Ash Juniper Trees

Ash juniper trees are native to Texas. Many Texans hate these trees though. The male trees produce large amounts of pollen from December into February to fertilize the female flowers. These trees are either male or female. The male trees produce pollen and the females produce berries. The pollen produced by the male trees travels through the air in thick clouds at times. If you live near one your yard and car gets covered with it. A lot of people are allergic to the pollen also and get what is called cedar fever.

Ash juniper is often referred to as cedar but it isn’t a cedar tree. It is referred to by many names: Texas cedar, mountain cedar, rock cedar, blueberry juniper, enebro and cedro. Many people call it a cedar because the ash juniper is aromatic like cedar and has the same insect repelling qualities.

Ash junipers can grow in very poor soil and need little water. They can grow in full sun or in the shade. However, they grow very slowly in full sun and tend to branch out a lot near the bottom making them look more like a shrub. They can grow more upright in shady conditions if they are planted amongst other things and are crowded. Austin tree service professionals prune these trees to allow the trunks to grow straight and then they develop a nice crown.

Ash junipers are not stately trees like live oaks but are an interesting complement to them and other trees in a stand.

The ash juniper berries are blue and loved by birds. If you want to attract birds the female ash juniper berries will do this. These berries are popular in Northern Europe and the United States in marinades for meat, mostly pork but are also used in stews and soup. They have a sage like flavor that is both sweet and bitter. The oil is extracted from the trees and used as a disinfectant. Inhaling the oil from steaming juniper foliage clears the sinuses because the oil contains about 70% camphor. Camphor has a distinct odor that most people recognize because it is used in mothballs. Some people burn the foliage to disinfect the air.

The wood is very durable and is used in everything from cabinets to fence posts and in cedar lined closets and cedar chests. In fact, cedar posts have been used on ranches in Texas for many years by cattle ranchers to support miles of barbed wire.

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.

Do You Have Formosan Termites? Austin, TX

Formosan termites are a relatively new threat to Austin homes and trees. Unlike other termites, they feed on living trees and can destroy huge areas of forestry. It is believed that Formosan termites were introduced into Central Texas by non-Texas native timbers, mulch and logs.
Formosan termites look a lot like ants with wings. They fly and swarm for the first couple of weeks in June. You may see them swarming around street lights in your neighborhood. When the termites quit swarming, they shed their wings and go into the ground or wood structures to lay their eggs. A Formosan termite nest can span 300 square feet and they can eat through wood at an astounding rate. This has earned them the nickname of “super termite”.
If you suspect Formosan termites in your home, you can trap them with some sticky paper, such as in a roach bait box. Take them to an insect control company to have them identified. If you suspect that they have infested a tree, however, then you should call a tree doctor, or Arborist to take care of the problem.
Arborists are trained in taking care of infestations. They will be able to determine the extent of the nest. If only a few branches need to be removed and disposed of to prevent spreading, then they will be able to let you know and your tree could be saved. If the entire tree is affected and cannot be saved, then you need an Arborist to properly remove the tree and take it to a safe area for extermination. Do not make the mistake of cutting down the tree yourself or hiring a regular tree removal company to do the job. If you do, then you only risk spreading the Formosan termites to other areas of your property. You can not only infest other trees, but also your home and the homes and trees of your neighbors.
An Arborist will survey the entire area surrounding the spot where the Formosan termites were found. You need this service to ensure that there are no other colonies lurking nearby. Formosan termites are mostly subterranean creatures. You may see them coming up from the ground through cracks in concrete, around wet areas of your yard such as air conditioning units or gutter drainage, but you can also have them on your roof or pretty much any area that gets wet.
Large colonies will sometimes build above ground structures that look like they are made out of cardboard. If you see one of these, your trees and home need to be immediately protected. Remember not to call a regular tree trimmer or tree removal service. To find an Arborist, search tree trimming Austin and be sure that you are calling in the best.

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.