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Banding Adds Life to the All-Important Oak Tree

Tree banding is an important part of maintaining your landscaping and it also is vital to the survival of oak trees. The banding process prevents cankerworms from traveling up an oak tree and making their way onto the branches, where they can do a significant amount of damage. This helps oak trees stay strong as they remain a critical part of the ecosystem.

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Oak trees are more than just an appealing sight. Even one randomly placed oak tree serves as a habitat that draws a lot of living things. Birds of different species flock to oak trees and because of their size, oak trees are prime migration spots for larger birds. This also helps with migration in urbanized areas where a lot of concrete has replaced scenic oak trees.

It is a proven fact that real estate values increase when oak trees are on the property. Homes with one or more oak trees typically sell for higher prices. That makes their upkeep an actual investment for homeowners. When it comes time to sell, many realtors often mention oak trees in their actual listings making tree care services worthwhile.

Oak trees also play a functional role. Their presence helps to moderate temperatures and they also control stormwater runoff and even recharge ground water. Oak trees are also credited with contributing to a reduction in air and water pollution.

Replacing an oak tree is not an overnight task as they take many years to grow and mature. Oak trees also remain a popular sight. Some homeowners have grown to cherish their exterior views laden with oak trees. Protecting those trees is a way of protecting the beauty of their homes.

Cankerworms can do a lot of damage to an oak tree, although just one sticky band can keep thousands upon thousands of caterpillars from getting up an oak tree where they can wreak havoc. This process allows the tree canopy to remain intact as well. Looking out your window at that beautiful oak should have some kind of insurance. Coincidentally, tree banding can act as that insurance and keep your oak tree safe for years to come.

If you are looking for tree banding in Matthews, NC or the surrounding areas, contact the team at Tree Works as we will provide top-quality tree service at affordable rates. Charlotte area tree trimming, stump grinding, tree removal and more tree services are just a phone call away at Tree Works.

Why is Pruning Important?

There is an exact science to pruning your trees, but the good news is that you don’t have to learn all the ins and outs. There are professionals who will take care of the task from start to finish. Instead of getting to know the techniques through which this process is done, it is more important for homeowners to learn why pruning trees is important. Here is a look at why tree pruning is a sound investment for home and property owners.

Decreases chances of falling branches

Branches that are dead or weakened should be removed, as they have the potential to fall and cause a significant amount of bodily damage. And if the branches are near a home or structure, they could also be a hazard. Safety is automatically improved when pruning trees.

Improve appeal

Pruning a tree is a way to make it look uniform while also improving its structure. That makes for a healthier, more appealing tree. Tree canopies can also be shaped by pruning and that can change the entire look of your exterior. Restructuring your tree canopy has numerous benefits and the right pruning will enable the tree to grow the way you would like.

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Post storm damage

Thunderstorms and other acts of nature can take their toll on trees. High winds can weaken limbs and cause a significant amount of damage. However, that damage does not always break branches. Pruning a tree after a violent storm could wind up actually saving the tree.

Promote new growth

Pruning a tree will go a long way in managing the health of a tree. Pruning techniques can promote new growth while also stifling growth that may be unwanted. Overgrown branches should be pruned in a more aggressive manner while a sparse amount of pruning is required for the promotion of new growth.

Prepping for winter

The winter months can bring about frigid conditions in which ice accumulates on tree branches. When the ice starts to add weight, tree branches become brittle and more susceptible to breaking. This can be unhealthy for a tree and one way to alleviate that problem before it occurs is to prune trees prior to the onset of winter.

When you are ready to prune your trees, contact the team at Tree Works and let our professional arborists provide you with healthier, more appealing trees. We provide top quality tree service in Charlotte, NC and the surrounding areas.

Tree Services that Help Prevent Wildfires

Action Adult Adventure 1365427When visions of a wildfire come to mind, many people picture burning trees and flames leaping from tree to tree. And fighting those fires may involve fire hoses or helicopters shooting water on the blaze. But there are other approaches to fighting wildfires that involve tree services. And some of those approaches take place before the first ember even sparks. Here is a look at a few different ways tree services can help prevent wildfires.

Clear trees to create a defensible space

Fires need fuel to keep on burning and slight winds can help wildfires jump from one tree to the next. A tree service can clear out a space that will serve as a makeshift blockade for wildfires. Open areas without any trees can actually halt a fire. Tree services are capable of cutting down multiple trees in short periods of time and disposing of them. Coincidentally, this can be a more effective method that traditional firefighting when it comes to wildfires.

Tree pruning to provide adequate space

Tree pruning can be used for more than just aesthetic purposes. Keeping trees from getting congested with one another will help to prevent wildfires from spreading. In many instances, high winds are responsible for keeping a wildfire rolling. However, when that wind dies down, the fire will need to spread naturally. Having tree branches overlapping and positioned right next to each other provides one elongated form of kindling. Pruning trees will help to provide adequate space between them and that can keep fires from spreading on days when there are no high winds.

Remove or prune problematic trees

Brittle limbs are likely to go up in flames much faster than healthy branches. Dying and decaying branches are essentially a good form of kindling. The same applies to trees with noticeable rot, dieback, or a frail bark. Pruning trees with these types of problems may sometimes be a lost cause as many are already too far gone. In those cases, tree removal is suggested instead. When trees are dead or on their way out, it is best to remove them before they can become prized fuel for a fire. And pruning trees to give them their space is always a good idea.

If you are in need of Charlotte, NC tree trimming service for any reason, then it’s time to call the professionals at Tree Works. Our arborists provide an array of services that ensure the health and beauty of your trees.

The Importance of Not Spiking Trees That You Trim

When it comes to tree trimming, many people conjure up visions of someone climbing a tree with spikes on their shoes. Meanwhile, each upward step puts a deeper gouge inside the tree. However, not all tree trimming services use this method as there are ways around spiking trees.

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Using ropes, pulleys and harnesses is a safer and more effective way to trim trees. It also ensures the health of your tree. A major reason for tree trimming is to maintain a strong and healthy tree. Spiking the tree on the way up and down pretty much defeats that purpose. The wounds left from spikes could also wind up being permanent. And in some instances, it could result in the death of the tree.

Trees are susceptible to disease and that often comes from an infestation in a wound. Climbing spikes leave a trail of wounds, which essentially makes a tree extremely vulnerable.

Ascending towards the top of a tree without the use of climbing spikes requires detailed techniques, as well as the proper equipment. It is important to have each of those in place as it is the first step towards successful and effective tree trimming.

Those who use climbing spikes may also be limited in the area in which they can operate. For example, they may have just a few feet of room to operate and while they may remove branches, there could be a compromise when it comes to the precision of their work.

A larger-size branch that is not trimmed at the right angle could leave an excessive stub. That could make the area more prone to disease. There is also the risk of climbers weakening other branches on their way up. That could lead to breakage in the future and present the hazard of a falling branch.

There are certain things to look for when hiring a tree trimming service. Those who do not use spikeless climbing may have a few questionable traits. First, the health of a tree should be a top priority and that ceases to be true when climbing spikes are used.

Secondly, spikeless climbing involves a certain level of skill. If a tree service has not invested the time into developing that skill, then other areas of their service may also come into question. Hiring a service with skilled spikeless climbers could be a sign of a company’s dedication, commitment and expertise.

Tree Works always uses spikeless climbing to ensure healthy and beautiful trees for our clients. Contact Tree Works today and take advantage of our top-quality tree services in Matthews, NC and the surrounding areas.

When is the appropriate time to trim your trees?

Tree trimming may seem like a routine habit, although it is not something that should be done in any season. There are better times of the year when it comes to trimming your trees.

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Late winter or early spring is the best time

Once the cold weather has just about run its course, it’s time to start trimming your tree. At this point, all the leaves are gone and bare branches make trimming a much easier task. However, there are other reasons why late winter is the most opportune time.

By late winter, your tree has already settled into its dormant stage. The plunge in outside temperatures has already brought a stoppage to the tree’s growth. If you wait too long and trim your tree in the spring, you could severely limit the tree’s new growth.

You will also find that your tree will heal quicker in late winter/early spring. That will help maintain the tree’s strength. There is also less chance for any kind of pests to infest your tree. Because of the dormant stage, there will be less sap flowing, and that will deter any infestations even further.

 

Don’t fall for fall

As leaves start to fall off your trees, it might seem like the proper time to commence with the trimming process. But it’s important to resist that urge. The same goes for shrubs and bushes. Wait until they enter the dormant stage. It is also important not to trim trees in damp or wet weather as there is a greater chance of disease. A trimmed branch is just like an exposed wound and the west season is rife with fungal spores that could hurt your tree. In the summer, humidity has the same effect.

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Seasonal upkeep is okay

Just because trimming is recommended in late winter/early spring, that does not mean you cannot do your share of upkeep all year around. When branches start to get too long, use a pair of handheld shears to trim them back. It is also a good idea to remove any branches that have died or are showing signs of disease. Also, don’t hesitate to remove branches that have been weakened by weather as they could be a hazard.

If you are looking for tree trimming services in the Charlotte area, then Tree Works has a solution for you. Our experienced team of professionals also offers many other kinds of tree services in Matthews, NC and the neighboring communities.