Here is a list of 4 common winter tree pests and tips to get rid of them

Winters can be a harsh time for trees and plants alike. With low temperatures, weak sunlight, and stunted growth, it is important that one keeps trees safe from an additional threat such as pests. Although you may think that you know the tips and tricks of keeping trees safe, some of the most prevalent tree care tactics are actually baseless myths.

Pests That Attack Trees In The Winter

Some of the most common pests attack trees in the winters. Therefore it is important to know about them so you can protect your trees. Here are four of the most common winter pests:

Spider Mites

• Spider mites prefer the winters to hide in the bark of trees for hibernation and protection against the cold weather. In the summer months, they are incredibly active and can multiply in large numbers. They can cause damage to your leaves as well as strip the tree of its sap. That’s why it’s imperative that you tackle the problem as soon as you can.

You might notice red or brown powder dust on the bark of your trees. This is often a dead giveaway that they have been attacked by spider mites.

Scales

• Scales insects look like bumps on the bark of the tree. Their appearance is what makes them so dangerous as one wouldn’t assume they are insects in the first place. They have both hard and soft protective shells that keep them safe from any insecticide. On the inside, they feast on the plant and drain it of its nutrients.

Over time, the plant may start looking dead and not grow very well. They are a serious threat because they often go unnoticed till the plant has sustained visible damage.

Aphids

• Aphids are the lice of trees, tiny bugs that infest the tree in large numbers. There are over 4000 known species in the world and they come in many different colors. Although there are natural predators that eat them, they are not been preyed on enough to reduce an infestation. In the winter months, they lay eggs on the trees and lay dormant till temperatures rise in spring.

Aphids eat the sap of trees, depriving them of their nutrients. During an aphid infestation, a tree can easily turn yellow with stunted growth in a short while. It is important to take care of the eggs in winters or else the tree won’t have much of a chance in spring.

Coddling Moth Grubs

• When it comes to pest infections, worms are the last thing you’d expect to be tackling. Coddling Moth Grubs are larvae that like to reside in fruit and nut-bearing trees for the winter. As soon as fruits begin to develop in spring, they attack the fruit and cause issues in plant reproduction. These pests are the infamous worms you see in apples in various popular media.

For a common person, it could be next to impossible to spot these creatures. Only a professional can spot them and get rid of them. You need to make sure the issue is tackled before winter starts.

The Best Way To Get Rid Of Pests

• Although there are many natural and homemade remedies to rid trees of winter pests, there is no guarantee that they will work. This is because most of these pests are incredibly stubborn and lay eggs in large quantities. At-home remedies simply lack the scope of the solution required to make a difference.

At American Tree Experts, Inc. we offer the best services to keep your plants out of harm’s way. Our pest control services can help rid your trees of winter pests before their eggs have the chance to hatch in spring. Some of our other most sought out services are pruning, bracing, pest management, and nutritional management. We offer services in Mont Clair, New Jersey. Call us at 973-744-6091 for a free quote.

Learn different types of tree pruning and their benefits from tree experts near you

Trees are an important gift of nature. They add beauty, offer protection, shade, and increase the commercial value of a property. Grooming and regular maintenance are important aspects of tree care. One essential practice of tree maintenance is regular pruning.

Tree pruning is the practice of selectively removing dead branches from the tree. The purpose of tree pruning is to add strength to the tree, fortify its structure and stimulate its growth.

In this article, let us explore the different types and techniques of pruning trees.

Types of Tree Pruning

1. Dead Pruning

As the name suggests, dead pruning involves the trimming or complete removal of dead, diseased, or lifeless branches of a tree. This type of pruning is often performed at the tree’s crown, hence it is also known as crown cleaning. Dead pruning is the most basic type of pruning which offers the following benefits:

• Protection from injury and damage to property from accidental fall of dangling dead branches.
• Preventing the spread of diseases from sick branches
• Enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the tree and giving it a more groomed appearance

In some cases, only the dead portion of the branch is removed rather than the whole branch itself. This gives a clean look to the tree without losing critical mass.

2. Crown Thinning

• This is another type of tree pruning that involves the removal of weak branches from the tree’s crown. Crown thinning reduces the extra branches and allows greater penetration of light and air into the tree. This practice removes the diseased branches and allows healthy branches to flourish due to the better distribution of nutrients.

When performing crown thinning, avoid removing too much mass from the center because that can impact the structural integrity of the tree.

3. Crown Lifting

• In crown lifting, the lower branches of the crown are trimmed and pruned. This practice reduces the load of the larger limbs. The reduction in extra weight results in an uplifted appearance of the crown, hence the name crown lifting is assigned.

Low-hanging branches are a health hazard for anyone in their vicinity. Crown lifting makes sidewalks and roads safer for passersby when they travel on the sidewalks or roads. Crown lifting should be performed for younger plants because they don’t develop deep wounds. Crown lifting gives a groomed and crisp appearance to the tree.

4. Crown Reduction

• Crown reduction is performed to preserve the main limb. To do so, terminal branches of the tree are removed. Crown reduction promotes the health of the tree by decreasing the risk of decay. When performed correctly, crown reduction results in an overall reduction of tree height. It also lifts a dead weight from the tree.

Crown reduction gives better results when performed on younger trees that are in the growing phase. For mature trees, it is recommended to remove the entire limb rather than removing the dead part of it.

5. Pollarding

• This is the most advanced pruning technique in which all primary branches are removed. Only the secondary branches remain on the tree trunk. Arborists recommend that pollarding should be performed periodically during the entire lifespan of the tree. Pollarding gives the best results when performed on young trees.

Tree pruning requires an in-depth understanding of tree structure and its needs. For best results, contact an experienced pruning and removals service provider such as American Tree Experts, Inc. We offer pruning, removal, tree cabling, bracing, pest, and nutrient management services in Mont Clair, NJ, and nearby areas. For a free estimate of our services, contact us at 973-744-6091.

Here is a list of the best trees to plant near your home

Trees are nature’s gift to us. They are the Earth’s lungs and provide us with so much value in the form of shade, fruit, wood, reducing erosion and maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. All trees have different physical characteristics and dietary requirements. Some have thick foliage and offer shade, others bear fruit and some add beauty to the landscape by growing colorful flowers.

If you plan to plant a tree near your house, first determine the purpose you want it to serve. Whether it is to provide shade, add beauty, or privacy to your home. Most trees have a very long life so whichever tree you plan to plant, you will be stuck with it for a long time. Hence, plan and plant carefully.

Listed below are the best pick of trees for a residential property.

Ornamental Trees

• As the name indicates, ornamental trees have a beautiful appearance and offer much aesthetic value. They bear colorful and fragrant flowers and some have colorful and fragrant barks as well. These trees do not bear fruit and their wood does not have much commercial value as well.

Ornamental trees are not too large so they are perfect for a little yard. Let us take a look at some gorgeous ornamental trees.

Star Magnolia

• This tree is native to Japan. Its scientific name is Magnolia stellata. Star magnolia has a slow growth rate. It blooms during early spring and gives off beautiful large white and pink flowers. This tree grows up to 1.5 to 2.5 meters tall and spreads up to 4.6 meters in width when fully matured. Due to its small size and beautiful appearance, it is ideal for landscaping near the house.

Japanese Maples

• This species of ornamental trees are native to Japan, China, Korea, and Russia. However, the soil and climate of the USA are ideal for its growth. Japanese maple is a colorful tree. Its maple-shaped leaves grow in multiple colors such as red, pink, orange, crimson, blood-red, yellowish-green, and different shades of peach and cream. Its thick foliage contrasts beautifully with any scenery.

Callery Pear

• This is a fruitless tree but it bears beautiful white flowers. Callery pear is a type of pear tree that is native to China and Vietnam. It grows to be 5-8 meters in height and has a round or conical crown. The crown of a fully mature tree is 9-13 meters wide.

Crabapple

• Crabapple is an ideal fit for small spaces. They grow up to 20 feet and bear pink buds that later grow into beautiful white flowers. White is the most common color, but some crabapple trees bear red, magenta, or pink flowers as well. Flowers have a sweet fragrance that fills the area when they fully blossom.

They bloom during summer and have thick foliage until fall. There are 30-55 different varieties of crabapple trees such of which bear fruit. The fruit ripens from late summer to mid-fall. The edible fruit is red in color and resembles small cherries.

Redbud:

• It is a large deciduous shrub or a small tree. Also known as Eastern redbud, this tree is native to North America. It blossoms mauve-pink flowers which add beauty to any landscape. The height of the redbud varies between 6 to 9 meters and the crown expands to 8-10 meters in width. This tree blossoms in April and May. in some cultures, the flowers of the tree are eaten both raw and cooked for their healing properties.

For more guidance on tree care, visit American Tree Inc. We offer tree pruning, cabling, bracing, nutrient, and pest management services in Mont Clair, New Jersey. Call us at 973-744-6091.

Here is a complete guide to winter tree pests and how they are harmful to your garden

Winters bring a cessation of activity for many organisms, be it the warm-blooded bears, bats, and chipmunks that hibernate during winters or insects and bugs that become inactive. Many people consider winter to be a safer season because pests are inactive and cannot attack plants. However, that’s not always the case.

During winters, pests take refuge and hide in the tiny cracks and crevasses of the plant. During this time, some pests lay eggs and form multiple colonies inside the tree’s trunks. While these pests remain inactive during the coldest temperatures, with the arrival of spring they become resume activities and multiply in numbers. Late winters and early spring presents a perfect opportunity for some pests to infest your plant.

Let us take a look at some common disease-causing pests that inhibit your trees during winters.

Scale Insects

• They are small, sap-sucking insects that have a shell-like covering and appearance. They are oval in shape and come in different sizes. Scale insects wrap themselves around the twigs, leaves, branches, and fruit of the tree. They suck sap and other fluids, resulting in a weakened tree. A particularly worrisome aspect of scale insects is that they hide well and cannot be detected easily. At the first glance, the onlooker may mistake them as tiny bumps that are a part of the tree.

Scale insects suck out the tree’s nourishment which causes the foliage to wilt and branches to die.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

• These are tiny sap-sucking insects that most commonly infest and feed on Hemlock trees. They cause widespread death and destruction of hemlock trees in the East part of the United States. Hemlock Woolly Adelgid produces cotton-like wax filaments which are their most distinguishing characteristic.

The damages caused by an infestation of the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid results in the premature dropping of needles, reduced growth, or untimely death of the tree.

Spider Mites

• These insects live on the underside of the leaves and spin silk webs. They feed on the foliage which causes punctures and holes in the leaves. Spider mites have a greenish/yellow appearance and have four pairs of legs. Hence, they get the name due to their resemblance with spiders. They are much smaller in size compared to spiders. The average spider mite is 1/64-inch long. Due to their minute sizes, spider mites are very hard to detect.

However, despite their sizes, they cause considerable damage to common household and indoor plants. The most commonly infest boxwoods, spruces, burning bushes, and junipers plants. Spider mites puncture the leaves with their piercing mouthparts. When feeding on leaves, they leave small discolored dots on the leaves.

Bagworms

• Bagworms are a type of moth. The adult bagworm may range from 1 to 15 cm in size. Their wings are pale yellow with black stripes. Their name is derived from the bag they build by combining silk and small pieces of the plant’s foliage. The bag allows them to camouflage and become a part of the tree. Female bagworms lay 1,000 eggs in each bag which leads to a rapid infestation of the plants.

The damage caused by bagworm infestation becomes apparent during late summers. By that time, the damage is usually beyond repair.

• To conclude, plants require protection from pests even during winters. For effective pest control and management, contact American Tree Experts, Inc. We offer pest management services in Mont Clair, New Jersey. Call us at 973-744-6091 to get a free estimate of our services.

Here we explain some interesting facts and myths about tree care

Trees are complex living organisms. For optimal growth, they require proper care and nourishment. Thanks to the advancements in modern technology, we now know more about tree care more than before. However,l multiple baseless fallacies still exist that give way to damaging practices when it comes to tree care.

In this article, we will debunk the most common and baseless fallacies about tree care. So read on.

Tree Plantation Does Not Require Advanced Skills

Tree plantation is not as simple as it seems. Before planting a tree multiple factors have to be considered such as:

• Choosing the right tree for the right spot
• Using proper plantation technique
• Caring for the tree afterward.

Before planting a tree, consult an arborist who will guide you about how to plant and care for your tree.

Don’t Prune Bleeding Trees

• Some trees such as maples, birches, and walnuts release a red-colored sap during spring if they are pruned. Many people assume that pruning certain species of trees should not be performed during spring to avoid the release of the sap. However, research claims that light pruning can be performed at any time throughout the year. If pruning is performed using the right technique, then no harm will occur.

Mulch – The More The Merrier

• Mulch is a layer of organic material that is applied to the soil. There are multiple purposes for applying mulch such as preventing the loss of moisture, improving fertility and health of the soil, and making the area more visually appealing. Applying 3-4 inches of mulch is good for the health of the tree and serves the above-mentioned purposes.

However, there is a common perception that the more the mulch, the better it is. Excessive mulch is harmful as it causes the growth of pathogens, and also serves as hiding spots for rodents.

Fertilizers Are Good For The Health of Roots

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  Some fertilizers such as nitrogen are good for the health of roots. They stimulate the growth of non-woody and short-woody roots. However, they don’t do much for long woody roots. The excessive user of fertilizers can be detrimental for long roots. Long roots act as anchors for the tree and fetch important minerals and water. Hence, abstain from going overboard with the use of fertilizers especially for mature trees.

Removing a Few Live Branches Before Planting is Fine

• Many people believe that the tree’s crown should be balanced with its root system. To create this balance they don’t hesitate to remove living branches before planting the tree. Live branches are the most important part of the tree as they gather food through photosynthesis and store it in their cells. Pruning live branches can disrupt the food cycle.

When planting a tree, only remove dead branches and don’t pay too much attention to balancing the tree’s root and shoot systems.

Dressing a Tree Wound Helps in Quick Healing

• When any part of the tree is wounded or injured, the common practice is to dress it using special chemicals, tars, paints, and sealants. It is believed that dressing the tree will help in quick recovery and prevent the infiltration of disease-causing microbes and insects. However, research proves that trees heal better when they are left open and allowed to recover at their own pace naturally.

Abstain from practicing these fallacies about tree care and health. To keep them in good shape, contact American Tree Experts, Inc. We offer multiple tree care services in Mont Clair, New Jersey. Call us at 973-744-6091.

Understand the challenges of pest management and learn their prevention methods

A pest is an insect or animal that feeds on plants and crops and causes considerable damage to them. Pest infestation has dire economic consequences. Pest-infested plants become weak, diseased and their ability to bear fruit is severely effective, resulting in a low and substandard crop yield. Effective and proactive pest management and control are needed to prevent your trees from infestation. Let us take a look at some important dos and don’ts of pest management and control.

1. Do Adopt A Proactive and Preventive Approach

The best way to protect your plants from pests is by taking proactive and preventive measures. The following precautionary measures should be adopted to prevent pests from invading your garden and trees:

• Insects hide in dark and damp places such as pipes, drainage systems, and crevices. They find plenty of food and shelter in these hidden areas. Most of the time, pest infestation starts in these areas. Inspect these sheltered areas during the start and end of all seasons and spay them with pesticides as a precautionary measure. Don’t let stagnant water accumulate in your backyard.
• Prevent the entry of insects by sealing up any holes or cracks in the walls of your fence.
• Clean your lawn regularly and don’t throw leftover food near your plants.
• Mow the grass regularly, especially during the summer season. Bugs hide and multiply in tall and bushy patches of grass.

2. Don’t Leave Dangerous Pesticides in The Open

• Unattended pesticides and traps are a health and safety risk to children and pets. Don’t leave them out in the open where unknowing children or pets can reach them. If you have recently sprayed your lawn or backyard with pesticides, then alert all members of the family so unnecessary exposure can be avoided.

3. Do Identify The Problem At Hand Before Taking Any Action

• There are hundreds of pests in nature, all of which vary in their mode of attack, the extent of damage they cause, and treatment for removing them. For effective pest management, it is important to first identify the problem at hand and then decide on the removal solution. The control and removal solution that works for earwigs will not work for fungus gnats. Using the wrong removal solution can do more harm than good.

4. Don’t Use Outdoor Pesticides inside Your Home

• A pest infestation can occur for indoor plants as well. Indoor pest infestation is an even bigger nuisance as the pests pose a threat to human health as well. For indoor pests, special pesticide solutions are formulated which are not as harsh and toxic as the more potent outdoor chemical solutions. Using outdoor removal treatments inside your home can pose a health emergency as they comprise dangerous and toxic chemicals that are harmful to human health.

5. Do Nip An Infestation in The Bud

• Pet infestation does not occur all of a sudden, rather it starts with a couple of bugs that grow and multiply in no time. If you find a few pests wandering over your trees, take immediate action and use the appropriate pet removal method. A smaller infestation is easier to control and remove. If you feel that you cannot handle the pest infestation on your own, then call in professional help and let them nip the infestation in the bud.

In most cases, pest infestation can be challenging to deal with on your own. Most homes are not equipped to tackle a serious pest infestation. Hence, for the protection of your plants and trees, contact American Tree Experts, Inc. We provide effective pest management solutions for all types of pests and bugs. Call us at 973-744-6091. We are located in Mont Clair, New Jersey.