We all love trees, and for true tree enthusiasts, or those just curious about our Delaware State Tree, local tree care service company Stein Tree, discusses the American Holly.
Although trees are beautiful, provide shade, oxygen and homes for wildlife, they can pose problems without proper maintenance. This is true on residential properties as well as commercial or municipal properties. Proper tree trimming and pruning is essential for several reasons.
Wilmington, Delaware – July 2, 2018 – If you love camping, be careful about nature’s tiniest pests this year. Stein Tree advises care specifically with regard to the emerald ash borer (EAB) and the Lone Star Tick. One is a destructive pest whose spread needs to be controlled, and the other threatens physical harm to humans.
First, be aware that improper handling of firewood could cause the spread of invasive pests, such as the emerald ash borer (EAB). Stein Tree Service warns that the emerald ash borer is dangerous to ash and olive trees, and failure to follow handling guidelines could spread the insect to the camping area you visit, or to your home trees if you transport wood from the site.
If you plan to have a campfire, and campfires are allowed at your site, purchase wood at the campground. This practice is recommended generally anyway, to avoid introducing non-native insects to a site. However, the emerald ash borer is particularly harmful and destructive.
The emerald ash borer, was found in Delaware for the first time in August 2016. Emerald ash borer adult beetles lay eggs in summer,and begin hatching as larvae in the spring.
Delaware State Parks mandate that campers refrain from bringing out of state wood into Delaware. Please follow all guidelines to protect Delaware’s trees.
Campers and hikers are urged to be vigilant about checking for ticks this year. The Lone Star tick, also responsible for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, has also been discovered to cause another health issue: alpha-gal allergy, or allergy to red meat and dairy.
The allergy can cause dangerous, even life-threatening reactions within 6 hours of when the afflicted person ingests red meat (including pork) or sometimes dairy products. Dr. Scott Commins, one of the first doctors to identify the allergy associated with the Lone Star tick, estimates that over 5000 cases exist in the U.S. Fortunately, some patients do outgrow the allergy over time, but the best course of action is to be careful and check for ticks after outdoor activities. After spending time in grassy areas, check your shoes, clothing hair and body for ticks.
The Lone Star tick, which is being found further and further north, is a threat to campers themselves. The emerald ash borer is a threat to trees and therefore the economy. Stein Tree Service advises Delaware residents to enjoy the summer weather, while being aware of surroundings and rules when camping or spending time outdoors.
Stein Tree Service is the oldest independently owned tree care service in Delaware. Their Certified Arborists and other tree care professionals are dedicated to ensuring residential and commercial tree health. For more information about available services or the emerald ash borer threat in Delaware, contact Stein Tree Service at 302-273-1583 or visit their website directly at www.steintree.com.
Summer is here, which calls for ample time to be spent outdoors with family and friends. Yet although the sunshine and the warmth offer a great environment for your next backyard bash, the sticky weather can dry out your trees. Proper summer tree care and maintenance can both increase your curb appeal and keep your property safe and flourishing. Professional tree care company Stein Tree Service offers some tips that will ensure your trees remain healthy throughout the summer:
Though an annual tree inspection can be conducted at any point throughout the year, the start of summer is an ideal time to request an inspection, especially for those who have never done so before. As the end of spring marks the beginning of summer storms, a professional tree care company can spot structural weaknesses and suggest preventive measures to reduce vulnerability before inclement weather can cause further damage. In addition, a professional tree care company can find and treat pests, such as emerald ash borer, before they cause irreversible damage and kill your trees. Annual inspections will help you keep your trees well-maintained and promote safety for you and your neighbors.
Whereas inspections are may only be necessary once a year, scheduled trimming and pruning are recommended on a regular basis. Pruning trees to remove weak limbs results in stronger, more wind-resistant trees, while often increasing tree longevity. Sometimes pruning can even be used to enhance flowering! Just as pruning is beneficial for your trees, water maintenance is also vital to providing the appropriate nutrients and care for tree development. In our temperate climate, often only an additional inch of water on our soil each week is necessary: too much water can drown the roots!
Storms often invite pest activity to thrive in trees and many, such as EAB or spotted lantern-fly, cause major damage. A professional tree company can monitor insect invasion and contain the spread of infectious diseases throughout your trees and surrounding property. Consult a tree care company today to stop problems before they escalate.
Trees that are growing over your fence into your neighbor’s yard or into your power lines may need to be trimmed back or removed for safety or to stay within HOA guidelines. A licensed and insured tree care company can safely handle such tasks, especially desirable when large trees are involved.
The health and safety of your landscape and its inhabitants is something you need experienced and skilled care to ensure. Consulting with a professional tree care company drastically reduces the likelihood of future damage, and helps keep your property looking its best. Contact Stein Tree for more information about summer tree care or for a free consultation today!
As many trees are the tallest structures in a landscape, they naturally become targets for lightning to strike. While not all trees are equally susceptible to lightning, vulnerable trees are everywhere— they populate our yards and line our streets. Lightning poses risks to the trees, as well as to surrounding property and buildings. Stein offers a look at some preventive measures and post-damage assessments which can be conducted to care for your trees and ensure the safety of the community.
So, does a tree die when struck by lightning? Sometimes, but if the damage is minimal or only occurs to a small portion of the tree, saving the tree could be possible with the right care. Stein offers tips on prevention and care of trees that have already been struck by lightning.
Even before a lightning strike occurs, you may want to consider a consultation with a professional tree service company. Depending on how vulnerable your trees are to lightning, a professional may suggest a lightning protection system, which reduces the risk of damage from a strike. As lightning poses risks to nearby buildings as well as individual trees, these lightning protection systems minimize the risk of a side-flash to adjacent structures. A tree care specialist from Stein Tree can inspect your tree to determine whether or not one of these systems should be implemented.
For less dire situations, a professional may simply suggest water management and other forms of maintenance to monitor your trees. While water levels can be adjusted at any time according to rainfall, pruning may be recommended only after waiting post-lighting strike to see whether the tree can recover from the stress. If the tree is healthy enough and removal unnecessary, a professional may suggest pruning out damaged wood and branches. Both pruning and additional watering are critical to supply needed care to your trees.
In situations where a tree is irreversibly damaged and posing an imminent risk to surrounding structures, tree removal is actually necessary. In situations such as these, you will want a professional to safely remove the structurally degraded tree. Consulting with a professional tree care company before inclement weather strikes vastly reduces the future possibility of tree removal, as problems can be spotted and systems can be implemented beforehand.
Lightning damage is better prevented than repaired. A professional tree care company can employ various tree risk assessors to determine what your trees need. Don’t wait for a tree to be struck by lightning which will compromise your tree’s functional and structural stability— contact Stein Tree for a free consultation today!
Emerald ash borer (EAB) is becoming a more common term in our communities, as procedures are put into place in Pennsylvania communities, like other US communities, to combat its threat. Stein Tree offers some information to inform homeowners of the potential threat and enable you to prepare and protect your ash trees.
As warm weather arrives and trees begin to blossom and bloom, homeowners often begin to think about hiring someone to inspect and care for them. Who should that someone be? Many landscape companies offer tree care services, however, an arborist is the right person for the job if you want someone with a lot of knowledge who is passionate about the tree’s overall health, rather than just focusing on aesthetics. Today Stein Tree answers the question: What does an arborist do?
Wilmington, DE – May 10, 2018 – Homeowners across the United States need to be wary of an emerald green invasive pest that could destroy their ash trees. Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week, being recognized May 20-26, 2018, helps increase awareness of the threat and advises homeowners of the signs that trees could be infested.
Today is Arbor Day and festivities have been taking place all over the country to celebrate trees and all the benefits they offer us. In recognition of Arbor Day, Stein Tree Service offers some great choices for trees that grow well in Delaware and Pennsylvania as well as some information about good tree care.
Photos courtesy of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
The first presence of the spotted lanternfly, an insect originating in China, India and Vietnam, in the US was noted in 2014 in Berks County, PA. In November 2017, Philadelphia County was added to the existing quarantine. The quarantine was put into effect because the insects endanger local agriculture, specifically grapes, apples, hops, stone fruits and hardwoods.
The spotted lanternfly has several phases before maturity. These are four nymph, or instar, phases beginning when they start to hatch in mid-May. In the first instar, nymphs are black with white spots and no wings, gradually developing red patches as they mature.
Adults’ heads are black and they have gray wings with black spots on the front portion. The wing tips of the wings have black rectangular blocks with grey outlines. If the spotted lanternfly is seen flying, you will see hind wings that are red at the base and black at the tip with a white stripe dividing them. The red part of the wing has black spots and the abdomen is yellow with black stripes on the top and bottom.
The nymphs may commonly be seen in late April to mid-May. Adult insects, which prefer the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus alitissima) as host, can be seen from July into the fall months. In the late fall months, they lay eggs, in masses of 30-50, on trees, vehicles or other outdoor surfaces.
The spotted lanternfly is very destructive and spreads quickly. If you find any in an area in which they are already known to be present, you should kill them. If the area has not been identified as having lanternfly presence, you should report the presence, either taking a picture or sample to be confirmed with authorities. You can do so by contacting the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA), either via emailing badbug@pa.gov or calling the Invasive Species Hotline at 1-866-253-7189.
Regular inspection and tree care is helpful in early identification of lanternfly presence. In addition, the quarantines in place regulate the movement of the following items, so being careful of what you may be transporting into or out of quarantine areas, either on your person or belongings, can be helpful.
If you have ailanthus or tree of heaven in your yard, you may wish to remove them. Contact and systemic Insecticides can be used to treat trees that you elect to keep on your property. Your certified arborist or other tree care professional can advise you on the best course of treatment as well as help you identify lanternfly or other pests
Stein Tree Service services areas in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. For a free consultation or more information about our services, contact us at 302-478-3511. You can also learn more about spotted lanternfly at agriculture.pa.gov/spottedlanternflyalert.