for indoor use. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t use the wood. Pine is an excellent firewood for bonfires or campfires. The wood burns fast smell amazingly and is simple to light. Some time ago, a concrete worker I was friends with asked me in irritation, “Why do you always walk on the grass? That’s what sidewalks are for.” I laughed and stated, “That’s hilarious! I create lawns for people to walk on.” The concrete vs. nature fight isn’t anything new. Even though we all want and desire a green, lush world, the majority of us are in a concrete jungle. Trees, who have no say in the matter, are typically the significant victims of this battle. Keep reading to find out what happens when concrete covers tree roots. Concrete professionals aren’t landscapers or arborists. Their proficiency is in all things concrete, not helping trees to flourish. When a concrete worker is at your house providing you with an estimate on a sidewalk, patio, or driveway, that isn’t the right time or the right individual to inquire as to how the concrete will concern trees near the work area. Concrete Over Tree Roots If you have huge trees that you want to keep healthy and safe, you should first get in touch with an arborist to come to your property and let you know the best place for concrete work that won’t harm your tree roots. After this is when you contact a concrete company. Some planning beforehand can save you money and time in redoing your concrete work or having to schedule tree removal service. Typically, tree roots are cut or pruned to make room for concrete work. This practice can be harmful to a tree. Roots are what anchor top massive, tall trees to the earth. Cutting tree roots that are anchoring a tree can make the tree become easily damaged by adverse weather, including heavy rain and high winds. What to do Roots also absorb nutrients, water, and oxygen that are vital to tree development and growth. If part of a tree’s roots is missing, that part of the tree will perish due to lack of nutrients and water. Also, cutting tree roots can lead to diseases and insects getting into the cuts and contaminating the tree. Root pruning is very harmful to mature trees. Though, young tree roots that are pruned to make space for driveways, patios, and sidewalks might grow back. Tree roots covered by concrete can’t receive any nutrients, water, or oxygen. Nowadays, numerous property owners are taking advantage of the little terrace areas in their landscape, between the sidewalk and street for other plantings. While shrubs, annuals, and perennials are superb plants for these little places, not all trees are right. Trees planted on terraces can ultimately create issues with power lines and sidewalks. Keep reading to find out more regarding planting trees near sidewalks. Trees typically have one of two root types, fibrous, lateral roots or taproots. Trees with taproots move their roots deep in the ground seeking out nutrients and water. Trees with lateral, fibrous roots expand their roots near the soil surface to soak up rain runoff from the canopy of the tree. Planting Area Along Sidewalks These lateral roots can develop very large and lift weighty cement sidewalks. From another perspective, having concrete over these roots can hinder the roots from getting nutrients, rainwater, and oxygen that trees require for survival. So, it’s not an excellent idea from either perspective to put shallow root trees near sidewalks. The height at maturity of trees also plays a role in on what type of roots a tree will have and how much space the roots require to grow correctly. Trees that grow under 50 feet make excellent terrace trees since they have little root zones and won’t obstruct overhead power lines. The Distance From the Sidewalk to Plant a Tree The general rule is trees that grow 30 feet should be planted between 3-4 feet away from concrete area or walkways. Any tree that develops over 30 feet high has to be planted at least 5-6 feet from a sidewalk. If the tree grows over 50 feet, it has to be at least 8 feet from a sidewalk. Get in touch with an arborist to be sure that the tree is planted the right distance. Planting Trees Near Sidewalks Trees that can be planted near sidewalks:
Trees that must not be planted near sidewalks:
Anyone blessed enough to have trees in their landscape can’t help but become attached to them. If you see that a vandal has sliced into their bark, you’ll swiftly want to get a few tree carving solutions. It is conceivable to heal a cut tree. Keep reading for advice on dealing with vandalized trees. Tree bark is very susceptible to damage. As a property owner, you understand that even weed trimming and lawn mowing can negatively affect trees. Purposefully cutting into the tree’s bark could create even further damage. If the tree was destroyed in fall or early spring, the bark is freer due to plant tissue growth. This can make result in more significant issues for the tree. Don’t you worry about a thing! You can take steps to begin repairing a vandalized tree immediately when you see the issue. Vandalized Tree Repair There is no magic when it comes to vandalized tree repair solutions. Vandalized tree care is time-consuming. You won’t see overnight results. If you are speculating how to fix graffiti carvings in trees, the first thing you have to do is evaluate the damage. Was a big piece of bark slice out? Were initials carved in the tree? As long as the criminal didn’t take out over 25% of the trunk’s diameter, your tree should be okay. Healing a carved tree can entail you having to replace sheets of bark. If the vandal sliced out pieces of bark and you can find them, you might be able to reattach them to the tree. To try this sort of vandalized tree care, put the cut-out bark pieces back into the bark as if you’re doing a jigsaw puzzle, locating the original position for each piece. Vandalized Tree Care Healing a carved tree necessitates that you attach these pieces back in place with duct tape. Once you reattach the pieces, leave them in place for 90 days. Repairing a vandalized tree with this method works best if you act fast after the destruction is done. If the cuts are carved initials or other characters into the bark, you can take comfort in the fact that they most likely won’t destroy the tree if you get going to repairing it ASAP. These sorts of wounds heal better if they are washed right along the vertical grain of the bark. It's best to use an Exacto knife or a scalpel, cutting along the graffiti edges. Washing the sides of the wound encourages healing. Be sure to cut out groves, not the whole area. Never use sealant. Instead, let the wound dry in the fresh air. If you are concerned with how your tree is healing, contact a local arborist today. You might worry about getting a little thick around the middle. However, this rule doesn’t fly for your trees. In the forest, tree trunks flare out just over the soil line, specifying where the root system starts. If the flare is concealed with soil, the roots can’t receive the oxygen it needs. To find out about tree flare and exposed roots, read on! What a Tree Flare Is If you aren’t into tree planting, you may be wondering about tree flares. Also known as a root flare, a tree flare is the expansion of a tree’s trunk just over the soil line. To answer the question if root flare is vital to a tree’s health, here’s the answer. It is very crucial as a sign of where the root system starts, and the trunk ends. Root Flare Info If you’re planting a tree in your landscape, root flare depth is of extreme importance. If you plant the tree deep down into the ground so that the root flare is obscured with soil, the roots can’t get the oxygen the tree needs. The way to deciding root flare depth when you’re planting is to make sure to find the root flare way before you plant the tree. The hole you dig for the tree you want to plant needs to be quite shallow. This is because when you put the tree in it, the root flare is evident over the soil line. About the tree roots If you are worried about bothering the tree’s roots, dig a hole to the correct depth and put the whole root ball in it. Next, get rid of the additional soil until the root flare is completely exposed. This is the time when you must backfill the opening up to the root flare’s bottom. You could get the tree in the ground and not have to wonder if you’ve done it incorrectly. Even some tree care professionals might ask, “Should I be able to see a tree’s roots?” It doesn’t damage a tree to have part of its upper roots uncovered. But you can protect them by applying a layer of mulch close to the base of the root flare. Don’t forget that the root flare is, in fact, part of the trunk, not the roots. Modifying for the right root flare depth is vital to sustaining a healthy tree. Are you worried that ball moss is taking over your trees? Do you have a massive amount of dead branches? No worries. Ball moss is a non-parasitic plant that survives on other plants without damaging them.
So, what about all those dead limbs on your tree? There’s a reason for that. But first, a little info on ball moss. Ball moss is an epiphyte that develops in the air. It doesn’t take anything from any tree. The tree offers ball moss a place to hang out. Ball Moss and Dead Branches Back to the dead branches. If you are certain ball moss is destroying your tree, you have lots of company. If you carefully examine your tree, you’ll see that a significant amount of dead branches are located mostly on the tree’s interior. The branches on a tree’s interior thrive in the shade and typically don’t get enough sun to make enough food to live. Once a limb gets too unhealthy, the tree stops any more support of that limb and lets that branch die. This is a sort of self-pruning for the tree. Limbs the tree has marked for death are suitably referred to as sink. Ball moss grows in dim light and usually attach itself to the branches that get the lowest amount of sunlight. Ball Moss on an Oak Tree Let’s say you have an oak tree. What if you don’t like the way the ball moss makes your oak tree look even if it is harmless? There are a few ways to remove ball moss. One technique that is quite a labor intensive is to take it off by hand from the live limbs being cautious not to eliminate too many leaves in the process. If this seems a bit much for you, you can always schedule the job with a York tree service company. Also, removing the dead wood from the tree will get a pretty good amount of the ball moss out and enhance the look of the tree. Moreover, cautious tree pruning can let the sun in and diminish the existence of any more ball moss. Summer and spring tend to bring plenty of rain here in Orchard Park. That means one thing: flooding. In recent years, it seems like storms are becoming more intense and frequent. Your trees may get vast amounts of damage if a storm comes along and creates flooding. If you are wondering how does flooding harm trees, here are a few ways! Soil Tree roots need oxygen to thrive and grow. When there is flooding, water gets in where there was once air. This drowns the tree’s roots and suffocates. If it’s lingering, it can irrevocably harm a tree. Flooding can also alter the pH levels in the soil. Some trees are good with slight ecological changes. However, many aren’t well equipped to handle the intense and quick changes that flooding can bring. Physical Damage Strong winds, driving rains, and other conditions that typically goes along with flooding can create critical physical damage to trees. Soil erosion can uncover roots, which leaves trees susceptible to many diseases and damage types. If there is enormous enough frozen precipitation, the chunks of ice can substantially chip away at the tree bark. Insects When flooding happens, it makes insects have to relocate. Many of these bugs end up in trees. Some will put holes in the bark to have shelter. Many will eat the leaves. Insects will go wherever they have to to get away from the water. This damages trees since not all trees can support another life form, particularly young trees. If a tree is more massive and older, it takes a vast number of insects to destroy it. A young tree can die due to insect damage. Tree Care If you need to know if your tree is damaged due to flooding, make an appointment with a professional tree care company. A tree care company provides tree inspections, tree crane service, tree removal service, as well as having an arborist on call. Most are highly professional and only employ individuals who are highly experienced and skilled. To find out how a tree care professional can help your trees, whether they are affected by flooding or not, give one a call! A tree swing is one of the best options for some low-tech, outdoor fun. Adults and kids both like kicking off their shoes and enjoying the easy pleasure of a tree swing. To get the most out of your product, here are some tips for picking the best tree for a tree swing. Tree Type and Maintenance One of the most significant factors for picking the right tree for your swing is its type. Some trees are better for tree swings than others. Sycamore and oak trees are the most structurally sound and dependable for accommodating your swing. Avoid poplar, willow, or spruce trees. Also, the health and size of the tree are equally as vital as the species. Be sure that your tree choice is free of any disease and healthy. You don’t a tree swing to compromise your tree’s integrity and strength. Location Pick a tree that has plenty of space around it. It shouldn’t be near any other structures such as your shed, the street, your house, or your outdoor furniture. This area will deliver enough room to protect against collisions. Also, it will make sure that you have plenty of space to safely and fully swing. Additionally, clear that space of debris or rocks that could injure in the event of a fall. The perfect amount of clearance is 10 feet behind the swing and 12 feet in the front. Landing Zone Be sure that the landing zone surrounding the tree swing is clear and level. The tree itself must not be sitting on a sloped hill or surface. In case a person falls off the swing, they’ll have a clear and even area to land. To have more cushion in case of a fall, lots of people choose to put wood chips, grass, or mulch in the landing zone. High Canopy Trees with a high canopy are the best ones for a tree swing. This lets you hang the swing from one branch without others intruding. High, round, string, and thick limbs that are more than six feet over the ground are the top hosts for a tree swing. Tree Care Specialist A tree care specialist can offer specialized tree services, including aiding you in choosing a good tree in your landscape for your tree swing. If you have a dogwood tree flourishing in your landscape, then you’ll want to know how to help it live a long life. Here are some excellent ways of caring for dogwood trees. Be Sure They’re Healthy First off, make sure they’re healthy. Regardless of what type of tree it is, any tree will begin to weaken if they’re old or sick. There’s a minor reason a dogwood tree should begin to fade away as long as it is somewhat healthy. If you want a new tree, look to be sure that the trunks are sturdy and that the leaves aren’t becoming brown. Also, you should check to ensure the roots aren’t now trying to outgrow the pot the tree is in. Give Mulch Next, be sure to give your dogwood tree some mulch. By adding mulch, you can aid your tree in fighting off weeds and getting plenty of water and nutrients. Even if the soil is dry, your tree will be pleased. Keep the Bugs Away Plenty of bugs will attempt to make themselves at home on or in your dogwood tree. What do we all do when we’re in the yard on a beautiful warm day? We eat! Be sure to keep the pests away from your tree. You’ll need to use constant observance against dogwood borers. These pests love to sneak in through any openings you may have left behind since the last time you pruned your tree. Therefore, be cautious not to slice open the tree bark as you care for it. Water Regularly When you’re out in the landscape, maintaining your trees and garden on a warm day, you probably need to take a break and drink some water. Your trees aren’t any different. Give them as much water as needed. Water it as soon as you plant it. Even if the rain helps in watering it, you can’t depend on rainwater by itself. If you can’t maintain your trees, hire a tree care company to do it for you. Tree Care from a Tree Specialist A tree specialist deals with all sort of tree care services, including tree removal services. These professionals are famous for possessing professionalism and topnotch skills. |