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

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/

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/

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/

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/

Just like shaping up for summer time, now is the time of the season to increase your house’s curb appeal.

Small improvements to your lawn, flower beds and along your walkway can be inviting to potential buyers. Quick and easy ideas can make the difference when trying to make the right impression.

Curb appeal makes buyers driving or walking by eager to stop and investigate the interior.

The lawn should be a carpet welcoming people to your house and should look its best with fresh mowing and neatly edged. To make sure that it’s green and full, be sure to water and apply fertilizer.

Flower beds with a new layer of bark mulch will invigorate the look of a yard. A side benefit will be keeping weeds from growing.

Whatever plants already there should be trimmed, pruned and ready for their close-up. Anything dead or dying needs to be removed.

Planting summer annuals will make the front walkway into a colorful path for your home’s potential buyers. An explosion of color in a planter near the front step will announce their arrival.

Using native plants give them a better chance of surviving the summer heat than a non-native plant. A professional can let you know which ones will endure the sun’s unrelenting rays the best.
Make sure that the side yards and backyards are ship-shape as well. Buyers have been known to investigate without an invitation.

A summer spruce-up for curb appeal can make your house is worth moving into and not have buyers moving on. Let the professionals at Embark Tree and Landscape frame your house with a healthy lawn and garden by calling them at 713-462-3261 or going to the Web site to make an appointment.