Frequently Asked Questions

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The best time of year to prune trees depends on the species and the purpose of the pruning. In general, winter and early spring are good times to prune deciduous trees, while summer is best for pruning conifers.

Tree removal is the process of cutting down a tree and removing it from the property. This is typically done when a tree is dead, diseased, or poses a safety hazard.

Tree planting is the process of selecting and planting trees in a specific location to enhance the beauty, health, and value of a property.

The most common problem in landscapes is the competition for water, oxygen, and minerals from the soil. Trees and lawns serve many of the same functions and often fight for the same resources. They produce oxygen, cool the air, stabilize dust, trap air pollutants, and help control erosion. Trees provide shade for buildings in summer, and windbreaks, and provide habitat for wildlife. Lawns provide a ground cover for lower traffic areas, as well as a place to walk and play. Most tree roots are in the top 12 inches of the soil and lawn roots are in the top 4-6 inches; meaning, tree/lawn roots often occupy the same space. This results in competition over water and nutrients. Tree root functions include water, mineral conduction, food, water storage, and anchorage. Roots grow where water, minerals, and oxygen are found in the soil and allow root growth. Roots need some water and oxygen but if soils are saturated with water, most roots will die. Because oxygen is usually located in the upper 12 inches of soil, the largest concentration of feeder roots exists in this zone. For a healthy tree, remove the grass underneath so the tree doesn't have to compete for air space, water, and nutrients. As an alternative to grass, you can add mulch.

Hitting a tree with a weed whacker or mower can result in an ugly gash and can lead to disease and eventual death of the tree from girdling. The tree’s circulatory system is just under the bark, and it is responsible for transporting water and food throughout the tree. Injuries to this area interfere with plant uptake of water and vital nutrients, as well as the starches produced through photosynthesis in the leaves. Mowers and weed eaters do damage by removing patches of bark, which interferes with the circulatory process. As the roots are deprived of food, they begin to starve and function poorly -- and this leads to a stunted, unhealthy tree. As a result, the tree may decline, leaving it more susceptible to pests and diseases. The injury opens the door to fungi, which can cause wood decay and eventual tree death. If the wound completely encircles the trunk, girdling the tree, death is inevitable.

Trees growing in a natural forest environment utilize leaves and other fallen debris. This organic material breaks down to release nutrients back into the soil. Mycorrhizae colonies are present naturally in this soil. This environment is optimal for root growth and mineral uptake. In general, urban trees grow in poor-quality soil so we need to help them as much as we can. Applying mulch can help replicate the benefits of the forest floor while maintaining a more formal appearance.

• Reduces soil moisture loss through evaporation 
• Controls weeds 
• Helps insulate soil 
• Improves soil biology, allowing air to get to the roots 
• Increases soil fertility. As mulch decomposes, new elements become available 
• Helps keep string trimmers and lawnmowers from doing damage to the tree trunk.
• Provides a uniform look

Trees and shrubs have deeper, more extensive root systems than grass. Therefore, they should be watered slowly and for longer periods; the soil needs to remain moist for 6-12 inches deep around your tree. Remember to irrigate long and slow to get to the tree roots. If you don't water long enough, you may not provide enough water to get past the grassroots. Apply water to an area at least as wide as the tree branch spread. If your plants are showing symptoms of moisture stress (wilting, yellow leaves, and/or scorched leaves) apply more water. Add mulch and control weeds and/or grasses around the trunk to reduce evaporation and competition for water

For newly planted trees and shrubs, water frequently until the root system is established. Remember, newly planted trees are dependent on roots within the root ball for water uptake to survive. Therefore, the most important place to check water status (water need) is in the root ball or root mass, not in the surrounding backfill soil. Until roots grow into the backfill soil, moisture in the rootball or root mass can be depleted very quickly. With temperatures hovering around 100 degrees, daily irrigation may be in order especially for plants on open, exposed sites.

To properly water newly installed landscape plants, apply water slowly near the base of the plant and over the developing root system. Water applied too rapidly will be lost through runoff. A good rule of thumb for tree watering is 10 gallons of water for every 1 inch of tree DBH. Applying organic mulch over the tree's new planting site will help conserve moisture in the soil. Wood chips will also help water infiltrate the soil rather than become runoff.

 Mycorrhizae are a class of fungi that thrive in a symbiotic relationship with the root of the tree. Mycorrhizae fungi colonize the root system of the tree, forming a biological link between the root and the soil. The fungus grows into the root and out into the soil. The root fungus in the soil absorbs water and nutrients from the soil and conducts them back to the root. The sooner mycorrhizae forms, the better it is for the plant. 

  Pine trees display fading yellow or brown needles mostly as part of a natural shedding process. Evergreens shed their older, interior needles as part of an annual growth cycle. Needles on the lower portions of the crown or closest to the trunk are most commonly shed, but trees stressed due to drought or root damage may shed more needles to keep the tree in balance with its root system. Soon-to-be-shed needles are typically yellow first, followed by a reddish-orange or brown color before dropping off. Trees can have varying levels of needle shed, even within the same property or general area. Most are simply going through a natural shedding process. The shedding of needles typically happens in September, October, and early November. 

 EAB attacks and kills all varieties of ash trees. Trees must be treated for EAB before symptoms are noticed to preserve trees. EAB larvae live under the bark of the tree and create tunnels through the vascular system of the tree. This system is responsible for moving water from the roots of the tree to its crown. Damage to the system will prevent this movement of water to the crown of the tree, ultimately causing the tree to die in less than four years. EAB must be treated before there are symptoms, otherwise, there is likely already irreparable damage to this system, making the tree weaker. EAB is now considered to be the most destructive tree insect - killing over 40 million ash trees nationwide - with the potential to kill 867 million trees in Minnesota alone. EAB is invading trees everywhere and can only be stopped through preventative measures. 

• Any work done on a tree should be done for a reason 
• Trim trees so the natural form and shape of the tree is maintained
• Remove dead, dying, diseased, and decayed areas
• Remove obviously weak, broken, overlapping, or rubbing branches
• Provide street, sidewalk, building, and power line clearance
• Water suckers should be left throughout the tree to encourage trunk taper

Remove suckers at the base of the tree, which only steal energy from the tree  

• Remove dead, dying, diseased, decayed, and obviously weak branches up to 10-30 feet high, keeping in mind that Evergreens will lose some of their inside needles
• Remove objectionable branches that cause crossing or rubbing to allow for air movement

• Trim off any suckers growing at the base of the trunk. Suckers at the base of the tree only steal energy from the tree, and usually, these suckers are a wild stock
• Remove all the dead or dying branches
• Remove any damaged or weak branches, including storm damage
• Prune out unwanted, overlapping, rubbing, or hazardous branches
• Provide lifting for street clearance of 13’ 6”
• Lift from sidewalks 8’
• Provide building clearance
• Provide electrical wire clearance
• Remove damaged areas caused by squirrels