Tag Archive for: trees

Timing is Everything: When To Plant a New Tree

If you’re hoping to add new trees to your property, there are many considerations to keep in mind. 

You’ve likely started thinking about what type of tree to select and where it should be planted on your property. But did you know you should also be thoughtful about WHEN you plant your new tree?

Our experts dive into this important topic below.

When Should I Plant a New Tree?

  • WHEN YOU’RE IN A DORMANT SEASON. The dormant season is the best time to plant a new tree. This means either during the spring before blossoms begin to bloom or the fall right after leaves have dropped.
  • WHEN THERE IS CLEAR WEATHER. Keep an eye on the weather in the days and weeks leading up to planting your new tree. Heavy rains on a freshly planted tree can make it harder for the roots to establish. Aim for a day and week where there is not much rain in the forecast.
  • WHEN THE WEATHER IS MILD. You should also keep temperature in mind! If it’s at or near freezing, it will not only be difficult to dig, but you also run the risk of the tree being damaged when exposed to the extreme cold. The same is true with blistering hot summer days in which the soil can dry out too quickly for the tree to take water. 

Have any questions about when to plant a new tree? Feel free to reach out to us by clicking here or by giving us a call at 404-252-6448.

Different Ways to Remove Trees

If there’s a tree on your property that needs to be removed, you might be wondering about the best way to get it down safely. Believe it or not, there are several different approaches!

That being said, remember to always consult with a professional before making a removal plan to ensure you and your property remain safe. We’re explaining the different ways to remove trees below! 

The Old-Fashioned Way

If you have a very small tree on your property that can be safely removed without professional help, then it could be as simple as cutting it down with an axe or chainsaw yourself. This approach should only be taken if you’re familiar with using these types of tools. Even then, we recommend checking with a professional before proceeding.

Professional Climbing, Rope System 

Most trees that need to be removed are close to or above homes or other property elements. This is where a professional touch is needed!

In these situations, tree removal specialists will often use a complex rope system in which an expert securely scales the tree and then proceeds to cut branches off section by section. Each removed piece of tree is then caught and lowered safely to the ground via the rope system. 

As you can imagine, this is not something you should ever try yourself. 

Our Favorite Approach? JAWS! 

In recent years, a new, cutting-edge tree removal approach has developed: a Palfinger PK40002 Knuckle Boom Crane with a Mecanil SG280 Grapple Saw we fondly call JAWS. We know, that sounds really complicated! 

Essentially, JAWS is an innovative crane system that enables tree removal professionals to cut down entire trees without having to climb them. Workers use remote control operations from the ground, which eliminates the dangerous possibility of falling from trees during the removal process. We were the first in Georgia to offer this new innovative, safe technology for tree removal!

Learn all about this service we’re proud to offer our customers in Atlanta! 

Pondering your tree removal needs and have further questions about the different ways to remove trees? Feel free to reach out to us by clicking here or by giving us a call at 404-252-6448.

BE A GEORGIA TREE KNOW-IT-ALL: SUGARBERRY TREE

Get to know Georgia’s beautiful array of trees and how you can take care of your own! Each month, we feature some of the most popular trees in the state. This month, we are showcasing the Sugarberry Tree (Celtis laevigata). Learn all about the Sugarberry Tree below!

Infographic for Sugarberry Tree.

What To Do if Your Tree is Dying

If you have trees in your yard, chances are you love them for their beauty, the shade they produce, and the value they add to your home. The last thing you want is to see one of them start to wilt and die! 

Our experts explain what to do if your tree is dying or if you sense your tree is unwell. 

First Things First: Identify if Your Tree Is Dying 

Spotting a dying tree can be trickier than you think! Here are some tell-tale signs that a tree is dying:

  • There’s a long crack on the trunk. 
  • The tree appears to be extremely dry and the branches crack easily under pressure. 
  • The tree isn’t standing upright. 
  • Little or no leaves grow on the branches. 
  • Fungi and mushrooms have made a home on the tree. 

Figure Out What’s Killing Your Tree

This step might require outside help, as it can often be difficult to determine for yourself what’s harming your tree. The potential culprits include pests, diseases, and weather damage. If you need assistance in monitoring the health of your trees, our experts would love to help! Reach out to us to schedule an appointment today with one of our Certified Arborists and ask about our Plant Health Care Program to learn more. 

Try Out Different Tree Saving Methods 

If you know your tree is dying and it’s not because of the major health issues mentioned above, try some of these tactics to bring life back into your tree. 

Water More or Less 

Issues with watering are hands-down one of the biggest reasons trees meet an untimely end. The key to doing it right is to find the middle ground between not watering too much or too little. You want to stick to somewhere between one minute to two minutes of watering per day and stop before water puddles on the ground. You also want to ensure you have proper drainage around your tree, so your soil doesn’t retain too much water. 

Boost with Fertilizers

Sometimes all your tree needs to bring it back to life is a boost with fertilizer. Grab a trusted brand and then use it on your tree following the instructions on the packaging. You might see a difference in just a few weeks! 

Mulch Can Help! 

Mulch is a fantastic tool for trees, as it can provide extra nutrients. Again, the trick is to use the perfect amount for your tree, not too much and not too little. You want to ensure that you dig close enough to your roots to allow the mulch to touch them, but you don’t want to bury the roots so much that they can’t breathe. Usually, somewhere around 1.5 inches of mulch works perfectly. 

Pruning Can Give Your Tree a Second Chance at Life

We talk about pruning in most of our tree-of-the-month infographics, and for a very important reason! Pruning a dying tree has the potential to bring it back to life. 

How does it work? If the trunk is still alive, you can cut off any dead branches or areas you notice have died. Doing so will prevent the dead cells from spreading anywhere else on the tree. 

Have any questions about tree care? Feel free to reach out to us by clicking here or by giving us a call at 404-252-6448.

What Wood Is Best for Fires?

With colder temperatures in the air, there’s nothing better than warming yourself up and getting cozy next to a crackling fire. Whether you’re enjoying a backyard bonfire or cuddling up on the couch by your fireplace, the most important element of a good fire is the wood that is used to create it! Unfortunately, the wrong wood choice can lead to excess smoke or short burn time. 

Curious about what wood is best for fires? We’re answering that question below! 

Pick These Logs for Recreational Fires 

The options listed below are known to be the best types of wood for recreational fires. They produce nice heat, burn slowly, light up quickly, and won’t leave you coughing over excess smoke. 

  • Ash
  • Beech
  • Birch
  • Black Cherry
  • Cedar 
  • Dogwood 
  • Fir
  • Hickory 
  • Madrone
  • Maple
  • Oak
  • Pine

Want help supplying these types of trees for your yard? Feel free to reach out to us by clicking here or by giving us a call at 404-252-6448.

Want to Harvest Sap from Your Trees? Read This First!

On top of having fruit to harvest or beautiful bark to make into paper, certain trees can also produce sap that is ripe for the taking. In fact, some people successfully bring in extra income by planting and harvesting from trees, and that includes draining sap.

But if you’re not a professional in this field, getting started can be daunting. Whether you’re collecting sap from a pine or a birch tree, read this step by step guide to help understand how to harvest sap from your trees. 

Needed Tools 

The first step is to gather the necessary tools to get the job done! You will need:

  • A gathering item, such as a gallon sap bag or a bucket. 
  • Tapping bit. 
  • Drill. 
  • Rubbing Alcohol. 
  • Spouts.
  • Hammer. 
  • Cloth. 

Guide to Gathering Sap 

  • Pick a Tree. You’ll need a healthy and tall tree if you want to harvest sap. Avoid picking any trees that have damage, aren’t fully grown, and have diseases or pests. 
  • Choose Your Side. You can either pick the south side or the north side of the tree to use for collecting sap. While many experts say that the south-facing side runs sap earlier, the north-facing side is best to use if you plan on preserving your sap. 
  • Drill a Hole. Use your drill to create a hole that is approximately one and one half inches wide. Make sure to do this at a slight upward angle and do it as quickly as possible. Once done, verify the wood you drilled into is white and not brown. If it’s brown, move onto another tree. If it’s white, use a nearby twig to get rid of the shavings. 
  • Install Your Spout. The first important step in doing this is to sterilize your spout with your rubbing alcohol. Next, tap the spout into your drilled hole with your hammer. Do so gently without damaging the tree too much. A good rule of thumb is to ensure the spout is tight enough to hold some weight (such as a gathering bag) but not so tight that it’ll split the wood. Once the spout is in, you’re ready to collect sap! 
  • Keep an Eye Out. The entire process will usually take about 14 to 21 days. However, some trees release sap much quicker, so you’ll want to check on your bucket or bag every so often. Otherwise, some of your hard work may go to waste! To put it into perspective, trees produce anyway to ¾ to one gallon of sap a day. 

Have further questions about your trees? Feel free to reach out to us by clicking here or by giving us a call at 404-252-6448.

Summer Storms Got Ya Down? We’ve Storm Cleanup Services

When people think of summer, they usually think of sunshine and time spent by the pool. However, summertime is also the season for thunderstorms, especially if you live in the south where in a matter of minutes storm clouds can take over. Sometimes, this means a nice, gentle afternoon shower to cool things off. Other times, it’s a fierce storm that does a lot of damage, particularly to your trees.

That’s where our experts are proud to step in. After a particularly bad storm, our company will step in and clean up any leftover debris from a nasty thunderstorm or, even worse, tornado or hurricane. But what exactly does that mean? We’re explaining our storm cleanup services below and how we can clean up any messes that mother nature might produce on your property.

How Premier Tree Cleans Up Storms

When violent storms or tornadoes rip through your property, we show up ready to work. Our services cover a large variety of cleaning options. Whether you have a tree that’s fallen over and needs to be removed, or you just have a large amount of branches and leaves strewn about, we do it all. Our expert team will arrive and pick up all debris for you, without you having to get your hands dirty.

Especially when it comes to removing uprooted trees, you need someone you can trust to ensure the process doesn’t do any further damage to your property. We treat your property like it was our own and we’ll leave nothing behind, including no signs of a storm. You also can rest easy knowing that our prices will not increase when a storm catosphere arises.

In short, when your property is at its worst, we are at our best. Have further questions about our storm cleanup services? Feel free to reach out to us by clicking here or by giving us a call at 404-252-6448.

Trees That Produce the Best Shade

During a hot, summer day there’s nothing better than hiding from the intense sun underneath a tree. If you dream of lounging outside while swinging on a hammock or enjoying a picnic, finding trees and shrubs that provide large amounts of shade is essential, especially if you live in the south where the heat can be brutal. Or, maybe, you want to plant certain types of flowers or vegetables that grow best in shade and have no way to provide that on your own.

This is where planting the right type of tree comes in. But with many species out there to choose from, how do you know the trees that produce the best shade? The experts at Premier Tree Solutions are here to make your decision easy.

Feelin’ The Need for Shade? Plant These Trees!

Have further questions about trees that produce the best shade? Our experts are here to help! If you’re interested in utilizing our expertise, feel free to reach out to us by clicking here or by giving us a call at 404-252-6448.

BE A GEORGIA TREE KNOW-IT-ALL: YELLOW BUCKEYE

Get to know Georgia’s beautiful array of trees and how you can take care of your own! Each month, we feature some of the most popular trees in the state. This month, we are showcasing the Yellow Buckeye (Aesculus flava). Learn all about the Yellow Buckeye below!

Infographic with Yellow Buckeye information.

BE A GEORGIA TREE KNOW-IT-ALL: WILLOW OAK

Get to know Georgia’s beautiful array of trees and how you can take care of your own! Each month, we feature some of the most popular trees in the state. This month, we are showcasing the Willow Oak (Quercus phellos). Learn all about the Willow Oak below!

Willow Oak June tree of the month