Tree Planting Procedures for Fall

Fall is a great time to install a new landscape and plant trees and shrubs to increase their transplanting success.

Planting while dormant

Ornamental trees begin to go dormant as temperatures cool in the fall. They typically are dormant from the first freeze of the season until the temperatures start to warm in the spring. A general rule of thumb is Thanksgiving to Valentine’s Day. While dormant, the tree is not actively growing, so its need for water and nutrients naturally decreases. Planting while your tree is dormant greatly reduces the risk of transplant shock. Dormant trees can withstand winter conditions but you should still take care in planting them correctly to avoid stress and shock once spring returns.

Diseases and Pests are also dormant in the winter. This significantly reduces the susceptibility to your trees becoming under attack. Certain ornamental trees are best protected when applying dormant oil in the winter. Contact us for more information about keeping your trees safe from pathogens all through the year.

Winter Watering Needs

During winter, your trees’ need for water is greatly reduced compared to what it needs for foliage and flowers in the growing season. Trees do still need water in the winter in order to slowly adjust to their new surroundings and establish their root system. A common mistake is planting trees during a dry spell or prior to freezing temperatures. It’s always a good idea to water your new trees in at the time they are planted. Rain offers inconsistent moisture and new roots need consistency to start to establish roots. When the ground freezes, plants cannot take up water and so it’s important they had it available prior to a major drop in temperatures.

Planting depth and planting on a slope

The correct soil depth is always important when planting trees. Established trees can help protect your landscape from erosion, but if trees are planting on a steep slope in the winter, they can pose a landslide hazard. One technique is to build a terraced garden. The stonework will correct the slope issues and then your trees can be planted normally. As their root systems grow, they will strengthen the hill’s stability without the slope as a direct force against them.

You also need to take care to avoid planting the base of your tree too deep or too shallow. Soil should cover the entire root mass at the tree’s base and should not bury the trunk. A good rule of thumb is to emulate the depth of soil your tree had when planted in its pot.

Planting too high can expose roots, causing your new tree to dry out. Planting too low can submerge the base of your tree in soil or water, causing its roots to rot.

Planting in the right location the first time

Finding the right site for your tree is really important. Frequently transplanting can cause stress and make your tree more susceptible to problems later. Some things to look for when choosing the site for your tree:
Consider its mature height and the potential to obscure your view. Do not plant too close to your fences, home, or garage. Consider the direction of the wind and plant your trees out of the wind’s path to prevent problems later. If there are light winds, staking during the winter can help a new tree from blowing over, but avoiding this issue in the long run is recommended by planting in the right spot the first time.
In the Northwest it’s safe to plant trees almost year round (as long as the ground is not frozen),

For your planting needs contact Frontier Landscaping Inc.

Frontier Tree Care provides emergency tree services if the need arises. Save our number this winter in case you have a tree emergency

Summer Tree Stress

Summer Tree Stress

Summer sun and heat is a welcome reward in the Pacific Northwest. While we enjoy the warm weather for camping, boating and relaxing under clear blue skies, prolonged hot weather and irrigation stress can cause damage to your trees. Heat and drought, stress your plants. It is important the rising temperature’s effect on your landscape, as the Northwest summer temperatures continue increasing each year. Prolonged heat and improper summer irrigation can cause permanent damage to your trees, creating potential hazards that pose a risk to your home and property.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to observe your tree’s signs of drought stress. Oftentimes insects and pathogens will attack trees that are already weakened. Proper deep root watering is the best way to establish your tree’s root system for long term plant health.

There are some signals to help you spot signs of early stress. If your tree’s leaves are dying off, wilting or showing folded or crispy leaves, those are telling signs of a problem. You may still be able take measures to restore the overall health of your tree.

Other Signs of Irrigation Stress Include:

  • Leaf wilting, curling or folding
  • Leaf Scorch
  • Needle drop in conifers
  • Canopy Die-off of main branches or new growth
  • Insect or Disease Issues
  • Premature Fall Color on leaves
  • Leaning or wilting new branches

Solutions:

  • Give trees the best start with proper planting, deep root watering and regular pruning
  • Make sure roots are not exposed when planted
  • Water at the base of your trees
  • Observe and scout for insects, disease and overall tree health regularly – before it’s too late
  • Deep root watering
  • Preventative pruning to improve overall tree health
  • Light summer Pruning to reduce canopy weight
  • Shearing back damaged evergreens to expose older healthy foliage

June Landscaping and Pruning

June Tree Landscaping and Pruning

Summer is nearly here and everything is lush and green! It’s the right time to just enjoy the garden, while keeping up on landscaping and pruning maintenance. We have a few tips for you, this June, to keep your landscape healthy and gorgeous.

Pruning: 

tree pruningWhile pruning is the most common tree maintenance project, we don’t recommend doing any heavy pruning in summer, as any high temperatures can damage freshly pruned trees & plants. We always want to keep the nature of the tree in mind – incorrect pruning can permanently damage or kill the tree’s life.

However, the start of summer is a good time to do minor pruning of flush growth, to help trees & plants keep their shape during this time of increased growth. This is especially applicable to evergreen conifers, whether they are trees or shrubs. This minor pruning helps maintain overall health, without harming the core of the plant. Our maintenance team can come out to help you with this type of pruning and to spruce up your yard while they’re at it. 

Routine, proper pruning to remove dead, diseased or weak limbs can happen any time of the year without harming the tree. It is necessary for safety, clearance and overall landscape planning.  Get an estimate by clicking here.

Irrigation: 

As the warm weather starts, now is the perfect time to get your system started on for the year. residential irrigation Vancouver WAAs summer goes on, trees depend on homeowners more and more for water. It’s important to take care of your trees and shrubs with proper watering. 

The amount of water a tree needs depends on a variety of factors – age, species, time of year, weather and soil type. New trees need more watering than older ones, but as it gets warmer, all trees will need extra watering. You’ll need to find the balance between enough water to keep younger trees growing, and older trees healthy. You don’t want your trees & shrubs to be dependent on irrigation – they need to be able to survive on what mother nature provides. 

A good irrigation system can be adjusted, based on rainfall, so you can tailor it to the weather. Start now to get on a regular schedule by the end of June. July, August, and September are generally very dry months. Hopefully, by now you have had your backflow testing and any repairs done – if not contact us soon to get prompt service.

Weeding: 

weedingGetting rid of weeds is always at the top of everyone’s spring/summer garden care priorities. If you don’t start removing weeds now, you’ll spend all summer trying to get rid of them. Everything is having a growth spurt right now, including the weeds. They can be left over ones from last year, or new ones that sprouted in cool weather. Either way – get rid of them now.  It seems like every few hours, some new ones are popping up. Try to dig out the entire plant, including the roots, and pull them up BEFORE they make seeds. They’ll be easier to remove before the ground gets harder when the weather gets drier. If it gets out of control, or you just need a little professional help, our maintenance team is on the job!

What other garden tasks are on your list for this June? Do you have any concerns or questions about your landscape? Reach out to us and ask!

 

Healthy and Well-Maintained Trees – Tree Removal

Fall tree care in Vancouver WAHealthy and well-maintained trees provide beauty and add value to your property, but sometimes it is necessary to remove a tree due to disease or other factors. Some trees must be removed simply because they are at the end of their lives. Regular tree care and regular maintenance can also improve and prolong tree health.  A tree’s life span can vary greatly, depending on the variety of tree. If you need expert tree removal services, you can count on Frontier Tree Service.

 

 

Reasons for Tree Removal can include:

  • A tree is dead or dying
  • Root and crown rot or other types of disease
  • A tree has grown too large for the space it occupies and threatens life or property
  • Aggressive root systems that undermine pools, retaining walls and foundations
  • New construction in the area
  • Winter Weather Damage

At Frontier Tree Service, our primary goal is to save the tree if possible. But, if you need to have a tree removed from your property, you’ll want an expert. Often, trees that need to be removed have grown in confined spaces near houses, utility lines and other sensitive areas. This can happen with urban trees. Tree removal requires considerable expertise.

You can count on us to leave your property completely free of debris, once our work is finished. As the property owner or a property manager, care and maintenance of trees can reduce the need for removal in the long term, keep healthy trees and reduce the need for removal.

Contact Us today to discuss your tree service needs.

Stump Grinding and Removal

Stump Grinding and Removal

Do you have an unsightly stump on your property? Aesthetically, a tree stump can ruin the look of your property and detract from your home’s beauty and curb appeal. Frontier Tree Service has the experience and stump grinding equipment to remove your tree stump efficiently. We will completely grind your stump, which will create mulch, rich in nutrients. You can then spread the mulch over your property to enrich your other trees & plants. With the proper soil amendment, you can even plant a new tree in the same location.

 

Tree Stump Grinding and Removal – The Reasons…

 

  • The stump (s) are not usually aesthetically pleasing.
  • The stump may be a safety hazard.
  • Removing the stump eliminates the possibility of attracting highly destructive pests that can affect the rest of your trees and landscape.

 

Stump removal and grinding can be a challenging process and special machinery is required. Stump grinding by a professional is the easiest and safest way to handle this work. Frontier Tree Service provides tree stump removal and stump grinding services to satisfied customers throughout Portland, Vancouver and surrounding areas.

Contact US

We look forward to hearing from you!

Spring is here at Frontier Tree Services!

trees

With spring here, what are some spring tree care practices you can do to imrpove the health of your trees?

How to know when/if a tree should be removed.

It should be obvious, if your tree is completely dead, it absolutely should be cut down for safety reasons. Leaves and needles will fall when a tree is not doing well. Smaller leaves than normal on a tree could be a sign of the health of a tree… Limbs and branches will start falling soon after the tree has expired. There is also a risk that the whole tree could fall as well, endangering property, pets, and even lives.

But what about struggling trees? A damaged or partially dead tree can also be dangerous. Sometimes they can recover, and the human inclination is to give everyone a second chance. Let’s look at some of the considerations first before deciding.

How close is the tree to living spaces?

The first consideration should always be human life and limb. Does this tree threaten sidewalks, a road, or perhaps a backyard where children might play? Is it dangerously close to your home, perhaps leaning towards a bedroom, or an often-occupied back deck? These are areas you simply don’t want to have a tree hospital. If there is any real risk to people, consult your Professionals at Frontier Tree Service and have them handle it.

plant new trees

Is it more costly to treat the tree or to replace it?

As “Tree People”, we love our trees and would rather save them whenever possible. Sometimes this is not possible or recommended. Generally, it depends on what your vision and the recommendations of our Arborist,  as to what a replacement might be. Also, some diseases are easily treated with a variety of nutrients but for many diseases the necessary applications can be costly and require years of treatment to be effective.

It is best to get professional consultation from our certified arborists at Frontier to get a full grasp on the effectiveness and cost of saving a tree before spending your money on what may be a lost cause. You might also consider replacement with a hardier species a better long-term solution, depending on the original cause of the tree’s decline. In the end, this decision is up to you.

Being realistic about a trees chance of recovery

Whether it’s wind damage, or perhaps die-back from drought or nutritional deficiencies, every tree has a limit to what it can fully recover from. This isn’t an exact science, but canopy damage of somewhere between 25%-50% could be enough to doom most hardwood trees. If disease is the cause, as little as 15% canopy loss can spell irreversible decline in many species of trees.

Knowing the cause is key to making this assessment. Perhaps the tree is just water stressed and dropped its leaves early to protect itself. It is well worth the money to have an arborist give you a diagnostic report and recommendations. We are here to help you make an informed decision and have the facts in hand, rather than going down the rabbit hole!

uprooted tree

 

Don’t take bad advice

Your neighbor really does mean well with his tree advice, “Just throw down some Weed & Feed, it’ll give it a boost!”

But the truth is there are thousands of tree species and sometimes dozens of sub-groups and hybrids within a species. Unless your neighbor just happens to be a certified arborist, and familiar with the kinds of trees in your area, their guess is exactly that.

Professionals will sometimes send off soil or leaf samples to specify exactly the nature of what is causing the decline in a tree. You take your animals to a vet. Take an arborist to your trees.

Taking the long view…

Remember that there is a good chance that most of the trees on your property will out-live your great-grand kids. If a tree is in decline, the sooner it is replaced, the sooner a healthy and well cared for tree will someday tower over that same area. Instead of feeling badly about the end of a tree’s life, think about the beginning of a new tree’s life. A life that may likely go on for centuries!

Contact us at Frontier to schedule an appointment!

We look forward to hearing from you!