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In Florida, we have so many storms that our trees can suffer a lot of damage. Even an indirect hit from a hurricane or tropical storm, like Tampa had recently with Hurricane Ian, can cause significant breakage.
What if a limb or trunk splits, but doesn't detach? Can it be saved? The answer is "sometimes". The chances are better than saving a fallen or uprooted tree. This is not a do-it-yourself job though. You'll need to contact a Tree Service Specialist, preferably a Certified Arborist, to asses the tree to determine if it can be saved, and to oversee the project. Because they may be dealing with a few hundred or even a thousand pounds of live wood, special equipment and training are required to do this job safely. If the tree cannot be saved, you may need the Certified Arborist to provide documentation to the government to allow the tree to be removed. I have a client, Mid Florida Tree Service, Inc., that has the knowledge and experience as well as Certified Arborists to handle all of this. If the tree cannot be saved, Mid Florida Tree Service will cut the tree, haul away the debris and leave the area looking great! Give them a call at (813) 588-0315 and ask them to evaluate your split tree.
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Jane Castor, Mayor of Tampa, has been quoted as “Trees are an essential element of a community's health and of a resident's health as well,"
Mayor Castor is determined to protect Tampa's tree canopy. This, to the point that high dollar fines are charged against residents & tree removal companies if they break the city's rules. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law In June of 2019 that banned cities from regulating the removal, replanting, pruning or trimming of trees on residential property if a licensed arborist determines the trees pose a danger. There was an situation in 2019 where a company cut down twenty eight trees at a former trailer park on Gandy Blvd. The city charged a fine of $234,427.50 that was upheld by a Hillsborough County judge in September 2022. The primary question in the lawsuit was the definition of "residential property", with a secondary question about disagreement between a company arborist and one working for the city as to the health of a tree. Castor also said, “What we have also taken on is to educate the community, educate businesses, educate developers, about the importance of our tree canopy, but also the rules as they apply to what permit you need, what trees can be taken down, and which ones are illegal to destroy” Regardless of which municipality has authority over the trees on your property, trust a team that's been in business in this area since 1976, with the current owner literally growing up in the business. That is, my client Mid Florida Tree Service, Inc. When you need to have trees removed, please call Mid Florida Tree Service, Inc. at (813) 588-0315. According to Wikipedia, Temple Terrace is an incorporated city in northeastern Hillsborough County, Florida. It is adjacent to Tampa.
As of the the most recent census, 2020, the city had a population of between 26,000 and 27,000. It is the third of three and smallest incorporated municipality in the County. It includes a wide variety of properties including homes, individual businesses, malls and office parks. Each of these property types has different tree service needs. Mid Florida Tree Service is well positioned and well experienced to take care of any of these properties. They are located in nearby Thonotosassa Florida and have been operating in this area for nearly five decades. Temple Terrace Tree Service Monthly or yearly maintenance can save you a lot of headaches later, but if disaster strikes and you need emergency service, they are available to help with that as well. The current owner literally grew up in the company, working for his dad. It's proverbially in his blood. They have Certified Arborists on staff and have the right equipment and experience to handle any job in a safe and efficient manner. If you're looking for a Professional Tree Service company in the Temple Terrace area, please consider Mid Florida Tree Service, Inc. In other posts, I've mentioned Deep Root Feeding or Deep Root Fertilizing, but I don't think I really explained it well before.
If you spray or spread tree fertilizer on the surface, two things happen that reduce the effectiveness
The solution is Deep Root Feeding, that is, to inject those nutrients deep under ground where they don't get rinsed off and where the tree does not have to compete with grass for those nutrients. Why? Wild trees don't need to be fertilized, why should mine? Wild trees have the advantage of being fertilized by nature. Though the years, dead leaves, dead grass, animal droppings and other organic waste keep the soil healthy. Around our homes, we usually clean up debris instead of letting it decompose because we find the debris unpleasant. This can leave the soil deficient. How to know How can I tell if I should fertilize my tree? If your trees are putting on less foliage or flowers, or the leaves are smaller, off color or have dead spots, or you see other signs of stagnation, there's a good chance that your tree needs to be fertilized. My client, Mid Florida Tree Service, can help identify your tree's needs and analyze the soil to figure out exactly what type and how much fertilizer to use. Contact them for more information and to schedule service. (813) 588-0315 What is Citrus Greening
Citrus Greening, or "Huanglongbing", Chinese Mandarin: 'Yellow Dragon Disease', is a bacterial infection that attacks citrus trees and similar species. The bactria is Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, but what's we are more concerned about is invasive insect "citrus psyllids", (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama), because they are the vector of the disease. (They spread it.)
The USDA, throughaphis.usda.gov, says HLB or Citrus Greening is the worst threat to U.S. citrus trees. Infected trees, and any material from them must not be moved out of the infected area. I encourage my readers to get the full story here: Citrus Greening How do I know if my tree has citrus greening?
Identifying the infection may be slow because the trees may not show symptoms for months or years. Watch for the psyllids and their eggs.
Once symptoms show up, they include, green color on ripe fruit, blotchy leaves, asymmetric yellowing of the leaves, stunted growth, reduced fruit size and other signs of poor health. The disease eventually kills infected trees. No treatment is available yet, so we must do all we can to prevent it. How can we prevent the disease? Controlling the citrus psyllids is the best option. We do not expect to eradicate it, but rather to keep the population as low as possible using combinations / rotations of malathion, other insecticides and horticultural mineral oil. Some of these are applied to the canopy while others are applied to the soil. Dying trees pose many hazards. An unhealthy tree may drop large branches which could cause property damage and injury. I'm sorry to be so dramatic, but someone could actually be killed. Even worse than falling branches, the truck could fail, causing the entire tree fall. Trees have been known to destroy cars and do major damage to houses.
Your property value can be negatively affected by the presence of a dying tree, and make it harder to sell. Trees at the end of their life have fewer leaves, and even the ones they have may be yellowed or otherwise unhealthy looking. To protect your property and all who live or visit there, to preserve your property value and to maximize curb appeal when it's time to sell, it is important to keep an eye on your trees for signs they might be in trouble. Knowing the signs can help you make the decision to call an expert. What Signs to Look For SUDDEN CHANGES Generally speaking, sudden changes in a tree's growth & appearance might be signs of a problem. MUSHROOMS (fungus) Fungus feeds on, among other things, rotting wood. If you see mushrooms on the outside of your tree, this is a strong indication that something is going wrong underneath. CRACKS Cracks open sores, called cankers, indicate disease in trees. Worse yet, cracks and cankers are a gateway for pests, which can further damage the tree. These wounds may come from lightning or other injuries, or may happen from internal disease. POOR LEAF HEALTH Off color or spotted leaves or a shortage of leaves can indicate fungus or disease. Some may effect a few branches while others cause problems for the entire tree. Be aware if your tree is putting on healthy leaves over the entire tree, or if it has bad or bare spots. LEANING We expect our trees to be mostly vertical. If a tree has grown at an angle all its life, that's a different story. If your tree develops a lean, this is a sign that there's a real problem. If the soil heaves, or rises, this could be a sign the tree will ultimately fall. This can happen to an otherwise healthy tree, if the soil is weakened. This happens often when there has been a long rainy spell. What do I do if I think my tree is dying? Contact a professional tree service in your area. If you've read my blog before, you'll know the I recommend Mid-Florida Tree Service. Mid-Florida Tree Service can diagnose your trees. Some sick trees can be saved if treatment is done soon enough. If the tree cannot be saved, Mid-Florida Tree Service can help you decide whether the tree needs to be removed. I'll write more about this topic soon. Perhaps it will continue on the Mid Florida Tree Service website. Palm trees are perhaps the most iconic images of a tropical paradise. Florida's subtropical climate offers homeowners a variety of palm trees for their landscapes. A little knowledge about the options, and the care these trees need, will help you make the right choice for your landscape design. The first thing is to ensure your tree is a good fit to the region where you live. Fortunately, for those in the mid-Florida area, this includes just about any palm tree. Hardy palms like Cabbage Palm, Chinese Palm, Bismarck, Needle Palm, Sago, Mexican Fan and the Windmill Palm and survive light freezes that occasionally hit the area. The Palmetto, Mediterranean fan, Coconut, Queen Palm, and Royal Palm also do well in and around Tampa Florida. Let's narrow our choices a bit, by considering where the tree might be planted, and how big it is likely to get as it matures. Palms should be planted where they will receive a fair amount of sunlight, have good drainage, and won't be crowded by other plants or structures. Consider their spreading roots and leave room so they won't infringe on driveways or foundations. King and Queen Palms, and others, can get quite tall, this may be a limiting factor for their placement. For more information about selecting, planting and caring for your palm trees, contact Mid Florida Tree service: Florida Palm Tree Service Call 813-986-2258 for all of your tree service needs in the Tampa, Hillsborough and Eastern Pasco county areas. After deciding what type of palm, and where to plant it, site preparation is crucial to the long term health of the tree. The spreading root system should have access to well fertilized soil over a large area. Highly alkaline soil may need to be treated with sulfur to lower the PH. The root ball should be well watered just before backfilling and the trunk mustn't be buried, as it might lead to rot. Mulching around the newly planted tree will provide additional nutrients as it composts. The mulch can be replaced annually.
Properly maintained and cared for trees are not only a visually aesthetic addition to any property but they can also add significantly to the value. Adversely, poorly tended trees can be a high liability risk. Proper tree care is one investment you can’t afford to go without as it can lead to substantial returns.
Hiring the right tree service company, like Mid Florida Tree Service, Inc. with an experienced and knowledgeable staff, including on-site certified arborists is one of the first steps in achieving healthy and beautiful trees. Why should you look for certified arborists when considering what tree service company to hire? Arborists are knowledgeable about the needs of individual trees. They are equipped and specially trained to provide insight and make recommendations as to the proper care your trees need. Hiring a Certified Arborists is a decision not to made lightly. What makes an arborist certified? An arborist by definition is a person who is schooled in the science and art of trees, from planting, caring for and the individual maintenance required. A Certified Arborist is one who has gained a level of knowledge of tree care by experience and by passing a complex and comprehensive exam developed by some of the industry’s experts. The ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) arborist certification is earned through a voluntary, non governmental process. Some of the services an arborists can provide are:
If you’re considering changes to the landscaping design around your home or business, such as putting in new walkways, adding an outdoor kitchen, pool, or other structure that involves digging or trenching, you will need to think about how this will affect the trees already established.
Digging in the soil near trees can cut roots and compromise the tree, causing injury that can lead to the decline in its overall health up to the tree falling over. This can cause liability and safety issues not to mention possible damage to surrounding structures. The impact of the damage caused by ‘pruning’ or cutting tree roots increases with the type of and amount of cuts made. There are a number of factors to consider that will directly affect the response of how your trees may react to root pruning. Some considerations are:
Preparing Your Trees for Hurricane Season
During a hurricane or tropical storm, a healthy tree in the right place could protect your home from storm damage by acting as a wind-break, but a neglected tree can do more harm than good. Always remember, do not begin a pruning project while a watch or warning for Tropical Storms or Hurricanes is in effect. Poorly pruned trees are more likely to break or fall during a storm. Some fallen or damaged trees after a storm may be from improper cutting or pruning. It is, therefore, important that your trees are serviced by a certified arborist. Well before hurricane season, do these things:
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