01

Pruning 

A plant may need to be pruned for a variety of reasons:

  - To remove diseased or storm-damaged branches

  - To thin the crown which permits new growth and better air circulation

  - To reduce the height of a tree

  - To remove obstructing lower branches

  - To shape a tree for design purposes

Once the decision has been made to prune, your next decision is whether or not to tackle the job yourself. In the case of a large tree where you want to remove big branches in the upper area of the crown, it may be best to hire experts. Large tree pruning, in particular, can require climbing and heavy saws or even cherry-pickers and chain saws. This is a job that should be left to trained and experienced professionals. Never compromise personal safety in pruning a tree.

Ornamental trees and shrubs require specific pruning techniques which should be handled by a professional pruner. Incorrect pruning methods will jeopardize the integrity and life span of the tree or shrub.

02

Arboricultural Consulting

Let our trained professionals evaluate your property 

Arboricultural Consultants have extensive experience maintaining trees; they also have a very good understanding of how design and installation affect the long term health, safety and prospects of trees.

These differing backgrounds can be seen in how trees are perceived. Arborists tend to look at a tree from the ground up, and from the inside out. We look at the root crown, then the trunk, then branch structure. We look at soil conditions, taper, branch distribution, angles of attachment, weight distribution, decay, cracks, conks, etc.

In addition we look for general indications of health, such as foliage density and color. Also, arborists tend to think in four dimensions - we're always looking ahead to anticipate the future form of the tree, problems the tree may pose or face as it grows, amenability to future pruning, encroachment, etc.

The Pruning Guru offers a wide range of Arboricultural Consulting services and has trained professionals who will evaluate your current property and make recommendations to promote and maintain the best environment.

OUR ARBORICULTURAL CONSULTING INCLUDES:

    - Referrals to reputable tree firms for pruning and removal

    - Hazard tree evaluation

    - Pest and disease diagnosis

    - View and privacy issues

    - Species and cultivar selection

    - Protecting trees during construction projects

    - Soil and irrigation management

    - General landscape troubleshooting (27 years experience as landscaper)

We plan and assist our clients to develop realistic goals, objectives and procedures for managing their plant resources within a specified budget.

03

Shrub Fertility

By Walter Reeves

http://www.walterreeves.com

Most homeowners roll the dice when it comes to their shrubs. They fertilize their landscape shrubs without any knowledge of what nutrients are in their soil, what nutrients their shrubs are missing and at what PH the shrub thrives in.

Soil Tests take the guesswork out of fertilizing your shrubs and saves you money!

One of the most import facts a soil test provides is the soil pH. pH It is a measurement of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, expressed as a number between 1 and 14. At the mid-point, 7 denotes neutrality. A pH number below 7 indicates acidity while a number from 7 to 14 points out alkalinity.

Why do we care about pH?

If a chemical solution is too acid or alkaline, the reaction you expect won't occur. What is happening with fertilizer at your plants' root tips? A chemical reaction, sure enough, and if the soil is too acid or too alkaline your hungry plants won't be able to feed themselves.

Most plants like to grow in soil that is slightly acid: 6.0 or thereabouts. Some plants, like azaleas, blueberries and potatoes thrive in soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.0.

Back to the chemical reaction, though. If your soil pH is 5.5, half of the fertilizer you apply can't be absorbed by your plants.

And just for emphasis, let's repeat it: If your soil is too acid, fifty percent of the fertilizer you purchase does nothing for your plants. The necessary chemical reaction just won't happen.

Soils are constantly changing. The amount and availability of nutrients depends on weather, removal by last years crops or clippings, and additions of nutrients.

Areas such as flower beds, garden plots, and landscape areas should be tested prior to planting to correct any deficiencies.