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While pruning looks easy, lopping off branches and limbs haphazardly greatly reduces the growth potential of trees and shrubs.

Not doing anything might be better as pests kill less tree and shrubs than bad landscaping.

Understanding some basic concepts will make pruning a matter of common sense. Pruning boils down to removing plant parts to improve the value, health or aesthetic effect of the plant.

Once the objectives are determined and a few basic principles understood, pruning primarily is a matter of common sense.

Nature works as a latent pruner. For example, higher branches may block out the sun of lower branches. Soon the flow of moisture and nutrients will be slowly cut off as a lower bough is restricted by tree tissue immediately at the base that connects a branch to the trunk. Slowly but surely, the bough will break.

Picking the right plant for the location can decrease or eliminate the need for pruning. Fast-growing plants that might become too large for the spot, fragile trees or eye sores should few in number as part of a landscaping approach.

With some plants, pruning should be minimized late in the summer to allow new growth. While the Houston winters are moderate, cold weather nonetheless may not allow this growth to harden off in time.

Plants damaged by hurricanes and storms should be pruned as soon as possible to halt the potential of insect and disease problems that may follow.

Pruning should be left to the professionals to ensure that the care is not harmful to the tree or shrub. For the assistance of an Arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture, call Embark Tree and Landscape at 713-462-3261 or go to www.embarkservices.com

Link: http://www.embarkservices.com/blog/blogs/

During the unforgiving Houston summer, most gardeners prefer the shade to tending plants when the sun is at its highest point.

Is this a case of what’s good for the gardener good for the garden? A shaded garden is a harbor of protection for many plants. By planning wisely and selecting the right plants, everyone can enjoy a shade beyond green.

The gradients of shade are not easy as black and white but can be grouped into three types:

• Deep shade – Located under dense, low-hanging branches or on the north side of a high wall or house.

• Medium shade – Situated under higher and less dense branches where there is light but not direct sun.

• Open shade – Found under a thin, high canopy of trees, beneath a trellis or shady cover. Shade tolerant plants and those that favor partial sunlight can flourish in the open shade.

First of all, soil preparation is paramount with plants in the shade since tree roots will be competing for moisture and nutrition. Organic matter will keep things moist, add nutrients and improve soil texture. Clay soils may benefit from the added sand.

Shady locations are often dry, so consider how your shady garden will be watered. Though not cheap, an underground irrigation system is a consideration. A soaker hose makes an even more economical alternative.

A local guide from a county extension agent can identify potential plants. The plants need to be shade plants that will also flourish in this climate zone. Plants vary in different shade.

Creating a shade garden takes time and planning. Let Embark Tree and Landscape Services do the work so you can enjoy your garden. Call them at 713-462-3261 or go to www.embarkservices.com

Link: http://www.embarkservices.com/blog/blogs/

Besides batteries and canned food, homeowners need to prepare for hurricane season by taking action and making informed choices on trees and landscaping.

Making sure that your trees have been trimmed back will minimize damage to property and power lines from falling trees and branches.

A wind-resistant, pruned tree has a better chance of surviving a hurricane than an unpruned tree.

Also diseased or dead trees may come down during the high winds and heavy rains. Look for trees and shrubs with diseased, oversized, lopsided branches.

An arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture can make a professional assessment of your trees and recommend steps to prepare your property for a hurricane.

Reducing the chances of a tree or branches damaging your home can be as easy as planting trees away from your house and power lines. A selection of smaller trees and shrubs can be planted under power lines and close to your home.

Severe storms with heavy rains can soak the soil so thoroughly that tree roots cannot stay fastened in the ground during strong winds.

An arborist can apply aeration techniques to improve root growth and make sure roots don’t get washed out.

Picking and planting a wind-resistant tree can minimize the need for cleanup and not endanger lives and property. Native trees that survive are slower growing and have low centers of gravity and deep root systems. Check with an arborist for the right selection.

Planting trees together makes for a proven strategy against wind. Putting groups of mixed trees can improve wind resistance. The trees shield each other, your house and other landscaping.

Getting ready for a hurricane takes planning from an International Society of Arboriculture-certified arborist and a call to Embark Tree and Landscape Services. Visit us at EmbarkServices.com to request a visit or call 713-462-3261.

Link: http://www.embarkservices.com/blog/blogs/

Just like motion detectors and dead bolts, the placement of a prickly plant or a holly bush can help keep bad guys out of your house.

With Memorial Day and summer vacations around the corner, homeowners can motivate intruders to stay out without turning the outside of your house into a fortified castle with a moat.

Environmental design can make a house less appealing to burglars who are usually lazy and adverse to pain. Plants with thorns or sharp leaves present a perimeter that few will enter.

Landscaping and plants should not function as an aid by becoming a screen to shield them from view when entering a walkway or breaking in to a building.

Fences, walkways, and plantings set psychological and physical boundaries to stay away.

A good place for a thorny shrub is underneath a window. Windows are easy access but thorns can help burglars away. The height of the shrub also shouldn’t create a hiding place either.

Do make sure that the shrubs are cut below the window in case you have to escape a fire. Proper air circulation and access for maintenance can be provided if you allow some distance between the shrub and the wall of the building.

Law enforcement also suggests the “3-7 rule,” which says to trim bushes down to three feet and have no tree limbs lower than seven feet. The cut-down shrubs provide no cover and the chopped limbs keeps burglars from climbing trees to get to the second story.

Just as ladders shouldn’t be left outside, either should garden tools or bricks which can be used to smash a window to gain access. A trellis that could support someone’s weight could be inviting to someone eager to sneak in upstairs.

A home inviting to burglars means easy access but with the right landscaping, you can make your home less attractive. Let Embark help you before Memorial Day or when you go on vacation. Call 713-462-3261 or make an online request.

Link: http://www.embarkservices.com/blog/blogs/

First impressions mean everything, whether you meet someone or look at a house.

Curb appeal reflects the balance of your personal style with that of the neighborhood and landscaping is the best place to start.

Guests and possible home buyers usually scrutinize the front yard as a reflection of the home and the people who live there. No formula will guarantee success but informed choices and an understanding of landscaping principles will create a solid, executable plan.

Starting with a site evaluation will give you have an understanding of what’s already around your house. The architectural style or character of your house should be considered.

Curb appeal, which is how the house looks from the street, is what people want from a landscape design the most. The appearance of the front yard makes both the value of the property and the owner’s ego soar.

If done right, the front yard will be attractive during the entire year for each season. The yard will benefit from unity, balance and interest throughout the year.

Unity ensures that all of the design elements work together in harmony. The plants must complement each other, look good in groups and must be placed strategically.

Balance is achieved when trees, shrubs and decorative elements are dispersed evenly throughout the landscape. The curb appeal suffers because the perception is that things are out of order.

Interest creates a focal point, often the entry to the home for the front yard. The importance of the door can be reinforced with carefully selected and placed plants along the path to the front door.

Strong curb appeal can welcome visitors and potential homebuyers and create a visually healthy environment. To let the pros help, be sure to contact Embark Tree and Landscaping Services at 713-462-3261 or fill out this form to request a visit.