Tree Maintenance

Issue: Rodents foraging for food can cause damage. Two main culprits: rabbits and squirrels
Solution: Mulch. Bait. Commercial repellent paint.

Winter is coming. This means rodents and other animals will be foraging for food and possibly causing damage to the trees on your property. The two main culprits you will mostly likely face will be rabbits and squirrels.

Squirrels may occasionally damage trees by chewing bark from branches and trunks. In residential areas, squirrels sometimes travel power lines and short out transformers. They gnaw on wires, enter buildings, and build nests in attics. They frequently chew holes through pipelines used in maple syrup production.

Squirrels occasionally damage lawns by burying or searching for and digging up nuts. They will chew bark and clip twigs on ornamental trees or shrubbery planted in yards. Often squirrels take food at feeders intended for birds. Sometimes they chew to enlarge openings of bird houses and then enter to eat nestling songbirds. In gardens, squirrels may eat planted seeds, mature fruits, or grains such as corn.

Now, if you do not feel comfortable or simply don’t have the proper tools to do any tree maintenance, we are more than happy to do any of this work for you. Also, if you have multiple trees to remove or just don’t have the time to do it, we are here for you. We can handle all of your tree maintenance needs and services in the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Richland, Pasco) and even West Richland. We look forward to being your preferred tree maintenance provider.

Issue: Branch breakage due to the tree becoming brittle
Solution: Prune weak and vulnerable branches

It is important to prune and remove weak and vulnerable branches from your trees for a multitude of reasons. The Tri-Cities is known to have some pretty good wind storms that can gust up to anywhere between 40 and 60 miles per hour during certain times of the winter. When this happens, having limbs and branches around your home can be hazardous to your home. We have seen numerous times after a storm where trees and limbs have gone through roofs and windows of a home.

It is also important to prune and remove damaged and weak limbs for a tree’s health. Without proper maintenance, a tree can continue to get sick and eventually not be worth saving if it has been damaged. We are more than happy to help you decide what the best way for pruning your tree is. Or, if you don’t have time, we can take care of it for you.

Now, if you do not feel comfortable or simply don’t have the proper tools to do any tree maintenance, we are more than happy to do any of this work for you. Also, if you have multiple trees to remove or just don’t have the time to do it, we are here for you. We can handle all of your tree maintenance needs and services in the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Richland, Pasco) and even West Richland. We look forward to being your preferred tree maintenance provider.

Issue: Winter Drought
Solution: Thick layer of organic mulch around base of tree

Winter drought can be something you may not think about. Most people (myself included) have never thought that a tree still needs water even during the winter. One of the best ways to help a tree conserve and preserve the most water possible, is to make sure there is enough mulching material at the base of the tree.

• Purchase a rake and natural mulch, such as composite wood chips, from your local lawn and garden store.
• Remove any debris, sticks, limbs and weeds from the base of the tree.
• Rake the area to make the ground around the tree as even as possible.
• Apply the mulch in a circle around the tree. Put it about the length of the limbs on small, young trees. Measure about a 12 foot span (about 3.5 m) around large, adult trees.
• Ensure the mulch measures between 2 and 4 inches deep.
• Using the rake, ensure the mulch is spread evenly.
• Check the appearance of the mulch ring and make any needed adjustments to ensure an even shape.
• Using a hose, bucket, or other tool, water the mulched tree if the soil is particularly dry.
• Check your mulched tree throughout the season for weeds and pull them as needed.

Now, if you do not feel comfortable or simply don’t have the proper tools to do any tree maintenance, we are more than happy to do any of this work for you. Also, if you have multiple trees to remove or just don’t have the time to do it, we are here for you. We can handle all of your tree maintenance needs and services in the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Richland, Pasco) and even West Richland. We look forward to being your preferred tree maintenance provider.