Texas Tree Struck By Lightning? Tree Services Austin

The Texas Hill Country has a wide variety of trees. Unfortunately, the risk of your trees getting struck by lightning is especially high in this area. Dry conditions and flat terrain can spell disaster for a tree caught in a Texas storm. If you have a tree that has been struck by lightning, you will need to call about tree services in Austin. You may be wondering what lightning actually does to a tree. Will your tree need to be removed?
A lot of trees struck by lightning have only a little damage to some limbs. In these cases, you may only need a tree trimmer to come out and get rid of the damaged branches. This can help you to avoid large open wounds on the tree and restore it to the shape that you would like.
Some trees have the bark stripped off by lightning. Sometimes the stripping leaves a definite line straight down or wrapping around the trunk. In this case, you will need to consult professional tree services in Austin. You may choose to request an arborist to assess this type of damage. Stripped bark, large holes, wounds and large limb splits leave a tree defenseless against disease and fungi. A certified arborist will recommend every step possible to save the tree before suggesting removal.
In the case of split trunks or split crotches, cabling and bracing could save your tree. Cabling and bracing give the tree a strong central structure that can help it survive the Texas weather. Again, a certified arborist should consult you on your options.
Lightning can produce a lot of heat when it strikes a tree. Sometimes the heat can travel straight down the trunk causing massive water loss and severe structural damage. Even if the tree does not look extremely damaged, it is possible that the heat from the lightning destroyed some of the trees internal structure. Lightning heat can also do a lot of damage to the tree roots. You may not know that you have this type of damage until the tree starts to die. You should immediately seek the advice of an arborist to ensure that the tree does not pose a hazard to you or your property.
Insects can quickly invade a tree that has been struck by lightning, so do not waste any time. Get it looked at and treated right away. Fungi and other diseases can easily infest a lightning damaged tree as well. Call about Austin tree service for trees struck by lightning that may need the attention of a certified arborist.

About the Author: Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

Selecting Healthy Trees: Austin

When visiting the nursery, there are a few things to consider before you buy a tree. You may initially need to meet with a professional arborist to make a wise decision. An arborist will evaluate your soil to see if it is acidic or alkaline. They will also evaluate the area and recommend trees that do well in your area. Considerations such as shade, sandy soil, wet or dry areas, proximity to structures and streets will be made. They will also narrow down your search for the type of tree that you like and give you some options that you may not have considered. Hiring an arborist to do this can help you to avoid wasted time and money spent on a tree that will not necessarily do well in the area that you are hoping to plant it in.
Once you have your tree picked out, you will need to visit a nursery and choose the right tree. The first thing to look for is evenly spaced branches. You will need a single trunk that preferably has alternating branches substantial enough to become large supporting structures in the future. V-shaped trunks or trunks that are split at the bottom are not acceptable. These trees usually have uneven amounts of limbs on each trunk and are extremely prone to later splitting. If this type of tree lives long enough to be large, then the tree can easily split in half and pose a hazard to life and property around it.
The next thing to check is the root system. If the roots are crowded then the tree will not root well and will most likely die within the first year. Roots that snake around the container should be avoided. Check and make sure that roots have not been broken off or severely damaged during transport. You want a tree that is planted in a container large enough to contain all of the roots while giving them room to branch out.
Look for wounds, disease and signs of insect infestation before you buy. Wounds caused by wire wraps can be deadly to a tree. Young trees should not be pruned until they have been planted in their permanent position for about a year. If you see a young tree pruned in a nursery, then you should avoid it. Early pruning can scar a tree’s water line inside the trunk. This early pruning can disrupt the flow of water and nutrients to the rest of the tree.
Once you have the correct tree chosen, take care to plant it correctly and water it regularly. After the first year, you will need to consult with an arborist again about tree trimming Austin. Texas trees need special care and proper trimming to survive, so you shouldn’t take any chances by attempting to trim or prune trees yourself.

About the Author: Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

Bark Beetle Damage? Tree Services Austin

Bark beetles are a destructive presence among Central Texas trees. There are quite a few different varieties of these pests that can attack many different types of trees. Bark beetles will usually seek out trees that are already sick or injured. They can cause a rapid decline of a tree’s health and even contribute to its death. The bark beetle rarely kills a healthy tree.
Most bark beetles bore into the bark of the tree and get underneath to the inner bark. They cause tree frass, a fine dusty material, to form on the tree. You can usually see it when bark falls off, but sometimes you will see it externally between bark pieces. Some species of bark beetles will make little tunnels of frass on the tree that will be pink, brown or white. Other species will bore holes in the tree and you may notice sap seeping from the holes. Some bark beetles go in through the tip ends of branches and you may notice dead leaves at the ends of the branches.
A lot of bark beetles will attack from the top of the tree. You may notice a tree not doing well up high in the canopy. Dead leaves and limbs will start to form. Bark beetle activity not only affects the tree’s health, but bark beetles can also carry fungus spores from one tree to another. Dutch Elm disease can be spread from tree to tree by bark beetles. This can be devastating for an area and is one good reason that bark beetle infestations should be immediately taken care of. You may see fungal growth near the bases of limbs, notice wilted leaves, or a green tree will turn yellow out of season.
You may need to consult an arborist for bark beetle control. Sometimes infected trees need to be totally removed. A good arborist will determine if the problem can be controlled by only removing infested limbs. Other trees in the area may need to be sprayed to prevent bark beetles from infesting them as well.
Austin has an abundance of different tree species that can be prone to bark beetle invasions, including the ever-abundant cedar. Recognizing the signs of bark beetles early can help save not only the affected tree, but other trees in your area. You will need to contact an arborist at tree services Austin to take care of the problem.

About the Author: Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

Tree Trimming Austin: When to Call a Professional

The windy season is on its way here in Austin. This has a lot of people preparing their trees for possible high winds or tornados. This involves cabling, bracing and tree trimming. Some homeowners may be tempted to do some of the work themselves, but there are some things that you should consider before you go forward.
Tree arborists are trained on how to maintain certain types of trees. There is a specific way to cut branches and it can vary from tree to tree. If you just go and start sawing off limbs, you could end up leaving your trees susceptible to disease, pests, or even death.
Certain trees may withstand tree trimming better at specific times of the year. An arborist is specifically trained in knowing when and how to trim certain trees. They will also give you tips for caring for your tree after it is trimmed, cabled or braced. The arborist will cut only certain parts of certain limbs to make your tree grow in the direction that you want it to grow. The shape of the tree can usually be controlled by an arborist’s design.
When you hire a professional arborist to trim your trees, you can be assured that they will take the utmost care in not damaging the tree. They will give your tree a complete check-up, looking for signs of infestation, fungus or disease as they go. Make sure that the arborist you hire has the right certification and insurance. You may ask for recommendations from past clients and ask to see examples of trees that the arborist has taken care of.
If cabling or bracing is needed, make sure that you do not try to take this on yourself. The results could be dangerous. If you incorrectly brace a tree, then it can become very heavy as it grows and the improper bracing or cabling can break causing property damage, personal injury and result in the death of the tree. This area of tree care is best left up to the professionals.
If you have a tree braced or cabled, you may want to have the arborist come back and make adjustments periodically. There may be some adjustments that you can make yourself, but be sure to have the arborist show you before you attempt it. An arborist’s job is to save as many trees as possible. Make sure that you do not just hire someone from a tree trimming service in Austin that is not a certified arborist. You will probably just get someone who bought a chainsaw and a trailer and then deemed themselves a tree trimmer. Certified arborists go through extensive school and training before they are allowed to be called an arborist. When you search for tree trimming Austin, make sure that you use a certified arborist. Your trees will thank you.

About the Author: Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.