Link: http://www.icontact-archive.com/azw1uozM3S4lxmakswFoT1dA9NpdcSBp?w=3

Article brought to you by TCIA. Here are some warning signs to look for in your trees.

With Houston's drought in full swing, the last thing on your mind is Hurricane Season. Don't let the lack of rain delay your preparations! Take action now!

Fallen trees accounted for 40 percent of all insurance claims after Hurricane Ike, according to one source. While Mother Nature is out of our control, being proactive and accountable for the trees in our yards could minimize cost and damage to your family, home and neighbors.

Don’t let fear drive you to remove a large tree close to the house without the opinion of an Arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture. This tree professional can help you avoid higher utility bills, a barren landscape, and guilt.

The tree closest to the house may serve as a wind buffer. A Certified Arborist can determine if the tree is structurally sound and possesses an intact root system.

Pruning trees can reduce property damage from hurricanes, tropical systems and high winds. By eliminating dead and weak branches and selectively thinning as needed, proper pruning techniques by a Certified Arborist allow the wind to blow through the canopy of the tree. Remember to have no more than 25 percent of the canopy removed.

Before hurricane season, certain types of trees should not be planted or should be removed. Young trees with shallow roots and brittle wood and branches cause the most damage during hurricane force winds. Again, a Certified Arborist can give specifics on which trees to secure or remove ahead of time.

While hurricane season has not yet arrived, it is right around the corner. Awareness and preparedness should receive the highest priority. Let a Certified Arborist from Embark Tree and Landscape help you keep your home, family and neighbors safe. Call 713-462-3261 for a free estimate and 10 percent off when you mention this blog.*

*Offer expires June 30, 2011.

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

Two tropical depressions provided a dress rehearsal for hurricane season but Houston residents should be ready for the real thing by planning and preparing ahead of the storm.

Fallen trees accounted for 40 percent of all insurance claims after Hurricane Ike, according to one source. While Mother Nature is out of our control, being proactive and accountable for the trees in our yards could minimize cost and damage to your family, home and neighbors.

Don’t let fear drive you to remove a large tree close to the house without the opinion of an Arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture. This tree professional can help you avoid higher utility bills, a barren landscape, and guilt.

The tree closest to the house may serve as a wind buffer. A Certified Arborist can determine if the tree is structurally sound and possesses an intact root system.

Pruning trees can reduce property damage from hurricanes, tropical systems and high winds. By eliminating dead and weak branches and selectively thinning as needed, proper pruning techniques by a Certified Arborist allow the wind to blow through the canopy of the tree. Remember to have no more than 25 percent of the canopy removed.

Before hurricane season, certain types of trees should not be planted or should be removed. Young trees with shallow roots and brittle wood and branches cause the most damage during hurricane force winds. Again, a Certified Arborist can give specifics on which trees to secure or remove ahead of time.

While a hurricane has not hit the Gulf Coast yet, awareness and preparedness should receive the highest priority. Let a Certified Arborist from Embark Tree and Landscape help you keep your home, family and neighbors safe. Call 713-462-3261 for a free estimate and 10 percent off when you mention this blog.*

*Offer expires July 31, 2010.

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

Do you remember Hurricane Ike? The best approach to hurricane season is to make plans before and after a hurricane with a certified arborist.

Properly maintaining your trees will help eliminate hazards and reduce their threat to your family and property.

Pruning not only eliminates hazardous deadwood and decayed limbs, but also provides more even weight distribution in the canopy. Your risk can further be reduced by removing dead or diseased trees.

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.

A professional arborist can also help you identify trees which are dead, dying, or in irreparable decay. In these extreme cases, the hazard may necessitate the trees’ removal .

After a hurricane, homeowners need to be aware of their choices before removing or treating trees. A certified arborist will tell you that some trees can be saved while others will be better off as firewood, though it may look devastating.

Preventing injuries and property damage are easy determining factors before removing a tree. Some reasons to chop down a leaning tree include the likelihood that it will fall on a person or building.
If the lower trunk of a tree is cracked or broken, the remaining trunk will most likely fall. Removal makes more sense since the crack will not close and the tree remains a safety risk.

Removal is the best course when the major roots are severed or broken. Medium-aged and mature trees with damaged roots should not be because they are unstable and unsafe. Large roots are required for large trees for structural support.

When making plans for hurricane season, a call to Embark Tree and Landscape Services should be first. Contact us 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.