Why Is My Newly Planted Tree Dying?

Whether its a new tree or you decided to move a tree you already planted in your yard, planting a tree in a new area can cause a lot of adverse reactions for a number of reasons.

Root Bound

Most of the trees you’ll find at nurseries are root bound from being in small containers. This means, as the tree has grown the roots have conformed to the shape of the container, becoming bound together and unable to separate, depending on the severity. You want to make sure to try and shake these roots out and release the roots from each other before planting the tree to prevent root girdling in the future. Sometimes, trees that are so badly root bound will not survive. If your not sure if a tree has become too root bound to survive, call the tree experts at North American Tree Service to transplant the tree for you.

Transplant Shock

When your moving a tree from one spot to another, or from a container into the ground, it’s best to make the transition as smooth as possible to prevent the tree from going in to shock. Good soil, lots of water and mulching 5 inches away from the trunk will ensure the tree gets a healthy start. However, if you notice yellowing of the leaves or the tree dropping leaves, it’s best to call a tree expert at North American Tree Service to inquire for a free estimate on your trees in Grayson, Ga. as the tree could need more intensive care such as a fertilization.

Over-pruning

Young trees do not have the capacity to heal themselves from improper or over pruning as a mature tree would. Some trees you might find grow a little funky in their first year but it is best to properly prune them in their dormant season. Make sure to have a tree trimmer in Grayson, Ga. such as North American Tree Service perform the actual prunes on your trees as this can be detrimental to the trees health. Removing the dead or dying branches is necessary though, so the tree isn’t using all of its nutrients to repair a dead branch, allowing it to direct the nutrients in the proper direction for the tree to flourish.

If none of these apply to your tree’s condition, don’t panic! Call a professional tree service, North American Tree Service for more information on how to move forward with the tree in it’s condition. Try to avoid re-planting until you talk to a certified arborist in Grayson, Ga. to prevent the tree from going into an additional shock.

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Signs Your Tree Is Under Stress

Most trees that have reached maturity will be fairly easy to care for an require minimum maintenance. However, other factors can also come into play. If you have noticed any of the following signs or symptoms of stress on your trees in Stone Mountain, Ga. be sure to call a Certified Arborist at North American Tree Service to schedule a free estimate for your trees before it is too late! Here are a few signs to look out for:

Dropping Limbs

Limb dropping is a very common thing that could be from either a poor pruning job that resulted in the limbs not healing properly to form strong bonds, internal tree problems such as bacterial wetwood or just part of that specific tree’s nature. River birch trees for example are known to drop large limbs and branches year round without any cause or explanation. However, more often than not, a tree that is dropping limbs in Stone Mountain, Ga. is a definite cause for worry and should be assessed by an Arborist at North American Tree Service as soon as possible.

Yellowing/Dropping Leaves

Overwatering or drought are the most common causes of the trees dropping leaves. This could also be a nutrient deficiency in the soil. When you call North American Tree Service, we can perform soil test in Stone Mountain, Ga. and determine if the soil is causing a problem for the tree and if any nutrients need to be added.

Slimy Discharge

Improper pruning cuts leave your trees exposed to all types of damage including pests and slime flux. This bacterial deisease causes sap to ooze from the wound. If this has already infected you trees, its best to call a Certified Arborist as soon as possible to assess the damage and give you a treatment plan.

Peeling Bark

Trees will naturally exfoliate themselves and rid the dead layers as it grows. However disease, insect and animal fungus are the most common reasons for peeling bark. These are usually the last stages of tree decline, meaning the tree most likely will not be able to be saved at this point. However, one of our certified Arborist’s will be able to determine how far along the decay has actually gone and if the tree can be saved or not.

Ants Around The Trunk

Carpenter ants only nest and feed on decayed wood, meaning there could be a much larger problem with the tree. The actual decay of the tree could be caused by a number of factors including drought, environmental stress, disease etc. This could be determined at the time of the estimate by one of our certified Arborists at North American Tree Service.

Mushrooms Near The Base

Honey fungus is a deadly fungi that attacks a trees root system and causes decline. Signs of honey fungi are flat top, yellow-brown mushrooms near the base of your trees. These are usually cause by overwatering since mushrooms and other fungi thrive in extremely wet conditions. Not performing proper prunes on your dead and diseased limbs can also cause the invasion of this fungi. If you notice this fungi growing on your property in Stone Mountain, Ga. be sure to call a Certified Aborist from North American Tree Service to assess the other trees and plants around it, as this disease is easily spread.

Keep your trees healthy and call today for an estimate on your trees by a Certified Arborist from North American Tree Service!

How To Care For Your Fruit Trees

Fruit trees carry a lot of value to a home for many reasons! Most produce beautiful foliage along with producing your own types of fruits are always big property value uppers. These tips will ensure your fruit trees will thrive and produce wonderful juicy fruit for years to come!

Thinning

Some fruits have a tendency to rot when they are touching one another. Thinning is a technique that is commonly used on apple and peach trees. Essentially you will want to aim for about 4-6 inches in between each fruit. This might seem like a wasteful practice, since you’ll be picking off seemingly perfect fruit and disposing of it but trust me, you’ll thank yourself in the long run when your fruit comes in with little to no disease, rot or insects. The best time to start performing this technique is right when the fruit starts to set.

Proper Pruning

Dead and dying limbs play a huge role in the overall health of the tree. Which is why it is important to make sure you perform routine pruning yearly on your tree in the dormant season ONLY. Making sure the company performing the pruning on your trees is reputable is a MUST, as improper pruning can lead to more issues and eventually decline of the tree as a whole. Call North American Tree Service for proper pruning on your trees in Athens, Ga.

Fungicide/Insecticide

Unfortunately, sometimes even after all the previous steps are performed correctly, you may run into some issues with pests or fungus growing on the leaves or the trunk of the tree. North American Tree Service also does regular fertilization in Athens, Ga. along with fungicide or insecticides as needed.

A certified Arborist from North American Tree Service in Athens, Ga will be able to properly diagnose and treat all of your beloved trees correctly. Make sure to give us a call if you have any questions or concerns or would like to schedule an appointment with an Arborist for an estimate!

Why Are My Japanese Maple Leaves Scorching?

Summer is here and the Japanese Maples have blossomed! However, sometimes their leaves are so showy. They have a tendency to brown, curl under, change colors or scorch/burn completely. In the worst cases, they will shrivel up and fall off the tree completely, more common local cases are just mild scorch or burning from too much sun and too little water. We’ve listed a few things to check on your maple to ensure it’s not a bigger problem under the surface:

Over watering

Yes, over watering can actually cause your tree to show some of these symptoms. While Japanese Maples can definitely appreciate wet soil especially during its first few years of being planted, over watering is definitely a common cause of decline. If your leaves are turning brown/black at the tips, this could be a sign of over watering. It’s best to perform a simple soil test using your finger to determine the moisture content of the soil. Make sure you are allowing a proper amount of time in between watering to avoid root rot.

Full sun

After all, Japanese Maples are “part shade” trees. They can adapt well to the blistering sun Georgia has to offer but still thrive best when they receive some sort of shade throughout the day. If you notice your Maple giving you scorched leaves year after year, it might be time to think about relocating it or building some type of filtered shade to put over it. Make sure when transplanting a tree you hire a tree service in Lilburn, Ga. with certified Arborists to help assist you as this can be detrimental to the Japanese Maples health.

Wet Leaves

Make sure when watering your Japanese Maple, especially if it is done in the afternoon, you keep the water off of the leaves and strictly to the base of the tree, as this can cause the leaves to scald.

What not to do:

-Overwater in hopes it will stop the scalding.

-Try to relocate the tree yourself.

-Drench it with fertilizer.

-Spray it with harmful chemicals.

What to do:

Call North American Tree Service to have a certified Arborist in Lilburn, Ga. provide you with a diagnosis of the tree and a plan to resolve the problem. We perform tree transplanting, routine fertilizations and regular pruning/trimming. Call us today for a free tree estimate in Lilburn, Ga.!

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6 Trees That Require Next To No Maintenance

When it comes to planting trees on your landscape in Lawrenceville, Ga., you want to be careful which trees you select. Some trees drop large branches year round, while some drop unpleasant sticky balls that are very painful to step on, among much more. We put together a list of some of your lowest maintenance trees to make the choosing a bit easier.

1. Japanese Maple - Aside from yearly essential pruning, these popular beauties will brighten up your landscape asking little to nothing in return. Planting them is the most maintenance you will do on these guys as they do require good drainage and water in their first year of being planted, but it’s all smooth sailing after that.

2. Autumn Blaze Maple - In the fall, most of us look forward to seeing the changing of the leaves and the bright yellows and reds all up and down the roads. Most of these bright colors are the maple species changing colors. The Autumn blaze is a cross between the northern red maple and the silver, revealing the bright red colors produced in the fall. These trees are considered very popular because of their color and low maintenance nature.

3. Katsura - This tree is much like the maples, just a bit smaller. So if you have a smaller landscape and are looking for low maintenance, disease resistance with the four season appeal of the maples, look no further!

4. Green Giant Arborvitae - Looking for a great privacy tree without all the diseases of Leyland cypress? These are large, evergreen trees that provide great dense foliage for maximum privacy with minimum maintenance. Little to no pruning is necessary, and its a very fast grower in good conditions!

5. Chinese Fringe Tree - Fragrance, fast growing, flowering, only 25 feet tall, durable, disease resistant, what more could you want out of a tree?! The Chinese Fringe Tree is the most underrated tree in the area giving its nature and characteristics. Its maximum height is around 25 feet so it will provide plenty of shade without towering over your house.

6. Chinese Elm -This tree is much like the American Elm, however is disease resistant to the common Dutch Elm Disease, deadly beetles and phloem necrosis. The maximum height is around 40-50 feet and can tolerate drought, clay soil and pollution so if you live close to a city this is your tree!

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If you are interested in having a tree planted in your yard in Lawrenceville, Ga. we can help! North American Tree Service specializes in tree planting in Lawrenceville Ga. and is ready to help you with your next project! Fully staffed with certified arborists to properly diagnose and treat any diseased trees on your property and replace them with lower maintenance specimen. Call today for a free estimate on tree planting in Lawrenceville Ga.

Top 5 Trees With The Most Invasive Root Systems

The roots of a tree in Stone Mountain often extend down much further and much wider than we would think. Root systems are usually as wide and as deep as the crown of the tree and often branch out much further than that. This can cause a number of problems including:

• Lawnmower obstructions - As a homeowner, the last thing we want while mowing our grass is to run over anything that could potentially ruin or dull our blades. These invasive root systems will not only damage your lawnmower, in fact, the lawnmower will do more damage on the tree. Running over roots, bumping into trunks, etc. all greatly damage the health of your trees and can cause eventual decline or death.

• Piping interference - When your trees roots are aggressive and water seeking, this can lead them to invade your water or piping lines underground causing leaks in your septic or water systems.

There are some species that are most likely to develop aggressive root systems including:

River birch- Starting off with the absolute worst first, River birch trees in Stone Mountain are the absolute most invasive roots because they are the most water seeking. If this beauty is deprived of any water, it will seep into your septic system in search of it. Aside from the root problem, this tree sure is beautiful but will constantly drop limbs and bark throughout the year. This is one messy son of a Birch!

Hybrid Poplar - Often used for engineered lumber products, energy and pulpwood, these massive species have a root system that will dive as far as 160-450 feet underground with little regard to anything nearby.

Silver Maple - The silver maple is a prized tree for its beautiful fall colors and unique leaves but be careful to leave these guys away from any other plants, trees, structures or lawns. They have extremely invasive root systems that are water and space hogs and are very fast growing.

Willows - Willow species are among our favorite type all around, aside from the dreaded root systems in Stone Mountain. This water loving species will seek out water as long and as far as necessary, damaging everything in its path!

American Elm - The most popular commercially planted tree in Stone Mountain is the American Elm. You’ll often find this species outside of restaurants and in business complexes. However, planting these trees too close to sidewalks can be detrimental to the pavement or other plants nearby. Their roots are extensive but also shallow, damaging pavement and sidewalks along the way.

A lot of the trees we have listed have a lot of benefits as well and it really comes down to the location of the planting not the species itself. Make sure to plant these in an area where it has plenty of space for growth and you shouldn’t have any problems! If you are looking for a certified Arborist in Stone Mountain Ga to do some tree planting for you, we can help! We have a staff filled with highly trained technicians ready to assist you with your next project! Call today!

(770) 554-9406



Top 5 Trees To Plant for Privacy

Let’s face it, not all of us have been blessed with neighbors we enjoy seeing every day. If this is your situation, planting privacy trees is the perfect solution! We have come up with a list of the best and fastest growing trees to plant in your lawn in Georgia for maximum privacy!

Leyland Cypress

This is the go to species when planting for privacy but not having the patience to wait years and years for a few inches. They are very symmetrical and professional in shape and growth habit, giving your landscape a manicured professional look. Amazingly, they grown at at rate of 3-5 feet per year, reaching a total height of 40-60 feet tall. They can adapt very well to any type of soil or condition so no need for a soil test.

Hybrid Poplar

The hybrid poplar is second on the list, as their branches do not fill out to be as dense as the Leylands but their growth rate is about 5 -8 feet per year. Reaching heights of 40-50 feet, this isn’t a species you want to put close to power lines. However, they can be harvested for firewood after about 6 years. They prefer wet soils and full sun, so prior to planting make sure you can provide for the nutritional needs of this monster!

Green Giant Arborvitae

You may have spotted this species in busy apartment complexes or outside of restaurants nearby. Known for its uniform appearance, the Aborvitae grows at a fast rate of over 3 feet per year. Growing to a mature height of around 50-60 feet tall, this dense tree will provide more than enough privacy for your property.

Dawn Redwood

Redwood species are typically home to all areas of the west coast. However this species can survive in zones 5-8 with a semi- fast growth rate of over 2 feet per year. This beauty should be planted in the fall to allow time for the roots to establish before the cold sets in. Redwoods prefer full sun, wet soil and well drained soil.

Cryptomeria ( Japanese Cedar)

Last but certainly not least, the Japanese Cedar is a rapid grower of about 3-5 feet per year with a mature height of 30-40 feet tall. This trees branches are very densley packed, like the leylands, providing a substantial amount of privacy per tree. They prefer full sun to part shade and are very drought tolerant for those of us who aren’t good with high maintenance trees.

If you need help picking out a privacy tree in Monroe, Ga. our team of certified Arborists would love to assist you! Call or come by our office today for more information!

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Tips for Caring for a Redbud Tree

Spring has sprung and we’ve all been affected by the dreaded pollen this year. However, the trees and plants are blooming providing our landscapes with something to be proud of this spring! The eastern Redbud is one of the most commonly chosen trees for residential and commercial properties in Stone Mountain, Ga. and there are many reasons why!

• They are very fast growers and usually start to blossom within 4 years of being planted.

• Smaller landscapes hold them well, as they are naturally small growers, usually only up to 20 foot high with a similar spread.

• Their flowers are bright purple/pink and provide wonderful color in spring and in fall.

• Their blooms attracts a variety of wildlife including butterflies and songbirds.

• They carry a very distinct heart-shaped leaf, very small in size.

• It has a great adaptability in different zones and can sometimes thrive very well in other areas.

The Cercis canadensis (Eastern Red bud) is native to North America and was used as a healing tree to many Native American tribes. The bark on the Red bud was believed to treat whooping cough, many fevers, congestion, vomiting and even treat leukemia! The red bud is one of the very few trees to produce flowers and fruit on the same branches. Unfortunately these fruits are a cuisine to many white tailed deer and livestock. Early settlers would take the fruit and add to their salads.

Here are a few tips for caring for your new Red bud:

• They prefer full sun and partial shade so finding the right spot in your landscape with a decent amount of afternoon shade just might be the key to the survival of this beauty.

• No need to test your soil! The Red bud adapts pretty much wherever you place it. Loamy, clay, acidic, alkaline etc. soil are all favorites of this tree.

• Placing about 3 inches of organic composted mulches around the base of the tree, but without touching the trunk is extremely beneficial for the health of the tree and can help retain moisture in the soil to prevent over frequent watering. We offer 100% organic mulches in Stone Mountain, Ga. recycled from the trees we remove from our customers properties.

• Maintaining regular pruning by hiring a certified Arborist to formulate a plan for your tree to ensure the health of your Red bud.

Having a certiifed Arborist in Stone Mountain check on your trees is completely free and beneficial to the health of the trees! Call us today for a free estimate on your property!