What Is Tree Growth Regulator?

What is a Tree Growth Regulator? How can it help the trees on your property?

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep your trees healthy while also maintaining a canopy size that is ideal for your home (without constant pruning), a Tree Growth Regulator application might be right for you!

Tree Growth Regulator is an application in which a technician will apply a product around the base of the tree to be absorbed by the roots and taken up into the plant. This application helps to gently slow the growth of trees by allowing them to redirect energy from outward growth of the canopy to strengthening root growth. This results in healthier trees, more capable of withstanding prominent stressors in the Urban Environment, such as drought, heat, insect infestations, and disease attacks.

Neighborhood Arborist John Grizzle, located in our Greenville, South Carolina market, has a client regularly tell him how helpful the Tree Growth Regulator application was to the health of her Silver Maple Tree: “A few years ago, I went out to meet with one of our clients in Simpsonville who has a Silver Maple in her backyard. After evaluating, it was clear to see the tree was in heavy decline, but our client loved the tree and really wanted to save it. We put her on a Program, did some pruning, and applied Tree Growth Regulator. Since then, we’ve seen the tree improve drastically; it leafed out perfectly this year, which was awesome! After doing those treatments a few years ago, our client has told us how much she loves her tree and how happy she is that it’s doing well. We’re thrilled that we’ve been able to help keep her Silver Maple healthy!”

The first step in keeping your trees and shrubs healthy is to schedule an appointment with your Neighborhood Arborist. They’ll help you discover the right Program for you and if a Tree Growth Regulator application might be exactly what your tree needs. A healthy tree can better withstand attacks from the Urban Environment, and we’d love to help you choose the best course of action for the plants on your property.

What Is Tree Growth Regulator?

What is a Tree Growth Regulator? How can it help the trees on your property?.

Tree Growth Regulator is an application in which a technician will apply a product around the base of the tree to be absorbed by the roots and taken up into the plant.

The first step in keeping your trees and shrubs healthy is to schedule an appointment with your Neighborhood Arborist.

Hurricane Dorian: What Comes After?

Hurricane Dorian is now behind us and the cleanup has begun. Now that you have had time to regroup and assess any damage, how did your trees fare? Poorly planted and weak trees may be uprooted. Even well-planted, established trees may have been ripped from the ground. Hopefully, no trees came to rest on your home but it is possible that major limbs were torn off and you were left with a lot of branches in your yard. Here are some questions to consider when dealing with any storm damage.

Assess your property. Are there trees that need removal? If they need more than a handsaw, get a certified arborist to do the work. Can smaller limbs be removed? Are there simple fixes you can do? Will local arborists remove the debris? Will the remaining trees be healthy?
Prioritize the damage. What tasks need to be done? What kind of timeline are you looking at? Are there things that need to be done immediately?
Fix what you can. Are there small branches you can cut off? Can you smooth damaged bark? Are there bare roots that need covering?
Check your homeowner’s policy. Is the damage covered in your home owner’s insurance?
Rejuvenate! The storm caused damage, but in that damage, there may be opportunities. Did that downed tree create a sunny spot for a plant you’ve always wanted? Did the wind perfectly prune those hard to reach branches? Take some time and see what your new landscape could look like.

Schneider Tree Care is here to help you with your tree and shrub needs. If your trees and shrubs were impacted by the hurricane, let one of our certified arborists give you a free assessment of what can be done to save or remove your damaged trees. Our tree service professionals are ready to assist you in getting your property looking good again.

Hurricane Dorian: What Comes After?

Assess your property.

Prioritize the damage.

Fix what you can

Check your homeowner’s policy

Rejuvenate

Common Tree Pruning Mistake – Cutting off Too Much

Many species of trees need to be pruned once every few years. However, some trees will indeed grow faster than others. If this is the case on your property, do not give in to the temptation to make this common tree pruning mistake. The error in question is cutting off more than you should. What can seem like a convenience will have a harmful effect on the long-term health of the tree if done consistently.

How Much Should I Prune?

In any given year, 25 percent of the crown is the maximum that should be removed. In most circumstances, a healthy tree will usually only require pruning between 5 and 10 percent. Removing more than a quarter will excessively diminish the tree’s foliage. Insufficient amounts of foliage reduce the tree’s ability to synthesize food from the sun. As a consequence, a malnourished tree will be more susceptible to contracting a fungal disease. It will also be less resilient to any potential invasion of predatory bugs. Decreased foliage will also make the tree more vulnerable to damage from sunscald, which is a condition resulting from too much exposure of the woody parts to the sun. Trees are typically most vulnerable during the winter months when they have no leaves, however because of the reduced intensity of the sun exposure during this time, the damage is less severe. If the wood is too exposed during the warmer months, the effect will be much greater.

What if I Have Pruned Too Much?

If you have already made this mistake with one of your trees, do not panic. Making a one-time error will probably not result in anything catastrophic in most cases. However, you should enlist the help of one of our neighborhood arborists to help you provide proper aftercare in the form of nutrients and water to help the plant recover from the excess removal and be less susceptible to insects and disease during the recovery period. Contact us to learn about our shrub and tree care programs and how we can help you to maintain your property all year long.

Common Tree Pruning Mistake – Cutting off Too Much

How Much Should I Prune?

What if I Have Pruned Too Much?

Summer Drought

If you haven’t noticed, it’s hot outside. This heat is affecting more than just you and I; your trees and shrubs feel it too! Trees need water to survive, and with a lack of rain, they need our help to stay strong. Here are some things you need to know about this summer’s drought and what it means for your trees and shrubs.

Insects

With lots of wet weather last year, more insects have been showing up this year, and the prolonged heat cycle we’ve had (even into this fall season!) has allowed insects to have a longer lifespan. This longer lifespan allows many insects to have multiple generations per year. Multiple generations means that insects have more opportunity to feed on your trees and shrubs. Many insects are attracted to trees and shrubs that are already stressed. Insects that destroy the leaves of their host plant make it difficult for the tree to photosynthesize, or make food.

Stress

Did you know that heat is a big stressor for your trees and shrubs? With a lack of rain, trees are having to resort to their storage of water and nutrients to sustain themselves. Stressed trees are more susceptible to insect infestations; one example our Arborists have seen frequently has been Ambrosia Beetle, still active this late in the season. Ambrosia beetles are actually attracted to the stress signals the tree sends out. Once an Ambrosia beetle has entered the tree, it bores deep into the tree, laying down the Ambrosia fungus as it goes. This fungus actually clogs the main water and nutrient carrying system, called the vascular system, which causes the tree to die quickly.

What Can You Do?

One thing we recommend is our Fall Fertilization application. Providing nutrients back into the soil and root system will help your trees and shrubs stay healthy and sustain themselves better through these hot months until they shut down for winter. If you have questions about your trees and shrubs, give our office a call today to schedule an appointment to meet with your Neighborhood Arborist.

Summer Drought

Insects

What Can You Do?

Why Are My Trees Already Showing Their Fall Colors?

Have you noticed any trees in your yard or neighborhood that are beginning to turn Fall colors within the last month, even though we have several months of our growing season left? Nope, you’re not imagining things; some are changing colors even though it’s not officially Autumn yet. Why is that?

Stressed-out Trees

Trees get stressed from a multitude of factors; whether from the long, hot, dry season, insect and disease issues throughout the year, or just living in the urban environment, trees have stressors around them all the time. Typically, when the Fall season begins, trees will know that their “break” is coming up, and they begin to prepare themselves for the colder winter months. With all the hot weather we’re having, trees are saying “I’m done and ready for a break!” a little earlier than normal; that triggers the color change in the leaves. Normally, trees will begin to turn at the end of September or early October, not at the end of August or in late summer.

What Do the Different Colors Mean?

One important observation in the color change of these leaves is the difference between their colors. Brown leaves are an indication that the tree is beyond the point of stress and is entering the ‘death spiral,” or series of stressors that will eventually kill the tree. Our Neighborhood Arborists have noticed that most trees like Maples, Cherries, and Tulip Poplars are turning; if you have these types of trees on your property, keep your eye on them! Maples usually struggle with girdling root issues, which is another stress factor that can lead to tree death, and Cherries are known to defoliate early because of disease.

Are Your Trees and Shrubs on a Program?

How can you help? Make sure your trees and shrubs are on a program, like our Better Program which addresses insect and disease issues, as well as keeping plants healthy. Maintaining your tree’s health is one of the best things you can do to combat stressors that can lead your tree to decline. Contact us to learn more and let one of our experienced Neighborhood Arborists help you to find the right shrub and tree care program for your property.

Why Are My Trees Already Showing Their Fall Colors?

Stressed-out Trees

What Do the Different Colors Mean?

Are Your Trees and Shrubs on a Program?

How an Arborist Can Protect Your Trees from Lightning Damage

When the weather is warm there is always a chance for thunderstorms. If you have a valuable or beloved tree on your property, you may find yourself holding your breath each time you see a lightning flash. Rather than worry about danger striking your tree, you should consult an arborist about a lightning protection system for your trees. Not only is this a good investment in your landscaping, but it will help you have peace of mind during thunderstorms.

How Lightning Destroys Trees

The reason that lightning is so damaging to trees is not only because of their height but also the fact that the water in the trees is a good conductor of electricity. Lightning strikes on trees can be dramatic, dangerous, and frightening. Electricity can run down the length of the tree underneath the bark, shattering the bark and sending splinters flying. There is also a risk of fire from falling trees or limbs. A sudden lightning strike can kill a tree or damage it beyond repair. This means that the homeowner may have an unexpected expense for removal, cleanup, and property repair. However, a proper lightning protection system can prevent many of these problems.

How an Arborist Can Help

To best protect your trees, consult an arborist. Someone who specializes in local trees will know just how they are affected by their microclimate. An arborist can also recommend the best and safest way to install the system. Typically the arborist will use cables that run from the tree to the ground, creating a conductor that safely draws lightning away from the tree. This does not stop lightning from striking but redirects it to prevent severe damage. At Schneider Tree Care, we are prepared to help you assess the needs of the trees on your property and recommend the best way to care for them. We offer both residential and commercial tree and shrub services such as fertilization, tree removal, and emergency storm response. Please see our website for more details about our tree cabling and bracing services and how you can schedule an arborist.

How an Arborist Can Protect Your Trees from Lightning Damage

How Lightning Destroys Trees

How an Arborist Can Help

3 Things Soil Aeration Can Do for Your Trees and Shrubs

Lawn aeration is often marketed as a lawn care service that’s specifically for your grass. Aeration tools poke holes in your lawn’s soil to break it up and loosen compacted soil without disturbing the turf. This is great for lawns, but it’s just as good for your landscaping shrubs and trees. Here’s how:

1. Let deep root fertilizer treatments reach all the roots.

Trees need a lot of micronutrients, and that can quickly drain your soil. Even mulching and composting might not be enough to keep up with demand. If your tree care service recommends root fertilizer treatments, make sure the soil is loose enough for the treatments to penetrate the soil. Aerated, crumbly soil has plenty of pathways for fertilizers to reach all of your trees’ roots.

2. Give new roots looser soil for strong growth.

When you plant new trees in your yard, they have young root systems that need to stretch out and grab deep into the soil. But compact soil, especially clay soil, is often too hard for new roots to grow through. That means your trees will grow shallow root systems. Not only is that bad for the tree’s general stability, but it also means the roots will grow outward towards your foundation, driveway, or other structures.

3. Let water reach the subsoil.

Compact soil doesn’t just get in your tree roots’ way. It can also stop rainwater and irrigation from reaching the subsoil. Even if your trees initially grew deep roots, they’ll try to shift upwards where the water is trapped. That weakens your tree with shallow and parched roots that will start to die underground. Soil aeration is just one of the many different landscaping treatments that benefit your overall lawn and landscaping. At Schneider Tree Care we offer several types of shrub and tree care programs to keep all of your trees and shrubs in good health.

3 Things Soil Aeration Can Do for Your Trees and Shrubs

Let deep root fertilizer treatments reach all the roots.

Give new roots looser soil for strong growth.

Let water reach the subsoil.

Fall Webworms

If you’ve taken a walk around your neighborhood recently, you may have seen some “spiderwebs” on the branches of the trees. Don’t be fooled; those aren’t webs from spiders! They also are not “Bagworms.” We get many calls into the office asking about Bagworms this time of year. We will discuss Bagworms in another blog.

One of the insects prevalent in our area right now is the Fall Webworm. They are seasonal insects who live inside the web “house” they weave. These little guys show up late summer through early fall, making their homes in many nutting trees like Walnut, River Birch, or Cherry, as well as other ornamentals. Unlike some other caterpillars, Fall Webworms will create their webs at the end of tree branches, instead of closer to the trunk in branch crotches. When taking a closer look at the web, you would most likely see a large number of worms, dead foliage, and defecation (aka – poop).

After spending time overwintering in a cocoon, typically Fall Webworms will begin to emerge during August. After the females lay their eggs on the undersides of leaves, it’s not long before worms start to come out and start spinning their webs. The bigger the worms grow, the larger their webs will get. As they take in more foliage inside their web, you can see them skeletonize the leaves. After they’ve defoliated one section of the tree, they will move to another to begin feeding again.

What’s the best way to treat these pests? Some sprays can be applied to the web; however, many Arborists suggest the best thing to do is to prune them out. Sometimes the web can be hard to penetrate with spray, though it is possible. Pruning ensures that the section of Webworms is removed from the tree right then and there.

Want to know more? Talk to one of our Neighborhood Arborists about Fall Webworms today!

Blogs

What is a Tree Growth Regulator? How can it help the trees on your property?

What Is Tree Growth Regulator?

What is a Tree Growth Regulator? How can it help the trees on your property?.

Tree Growth Regulator is an application in which a technician will apply a product around the base of the tree to be absorbed by the roots and taken up into the plant.

The first step in keeping your trees and shrubs healthy is to schedule an appointment with your Neighborhood Arborist.

Hurricane Dorian: What Comes After?

Assess your property.

Prioritize the damage.

Fix what you can

Check your homeowner’s policy

Rejuvenate

How Much Should I Prune?

What if I Have Pruned Too Much?

Common Tree Pruning Mistake – Cutting off Too Much

How Much Should I Prune?

What if I Have Pruned Too Much?

Insects

Stress

What Can You Do?

Summer Drought

Insects

What Can You Do?

Stressed-out Trees

What Do the Different Colors Mean?

Are Your Trees and Shrubs on a Program?

Why Are My Trees Already Showing Their Fall Colors?

Stressed-out Trees

What Do the Different Colors Mean?

Are Your Trees and Shrubs on a Program?

How Lightning Destroys Trees

How an Arborist Can Help

How an Arborist Can Protect Your Trees from Lightning Damage

How Lightning Destroys Trees

How an Arborist Can Help

1. Let deep root fertilizer treatments reach all the roots.

2. Give new roots looser soil for strong growth.

3. Let water reach the subsoil.

3 Things Soil Aeration Can Do for Your Trees and Shrubs

Let deep root fertilizer treatments reach all the roots.

Give new roots looser soil for strong growth.

Let water reach the subsoil.

Contact Us

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