Tag Archive for: environment

How to Know the Age of a Tree

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If you are curious about the year that a tree was planted, then you are in luck, as there is an easy way to tell! You may have heard of how to identify the age of the tree by the rings within its trunk, but what’s inside the trunk can even tell us about the conditions/environment the tree was exposed to for its full life cycle.  A tree may have experienced drought, excessive rain, fire, insect plagues and disease epidemics, injuries, thinning or air pollution.  This can all be told by the trunk of the tree.

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What To Do With Your Old Christmas Tree

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Are you still clinging to 2017’s Christmas tree? We don’t blame you. Weren’t we singing “O Christmas Tree” not two or three weeks ago? Now we’re supposed to toss it to the curb?

Here are some ideas to make the most of that used-up Tannenbaum, both inside and outside!

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Real vs. Fake Christmas Trees: An Arborist’s Perspective

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Christmas Tree LotPicking a Christmas tree has become one of the most important December traditions. Think about your favourite festive movies – from A Christmas Story to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, taking the family to the local lot or forest to get a tree is one of the most magical parts of the season. Sure, you might end up with soap in your mouth after or cut down a tree with a squirrel in it, but you had a ton of fun!

 

A new trend is quickly replacing the woodsy scent of real evergreens, though, as fake plastic Christmas trees are gaining in popularity. It’s understandable, really – it’s a one-time cost, there are no needles to clean up, and there’s nothing to haul out to the curb in January. But what do real tree specialists prefer?

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Diseased Trees: How To Tell and What To Do

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Trees are very independent organisms, and once they’re going, they don’t need babysitting. But keeping an eye on their health is crucial, because while they’re hearty, they’re also very big, and big organisms attract a lot of problems. 

 

Be prepared and know the symptoms of diseased trees as soon as they show themselves. Catching the problem in time can save the tree!

 

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Five Safety Tips For Proper Tree Removal

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We like saving trees, but sometimes, it’s impossible. While we consider tree removal a last resort, we know it’s sometimes necessary. It’s also necessary, when undertaking either a tree or stump removal, to do it properly and safely.

 

If you want to undertake the process yourself, follow these basic safety guidelines. Know that tree removal isn’t as simple as owning a chainsaw and guessing where the tree will fall – it can be a complicated process, and should always be treated as such!

 

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Tree Stump Removal Safety

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Tree stumps can be rather unsightly. They’re either taking up room on your beautifully landscaped lawn, or they serve as a reminder of the majestic tree that once stood. Either way, most people want the stump out of their yard and in the wood chipper ASAP.

 

There’s a temptation to do it oneself, with a group of guys with large trucks and heavy-duty chains on a nice Saturday afternoon. While this little get-together sounds fun, it’s really important to do stump removal properly and safely. Here are some of our tips if you truly want to remove that tree stump yourself!

 

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Storm Season – The Clean-Up That Follows

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There’s only so much you can do in keeping your house and property safe from falling limbs. After all, a tree is a living thing, and a mighty impressive one at that. This is why it’s not uncommon for property owners to dread any heavy rain, ice storm, or powerful wind that come through the area.

 

When violent weather blows through your neighbourhood, there’s not a whole lot you can do while wind buffets the limbs and branches of your trees. But if you’re prepared, and know the conditions of your tree, you could minimize the damage when the storm is over!

 

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Lightning Hazards And Your Tree

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Just thinking about the power of lightning can boggle the mind: it’s an electrical charge of 100 million volts striking at a temperature of more than 30,000 degrees Celsius. It can make for a very beautiful show, especially when you’re watching it at a distance, but this force of nature can just as easily come to you. If you have tall trees on your property, it’s very possible they could attract and be struck by lightning.

 

Lightning striking a tree can kill parts of the tree, or even the entire tree, turning it into a safety hazard. Just because it’s tall, doesn’t mean you can’t protect it!

 

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Preparing For The Asian Longhorn Beetle

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Our world is increasing in connectivity, more and more every day. These connections bring a lot of positives, but they also come with… well, some unwelcome guests, namely, the Asian Longhorn Beetle.

 

We’ve already discussed the Emerald Ash Borer, a pest that came to the United States and slowly made its way north to us. As its name suggests, this invasive species has a special appetite reserved for ash trees. While we fight to preserve the ash trees we still have, simple things like not planting more of this species of tree can prevent the spread of the beetle. When the next species comes, though, we might not be as lucky.

 

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Keep An Eye Out: Identifying The Emerald Ash Borer

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Around 2002, a new backyard villain made its way to Ontario. Starting from a home population in Michigan, this scourge of majestic ash trees invaded Windsor, spread to the London area, and now can be found as far north as Sault Ste. Marie. In little more than a decade and a half, it’s become an invasive species as infamous as the zebra mussel, the Asian carp, and the giant hogweed.

 

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