Davey Tree Flipbooks

Spring Cleaning A healthy landscape doesn't just happen by itself. It takes a little planning and TLC that starts in the spring. T hose good, old, reliable trees in our yards may seem like they are always and will always stand by us. They seem independent and self-reliant. But, as any tree care professional will tell you, healthy trees don't just happen. While trees may be low maintenance, this doesn't mean one should ignore caring for their tall, leafy outdoor companions. Safeguarding your landscape investment means seasonally tending to your trees. And spring is a great time to take a good look at how the trees in your landscape are faring and review the important steps to ensure their good health throughout the year. CLEAN UP TIME Fall and winter leave a lot of debris on the ground. Spring is a great time to remove waste like old leaves, twigs, fallen fruits and any trash or other garbage the wind has blown beneath your trees. FRESH START Been awhile since you revived the mulch under your Give nature a chance. She knows her business better than we do." ~ Michel de Montaigne A fter such a long winter, springtime is a joy to behold. The grey days are mostly finished, and green, sunny days and blue skies are emerging. While we're sure to experience a cold spell even though the official first day of spring has passed, we can still start to savor all of the sensations it brings. SPRING SIGHTS The biggest symbol of spring is the return of color. Skies are bluer. Grass is growing brilliant green. Flowers are blooming, burst- ing in crisp whites, buttery yellows and soft pinks. Trees showcase buds, clustering along branches as days grow warmer. SPRING SOUNDS The world seems to come alive in spring, as if everyone is waking up from a long winter's nap. Birds conduct their sympho- ny of tweets and twitters. Animals scurry and skitter to and fro in the leftover leaves and emerging grass. April showers bring the pitter-patter of raindrops. SPRING SCENTS Spring brings an intoxicating array of aro- mas—from fresh cut grass to the perfumy scent of lilac and other spring bloomers wafting in through open windows. Even fresh soil and rain come with their own rich, earthy smells. SPRING SENSATIONS The sun on one's skin. A soft breeze. There's nothing like those first signs of spring and how they make one feel. After such a long winter, springtime is finally here! Enjoy the season! Savor Spring Embrace the sights, sounds, smells and sensations of spring. trees? A 2- to 3-inch layer is great for retaining soil moisture and suppressing those persistent spring weeds. Make sure to avoid mulching too near the tree trunk to avoid causing decay or encouraging diseases. WATER WISE Irrigation can clear away any salt and other winter leftovers from tree roots. Make sure irrigation systems are watering tree roots and not tree leaves to avoid fostering disease. TRIM IT UP Part of cleaning up involves removing any dead or damaged branches from trees. Once trees begin to leaf out, dead branches become easier to spot. TRAINED FOR TLC Professionally trained arborists perform thorough inspections of tree trunks, branches and the surrounding areas during consultations, looking for signs of damage, disease or pest threats, as well as recommendations on how to treat any problems. How to stay on good speaking terms with your trees. Talking TREE I t's true. Trees communicate through their own language. They have something to tell us, but we have to be able to understand them. Talking trees is one language we at Davey are comfortable speaking. So when landscapes wake up from their winter slumbers, we are ready to listen. SHHH… LISTEN First, listen for obvious cries for help. Are there any dead or dying limbs, branches that may have broken or split during the harsh winter? If so, prune out the dead tissue to support healthy growth and prevent injury to anyone who might be passing under the tree. Be on the lookout for damage from animals feeding on buds, bark below the snow line, twigs and small branches. Even if you're new to "speaking tree," trust your instincts here; if something looks wrong, you may have a problem. THE NOT SO OBVIOUS SIGNS Next, turn your attention to not-so-obvious communication. Perhaps the tree has damage from low or unstable temperatures. For example, winter drying, caused by low temperatures and reduced humidity, decreases evergreen trees' and shrubs' abilities to find and retain adequate moisture. Winter sunscald is another condition that can impact your plants, warming them with bright, direct sunlight, and then suddenly exposing them to frigid nighttime air. This can create vertical cracks in the bark. SEEING IS BELIEVING Be on the lookout for other potential signs of winter damage, such as poor leaf color, discolored bark, fungus growth, abnormal bud appearance and/or leaf size, heavy shedding of twigs, and oozing sap, all of which could be signs of root, leaf or needle injury. SHRUBS SPEAK, TOO Continue the dialogue with shrubs as well, as certain common varieties such as rhododendron, holly and English boxwood are prone to winter damage. BUILD THE RELATIONSHIP So once you've decoded these messages, what should you do? Your professionally trained arborist can recommend specific treatments depending on the injury, but often the best advice is to maintain good cultural practices to help your trees thrive. Stay on good speaking terms with your trees by properly watering, mulching and fertilizing them. Like any relationship, the better you communicate, the happier you—and your trees—will be. (please print) Your Name: _____________________________________________________ Your Address: ___________________________________________________ Your City/State/Zip: ______________________________________________ Your Email Address: ______________________________________________ Friend's Name: __________________________________________________ Friend's Phone: __________________________________________________ Friend's Address: ________________________________________________ Friend's City/State/Zip: ___________________________________________ Friend's Email Address: ___________________________________________ REFER A FRIEND AND RECEIVE $50 TOWARD OUR SERVICES! Refer a friend* who contracts for at least $200 of our services and save $50 off future services with us! Just fill out the form below and send it to us or complete it online at www.davey.com/friend. Please inform your friend we will be contacting them to provide a free, no-obligation estimate. After their work has been performed, we will credit your account. It's that simple! * To be eligible, referred friends must be U.S. residents and not have had work performed by The Davey Tree Expert Company or their affiliates in the past 24 months. Eligible participants' properties must be within Davey's working territory. For a list of available locations, refer to www.davey.com. Not applicable with any other offer. $50 5 Fun Facts About 1 Enjoying the extra daylight? The reason there's more of it in spring is because the earth's axis tilts towards the sun at this time of year. 2 Feeling like you have more energy and vitality? Spring fever is not just a myth; the body actually may experience physiological changes due to changes in diet, hormone production and temperature. 3 Several musicians have sung about spring, including Elvis Presley, "Spring Fever;" Frank Sinatra, "Suddenly It's Spring;" Van Morrison, "Celtic Spring;" Billie Holiday, "Some Other Spring;" and Donna Summer, "Spring Affair." 4 According to KidsHealth.org, children tend to grow a bit faster in the springtime than at other times of the year. 5 Spring is when birds return home after migrating in winter. Approximately 1,800 of the world's 10,000 bird species migrate long distances. SPRING

• Cover