While summer is all about getting outside, enjoying time with the family around the pool or at the beach make sure you a properly cultivating the trees displayed in your yard. Proper care of your outdoor space is necessary if you hope to have a beautiful landscape for many years to come. While it's all fun and games in the summer for us, your trees and plants can experience droughts, storms, and more. Make sure you are taking all the necessary steps to avoid any potential pitfalls that will damage your trees.
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The first five years of a young saplings life is critical in ensuring it will live a long healthy life. Proper tree care including water and pruning are just a few noteworthy points to pay attention to when caring for your newly planted trees.

Overwatering- There will be days, depending on where you are geographically located in the United States, where you experience dips in moisture levels. We recommend watering your trees at these times but do not go overboard and turn the area around the tree into a moat. If you're unsure whether the trees and plants need water or not here are a couple of methods to properly check the moisture. ​

• First, check the condition of the soil around the tree, if it is already damp and soggy you have nothing to worry about and shouldn't water your tree at all.
• If possible try to check the soil about 4-6 inches below the surface. If it is moist and wet you know your soil is good to go!
• A quick tip when going to water your trees. Try to water the roots instead of the soil around the tree since the roots are the actual mechanisms of the tree that draws water and nutrients into the tree. This allows for optimal absorption and plant health.

Over-pruning & Trimming- Proper pruning and trimming are important in supporting the healthy growth of a tree. Never forget however, that you can overdo it and start harming the canopy of the tree if you decide to remove more than necessary. Remember that the summer months are when your tree is supposed to have a full, healthy, thriving canopy. The best times to prune and trim your trees are during dormant periods when there is less growth taking place i.e at the beginning of spring or fall when growth tends to fall off. If summer is already in full-swing it is best to plan for the future and put trimming on the back burner. 

Forgetting Mulch- Typically mulching is done during the spring but there may be certain cases where you need to add a bit during the summer months. This can greatly benefit the tree as well as add to the overall aesthetics of your landscaping. The purpose of mulch is to act as an insulator preserving moisture around the base of your tree. If mulched properly your watering will be much more effective.

Weed Maintenance- Don't forget that while weeds are present around trees or plants you are caring for they are competing for the same nutrients and water that your trees are hoping to absorb. Make sure your gardens and yards are properly taken care of by doing routine weeding at the minimum of once a month. Not only will this benefit the health of your plants but nobody likes the look of overgrown gardens that look like weed armageddon is takin place.

To recap things to watch out for in the article, make sure you aren't overwatering your plants and trees. I know it can be hard sometimes but make sure you check the moisture of the soil before you go crazy watering everything. Make sure you are choosing the proper time of year to prune and trim your trees ensuring healthy growth of your tree's canopy not harming it. Mulching isn't necessary per-say but it will definitely help your tree retain moisture so you don't have to water it as much, therefore we recommend it. Last but not least, make sure you are taking care of the weeds in your yard and garden so they aren't sucking nutrition and water from your trees and plants.

Whether it's a young sapling that you are hoping to strengthen stability or a mature tree that is showing signs of potential damage or cracks you should consider using cables to give stability to the overall structure. Heading into the spring season in the midwest we will be having periodic storms that can produce high winds and if you're not aware of damage to large trees they can fall causing large amounts of damage. It is always a good idea to have a certified arborist come to your property to inspect any trees you notice with cracks or potential weak spots. This determines whether cabling will benefit the trees future health. This will not only protect the tree but any structures near it saving you from large losses in property damage.

There are a few reasons we would consider installing cables to stabilize trees:

1. Hazard reduction- if you are able to catch a potential hazard before any damage is done by a falling tree or limb you will end up saving yourself hundreds to thousands of dollars. It is much more cost efficient to spend a little money up front preventing a tree from falling than paying a contractor to fix damages to your home or car.
2. Preservation- Helping the longevity of a tree by cabling it will more than likely benefit the longterm lifespan by supplementing healthy growth.
3. Restoration- The goal when placing cables on any tree is to help the tree live the longest life possible giving it a full and healthy aesthetically pleasing look.

The Process of Installing Cables:

The first step in the process is assessing the tree and identifying whether it actually needs cables or they will benefit the tree. If the tree will benefit you then need to decide the proper type of cabling and hardware. Then a proper spot on the tree needs to be identified making sure the wood in the tree is structurally sound allowing for proper support. Pruning and cutting of some branches may be necessary to remove some weight from the broken or cracked areas of the tree.

There are different types of cabling such as dynamic cables which have much higher elasticity and can be utilized to help stabilize a healthier tree. The synthetic fibers have a high UV resistance and allow the tree more room for more natural movement. Static cables are traditionally made with steel cables and are utilized more when there is imminent danger and the tree is showing signs of collapse in the near future. They allow far less movement than static cables by greatly restricting movement and hold the tree firmly in place. Brace rods are used where a tree is splitting in two helping hold the two sides together and are used in combination with at least one-rod support. Assuming cables are properly installed the trees should adapt to the installed cables and grow freely.

After the cabling systems have been installed they should be checked and maintained. Over time the rods may show signs of wear. Eventually, the system may need to be moved or replaced depending on how much the tree is growing to accommodate the expanding canopy.

Always remember when considering cabling for one of your trees you should consult with a professional first. The main reasons for cabling are reducing or mitigating any potential damage that may occur from an imminent fall. The best practice is to always prevent any damage beforehand saving you thousands in potential property damage.

Here's a short list of reasons you should get the tree taken care of by our company the best Crystal Lake Tree Service:

• The tree is dead or beyond the point of no return, meaning there's no salvaging any remains.
• Dead and weakened branches are more likely to fall in the event of a moderate to strong storm.
• The tree may be leaning heavily to one direction or another indicating there is an imminent collapse in the near future. Factors like inclement weather will only expedite the inevitable collapse.
• You may simply think the tree is ugly or just want it gone! If that's the case, what are you waiting for? Give us a call.

Choose A Tree Removal Service
When you have a dead tree on your property it is probably wise to get it removed by a tree service or certified arborist as soon as possible. If there isn't an obvious reason for its death this could mean it contracted a disease and if it's not properly taken care of can start to affect the remaining trees on the property leading to a similar demise. One sign you can look for on your trees to know whether it is diseased or not is powdery mildew on the branches or trunk. This fungal disease can affect a multitude of plants in your yard, not only your trees. Your trees are also susceptible to chlorosis, which is recognizable as a reduction or loss of the normal green coloration of the leaves typically caused by an iron deficiency or lime-rich soil.
Cutting Down And Trimming Dead Branches
If you notice any large branches that are hanging or look like they may fall you will want to get your tree trimmed or pruned properly by a professional. In the event of a strong storm, these branches can fall and damage nearby property. Removing these branches can also prevent any potential injury to a pet or person walking under the tree. It is always better to have the branches removed or trimmed back airing on the side of caution ensuring you and your families safety.
When Your Tree Is Leaning Or About To Fall
If you notice a tree on your property that is showing signs of damage from a recent storm or natural aging that is causing it to lean this is a matter that should be attended to immediately. If this is not properly taken care of by a professional tree service you could be looking at a much higher bill if it falls and damages any structures within range. This can easily be avoided by having the tree removed by calling the professionals at Crystal Lake Tree Service. We are always here to help when you are in need of tree removal services.
Ugly Tree? Get It Removed The Right Way
I think we all agree when we say a dead tree is not an attractive feature to have in your yard or in front of your place of business. Whatever the reasoning may be removing the tree by an arborist or tree service is the best option to improve the aesthetics of your landscape.