Tree Services Blog

Trimming and pruning are commonly confused with each other. It's a common mistake among property owners because both processes involve cutting away parts of a tree, shrub, or hedge. However, the difference lies in the goal of each service. Trimming is the process of cutting away overgrowth on plants to keep them looking neat while pruning aims to remove dead or diseased branches to maintain the plant's health. Keep reading to learn how trimming is different from pruning, and why your trees and shrubs need both.

Trimming Keeps Your Trees, Shrubs & Hedges Looking Pristine

Plants are beautiful, but they tend to overgrow if they are not properly cared for. Overgrown plants with unruly branches and foliage can bring down your curb appeal. Trimming involves removing excessive overgrowth on your trees, shrubs, and hedges to maintain their pristine condition.

Here are some reasons why routine trimming is beneficial:

• It will keep your plants looking well-shaped and neat.
• It will keep your plants the same size to create a uniform appearance.
• It will give your plants a much-needed haircut, and multiple stems can be trimmed at once.

Because trimming is a maintenance service, you can trim your plants whenever you feel like they are becoming unruly. However, we recommend getting professionals to do it because if it is done wrong, it can actually be detrimental to the health of your plants.

The mighty palm tree has been commonly enjoyed in Florida for thousands of years so, luckily, we've had lots of time to learn the best practices of caring for these giant trees. Trimming is one of those practices! Trimming is the practice of removing brown or dying fronds to improve your palm's appearance as well as encourage healthy growth. While most property owners might think that trimming can be done year-round, this is actually far from the truth!

It is best to stick to trimming your palm tree's fronds in the spring season to keep your tree in optimal condition. In the same way, it is highly recommended that you avoid trimming in the winter season so that the fronds can protect your tree from cooler weather. Continue reading to learn more about why the time of the year matters so much when it comes to trimming your palm trees!

Trim your palms in the spring season to protect the health of your tree.

Many people assume that they should trim their palm fronds as soon as they being to turn brown or start to dry up. However, this could actually be a big mistake. To keep your palm in optimal health, it is extremely important to trim it before it starts to flower in the spring season. This ensures that your palm tree will recover with ease from the trimming process and grow new, healthy fronds.

If your palms have already begun to flower, you should wait until the next spring season to trim your browning fronds. Although brown fronds might be a sore...

Trees need hydration any way they can get it to ensure healthy growth. The rainy season in Florida can provide your trees with enough water to keep them hydrated, but an overabundance of rain can also cause several problems for your trees. Too much rain can oversaturate the soil and weaken root systems, in addition to causing fungal diseases that thrive in wet conditions. These can affect the health and appearance of your trees. Moreover, the rainy season brings strong winds that can blow down branches and trees.

You can mitigate the risks that excessive rain poses to your trees by closely monitoring and surveying them for signs of damage, such as lesions, cracks, and exposed roots. Having a company that provides tree care services will also help you ensure your trees are healthy. Continue reading to learn more about how the rainy season can impact your trees in Florida.

Too Much Rainwater Can Suffocate Your Trees

Continuous and heavy rain can oversaturate the soil with rainwater, which can be detrimental to trees. Too much rainwater can compact the soil and suffocate the tree's roots, as the water prevents the roots from absorbing enough oxygen. Because its pores are filled with water, the tree can run out of oxygen within a few hours. It can now take only several days before parts of the root begin to rot.

Fortunately, Florida enjoys sandy soil that provides good drainage. But we still recommend that you avoid stepping on your lawn after ...

Trees are the true gems of any landscape. They are eye-catching features that can also shade your property from some of Florida's heat. However, when it comes to maintaining trees on your property, there are a few things that we recommend you consider for the health and safety of your family and property in the long haul.

As wonderful as trees can be, large tree roots have been known to cause structural damage if they are spreading out under the soil too closely to your home. Trees can even cause roof and exterior damages if they are close enough to cascade over your home. These and several more issues can occur if your trees are not properly planted. You can avoid all of these issues by following proper tree planting guidelines so that there is ample space between your trees and your home.

Poorly planted trees can cause structural damage to your home and pose a safety hazard to your family.

Trees can cause structural damage in several different ways when they are not planted correctly on your property. Some of the problems that you should be aware of include the following:

• Large tree roots pose the biggest threat to your property. Trees are humble giants, but they require the right amount of space in order to grow their large and astonishingly strong roots. No matter the amount of space they have, a tree's roots will find ways to spread out underneath your soil. This is often what causes structural damage. Poorly planted trees can break up...

Palm trees are one of Florida's most stately features and the pride of many of our highways and neighborhoods. Many of our residents eagerly choose palm trees for their property due to how easy it can be to care for these beautiful trees. Some of the fastest-growing palm trees in the South Florida area include Carpentaria, King, Queen, and Royal palm trees. Continue reading to learn all about these trees and see which of them may be the best addition to your landscape.

1. Carpentaria Palm Tree

The Carpentaria palm tree is a popular choice for landscapes in Florida. This palm is often planted alongside another of its kind. Carpentarias look great in front of buildings or as the focal point of your property's entrance. Here are some additional facts:

• Scientific name: Carpentarias are scientifically known as Carpentaria acuminata.
• Yearly growth: They grow at around 6 feet per year.
• Mature height: They can grow to a mature height of 20-40 feet.
• Appearance: Carpentaria palm trees are tall and slender in stature. Their fronds grow dark green and wide along the crownshaft of the tree.
• Flowering: They bud tiny white flowers from spring to fall.
• Ideal environment and care: These palms grow in moist, well-drained soil. They also require moderate watering and can do well in indirect sunlight.

2. King Palm Tree

King palm trees are hardy trees that thrive outdoors. However, while they are young, they can make great houseplants. Here ...

Trees are one of the most vital living things on the planet. They provide oxygen, filter the air, provide habitat for wildlife, improve soil composition, and protect us from harsh winds, among many other functions. Trees are made up of various parts, from the roots to the crown, that allow them to provide these endless functions. Familiarizing ourselves with the anatomy of a tree will help us gain a better understanding of how they operate and how we can better take care of them. Below, we have listed the most vital anatomy terms that are commonly used in the tree care industry.

Roots Are the Foundation of Trees

Roots perform vital functions to keep the tree thriving. The roots are found below the ground where they absorb nutrients and water from the soil. The tree then uses these essential nutrients to promote its growth and store food to produce foliage. Aside from the uptake of nutrients and minerals, roots also provide structural support for the tree.

A tree's root system can grow as deep as seven feet. One common misconception about tree roots is that they grow deep in the ground. Roots actually extend mostly outward so they can have a good grip on the soil. The strength and growth of a root system will always depend on if it has adequate space and optimal soil conditions.

Tree Trunks Are Vital For Nutrient Delivery

Tree trunks start at the root collar (the area where roots converge with the trunk) and hold vital functions to ensure robust tree...

Palm trees are tall perennial trees with leaves that drop over their long trunks. Palms are ornamental and thrive well in a variety of sun and shade conditions. A thousand varieties of palms grow in the United States, with some of the most common species found in Florida. Continue reading to learn more about palm trees and their terminology, as well as the types of palms that are native to Florida.

General Terms of Palm Trees

• Frond - A frond is the leaf of the palm tree that grows from the crown of the plant. You can identify a palm tree by looking at the fronds alone. Fronds come in different leaf styles such as pinnate, palmate, and bipinnate. They have green to brownish-green colors and can be thick or thin, depending on the palm tree type.
• Leaflet - The fronds are separated into leaflets, which are attached to a single stem. The leaflets are often V-shaped, either upright or inverted.
• Sheath - A sheath is the leaf structure closest to the palm tree’s trunk. The sheath holds the leaf to the trunk.
• Fruit bunch - A fruit bunch grows on an oil palm tree and is harvested to process palm oil. Oil palm trees bear fresh fruit bunches every three years.
• Spathe - A spathe is a large, woody bract covering the flowering portion of the palm.
• Petiole - This is the leaf stem of the palm frond. It is found between the leaf sheath and the leaflets.
• Bulb - Palm plants have bulbs, also called pups, that look...

Trees are absolutely beautiful and can add character to a property. However, trees can also become the nemesis to any homeowner, particularly in southwest Florida. We experience hurricanes and other storms that come with high winds that can cause branches, limbs, and full trees to come down and damage your property.

So does homeowners insurance cover tree damage? The short answer: it depends. Learn more about homeowners insurance when it comes to tree damage in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and other nearby areas of Florida.

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What does homeowners insurance cover?

Every policy is different, but insurance typically covers building damage caused by fire, storms, and even acts of vandalism. Your policy may also cover damage to outbuildings and structures like sheds, garages, fences, etc. Tree related damage is one factor where it depends on the circumstances.

In some cases, insurance will cover debris cleanup, but often only if there is damage to buildings or structures.

How can trees damage your property?

Trees can cause damage to fences, roofs, sheds, and other structures. Hurricanes and high winds can knock over an entire tree or cause numerous big limbs and branches to potentially break off and fall onto your property.

Storms aren’t the only things that can cause trees to fall. Diseased trees can decay on the outside and inside, making them weaker and more susceptible to falling. Trees with signs of rot...

If there is one thing that all of southwest Florida is familiar with, it is the damage that hurricanes can cause when they pass over us. Along with destroying buildings and damaging roofs, they can also completely knock trees over, blocking roads, driveways, or crashing into your home.

When a tree falls on your property, there are some steps you should take to ensure it is removed safely and properly. Obviously, the first step is to ensure that you and your family get to safety if the tree fell on any part of your home. There could be some issues with the structure and you should not stay in the building until an expert assesses the condition of the building. Learn what else to do when you have a fallen tree after a hurricane strikes in Cape Coral, Lee County, Fort Myers, and surrounding areas of Florida.

Contact your insurance company to learn about what they may or may not cover.

Sometimes, insurance companies may or may not cover storm damage--it depends on your home or auto policy. You will need to contact the company to see if they will cover the damage that was incurred by the fallen tree. If they determine the tree was already weakened and you should have had it removed already, they might attribute that to negligence and say that you should have had the tree removed on your own. Always call to see what they will cover for you.

Next, call a tree company to safely remove the tree for you.

If a large tree falls, then it could take...

When you hire a professional tree company to work on trees of all shapes and sizes, it is important to make sure they have the right equipment for the job. Any professional company that claims to be experts in providing tree services will have the correct equipment, while non-professionals will more than likely show up unprepared for the task at hand.

Learn about the right equipment a tree company in Cape Coral, Lee County, Fort Myers, and nearby areas should have for any task working with trees.

1. A bucket truck is needed to reach tall trees and tough spaces.

In order to reach the tops of tall trees and properly trim or remove them from the property, a tree company will need a bucket truck. This is by far the safest option vs. climbing up into a tree to cut down branches or prune away dying branches from the tree. Our tree surgeons can expertly manuever the bucket around the tree to safely trim off branches or remove the tree. It is also an essential piece of equipment to use when you have a large tree in a space that is tough to reach, such as a small side yard or an alleyway.

2. A grapple truck carries off large logs easily.

Larger logs can be hard to haul off without a grapple truck, which provides a way to move them around on the job site or haul them off. Without this, crews will have to cut the logs into smaller pieces and carry them. This will take more time and labor, which ends up being more expensive in the long run for...