Do you notice unsightly bulges on your tree? What’s the deal with these tumor-like protrusions? These are called tree burls. Arborists know about the biology of burls. We will share with you what we know and whether their presence calls for emergency tree service.

Tree Burls at a Glance

Bark cover the burls just like the rest of the trunk. This may be a sign of disease; the tree produces the burl to isolate the infection. It may also produce the burls in response to physical stressors, such as trauma or frost damage.

The tree’s ability to produce a burl is a good sign that it has the defensive mechanisms to protect itself.

Are Burls a Cause for Concern?

For the most part, a burl or two isn’t a cause for alarm. However, some burls may start at the trunk and extend to the branches. This may cause undue stress, causing branches to break apart. When we remove a tree, we often spot signs of enlarged burls that encapsulate part of the branches.

Should You Remove a Burl?

If a burl appears on a prune-able part of the branch, then you can remove it by pruning the branch. Otherwise, we do not recommend any attempts at removing the burl. Doing so may create an open wound prone to infections. Continue Reading →

Even if a tree appears healthy, all may not be well with the roots and surrounding soil. Tree soil compaction is actually commonplace in the summer and can adversely affect tree growth. How do you prevent the soil from becoming compressed? Is soil aeration necessary?

How Tree Soil Compaction Occurs

Various factors are in play, though heavy traffic is a primary cause of soil compaction. With summer here, the kids are playing in the yard and stepping on  the soil around the tree. Too much weight crushes the soil.

How Soil Compaction Affects Trees

Our tree removal crew often reports abnormal compaction around a dead tree. While this alone doesn’t instantly lead to tree death, it does cause complications for a tree already in ill health. High winds can also uproot trees in this poor condition. When our emergency tree service removes uprooted trees, they often notice decayed roots.

Water can’t easily penetrate compacted soil and reach the roots. Trees that don’t receive sufficient water are also at greater risk of nutritional deficiency. In addition, the high soil density also leads to pockets of heat that can harm the base of the trunk. Continue Reading →

The tree on your property makes for some good curb appeal. However, the roots underneath may be causing some visible destruction. Is the sidewalk outside your property cracked or bulging? Sidewalk damage caused by trees is actually quite commonplace in the Lake Stevens area.

The Implications of Sidewalk Tree Damage

Tree roots can break through sidewalks much the same way they can rupture house pipes. This can be especially problematic if the damage occurs just beyond your property and on the public sidewalk. You may receive a notice from the city requiring you to foot the cost for sidewalk repair.

If you just fix the sidewalk, the tree roots will continue to grow and cause similar damage down the road. For a permanent solution, you need to remove the tree. Yes, we know the tree is a nice aesthetic element. However, is the tree worth the cost of repairing the sidewalk every few years?

Just cutting down the tree is not enough. The roots of a cut tree may continue to grow. Our tree service includes uprooting of the entire stump. Continue Reading →

Trees typically shed in the fall. Spring is supposed to be when they grow vibrant new leaves. Should you be concerned if your tree is shedding leaves in the spring? We’ll explain the possible causes, and whether you might have reason to call for emergency tree service.

The Reason for Tree Leaf Shedding in Spring

Leavf shedding in spring is actually normal for some trees. This includes species, such as:

• Live oak
• Hickory
• Southern magnolia
• Hackberry
• Holly

These trees shed in spring because they retain a portion of their leaves over the winter. Those leaves must drop sooner or later, and spring is usually the time when they do so. Rest assured that this is normal behavior. As long as the new sprouting leaves look bright and green, you do not have cause for alarm. Continue Reading →

Snohomish County has a fairly significant deer population. If you live more along the rural areas, expect to run into a buck or doe every now and then. Spotting one is a delightful experience. Unfortunately, if they wander into your property, they can cause significant damage to your trees. We’ll explain how you can protect your trees from deer.

Why Protect Your Trees from Deer?

Male deer rub their horns against the tree bark. They do this to remove the velvet on their antlers. Males may also do this to mark their territory, especially during mating season. This can damage the bark and low-hanging tree branches. Trees without their bark are prone to disease and damage from the elements. When we remove dead trees, we often find that much of its bark is gone. Continue Reading →

Most homeowners use the terms tree trimming and tree pruning interchangeably. Tree service professionals, though, treat the terms differently. Yes, both involve removing branches and leaves, but you trim the tree for a different reason than you prune, and vice versa.

What Is Tree Pruning?

Tree pruning is the removal of dead, dying, or diseased branches. This is done to ensure healthy growth, and to prevent dead branches from abruptly giving way and causing injury or property damage.

Tree removal often includes large fallen branches. As a precaution, we always urge homeowners to have professionals prune these decaying branches before they collapse under their own weight. Our emergency tree service also frequently removes branches that detached due to neglected pruning. Continue Reading →

The addition of a tree is always a beautiful addition to your natural outdoor decor. However, what if your home is located on a hill? Should you plant a tree on a slope? What are the benefits? What are the complications, if any?

The Challenges

Slopes inherently present some difficulties for trees. One challenge is that a slope creates a microclimate where the root fails to adequately absorb moisture. In short, water may run off the slope before the root and soil has a chance to soak it in.

In addition, trees already stressed from being on a slope have a more difficult time competing for nutrients with nearby vegetation. This includes shrubs, groundcovers, and forbs, all of which have shallower root systems and tend to absorb nutrients before deeper-rooted trees. Continue Reading →

Thick bark is one of the many hallmarks of a healthy tree. Should you be worried, though, when you see falling bark? Is the tree dying? Is it molting the way reptiles shed their skin? We’ll explain the many potential implications when trees shed their bark.

Why Does a Tree Experience Falling Bark?

Some tree species, such as oak, maple, ash, and pine, grow from the inside out. As new bark develops, it pushes the old bark out.

As long as you see new bark in place of the old, then rest assured that the tree is progressing normally. However, a tree may not be healthy if the falling bark is accompanied by these additional symptoms: Continue Reading →

You may spot white tree fuzz during late fall. No, this is not snow, which should be apparent since the Seattle area doesn’t see a whole lot of snow. The fuzz is especially common among the needles and branches of evergreens. We’ll explain what this is and whether it’s a cause for alarm.

Why the Tree Has a White Fuzz

Many people believe the cottony fuzz is a form of fungus. No, it’s not fungus. Believe it or not, it’s actually a bug called the hemlock woolly adelgid. Unfortunately, this is not one of those beneficial insects that pollinate your garden. This is a pest, and you need to alert an emergency tree service. Continue Reading →

Do you know if your tree is dead or dying? If you confirmed the tree drew its last breath, then you need to begin the dead tree removal process pronto. We’ll explain why a speedy removal is necessary and why a deceased tree is a safety liability.

Why Cut Down a Dead Tree?

An average mature oak tree weighs about 4,400 pounds. If it were to topple over, it could do serious damage to property and even cause death. Most homeowner’s insurance, by the way, doesn’t cover damage from dead falling trees. Such damage is classified as negligence on the homeowner’s part for not removing it.

Dead trees are far more prone to toppling over. This is because the roots no longer send nutrients to the wood, drastically weakening the trunk. Dead trees may fall over during a storm or even from its own weight. Continue Reading →