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Take a Look at Your Trees
As the weather warms chances are you'll find yourself spending more time outside enjoying mother nature. Whether landscaping is part of your job or you’re a weekend warrior, now is a good time to take a look at the plants on your property and make sure everything is in good shape.
If you keep a watchful eye on your landscaping, you've probably seen lichen in the past. Although most of us would rather ...
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You might have fertilized your lawn before and this may help your lawn grow, but is it really what it needs? Is there a deficiency in your soil that fertilizer is only bandaging? Could you be over fertilizing it? It’s important to understand exactly what your lawn area needs to help you buy the products you need to resolve your issue! This same concept can be applied to your trees.
Soil tests allow you to see what your soil might be miss...
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Storm Damage to Your Trees can be Dangerous
If you live in the St. Louis area, you know just how quickly a storm can pop up while it moves in and out quickly. They bring heavy downfalls of rain, huge winds, and lightning, not to mention a ton of snow in the winter. It's important to assess your trees after a big storm of any type.
It doesn't take long for a storm to damage trees near your home, which are the same trees that protect ...
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Sometimes while you’re out and about, you may notice some trees have abnormally spaced and sized limbs. Some of them may appear too low to the ground, while some may appear to be missing from the lower half of the tree making the tree look awkwardly empty. Structural pruning is an aspect of tree care that can extend the life of your tree, and bring out its true beauty if done correctly. This aspect of tree care is ignored by many homeowners...
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A lot can go wrong with trees. Between weather, animals, and humans there’s a lot of factors to be worried about! Being able to diagnose problems with your trees can help you prevent these same issues in the future. Now, not all defects can be avoided. Sometimes it has to do with the species of said tree, age, drought, pests, or disease. It’s impossible to protect your trees from everything. There are plenty of measures that can be ta...
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During the winter months, conditions for trees can be harsh. When trees start to decline it’s not normally due to one thing, but rather a combination of things. These different elements put the tree under stress. A tree under stress is more susceptible to disease, pests, and keeps it from effectively transporting nutrients. The cold temperatures, snow/ice accumulation, salt being spread on roads, and sun scalding can be detrimental or even ...
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Cool Season Grasses (Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, Tall Fescue, and Fine Fescue):
Mow at regular heights until growth stops.
Apply lime if soil test indicates need.
Fertilize moderately after cool days slow leaf growth (1 to 1 ½ pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft.) Nutrients at this time will encourage root growth and thickening of turf. Soluble nitrogen fertilizers are used more efficiently by turf in late fall; aerat...
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Fall is the perfect time of year to prepare your trees for the upcoming winter months as well as preparing them for the upcoming spring season. We recommend the following for your trees and shrubs:
Clean up trees and shrubs in anticipation of winter and to allow for optimal spring growth by keeping beds and turf areas free from leaves, debris, etc. It is also important to prune plants free of dead, diseased, or branches that might be consid...
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The best time to plant trees and shrubs is, in our opinion, mid-September through late-October.
There are several reasons as to why this time period is preferred to spring including (1) moderate to cool temperatures, which reduces heat stress risk, and also encourages root growth as air temperatures drop below soil temperatures, (2) fall moisture helps to establish root systems, and (3) transpiration is typically low, which increases the poten...
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This article will discuss how to extend the blooming season of knock-out rose (rosa sp.) bushes through “deadheading”.
Before we get started…a few comments on safety and hygiene.
First off, roses have thorns, which most everyone knows. It is recommended that you wear gloves while deadheading your rose bushes. Also, be mindful about long sleeves and pants to protect arms and legs. When grabbing spent blooms or dead stem...
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Pin Oaks are one of the most prolific trees in the Saint Louis area. They grow very rapidly and provide deep shade, quickly.
Recently, many oak trees across town have been infected with Oak Wilt and suddenly die within six weeks of showing signs of outward infection.
Pin Oaks and other oak trees should NOT be pruned in the Spring (March through June).
Clipper begins scheduling Oak prunings in July after the danger of sprea...
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The Ash trees planted along our streets, in our parks, neighborhoods to replace the ill-fated American Elm are now themselves at risk. The borer will likely destroy ninety five percent of Ash trees in the next five years; only treated trees will survive.
If you have an Ash tree that you would like to keep, Clipper Tree Service is able to inject your tree and inoculate it against insect attack.
A recent study from the Nature Conservancy details some of the major impacts of urban trees on human health. Urban trees improve air quality and help moderate temperature. Who knew that improving your quality of life could be as simple as planting a tree?
Check of this article from VOX that does a great job explaining the study's findings.
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Check out this cute youtube video produced by the Missouri Department of Conservation about the many benefits that trees create for you and your family!
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We have started our latest project in Town and Country...concrete walkway tear out and landscape renovation. The plan is to install a paver walkway and native landscape beds. More to come!!
Check out this article form Tree Services Magazine about preparing your trees for winter and preventing winter damage.
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Check out this beautiful Sour Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) tree our crew planted today!
Fall is a great time to plant new trees! We plant all trees according to the International Society of Arboriculture specifications. Be sure to check out this handy guide from TreesAreGood.com
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Vigilance against the Emerald Ash Borer is a year-round struggle. Don't spread beetles in firewood! Buy local firewood to reduce the risk of transporting the Emerald Ash Borer into new areas.
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How much do you know about what happens inside of leaves to give them their lovely fall colors?
Check out this article from the Missouri Department of Conservation to learn more about the science behind your trees' changing hues.
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Consider converting a space in your yard into a Butterfly Garden. We can help you design a "butterfly friendly" space to help in the restoration of monarchs and other species.
Check out a recently installed butterfly garden (pictured). The space was originally slated for asphalt patching and sealing, but instead, was planted with milkweed, coreopsis, purple aster, coneflowers, black eyed susan and joe pye weed - all wrapped in a liri...
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This was our first year participating in Saluting Branches: Arborist United for Veteran Rememberance. It was an honor to offer up our services to Jefferson Barracks cemetery today in honor of those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom, flag and country.
According to research conducted by the University of Illinois, children with ADHD benefit greatly from spending time in a green outdoor setting. Make sure to take your kids to the park and/or plant more trees at home!
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Want to stimulate your retail business? Invest in some trees! Research shows that trees in urban shopping areas can increase the time and money consumers are willing to spend.
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Urban areas with more tree cover have less crime! Check out this fascinating article from the Alliance for Community Trees
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David Nowak is a lead researcher at the U.S. Forest Service’s Northern Research Station in Syracuse, New York. His efforts to quanitfy the benefits of trees has led to i-Tree, a free peice of software for creating tree inventories. I-Tree can be utulized by both community members as well as researchers. After creating a tree inventory, users can calulate the monetary impacts of their trees. This can help communities weigh the benefits and t...
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Trees make an immediate visual impact, but what do you know about the other ways they affect their surroundings? Trees provide shade, temperature and water regulation, food, and structural impacts on water bodies. In these ways and more they help create prime habitat for fish, and thereby also for fishermen!
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Trees have far-reaching positive impacts way beyond just making your yard more beautiful. Did you know that studies support a positive correlation between more trees and less violence, faster healing, and economic benefits? Follow the link below to read more =)
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Trees remove many pollutants from the air, including nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns. New research by the US Forest Service has analyzed data linking trees, weather, pollution readings, and human population and health. "...In 2010, America's trees saved 850 lives and prevented about 670,000 cases of severe respiratory problems, according to the research."
Re...
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The shade from the trees in your yard can have a significant impact on not only your yard, but also the temperature inside your home.
Check out the article from the Chicago Tirbune linked below to learn more.
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"One of the simplest ways trees in urban areas can help diminish heat is shade. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that shaded areas can be up to 20-45 degrees cooler than areas that lack shade"
Intrigued? Read the article linked below to learn more!
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Check out this great infographic created by the The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was found in Milwaukee back in 2012.
While native trees are ecologically significant, non-native trees have value in urban settings as well. Judiciously chosen ornamentals may be more tolerant of the harsh conditions in some urban areas.
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Did you know that urban trees have a tremendous mitigating impact on storm water? Follow the link below to check out this interactive poster from the Arbor Day Foundation.
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Check out this fascinating article from The Atlantic on the findings of a US Forest Service study on the correlation between the mortalies of trees and people. According to the article, "When the U.S. Forest Service looked at mortality rates in counties affected by the emerald ash borer, they found increased mortality rates. Specifically, more people were dying of cardiovascular and lower respiratory tract illness -- the first and third...
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Research conducted by Purdue University found "that strategies relying mostly on saving ash trees were less expensive and produced a larger “forest” than strategies that involved removing and replacing trees" infested by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Early action is important as heavily infested trees are much harder to save.
Read the article by following the link below
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Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird...It's a plane...
It's Martha Langill, our Arborist Apprentice!!
Martha joined the ranks of our Clipper Tree climbers by spending her first day in the trees. We continue to be impressed with her and are proud to call her one of our own.
Keep up the good work!!
--Your Clipper Colleagues
Check out this article on how trees affect street temperatures! A 20F (10C) difference was measured in Australia between a tree lined and treeless street.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/31788660/trees-cut-heat-on-city-s-streets/
"Galls cause worry for tree owners each year, but in truth, most of these odd-shaped growths are more of a curiosity than concern.
Galls have long been a part of tree life in Missouri and elsewhere in the central U.S. Some galls are small, pea-size growths on leaves. Others appear on twigs or stems and are persimmon-size and sometimes larger. Discover nature and learn more about galls with MDC and the Springfield News-Leader below.&quo...
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How and when should you water your trees? The Missouri Department of Conservation provides the answers in the link below.
http://mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/tree-care/watering-shade-trees
Planting trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants makes your yard attractive to both you and your wildlife friends.
Check out this link for informative tips
A recent study found a positive relationship between seeing more urban tree coverage and lower levels of stress. Get out there and plant some more trees for your mental well being!
Read more here
Fight the urban heat island effect by planting more trees! Did you know that trees "can help reduce peak summer temperatures by 2–9°F"?
Check out this link to read more
Emerald Ash Borers and a fungus causing Ash Die Back Disease are wreaking havoc on Britian's ash trees. However, scientists are recruiting community members to monitor ash trees. This will help inform decisions on which trees to remove and which trees to save.
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Are your trees suffering from any of these maladies common in our region? Follow the link to the Missouri Botanical Garden's website to read more about the "Top 10 Disease and Environmental Problems of Trees in the Lower Midwest".
EAB Discovered in Chesterfield, MO
Infected ash trees have been found at the intersection of White Rd. and Appalachian Trail (near Conway Rd). See photos below courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation and Metropolitan Forestry Services.
Larvae and Pupae have been sent to Missouri Department of Conservation for confirmation.
Can you name some of the benefits from having a urban forest? Check out this list from American Forests to learn more about how the trees on your street are having a positive impact.
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Injected multiple ash trees this week! Learn more about the Emerald Ash Borer at the University of Missouri Extension Website.
http://extension.missouri.edu/treepests/EABsigns.aspx
"Adults of the EMERALD ASH BORER (EAB) will start emerging about the time that black locust trees bloom in late April or early May. EAB adults are metallic green, bullet-shaped and about a half-inch long.
...Where EAB infestations exist, adult emergence is expected to start after April 20 in southern Missouri, during the last week of April across the middle of the state, and in early May in northern Missouri. EAB adults then will be aroun...
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"One of the major causes of tree failure is root damage. When a tree’s root system has been extensively damaged, the whole tree can fall to the ground...or onto your house."
Follow the link to read The Tree Care Industry's blog post about indicators and causes of root issues.
A recent study found that women with more greenery around their homes had a lower mortality rate than those living near less greenery. Researchers found "the associations within urban areas as well as rural areas. Any increased vegetation — more street trees, for example — seems to decrease mortality rates."
Follow the link to read more!
Nor only do trees improve air quality, lower energy costs, and increase property values, a recent study found that in urban areas, " the greener the surroundings, the fewer the number of crimes that occurred."
Follow this link to read more!
"Topping is perhaps the most harmful tree pruning practice...Learn why topping is not an acceptable pruning technique and discover recommended alternatives." ~International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/resources/whytoppinghurts.pdf
"A Plant Health Care (PHC) program offers a proactive and holistic approach to maintaining tree and shrub health." Follow the link to read the Tree Care Industry Association's blog post.
http://tcia.org/blog/business/health-insurance-your-trees-and-shrubs
Emerald ash borer (EAB) infestations have been detected for the first time in 12 Missouri counties this spring. In southeastern Missouri, EAB was detected in Carter, Dent, Iron, Phelps, Ripley, Shannon, Stoddard, St. Francois, St. Genevieve, and Texas counties. A total of 27 counties are now known to have EAB infestations across Missouri.
You can prepare for EAB’s arrival by knowing the signs of an EAB infestation. Report EAB suspec...
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