Author: Mathew Harmon

Identify and Manage Invasive Plants

Invasive plants are not native to an ecosystem. Further, their introduction results in harm to that ecosystem. Their presence can negatively impact the environment as they spread aggressively and outperform native plants. They can also hurt the local economy, affecting agriculture, outdoor recreation or operation of utilities, to name a few. In some cases, invasive species can even introduce threats to human health like toxins and allergens not previously common in a geographic region. For many property owners, invasive plants can also be a major nuisance. They are often difficult to remove and control, and quickly take over prized landscape plantings and native woodlands.


Invasive plants easily overtake and outperform native species.

Depending on your location, there are likely a number of invasive species that have already become established. Each region seems to have a plant that locals know and hate. For example, Japanese knotweed, burning bush and tree of heaven are all well-known, and unloved, invaders.

Japanese knotweed
Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
tree of heaven
Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
winged euonymus
Winged euonymus, burning bush (Euonymus alatus)Some common invasive plant species.

Some invasive plants were introduced accidentally. Others were first planted intentionally, owing to some endearing quality they possess. Once established, however, these species have overtaken ecosystems by outcompeting native flora and have negatively impacted wildlife populations.

Be sure to know what plants are considered invasive in your area. The USDA provides a number of resources and invasive species lists at the National Invasive Species Information Center.

What do do about invasive plants

Some places have instituted programs to control the spread of invasive plants. In fact, many areas now restrict the sale of certain species known to be invasive.

Removing invasive plants on your property is largely dependent on the species. Methods include:

pulling plants out at the roots manually;mowing or trimming to prevent plant growth;judicious use of selective herbicides;using grazing animals to control plant populations.

It is important to tailor strategies for managing invasive plants to the species, situation and local ecosystem. A multi-faceted approach may be necessary because these plants have an amazing capability to persist and regrow. Local experts, such as a Certified Arborist, can provide good advice.

When an appropriate program is implemented, the results can be astounding. Just know that even when you see short-term results, management of invasive plants often requires a long-term commitment.

The post Identify and Manage Invasive Plants first appeared on Tree Topics.

Tips on How to Properly Prune Hydrangea

This time of year many people want to know the best way to prune hydrangeas. How and when to prune strongly depends on the hydrangea species. Therefore, you should first understand the type of hydrangea you have to ensure health and maximum blooms.

Bigleaf (Hydrangea macrophylla) is one of the most common. This group is often known as mophead, lacecaps or French hydrangeas. Bigleaf hydrangea bloom on one-year-old wood. With that in mind, prune these plants within four to six weeks after blooming. To rejuvenate these plants, prune by selectively thinning out old stems. You should remove no more than one quarter to one third of the older stems each year. In addition, you can reduce long stems and branches to shape the plant. Further, oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) also blooms on old wood. Therefore, you should prune it in the same manner.

pruning hydrangea
Before pruning hydrangea, be sure to know what species you have.

Do not prune bigleaf and oakleaf hydrangea heavily during late summer or in early spring. Pruning during this time period will reduce blooms as it removes the flower buds for the next cycle.

In comparison, panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata), which include pee gee hydrangea, and smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) bloom on new wood in mid to late summer. Prune these species in winter or early spring. They can tolerate severe reduction.

For smooth hydrangea, including the common cultivar ‘Annabelle,’ some prefer to prune the plant nearly to the ground in winter or early spring. Panicle hydrangeas can also withstand this type of pruning. The exception is when you have trained the plant into a tree form. To maintain as a tree form, thin the plant to remove crossing and conflicting branches and selectively reduce to maintain desired size and shape.

The post Tips on How to Properly Prune Hydrangea first appeared on Tree Topics.

Davey Tree & NBA Cavaliers Team Up With “Trees For Threes”

The NBA Cleveland Cavaliers and The Davey Tree Expert Company have teamed up for a new multi-year agreement highlighted by “Trees For Threes,” a community …

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Nutty Squirrel Sabotages Chevy Truck…. For The 8th Time!

Landscapers know better than anyone the havoc that squirrels can wreak. They also know the sanctity of their pickup truck. So when this humorous story …

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Expert Tree Trimmer in Texas

Tree trimming or tree pruning, is one of the many tree care services that influence the health and appearance of a tree. At Chippers Tree Service in the Dallas Fort Worth Metro, each of our qualified arborists is an accomplished tree trimmer, capable of pruning your trees with skill and flair to boost their health and enhance their appearance.

Our trimming services include deadwood removal, removal of broken or diseased limbs, thinning of sucker growth, and balancing of the canopy. Your trees will definitely be much happier and healthier once one of our expert tree trimmers takes care of them.

Why Is Tree Pruning Necessary?

Pruning a tree with care and expertise is akin to an art form. Our expert arborists prune tree limbs not only to improve tree health but to also provide them an appealing visage. Pruning, when carried out with an accomplished hand, can help save a tree by removing diseased branches or limbs.

A critical part of a successful pruning job is to prevent the exposure of a tree’s cut areas to diseases and pests. The skillful arborists at Chippers Tree Service in Dallas-Ft. Worth TX are well-trained and know how to prune trees without clearing away excessive live foliage.

Trees are prone to get heavy over time if not maintained and are more susceptible to break with the accumulation of excess weight. Large branches and limbs can cause permanent damage to the tree when they break, with the tree unable to grow back in the same manner.

Is There a Right Season for Tree Trimming?

Most trees are dormant in the winter, with very little activity and much less leaf cover, allowing for much better visibility of their structure. We recommend pruning during the winter season as the trees have a better rate of recovery.

What Is the Right Way to Prune a Tree?

The goal of an arborist while trimming a tree is to make sure not to damage or split the trunk during limb removal. Our expert tree trimmers follow these three steps to prune a tree safely:

The Notch Cut

At the first stage of pruning a tree, our arborist targets the bottom of the limb, while ensuring that the distance between the cut and the trunk remains about three feet. The depth of the notch cut is roughly a quarter of the way through the limb.

The Relief Cut

In the next stage of pruning, the arborist will cut straight through the limb, just outside the initial notch cut. This is done to offset the weight of the limb so that the limb does not split and cause damage to the tree when our expert tree trimmer inflicts the final cut.

The Final Cut

The execution of the final cut determines the quality of a trimming job, as our trained arborist sets out to administer the final cut. While it’s critical to target the spot where the branch bark and the tree collar meet, the cut needs to follow the slant of the branch collar.

We at Chippers Tree Service, and our team of expert tree trimmers, care about the trees in Dallas, Fort Worth, and surrounding areas.

The post Expert Tree Trimmer in Texas appeared first on Chippers Tree Service.

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