The trees in your yard are your pride and joy, the centerpiece of all your summer landscaping efforts. Now, after the one-two punch of thick snow and heavy ice we had yesterday and last night, your beloved trees are drooping. Bent and sagging, maybe even broken or toppled over, under all that weight.

Now what?

Do not shake limbs to remove frozen snow or ice.

It’s best to wait until temperatures rise above freezing because it may cause breakage or damage. Plants are flexible, so knocking off the weight of the snow and ice may cause them to “snap” back, potentially damaging the circulatory system. Have a certified arborist examine damaged branches for signs of weakness.

Removing snow and ice from shrubs.

If shrubs are weighed down with snow, sweep the snow off the branches with a broom. Always sweep upward. Sweeping from the top down can result in more broken branches. If the snow is frozen onto branches and will not easily dislodge by sweeping, allow it to melt naturally. Don’t shake trees and shrubs to remove snow.

Have broken limbs removed safely. 

Hanging branches can be a danger to people and property. Once the snow has melted, have the damage assessed. If a limb broke from the weight of ice or snow, have it removed and the stub properly cut. Cutting in the wrong place can lead to decay, failure in future storms, and tree death. Trees and shrubs bent, but not broken, will often recover without special care.

Prevention is key.

Proper trimming is one way and the removal of hazardous, dead or weak branches. 

There are many sources of fungal diseases that can cause an evergreen to appear sick or dying and greatly weaken the overall health of the evergreen trees and or shrubs. Treatments of these diseases often depends on the extent of the infection, the type of fungus, and the impact they will have in any particular landscape.

Plant diseases rarely kill the tree or shrub quickly. Fungal diseases make the plant sickly looking and unsightly. See photo – credit U.S. Forest Service. They weaken the overall vigor of the plant. And when disease infections are allowed to spread year after year their toll becomes evident as you can see a noticeable decline in the trees and shrubs health and beauty. Left uncared for your trees and shrubs will continue to decline to a condition of being unsightly or dead and that the only action at this point is for them to be removed.

Treatment Options

In terms of fungal infections many fungicide treatment methods work as a preventative but not as a means of killing existing infections. Early spring dormant and needle development stage treatments will help protect against new disease fungus outbreaks.

The use of Dormant Oil as well as other targeted insecticides should also be part of any plant disease managed care program. Homoptera insects, (such as aphids) feed on fungus and thus create yet another challenge for the trees over all vigor.

Some diseases such as “Root Rot” can seldom or ever be treated with any level of success. Once infected the only method of control is to remove so to avoid and minimize the disease spread or other plants in the general area.

Fungicide treatments can’t do it alone. Proper pruning helps to prevent further spore spreading to healthy branches. Thinning of the tree or shrub helps to improve air flow, increases sun light and thus helps improve the plants overall vigor.

Since disease weaken the trees and shrubs vigor it is also in the best interest of your valued plants to be soil treated and deep root fertilized when and as needed. These treatments should not be applied until a qualified arborist has reviewed your particular landscape and assessed if the plants should be fertilized, with what method and type of material and when, (not all things are the same when it comes to fertilizing your trees and shrubs).

The goal for any tree and shrub is to keep them as healthy and beautiful as possible so we can all enjoy them. The mission of Branch Tree Service is to provide care and treatments which meet your needs.

For help identifying health care needs in your landscape please contact a professional arborist here at Branch Tree Service, Inc.

Healthy trees grow stronger, live longer and look healthier. It’s a basic requirement to maintaining nice looking trees.

Why

In the forest there’s an abundance of organic nutrients thriving in the soil. These natural based nutrients work into the roots of plants and continually provide food year after year to our forested landscape. However, the trees and shrubs growing in any given landscape doesn’t have the luxury of these organic and recycled food sources. The trees and shrubs in the landscape have what we call , “restricted root zones”. Restricted can mean the trees are planted in the wrong type of soil. It also means instead of being surrounded by a forest floor of organic nutrients the trees in the landscape may rather be surrounded by driveways, brick pavers, manicured lawns, buildings, homes and decorative rock beds, and therefore never enjoy the benefits offered by natures natural fertilizing process. Often times our lawns or flowers get the minimal benefit from any topical fertilizer application or water as the trees of roots and mature shrubs lay deeper in the ground and receive minimal absorption from broad spread fertilizer treatments and watering.

When

When to fertilize is vital to having healthy growing trees and shrubs. Some of the signs that can help you assess the need for root fertilizing are:

• Undersized leaves

• Tree canopy or evergreen shrubs are looking thinner then in years past

• Dead branches

• Fewer and smaller new growth buds

• Leaves that look as those they have various leaf veins

• Leaves and needles looking pale in color or even yellowish when they should be strong, healthy dark green

If your trees and shrubs are showing any of these listed symptoms you certainly want to call the “Tree Professionals” at Branch Tree Service, Inc.

Knowing when to fertilize and with what particular formula is vital for a successful fertilizer treatment to work. Some trees and shrubs can be fertilized throughout most of the Michigan seasons. While there are yet some plants that can actually be harmed by fertilizing at the wrong time. Yes timing, method of application as well as formula is extremely important .

Spring

Fertilizing in the spring supports new growth as leaves and needles begin to expand. Spring and early summer treatments helps enhance uptake of vital macro and micro food supplements needed to keep them healthy throughout the season.

Fall

Fall fertilizing replaces vital nutrients often lost throughout the growing season. This important fall fertilizer treatment also promotes “root growth” which improves the plants long term health and vigor.

Emergency Treatments

There are times when the tree or even shrub has such a nutrient deficiency that waiting is not an option and your plants need help NOW. This is an extremely sensitive condition as now weather, the health of the tree, follow up care, and location all play vital roles as to how best address the needs of the tree without incurring further stress, (yes a wrong treatment can have negative impact on the health of your trees ands shrubs).

For best results Branch Tree Service, Inc. provides a wide range of soil amending nutrient formula’s that are tailored to meet the needs of our clients trees and shrubs. We also believe in using slow activated fertilizers which reduce undue stress on the root system while releasing a slow measure of fertilizer/nutrients as and when needed.

Not sure if your trees and shrubs need fertilizing Don’t know the correct formula to use or how many times you should treat? You don’t have to! Let us do what we do best. Taking care of trees and shrubs Is what we do – we are arborists!

Contact us today for a free assessment of your tree and shrubs nutrient conditions and possible treatment needs. We’re always just a phone call away!

As the biggest plants on our planet, trees store carbon, give us oxygen and enrich our soils. Trees also provide homes and food for our much desired wildlife.

Trees Benefit Our Health 

Tree canopies of foliage act as physical filters trapping dust and absorbing pollutants. Each tree removes up to 1.7 kilos of airborne pollutants every year. Trees also provide shade from solar radiation and help reduce noise.  There are over 100 species of trees and shrubs known to have medical properties. For example, the oil extracted from the bark of birch trees has antiseptic properties. Also, research shows going from a busy office setting to a yard with an abundance of trees and shrubs slows your stress level and drops your blood pressure.

Trees Benefit Our Ego System

Trees absorb carbon dioxide as they grow and thus helps reduce concerns of globe warming. They reduce wind speeds and cool the air.  Trees can reduce air temperature by up to 15 degrees. Trees help prevent soil erosion and absorb unlimited amounts of stormwater.

Trees Encourage Wildlife

Trees host complex microhabitats .  They offer food sources and shelter for many types of birds as well as other types of needed wildlife. One oak tree can be home to many species of birds.

Trees Are Good For The Community

Trees strengthen the distinctive character of any community. Trees located in local parks also provide excellent places to gather for event as well as where children can play and discover more about the importance of trees for the next generation.

Trees Are Vital To our Future

For clean air, to reduce noise, to provide habitat for our wildlife we should also seek to care for our trees. We all should be tree huggers since our future depends on them.

Need help preserving and caring for your trees? Call the people who work every day to better our earth.  Call the professionals here at Branch Tree Service, Inc. 586-756-7737.

There are numerous types of mosquitoes found all throughout Michigan.  And of them 12 species carry dangerous venom, which can endanger your health. Eastern Equine Encephalitis is but one of the deadly diseases carried by mosquitoes and should cause significant concern for those over 50 and under 15 years old.

A lot of rain during the month of May followed by unseasonable heat and humidity provides the perfect combination for  massive mosquito breeding.  With state models showing higher population growth over last year, we can anticipate higher volumes of mosquito infestations in our communities.

What actions can and should you take?

1. Cover your entire body as much as possible when outdoors.

2. Use repellent products to help protect your skin, (be careful to read the labels and use only as instructed).

3. Reduce breeding areas in your yard, (ex. remove low standing puddles, water in bird baths, clogged gutters, etc.)

4. Schedule property spray treatments from licensed pesticide professionals.

Don’t let the fear of mosquitoes dictate your day when you have the choice to do something about them! Call us today to discuss a treatment plan that is right for you! Request a quote or call us at 586.756.7737 today.

Certain diseases are often times very persistent. Even with early development target sprays (such as those applied in spring) to help reduce the harmful spread of diseases, there are times when further treatments are required for adequate control. Diseases persistently infect trees throughout the entire growing season and some are even active during the dormant winter months (depending on air and ground temperature). 

Diseases persistently infect trees throughout the entire growing season

Cultural care also impacts the success of any tree care program intended to minimize disease infections. Tree pruning and crown thinning help insure better trans-flow of much needed and required photosynthesis for the trees overall vigor. Mulching to protect root flares from sun scale or “weed whacking blight” is another good cultural practice. And, certainly any tree that is struggling with disease infection throughout the growing season will benefit from a scheduled fall season, deep root fertilization treatment which will put needed and required nutrients back in the xylem cell walls.  

Fall (September and October) Micro Trunk and Sub-Soil Injections are treatment methods available when combating elongated and highly resistant diseases. Often times factors surrounding the trees location make injections an excellent treatment choice. Anthracnose and apple scab are 2 diseases which are very aggressive and season-long persistent.  Fall injections work particularly well for these diseases (as well as many others) and oftentimes offer up to 2 years of protection.

For further help contact the Tree Doctors at Branch Tree Service, Inc.

Emerald Ash Borer was first officially found in the Detroit area in the summer of 2002. This borer insect (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) in it’s larvae stage was and is found to be a devastating threat to ash trees. Currently, the Emerald Ash Borer can be found invading ash trees in 35 states and parts of Canad.

What We Know About Emerald Ash Borer:

• Insect most likely came to the USA by way of cargo on pallets coming from Asia.

• First official sightings were found in ash trees located in the Detroit, Michigan area.

• Adult beetles are metallic green and about 1/2″ long

• It attacks only ash trees (fraxinus)

• They damage ash trees while in their larvae stage

• The adults leave a D shaped exit hole in the bark.

• Woodpeckers love to feed on EAB larvae.

Once EAB landed in America it didn’t take long for this invasive pest to begin killing thousands and eventually millions of ash trees. From the beginning, several pesticides were given approval as trial treatments in hopes of controlling EAB.  At the time there were many who stated that there was no treatment or control for EAB as many home owners waited helplessly to see what would become of their ash trees.

In the summer of 2002 as the devastation of EAB was being declared, our arborist team at Branch Tree Service did not accept defeat from this invasive borer. With the approval from the state of Michigan, Branch Tree Service began various trial treatments with the goal of controlling Emerald Ash Borer. The more we learned about EAB the better the science became, thus pioneering the way for better treatment options with greater levels of success.

The more we learned about EAB the better the science became, thus pioneering the way for better treatment options with greater levels of success.

For the people who started care early and remained committed to treatments, many of their ash trees have weathered the EAB invasion and proudly still have healthy ash trees as part of their landscapes today. The picture of the ash tree shown above is but one example of what ash trees can be with proactive care and how they’re still a wonderful tree to enjoy.  The picture of this ash tree was taken October 11, 2020 and it’s located in Washington, Michigan at one of Branch Tree Services long time clients landscape.

In lower eastern Michigan, we find very low pressure from EAB.  Those trees which still stand tall can be easily cared for without the need for invasive trunk injections.  New treatment options can be performed with  minimum cost and are very effective in controlling a number of pest threats.

Branch Tree Service is proud to have numerous clients which have and still do call upon us to treat and care for their ash trees. If your trees are looking sick or weak, don’t wait to be reactive as so many did regarding their ash trees.  Contact the Tree Doctor’s and professional ISA Certified Arborists at Branch Tree Service today.

At Branch Tree Service we are Solution Driven! Call us at 586-756-7737 or request a quote today.

Desiccation is the technical term for what is more commonly called “winter burn”. Desiccation is defined as removal of moisture. In the case of trees and shrubs this most often occurs when the ground is freezing, the sun is blazing and no moisture is available as the ground is frozen.  Desiccation most often happens in plants that have more shallow root systems, require consistent levels of water and still have needles or overwintering leaves still attached.

As the landscape becomes more and more valuable to our homes and businesses we can hardly afford to let this winter burn scenario devastate our once beautiful trees and shrubs.

Here are some helpful ways to help protect these assets:

• Water around the root balls one to two times per week right up until the ground freezes.

• Apply a thick layer of wood chips, mulch or even leaves around your plants.  This can be liberal (such as 8 inches thick) but make sure to remove the mulch in the spring.

• Prune out non-productive branches as this will help ensure that all needed moisture goes directly where it is most needed in the spring.

• Cover the entire plants (preferably with burlap) where size allows for you to do so.

• Apply environmentally, user friendly chemical sprays that act as a barrier to help hold moisture in during the winter transition.  Best results are found by applying an early winter treatment and again, a late winter treatment to provide better transitional protection.

Plants to be most concerned about in cold climate areas (such as us in southeast Michigan) include:

• All types of yew shrubs

• All species of Rhododendron and Azalea

• Certain types of Spruce and Pine

• Hemlock

• Cypress

• Certain species of Arborvitae

• Most types of Boxwood shrubs

Need help? Contact the arborists at Branch Tree Service.  We provide a wide range of services and treatments helping to ensure your landscape is protected against “Winter Burn”. Timing of treatments and or cultural service is very important so contact us today!

We offer year round assistance to keep your trees and shrubs safe, healthy and beautiful all year long.