Archive for the ‘Pruning’ Category
Sing (and Dance!) Out the Old & Ring in the New!
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Overcome Those Matted Leaves Despite Snowtober!
Most folks got at least a few inches of snow this past weekend during a record setting October snow storm. The impact on your lawn can be summed up in a few basic scenarios with the first involving moderate to substantial leaf litter on the ground, now snow-covered. Left uncollected, these piles of leaves can be trouble for your lawn as colder weather approaches with snow that will not melt until spring. As soon as you can remove leaf piles and other debris brought down by the heavy, wet snow you should plan on doing so to prevent smothering areas of your lawn. The thicker the leaf pile, the better it will mulch your grass leaving dead spots and bare areas next year.
If you have your driveway plowed, now is a great time to put up stakes marking the edge of the lawn indicating the transition from gravel or pavement to grass. Snow plow damage becomes visible in the spring time as snow recedes, exposing chunks of sod and grass tossed aside to dry out and die. Without help, snow plow operators can have difficulty determining where your driveway ends and the lawn begins. Such an error is commonplace during late night snow storms and can result in significant lawn damage. Using posts, stakes, or sticks can provide a simple, yet effective signal and minimize or prevent the edge of your lawn from being “relocated.”
Even though it is now November, if you got caught with your lawn still needing another cut- say over 3” in height- don’t feel odd pulling out your mower for one last farewell mowing. Many folks can remove leaves and mow simultaneously so this is a great opportunity to “get two birds with one stone” as the saying goes. A clean, short cut in November is one way you can say ‘I love you’ to your lawn before the onset of winter.
Many tree limbs were damaged by the weight of the snow with leaves still turning colors, many of those leaves still green! Be sure to have those branches cleanly pruned to help reduce future insect and disease damage. Of course, remove as many downed branches as you can from your grass, leaving the lawn surface as clean as possible before winter truly arrives. Completing these basic housekeeping items can give your landscape the edge it might need to survive an unpredictable winter.
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Our Fall 2011 Newsletter – Hot Off the Press!
GreenWords Newsletter Fall 2011
In this issue: Restore Your Flood Damaged-Landscape & Great Reasons to Schedule Winter Work Now!
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Book Winter Work Now for Savings & to Aid Flood Relief Efforts!
OK so we’re definitely not ready yet – the leaves have just barely begun to turn in our service areas – but we know it’s coming…. Winter. Love it or not, want it or not, it’s coming, and we all know it.
This year we are trying to plan our winter work schedule way ahead, and we want to encourage you to do the same by offering you an incentive. Schedule your snow season job before December 1, 2011 for 10% discount on work performed January 1 to March 31, 2012, and we will also donate $50 per Crew Day to the Irene flood relief efforts via either the VT or NH Foodbank, based on where you live.
Accounts that are prepaid for winter work by December 1, 2011 will have a 15% total discount applied.
A Crew Day will be determined on a per project basis by your representative, based on crew needs to perform the desired work. This price reduction does not apply to snow removal services.
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Want a Bird’s Eye View from a Tree Top? Watch This!
Our ISA Certified Arborists Paul and Jeremy show their efficiency and professionalism in this bird’s eye view footage. All work performed is according to ANSI 300 Standards and the standards of accreditation by the Tree Care Industry Association.
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Attention thisoldyard.net Blog Readers!
Due to the huge spamming efforts directed at this blog we are no longer accepting comments at this site. We want your feedback but we can’t be driven crazy by the hundreds of erroneous comments pouring in everyday! Please visit Chippers Inc. on Facebook or our website: www.chippersinc.com to have your questions or concerns answered. Thank you for your understanding.
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Seven Weeks Until Spring Is Still Plenty of Time for Winter Tree Work….
Top 10 Benefits to Performing Tree Work In Your Landscape During the Winter Months:
- Improve Your View: Enhancement work during the dormant season is ideal when leaves aren’t blocking the vista potential.
- Your Lawn Will Thank You: Frozen ground allows large equipment to access your site while minimizing damage to lawns, gardens and the forest floor.
- Prevent Distress: Cold weather prevents the spread of tree disease as well as minimizes shock due to leaf loss.
- Timing Is Everything: February and March are preferred times for orchard and fruit tree pruning, and for many other species.
- Peace of Mind: Know your trees and shrubs are prepared for fast re-growth during the coming spring, no matter what Mother Nature brings.
- Prior Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance: Allows you to begin other spring landscaping projects earlier.
- Seeing Is Believing: Identify potential hazards or problems while the entire woody structure of deciduous trees is visible without leaves.
- Walk or Talk: Discuss your 2011 goals and plans for your landscape with your representative, either on site or via email/phone.
- Our Time Is Yours: Take advantage of more flexible scheduling.
- Outstanding Value: Enjoy off-season rates with the same chippers commitment to the highest quality and service.
We take care of everything green outside your door, all winter long.
What can we do for you?
Analog In A Digital World
Have you ever missed seeing a clock, with hands? Hearing the tick, tick, tick as the second hand works its way around the circle. What about a little hiss (just a little) while listening to recorded music or even the notion of a space between the notes. How about a test that didn’t require a #2 pencil or a drive thru restaurant that isn’t duplicated around-the-world?
I have the antidote. Tree pruning! Pruning is all analog; every cut and snip is thoughtful and different. Each species requiring a different set of considerations; with location, age and client expectations all a part of the mix. Cookie cutter pruning just doesn’t work!
So what’s the big deal?
Our lives have been co-opted by the digital age. Think about it. Computers are everywhere. I use one at work, one for the office at home, and one connected to the television for streaming. My work phone thinks it’s a computer, telling me I have mail, an appointment or someone to talk to. And there’s an on-line social network with so many “friends”.
I’m no Luddite; I actually enjoy the anticipation of the next Apple device and how I might use it. I even plan to install an iPad in the kitchen for recipes and to Skype (live video) my mom.
My antidote? Get outside! I can’t think of a better analog activity than pruning. But a close second could include…working in the garden, snowshoeing, climbing a tree, riding a bike, badminton on the lawn, building a snowman, flying a kite, sailing, a walk in the forest – and so many more!
At chippers we mulled over creating a new tag line. I liked “see you outside”. What could be a better yang for the yin of this digital world?
So at chippers, even though we are armed with our smart phones and computers that help keep us on time for our appointments; we understand that our real strength is when we “see you outside”. And we promise to leave the “cookie cutter” approach in the office and give you only the best analog work in your: Trees, Turf, Garden, Land and Forest.
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Cabling – We put our signature on it!
bad splice - poor quality signature.
good splice - signature of quality workmanship
Arborists make many decisions during their work days. And when involved in tree preservation (as opposed to tree removal) nothing makes more of a lasting impression than the cable the arborist installs. A properly installed cable should provide many years of additional support to a tree branch or leader union that might otherwise fail and/ or require removal. Many considerations, measurements and calculations go into each and every cable. The installation of a cable and splice may best be described as the arborist’s “signature”. Sometimes years after an initial cable installation, another arborist may ascend the tree perhaps for some pruning or another cable and that old cable will say something about the installers’ quality of work (see photos):
In the many years I have cared for clients trees, I’ve seen some really sad and telling cable installations. These include the following:
too low in the tree
unapproved hardware
missing thimbles
improper bolt angles
tree decay AND poor splices
A splice using common grade cable should be neat, include the minimum wraps (all in the same direction) and include a snuggly fit thimble.
At chippers we love what we do and it shows. It shows in the big things that you see, and it shows in the little things that you may not see. If you’re not sure about the quality of cables in your tree – give us a call and we’ll check the signature!
Reducing Chances of Dutch Elm Disease
Today we pruned a large elm tree in front of the Town Hall on Main Street in Hanover. William Desch, the towns’ arborist, knows pruned elms stand a much better chance of keeping Dutch elm disease at bay. In fact all of the town’s elms along with Dartmouth College’s elm trees are pruned and monitored in a good effort to keep them free of Dutch elm disease.
Why does pruning help? Dutch elm disease spreads from tree to tree primarily one way (to keep this post short I won’t even mention the lesser ways). The disease causing fungus is carried by an insect vector called the elm bark beetle. The beetles like to hang out under the bark of dead elm trees and the dead branches of otherwise healthy elm trees. Keeping elm trees free of dead or damaged branches reduces the threat and spread of the disease.
In addition to pruning elm trees, a good sanitation program must include the quick removal and disposal of infected trees if remedial treatment is considered ineffectual. Remedial treatments usually include: cutting behind the infection (removal of infected parts) and a follow-up fungicide treatment.
So, from 9am this morning till about noon, Bill Murphy one of our ISA certified arborists ascended the tree and pruned. The rest of us on the ground kept pedestrian traffic safely flowing while the Hanover Police graciously directed traffic.
The sun was shining, people were happy, and the tree was being preserved. It is Friday, and all is good!
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