Link: http://embarkservices2-px.rtrk.com/blog/blogs/

As winter deepens, homeowners and property managers are advised that tree failure is a major cause of property damage. An ice storm or high wind can cause a cracked tree to fail under its own weight.

“Homeowners worried about trees falling and damaging property should call a professional arborist in for an inspection,” advises Tchukki Andersen, staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association. Andersen notes that trees are designed to withstand storms, but all trees can fail – and defective trees fail sooner than healthy trees. A sound tree becomes potentially dangerous when the tree’s woody structure is weakened by one or more defects. During storms, pre-existing defects predispose trees to failure.

“To a professional arborist,” notes Andersen, “defects are detectable signs that a tree has an increased potential to fail.”

One of the major warning signs of tree failure is a visible crack. Cracks form when the load exceeds the capacity of the stem to withstand the load. The vast majority of cracks are caused by improper closure of wounds, by the splitting of weak branch unions, or by flush-cut pruning. Cracks can occur in branches, stems or roots. The wood behind the crack may be sound, decayed, or missing (cavity). Several types of cracks can be found in trees and, like other defects, the severity of cracks ranges across a spectrum.

Vertical cracks run with the wood grain along the length of the tree and may appear as shear cracks, inrolled cracks or ribbed cracks. Horizontal cracks run across the wood grain. Shear cracks, a type of vertical crack, become hazardous when they go completely through the stem and separate the stem into two halves. As the tree bends and sways in the wind, one half of the stem slides over the other, elongating the crack. Eventually the enlarging crack causes the two halves of the stem to shear apart. A shear crack always has a high risk of failure. An inrolled crack, also called a ram’s horn, has margins that curl inward on each of its sides and forms inrolled bark and wood. An inrolled crack is formed when a wound does not close properly. Serious decay is always associated with an inrolled crack because the crack margins rewound the tree each year, allowing decay to spread rapidly. Inrolled cracks often generate other cracks in the same stem segment. Trees with an inrolled crack, advanced decay, and another crack all in the same stem segment have a high risk of failure.

A professional arborist can determine the potential for failure by measuring the shell thickness in a few locations around the tree’s circumference, determining the width of the crack opening and looking for the presence of any other type of crack. Ribbed cracks are created as the tree attempts to seal over a wound. Margins of the crack meet and mesh but are reopened due to tree movement or extremely cold temperatures. Thicker annual rings are created in order to stabilize the developing crack at the location of the crack. This forms the ribbed appearance over a period of many years. A ribbed crack has a high risk of failure when associated with another crack or with extensive advanced decay.

Horizontal cracks run across the grain of the wood and are formed when loading in the tree’s crown pulls wood fibers apart. They are rarely found because they develop just before the trees fail. Horizontal cracks are a sign of imminent failure in leaning trees.

What can you do?
Cracks are hazardous when they compromise the structure of the tree by splitting the stem in two or when another defect , such as internal decay and a crack, do not provide enough sound wood in the outer shell to support the tree. The presence of multiple cracks and decay indicates a very defective tree.

Find a professional
A professional arborist can assess your landscape and work with you to determine the safest course of action. Contact one of Embark’s TCIA Certified Arborists today!

Link: http://embarkservices2-px.rtrk.com/blog/blogs/

You may think that the approach of the end of the growing season means you can stop worrying about the trees in your landscape. Think again! Fall is one of the best times to examine the safety and health of your trees, say tree care experts. Why? With the leaves off, cracks, defects, and deadwood are easier to see. Also, with winter storms approaching, hazards should be removed now – before they damage property.

“Most trees can be pruned year round,” says Tchukki Andersen, staff arborist for the Tree Care Industry Association, “And certain operations are easier to do in the fall, when dead branches are easily seen and removed.”

Some homeowners worry that arborists will not be able to determine deadwood on a tree when the leaves are off. “On the contrary,” says Andersen. “This is the best time for an arborist to locate deadwood by looking for changes in color, fungus growth, cracks, and other symptoms that can help them make this determination. Since the leaves are off, the view of the entire tree’s architecture is clear and a thorough check can be performed.”

Pruning is much more than the simple act of sawing off limbs. Proper pruning is an art based on scientific principles of plant physiology. At its most basic level, pruning trees involves removing damaged, dead or structurally weak limbs, which will improve a tree’s health and reduce the chances of personal or property damage caused by falling limbs.
Professional arborists have the capability to make the tree safer and more attractive by pruning live growth as well. Proper pruning encourages growth, increases flower and fruit production, improves plant health, repairs damage and helps add aesthetic appeal to a tree. Pruning at the right time and in the right way is critical, since it is possible to kill a tree through neglect or over-pruning.

How can a homeowner know if an arborist will prune a tree correctly?

“Ask the arborist if they prune according to the American National Standards Institute standard for tree pruning, which is called ANSI A300,” says Andersen.

This standard requires that the recommended use of certain tools, cutting techniques and pruning methods be followed, and sets the standard definitions for terms the arborist will use in your estimate. Properly written work estimates for tree pruning should be written in accordance to ANSI A300 standards.

In addition to the information given on the work estimate, ANSI A300 sets some guidelines for basic pruning practices that arborists should follow.

If arborists are adhering to the ANSI A300 pruning standard, they:

Will not leave branch stubs
Will make few or no heading cuts
Will not cut off the branch collar (not make a flush cut)
Will not top or lion’s tail trees
Will not remove more than 25 percent of the foliage of a single branch
Will not remove more than 25 percent of the total tree foliage in a single year
Will not damage other parts of the tree during pruning
Will not use wound paint
Will not prune without a good reason

What can you do?

Homeowners who would like a professional arborist to assess their trees should contact the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), a public and professional resource on trees and arboriculture since 1938. It has more than 2,000 member companies who recognize stringent safety and performance standards and who are required to carry liability insurance. TCIA has the nation’s only Accreditation program that helps consumers find tree care companies that have been inspected and accredited based on: adherence to industry standards for quality and safety; maintenance of trained, professional staff; and dedication to ethics and quality in business practices.

Call Embark Tree and Landscape, Texas' First Tree and Landscape Company Accredited by TCIA today at 713-462-3261 to schedule a FREE estimate for your tree care needs.

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

One of the most important aspects of creating a new or redoing a landscape is choosing the right plant or tree and putting it in the right place. Taking the soil, available water, and the extreme temperatures of the area are very important for creating a lasting environment for your plant or tree. Using a certified arborist or landscape professional will help avoid choices that aren’t suitable for a long lasting landscape.

Here are some tips from landscape experts on what to take into consideration when planning a new landscape:

Size Matters – If a plant or tree is healthy then it will grow. Make sure that the area in which the plant or tree is planted allows for growth. Make sure that your selected plant or tree won’t outgrow its area when it is fully mature. Also, some plants grow faster than others. Keep in mind the growth characteristics of the chosen plants for your landscape so that they can be arranged in the most aesthetically appealing formation.

Quench their Thirst – Make sure that the irrigation system available to your plants and trees are both effective and efficient. The size of the irrigation system will dictate the amount of water delivered to your plants. In addition to your irrigation system, make sure that your water isn’t harmful to your plants. Some water sources have higher salinity or alkalinity either of which could damage your plants over time.

Soil Solution – The quality of soil composition is often overlooked when choosing plants or trees for your new landscape. It is important to choose plants which match the natural composition of the soil in your landscape. Having soil that is fertile and well balanced is imperative to the survival of your plants and trees.

The Extremes of Temperature - Living in an area which has extreme high temperatures limits the growth of many plants including some annual species. Temperature ranges of the daytime play an important role in determining how a plant will grow and survive in a certain area. Many plants also have nighttime temperature requirements in order to reach their full growth potential. Make sure to check with your landscape professional to ensure proper plants and trees for the climate.

Using site specific planning when it comes to designing your new landscape will be well worth the effort. Your trees and plants will successfully grow and thrive in an environment that matches their needs. Make sure to use a certified landscape professional or certified arborist when entering into your landscape design journey.

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

Proper pruning of your trees is imperative not only for aesthetic appeal of your landscape, but also to maintain the health of your trees. For a new tree, pruning fosters healthy growth, sturdy branching structure, and necessary shaping. Pruning can also help in the building of the strength of a tree to combat extreme weather conditions. For example, a properly thinned tree will be better able to withstand high winds in events such as hurricanes or storms.
However, pruning is a process, and each cut that is made has the potential to change the growth of the tree. In fact, if a tree is pruned improperly the result can be damage that will extend to the full life of the tree, or could even shorten the lifespan of the tree.

Common reasons to start the pruning process are to remove dead or dying limbs, balance or shape the tree, or to remove branches that may have become hazardous to your home or family.

Most maintenance pruning can actually take place at any time throughout the year without negatively affecting the tree. Woundwood development and tree health is potentially increased when pruning occurs in early spring. To avoid tree stress, it is recommended that a heavy pruning is not done immediately after the visible spring growth of the tree. Heavy pruning is recommended to be done in the fall.

However, all pruning is not created equal. Here are different types of pruning from which trees can benefit:

Crown Cleaning: Dead, dying, weakly attached, crowded, or diseased branches are removed from the crown of the tree.

Crown Raising: Lower branches from the tree are removed to improve clearance heights for houses, vehicles, surrounding landscape, and of course your family.

Crown Thinning: Branches are selectively removed to increase air circulation through the crown and to increase the amount of light able to penetrate through the branches. The weight on heavy limbs is reduced and the foliage of the tree opens helping the tree retain its natural shape. A common mistake is over-thinning which will leave a tree unbalanced and can result in limbs that are more prone to failure.

Crown Reduction: The size of the tree is reduced. This process is most commonly used in coordination with utility lines. The height and width of the tree is reduced while the structural integrity is maintained.

As a tree ages, it will require less routine pruning as long as the proper pruning was a part of the initial growth process. In fact in large, mature trees, pruning is often a process of only removing dead, dying, or potentially hazardous limbs.

Arborists certified by the International Society of Arboriculture play key roles in the pruning process as they will be able to determine what type of pruning is best for your tree, and for you. With a Certified Arborist, the guesswork of which branches to cut is eliminated as are many safety concerns. Pruning large trees can be very dangerous. Peace of mind can come with a professional crew with all of the necessary safety equipment, liability insurance, and worker’s compensation insurance. Embark’s team of Certified Arborists, degreed Foresters, and highly experienced crews will work to help ensure the health, safety, and beauty of your trees.

Trees add to the value and beauty of your landscape, but only if properly maintained. Make sure that your trees are properly pruned so that they can reach their full tree potential.

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

If prequalifying improves the experience of buying a home or car, imagine applying that process to the care of trees at your home or business by hiring a International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist.

While not a PhD or M.D., these “tree doctors” have undergone on going recertification testing and intense study on the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants.

A pickup truck and a chainsaw do not a Certified Arborist make, at least by the definitions set forth by the ISA.

Just to be eligible for the exam, a candidate must have three or more years of full-time, eligible, practical work experience in arboriculture and/or a degree in the field of arboriculture, horticulture, landscape architecture, or forestry from a regionally accredited educational institute.

The comprehensive certification encompasses a myriad of topics which empowers the candidates with flexibility in the arboricultural profession. The 200-question exam covers tree biology, tree identification and selection, tree-soil-water relations, tree nutrition and fertilization, tree planting and establishment, pruning concepts and techniques, cabling, bracing and lightning protection, problem diagnosis and management, tree preservation on construction sites, climbing and safe work practices, and tree risk assessment.

The work doesn’t stop after becoming a Certified Arborist as 30 continuing education units (CEUs) are required to be recertified. CEUs are earned by attending seminars, studying in college courses, or completing study in ISA published magazines and books.

The image of arborists has improved with the Certified Arborist program, from the arborist's and the general public's perspective. The curriculum has set benchmarked minimum standards of achievement and incentives for continuing education.

Education allows Certified Arborists to better assure their customers that their trees will not be damaged or mutilated and set the expectations of a particular treatment.

To make sure that your trees get the best care, call Embark Tree and Landscape Services for a ISA Certified Arborist at 713-462-3261.