Advice from A Year Round Tree Expert

One of us Americans favorite activities when the New Year roles around in January is to reflect on our shortcomings and promise ourselves that this year is going to be different. Whether or not we succeed in our future endeavors, A Year Round Tree Expert Company won’t argue the good effects self reflection can have.

We came across a really great article in B’More Green (the Baltimore Sun’s blog) that highlights this last decade’s biggest stories regarding Maryland and the environment. We pulled out some events that this Tree Expert found significant but check out the original article for more fun (remember those crazy snakehead fish?!):

-“Development continues to sprawl through Maryland’s countryside, gobbling up farms and woodlands despite nationally acclaimed Smart Growth laws enacted in late 1990s. Nearly three quarters of land on which new homes were built fell outside designated growth areas. Small towns on Eastern Shore and elsewhere are torn by debates over growth, as developers propose annexing farmland to build thousands of new homes. Gov. Martin O’Malley vows to overhaul Smart Growth, but pushes through only modest legislative reforms by decade’s end. “

- “Severe thunderstorm in June 2002 destroys 460-year-old Wye Oak, Talbot County tree once identified as the largest white oak in the nation. It stood 96 feet tall with a trunk more than 31 feet around. Once felled, its massive bulk was carved into a desk for the governor’s office, court gavels, benches and other ceremonial articles. Scientists succeeded in cloning it before it toppled, however, so its impressive girth may once again tower over the landscape.”

What a great flashback and worthwhile reflection, thanks B-More Green!

The Baltimore area has been experiencing temperatures in the high teens and low 20s but the wind has made it feel closer to zero. When  winds reach more than 40 mph power outages and felled trees in your yard are more likely.

The heavy wind has already knocked down trees and tree limbs throughout the area, leaving numerous neighborhoods without power. If your own trees or branches have been toppled or you have an emergency tree removal that needs to be done please call your Baltimore tree expert at 410-335-8675.

Sources:

http://www.baltimoresbesttreeservice.com/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/03/AR2010010301058.html

http://weatherextremes.blogspot.com/2010/01/coldsnowthaw.html

So it looks like we’re having a white Christmas after all! All of the snowfall that we’ve had this weekend got us thinking about last minute preparations we can make for the holiday season as well as the weather when it blows in storms like the one we just had:

If you haven’t purchased your Christmas tree yet, you’d better get moving. In case your curious as to the difference between the types of trees available for purchase, here is a quick guide. The Douglas Fir has soft-thin-green needles that don’t shed and smells wonderful. The Nobel Fir has a good shape, blue-green needles and spacing between branches (good for hanging ornaments!) . The Fraser Fir is the most popular because of the space between its branches and is always chosen by the White House.

If you need a shovel or any other home improvement tool, or if your still looking for a great gift idea, take a look at the Sears Coupons our neighboring blog, One Project Closer, has put together for the holidays. There are Holiday Gift Card Specials, tools, appliances and more!

Sources:

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/gardening/2009/12/the_perfect_tree.html

http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/

Trees can be pruned in the winter:

Now that the leaves have dropped and the winter storms are moving in, you should definitely start thinking of weather-proofing your yard to avoid major damage to your home, property and electrical outages. “The second winter storm in four days smacked the tri-state area Tuesday night with several inches of snow topped with a thin coat of sleet and freezing rain,” said the Cumberland Times News of Maryland.

Winter is a good time to remove deadwood and hanging branches and stabilize the tree for both the weight of snow and ice and high winds. It is also a good time to remove that precarious or dead tree to avoid property damages, in case the tree falls due to the weather. “Good pruning is something of an art, as with a good haircut,” wrote the Naples News in an article written about pruning done badly. You can be sure that here at AYRTE your tree pruning and tree removal, even the most dangerous, are in good hands. We also handle all aspects of communicating with your utility company, if necessary, and will safely care for your tree and have your services restored the same day.

“Conifers are able to ignore snow, ice, and harsh cold because their leaves, or needles, have a small surface area and the cells contain an antifreeze,” said Jeffrey A. Simmons, an environmental scientist at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. “Maples, oaks, birches, hickories, and such, on the other hand, have broad leaves that would be severely frost-damaged by repeated freezing and thawing.”

Sources:

A Year Round Tree Expert Company (Maryland Tree Expert Lic# 000197) – http://www.baltimoresbesttreeservice.com

http://audubonmagazine.org/features0909/greenDesign-FallFoliage.html

http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_344003449.html

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/nov/19/never-give-your-tree-crew-cut-and-other-words-warn/

Local: Maryland’s State Highway Admin. has begun planting approximately 15,000 trees on the Eastern Shore. And don’t forget the prizes that Gov. Martin O’Malley is giving away for planting your own tree as part of the state’s Tree Initiative.

Local: Politicians want to protect Loch Raven Reservoir water supply and nature lovers trying to protect the right to enjoy the public area. Most recently a law against mountain bikers and hikers has been created on creating illegal trails and rangers have been patrolling and ticketing those ignoring the warnings.

Local: Md Dept. of Agriculture has put out a Maryland Christmas Tree Fact Sheet! Did you know it can take as many as 15 years to grow a tree of typical height (6 – 7 feet) or as little as 4
years, but the average growing time is 7 years?

Sources:

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/21402149/detail.html

http://your4state.com/content/fulltext/?cid=81091

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/outdoors/bal-sp.thomson13dec13,0,1181092.story

http://www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/christmastreefacts.pdf

It’s a familiar icon, the Christmas tree. And whether you celebrate the holidays with a tree of your own or not, it can’t be denied that this American symbol has come to mean a lot to many people right here in Maryland.

In fact, the Maryland State Fairground in Timonium is hosting the annual Festival of Trees, one of the largest holiday events on the East Coast! There are more than 500 trees showcased this year all decorated with a variety of themes. The Festival of Trees is a main staple for Maryland and has been ongoing for more than two decades. It has raised more than $12 million for Baltimore’s Kennedy Krieger Center, a hospital that helps children with disabilities.

The Christmas tree also causes quite a stir for people that are die-hard “real tree” versus “fake tree” fans. Each group has their own reasons for choosing real versus fake during the holiday season, whether economic or environmental.

Maryland’s governor Martin O’Malley is a real-tree supporter and has emphasized how buying real trees contributes to local farmers and the economy. There are aproximately 200 Christmas tree farmers in Maryland but O’Malley has stated that as more families have opted for fake trees over the years that it is hurting the tree farming industry.

Fake-tree supporters argue that they aren’t taking a tree away from its natural enviroment and that it saves their family money in the long run to use the same tree every year and not have to buy a new one. Real-tree supporters respond that plastic trees are not biodegradable and toxic to produce. Real-tree supporters also point out that people can buy a potted live tree and then replant or donate it to replant. Cut trees can also be recycled at the end of the season to remulch and like other crops they clean the air.

We’re not going to argue either way here at AYRTE, we’re just good old-fashioned tree lovers. The only thing we will say is that we love any season that glorifies trees!

Sources:

Photo courtesy of WJZ.com

http://your4state.com/content/fulltext/?cid=90882

http://www.sustainabilityninja.com/eco-news/real-or-fake-which-christmas-tree-is-more-eco-friendly-88529/

http://wjz.com/local/festival.of.trees.2.1337249.html

Autumn is a time of change. It is certainly beautiful as the season brings with it a change of color to all of the region’s trees. Even our fellow Maryland bloggers have been struck with the beauty, “ahh…fall on the East Coast! It is the time of year in Maryland when trees are literally raining leaves,” wrote the bird couple in their most recent post.

The fall colors are an effect of the trees stopping their production of a chemical call chlorophyll, which makes their leaves the normal green that we see during spring and summer. When the temperature drops and the days become shorter, the trees put their energy into reestablishing their roots for the winter. When they stop making chlorophyll to do this, the leaves begin to die. This wilting, however, is what we see in the beautiful colors that make us all stop and marvel.

Autumn also brings us allergies. In the Maryland area we usually have an abundance of ragweed pollen and mold spores because the ragweed plant matures in late summer and early fall and then releases it’s seeds. The windy and dry climate of fall also make it easier for the pollen seeds to travel. And fall is the peak time for mold as well. ” Baltimore, Richmond and Washington, D.C., all fall within the top 100 most challenging places to live with allergies,” writes the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Autumn is also a good time to plant, a subject that we have been covering a lot lately because of Maryland’s 50,000 tree project.

There are a lot of good reasons that people should plant in the fall. The soil is warm after baking all summer in the high temperatures and the trees naturally switch into winter-is-coming mode and are digging in their roots.

One aspect of autumn that is just as important and is often overlooked, however, is taking time to prune trees. Tree trimming can make autumn leaf cleanup easier because the trees are thinned out so that there are not as much leaves that will end up falling to the ground. It is also the best time to do it, besides making it easier for you to rake, because it is easier for the tree experts to see through the branches and make the best possible look for the tree by taking in its entire shape. And most importantly, as winter is just around the corner, it takes the danger out of falling tree branches that are more likely to occur during bad weather in the colder months ahead.

According to the National Arborist Association, “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.”

If you have any questions or need help with your trees give Steve, your local tree expert, a call!

410-335-8675

Sources:

http://www.birdwatchingblog.net/2009/11/07/the-creation-of-a-thousand-forests/

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/s_649551.html

http://eyeknowhow.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-to-safely-cut-down-tree.html

http://www.omaha.com/article/20090914/NEWS01/709149944/0/FRONTPAGE

http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/522667.html?nav=738

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2009/10/attack_of_the_autumn_allergies.html?hpid=dynamiclead

The Bay and the land that make up it’s watershed are expected to receive $50 million in funds from the federal government this fall; which means more help for tree planting too!

So how exactly do trees effect the Chesapeake Bay?

It’s no new find that trees in Maryland effect the Chesapeake Bay because our state as well as parts of 5 others (DE, NY, PA, VA, WV) and DC make up what is called the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This means that more than 100,000 streams or rivers flow into the bay from these areas and that their trees have a direct connection with these waterways which eventually connect back to the bay.

A big tree within the Chesapeake Bay watershed can eliminate 5,000 gallons of storm water runoff (which can contain pesticides, gasoline and other pollution) that would normally flow into the streams and rivers that flow back to the Chesapeake Bay.

Of course trees planted directly along the bank of the Chesapeake Bay or one of its tributaries have an even more important role. They protect the soil from eroding with their roots as well as the protect with their leaves, by softening the rain and allowing smaller plants to grow – creating even more protection from erosion! The trees’ roots filter the rainwater and their leaves filter dust, smoke and pollen. They can also offer shelter to fish within roots that are along the banks.

Sources:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bal-md.trails02nov02,0,5378720.story

http://weblogs.marylandweather.com/2009/05/pretty_view_of_the_chesapeake.html

http://www.hometownglenburnie.com/news/mdgazette/2009/04/15-13/Ask+a+scientist.html

http://www.chesapeakebay.net/wshed.htm

Yes, you heard correctly. In case you haven’t been following this, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley has set a goal for the state to plant 50,000 trees by the end of 2010. So far 21,112 trees have been planted for the project, which means there is still a lot of digging to do!

Planting Trees in MD

In case you need a reason to plant a tree in your yard here are a few: trees add beauty, they cool the air and provide shade which saves energy costs, they slow storm water runoff, they provide food and shelter to animals, they protect soil from erosion and replenish the nutrients, they offset greenhouse gases and absorb harmful pollutants in the air and water, and oh yeah, they provide the oxygen we breathe!

So to encourage tree planting in Maryland a $25 coupon is available from the the Marylanders Plant Trees program and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources towards the purchase of a native tree that costs $50 or more from participating nurseries.

If you plant a tree and register it, you are eligible for a monthly drawing to win an overnight stays at the Rocky Gap Resort, yacht tours of the Chesapeake Bay, locally-grown Christmas trees and Maryland State park passes.

Marylanders can also buy trees for themselves or others and have them planted for them through the Gift of Trees program, which is sponsored by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

If you live in Baltimore city you might even get a free tree through a  program called Tree Baltimore, which is aimed at adding shade and beautifying city neighborhoods. The free trees are given to community groups and associations and the city’s Forestry Division plants approximately 1,000 street trees in the spring as well as the fall. The Forestry Division can be contacted to requests that the trees be planted in front of your property.

Happy Healthy Trees

Now that you want to plant a tree let’s get down to the nitty gritty.  What is the difference between bare-root trees and those that are balled with burlap you ask?

Bare-root trees have their roots exposed and are not shipped with the soil around them. The soil is always very heavy and bare roots make it easier for transportation but the roots become very dry by the time you get the tree to where you want to plant it. If you get a bare-root tree you should soak the roots in  water for a couple of hours before planting. This will re-hydrate the roots and gives you a better chance that the tree will live.

On the other hand, balled and burlaped plants may be heavy but their roots are healthier because of the  soil that surrounds them. Once the tree is transported to it’s desired location make sure you remove the burlap bag from the roots before planting or the roots will strangle one another and the tree will die.

So enjoy planting your new trees and make sure to take care of them so that they will add beauty and value to your home for years to come. If you need help with any of this give your local Year Round Tree Expert a call at 410-335-8675! Ask for Steve!!

*To receive your tree coupon go to www.trees.maryland.gov and click on the “Coupon for $25 Off the purchase of one tree” button in the bottom right corner of the web page.

Sources:

http://wtop.com/?sid=1650022&nid=47

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/green/2009/10/now_is_the_time_to_plant_a_tre_1.html

http://www.examiner.com/x-5784-Laurel-Community-Volunteer-Examiner~y2009m10d25-Marylanders-Plant-Trees-program-one-year-old-and-still-growing

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/green/2009/05/baltimore_is_endeavoring_to_do.html

http://features.csmonitor.com/gardening/2009/07/17/how-to-keep-your-trees-thriving/

http://www.trees.maryland.gov/

Baltimore tree enthusiasts you’re going to love this Tree News update:

Local: A few Baltimore residents in Hampden are dressing their trees with homemade sweaters. This urban outdoor art movement has been dubbed “graffiti knitting”, which apparently is a new trend spreading across the country. Graffiti knitting doesn’t stop with trees but has been placed on park benches and light poles as well.

National: The city of Pineville in Louisiana has been named Tree City USA for the eight year by the Arbor Day Foundation, National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service because of its commitment to community forestry.

National: The Los Angelos fire, which killed two firefighters and burnt down many homes, has destroyed more than 160,000 acres of trees and brush over the last two weeks. Also on the national front, the southwest is experiencing drought this year that has killed hundreds of thousands of trees.

International: World’s oldest living organism, a tree in Tasmania known as King’s Lomatia, has been cloned. The tree, which has shiny green leaves and pink flowers, is more than 43,000 years old and was infected by a deadly fungus. It is now safe.

Sources:

Picture courtesy of the Baltimore Sun

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-md.knit08sep08,0,4362505.story

http://nhsbaltimore.blogspot.com/2009/09/add-color-to-trees-around-your-home.html

http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20090910/NEWS01/90910014

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/09/station-fire-is-60-contained-has-burned-more-than-160000-acres.html

http://twitter.com/LATimesfires

http://world-news.newsvine.com/_news/2009/09/02/3219548-efforts-to-clear-brush-before-la-fire-fell-short?commentId=9214149

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D9AEI2G81.html