Friday 31 March 2017

This Simple Tip To Help Manage Your Trees Is Amazing

If you've got trees on your property you've undoubtedly been affected by the recent storms. You've probably heard the trunks creaking in the wind or maybe you've been unlucky enough to have a branch come crashing through a window. While trees are beautiful additions to any lawn or yard, you've got to take care of them. Left to their own devices trees can grow huge and wild. Their roots can infiltrate your pipes and their branches can scrape your siding. By maintaining your trees growth with regular trimming you can help avoid a weather-related disaster, or hopefully any tree-related disaster:

Homeowners were still recovering from Fridays storm after trees toppled across San Diego County. Arborist Larry Coalson with LC Tree Service was helping residents pick up the pieces Monday.

“The biggest thing you can do is to look at your trees. If you can’t see through them then it’s time to trim them,” said Coalson.

Coalson said he’s been busy with phone calls since the storm, and continues to remind folks if you can’t see through your tree is time to trim it. If wind can’t blow through the tree the wind could knock the tree down.

Coalson suggests a few things homeowners can do on their own that let's them know if they should call a professional.

“At the base – if you can see some of the roots that’s not a big deal. It’s when you can actually step on them and feel the ground move a good foot," Coalson said. "If your foot goes in a foot or you have cracks coming along the soil and you see it kind of starting to raise up or you notice a really heavy lean in the tree that’s unusual that is when you really need to call somebody out."

Via: http://fox5sandiego.com/2017/02/20/what-residents-can-do-to-help-prevent-trees-from-falling/

You've got to pay attention to them and you've got to do your best to help them stay healthy. This is all sound advice and it could save you a trip to the hospital or the need to call in a contractor because half your house is gone. Our roads are also fighting a losing battle out there:

Friday's storm may not have been the strongest of the season in terms of rainfall, but it still packed a punch.

Reports of downed trees and clogged roadways began pouring in early, as winds strengthen ahead of rainfall later Friday afternoon.

[...]

Instances of downed trees continued to occur throughout the day.
Large Eucalyptus trees, weakened by January rainfall already, were especially vulnerable.
A downed tree on the northbound side of I-5 south at Genesee Ave. blocked the slow lane and an off-ramp shortly before noon, prompting a Sig Alert. The alert was cleared before 2 p.m., but not before causing lengthy delays to the afternoon commute.
A fallen tree on northbound SR-163, just south of Robinson Ave., fell on a vehicle and blocked all lanes just after 4 p.m., prompting a Sig Alert as well.
It's been crazy around here. Prevention is better than reaction, after all. Instead of reacting to your trees blowing down or branches snapping off willy-nilly, use this storm as a lesson in maintenance. By looking at the unpredictable weather we've had it's not surprising that so many trees have fallen. Don't let it happen again is the best lesson that can be taken from this. If you have trees, have them regularly trimmed http://www.allcleartree.com/trimming. Keep your yard free of debris and make sure that if you do have several trees that they aren't all entwined. If you've got three trees all wrapped up in each other you're going to have three trees coming down together. Regular trimming can help the trees maintain their close friendship without interfering with the rest of their lives.

This Simple Tip To Help Manage Your Trees Is Amazing is republished from All Clear Tree Service's Blog



source http://www.allcleartree.com/trimming/simple-tip-help-manage-trees-amazing

Monday 27 March 2017

Well Blow Me Down: Trees Everywhere

It's no secret that the weather has seriously sucked in the last few months. We've had excessive rains and strong winds which are in stark contrast to the drought that was wearing on us. Thanks to the high winds we've been seeing more and more trees knocked down into roads and onto houses. It's definitely becoming a mess out there. This weather has done a number on our homes and our roads. Hopefully there is a break in the clouds ahead. Until then, we're literally stuck:

Large trees downed in a windy storm caused minor damage to homes and blocked a number of roads and freeways in San Diego Friday.

At least two large eucalyptus trees fell across both lanes of north state Route 163 and landed on the hood of a car south of Robinson Avenue in Hillcrest about 3:45 p.m. The female driver was got out and was unhurt, authorities said.

Northbound traffic was diverted off at Quince Street for four hours until the freeway was cleared, the California Highway Patrol said.

Shortly before 4 p.m., a tree toppled on a duplex, causing minor damage, on Caminito Rio Brancho near Appaloosa Road in Scripps Ranch, San Diego police said. No one was injured.

Earlier in Scripps Ranch, a tree estimated at 100 feet long and three feet around was blocking the road at Business Park Avenue and Willow Creek Road in Scripps Ranch about 2 p.m., police said.

In Point Loma, San Diego fire crews found a 70-foot palm tree fell on a house, causing minor damage, on Kellogg Street near San Antonio Avenue around 2:30 p.m. The street, a cul-de-sac, was closed off until the tree could be removed.

Another tree fell onto a house, also causing minor damage, on Maryland Street near Monroe Avenue in University Heights about 5 p.m. No one was hurt.

One 60-foot tree fell over on Wilbur Avenue and another tree crashed down at Carmel Mountain Road and Sundevil Way in Rancho Peñasquitos.

Yet another tree blocked the end of La Cuenta Drive in Tierrasanta, north of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.

Police said there were a number of other instances around the city and some cars were damaged by fallen limbs.

Via: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/sd-me-trees-down-20170217-story.html

Let's not forget that there is more than one tree blocking things in San Diego. There are parts that are getting slammed with wind and the discarded bodies of trees:

All across San Diego County Saturday trees were the task at hand after a strong Pacific storm hit the region.

At a Caminito Rio Branco Townhome complex in Scripps Ranch on Scripps Ranch Boulevard, a massive eucalyptus tree smashed into at least three units.

Resident Rick Scrivner witnessed the tree as it came crashing down around 3 p.m. Friday afternoon.

"I was standing right in the middle of my garage about to get into my car and run an errand, Scrivner said

A 100 foot eucalyptus tree is now covered in caution tape as residents wait for crews to come and remove the tree.

Drivers in Scripps Ranch were re-directed due to the downed tree.

Via: http://www.cbs8.com/story/34539633/strong-winds-blowing-down-trees-across-san-diego-county

It's definitely been a rough ride but hopefully it'll all come to pass. If you look out your window you're sure to see a different landscape than what you saw before. It's been a difficult time for everyone and we want you to know that we have services that can help. We do tree removal http://www.allcleartree.com/removal and we can help you with any wayward trimming that might need to be done http://www.allcleartree.com/trimming. We all need to be safe out there and watch out for each other. Since everyone is around and this is not a forest, you can probably hear it every time a tree falls.

Well Blow Me Down: Trees Everywhere Read more on: AllClearTree.com



source http://www.allcleartree.com/trimming/well-blow-trees-everywhere

Thursday 23 March 2017

Who Turned Out The Lights? Storms and Trees Gang Up

It seems like all aspects of nature are in cahoots with each other. These wicked storms are sure to be fraying everyone's nerves while giving us that much needed rain. The problem comes when evil storms take advantage of already weakened trees to wreak havoc on our lives. Strong winds and heavy rainfall are the harbingers of doom for many of our suffering trees. If you remember the drought we had, a lot of trees were weakened by such weather.

If we look at this like we look at human relationships. it's like the storm is the unruly older kid who is trying to get the unsure younger kid to go along with their plan. The problem is: trees are falling for it:

The storms rolling in are living up to the hype. Heavy downpours and violent winds are spreading across the county.

“We have 170 weather stations and this one looks like a very significant weather system,” Brian D’Agostino said who is the Meteorology Program Manager at SDG&E.

CW6 was invited inside the weather intelligence center at SDG&E where they’re watching this storm’s every move, so they can respond quickly.

“We look at branches that could be dying and we go in and take care of those in advance,” he added.

These powerful gusts and already-saturated Earth are sure to bring down trees and power lines. Falling trees can also uproot gas lines.

“If you see lines down, always assume they’re live. Don’t touch them, call 911,” D’Agostino said.

And before you find yourself in the dark tonight, check flashlight batteries and if your power does go out, check SDG&E’s website for estimated restoration times.
“Just the other day, the waves were coming up over the pier. Just insane.”

The strongest winds will be along the coast. Lifeguards are ready. Swift water rescue teams and fire rescue crews are fully staffed and they’re begging you, obey all signs and barricades.

“Don’t try to walk through water. There could be hidden things underneath. It can be like a vacuum and suck you down,” Chris Webber said, who is the Assistant Chief of Emergency Services.

And if you’re inside your car, move to the roof if the water continues to rise.

Friday afternoon, the airport clocked wind gusts at 40 miles per hour. There are a number of cancellations, many airlines are waiving those change fees.

“It’s windy. Going to be difficult to drive, stay home if you can,” Assistant Chief Webber added.

Via: http://www.cw6sandiego.com/tree-topples-home-la-jolla-storm-brings-power-outages-flooding/

See?! It's madness out there. You've got to do yourself a favour and stay inside if you can. If you've got tree carcases littered across your lawn you could always call us to come help clear them up http://www.allcleartree.com/removal.

Strong winds and trees are working together to take out the electrical lines leaving us in darkness:

Friday’s strong wind caused a live power line in Pacific Beach to go down causing it to spark and catch fire.

The power line fell after being struck by a tree, which also hit a car, but fortunately there were no injuries. San Diego police helped block the area while crews worked to restore power to the area and fix the problem.

SDG&E reported the downed power line line happened at 4611 Dawes Street and caused an outage just before 5 p.m., impacting 1240 customers. The outage was one of 12 going on as of 7p.m. Friday impacting close to 4,000 customers, according to SDG&E

Via: http://fox5sandiego.com/2017/02/17/tree-knocks-down-power-line-sparking-small-fire/

It's a dangerous time we're in, friends. It's important that you keep yourself and your family and friends safe. Don't touch any downed lines and always assume they're live. If you have trees on your property and haven't been affected much by the storm yet, do an assessment and call in a professional for a removal or trimming http://www.allcleartree.com/trimming.

 

Who Turned Out The Lights? Storms and Trees Gang Up See more on: http://www.allcleartree.com/



source http://www.allcleartree.com/removal/turned-lights-storms-trees-gang

Monday 20 March 2017

Giving Trees Vaccinations: Will it Work?

Most human beings get vaccinated against deadly diseases. It's taken a lot of scientific research, trial, and error to find what works with our bodies to make sure we don't fall victim to these diseases. Even our pets get vaccinated from things like rabies and distemper. With the looming beetle infestation of our trees some researchers are contemplating the idea of shots for trees:

UC Riverside’s Akif Eskalen pointed to a pattern of small holes in the bark of a majestic California sycamore tree growing in a Riverside park and lamented that it will be dead in about two years.

The holes are the work of invaders from Southeast Asia, beetles smaller than a sesame seed that probably hitched a ride to the Golden State in packing wood.

First discovered but misidentified in 2003 in Los Angeles County, the beetles have since infested at least 49 species of trees in seven Southern California counties, said Eskalen, a plant pathology professor. They also have infested avocado groves, where they don’t kill the trees but cause branches to die back.
The polyphagous shot hole borer, and its lookalike cousin, the Kuroshio shot hole borer, are so called because they leave trees peppered with tell-tale holes that look like someone blasted their trunks with bird shot. They kill trees by spreading and nurturing a deadly species of Fusarium fungus that serves as their sole food source.

The scale of its infestation is troubling. One estimate says that beetles have struck about 280,000 trees in San Diego County’s Tijuana River Valley. But that’s just one of many areas of infestation.

“It is spreading so fast, I cannot put it in numbers,” Eskalen said.

The beetles move from tree to tree along Southern Californian’s woody riverbed habitats, increasing their reach in these corridors about two to eight miles a year, he said. They have worked their way up the Santa Ana River bed in Orange and Riverside counties, this year reaching Riverside’s Fairmount and Martha McLean-Anza Narrows parks.

One female shot hole borer can produce about 30 offspring during her 30-day lifespan.

Via: http://www.pe.com/articles/trees-821024-eskalen-beetles.html

These nasty little bugs are just doing what comes naturally to them, but it has a detrimental side effect on our trees. How the beetles got here is yet to be truly determined but we can't erase the fact that they're hear. If these shots work, we won't have to worry about removing infested trees and will be able to maintain our greenery. If you have infested trees you may want to contact professionals to report the infestation and then look at getting the tree(s) removed: http://www.allcleartree.com/removal. Acting early can save you a lot of hassle in the future, as you do have to understand that these kind of tree diseases can be contagious. While it's not guaranteed, of course, one diseased tree may act like a domino - infecting other trees and shrubs in the area.

You do not want to end up with a devastated yard, so vigilance is always necessary when it comes to tree diseases and infestations.

Giving Trees Vaccinations: Will it Work? Read more on: ACTS



source http://www.allcleartree.com/removal/giving-trees-vaccinations-will-work

Saturday 4 March 2017

Bringing Down the Giants: Ficus in Trouble

Trees are nature's giants. Second only to mountains, there is nothing on this planet that can grow larger than some trees. A tree can stand the test of time and keep the secrets of what they've experienced locked away in their rings. Trees provide homes for wildlife and we still depend on them for our own lumber and paper needs. These mighty giants help purify the air we breathe and bring a little bit of life into otherwise dull and grey cities. The problem comes when these trees outgrow their designated spots in our lives. In these instances, the trees are slated to go:

Four massive ficus trees in downtown Encinitas will be removed within the coming weeks, despite a neighborhood push to save the towering plants.

Public Works Director Glenn Pruim delivered that news during an emotion-packed community meeting Tuesday, saying the purpose of the gathering was to collect input on how to replace the trees — not to revisit the city’s decision to yank them.

Dozens of people said the targeted trees — two in the 600 block of Second Street and two in front of rental housing at 1011 Third Street — are an integral part of the neighborhood’s character and help soften the effects of noise from downtown bars and restaurants.

"We have been under siege for years ... (removing the trees) is going to make it worse," said Third Street resident Joe McNelley.

The trees must come down because they're a safety hazard, Pruim said. He showed the crowd photographs of weakened spots on the trees, and of areas where nearby pavement was being pushed up by roots.

The City Council voted last month to go ahead with the removal work after facing threats of litigation from neighboring property owners and obtaining an arborist's assessment that the four ficus pose a moderate to high safety risk.

On Tuesday, Pruim floated ideas on how the city might replace the trees, as well as any other of the 50 ficus spread throughout downtown that might one day need to be removed.

But tree supporters framed the discussion differently. They wanted to know why the city wasn't fighting to save the four ficus trees and why the huge trees hadn't been pruned in the past to prevent them from becoming hazardous.

"How come you didn't do a better job, so this didn't happen?" asked Jan Kalish, who lives several homes away from two of the four trees that are scheduled for removal.

Mike Palat of West Coast Arborists told her the trees were beyond recovery. Regular maintenance wasn’t the problem, but rather the way the trees were allowed to grow when they were very young.

"The structural issues that are there have been there 50 years," he said.

Kalish and other tree supporters said they didn't buy the argument that the trees were suddenly a safety hazard, saying they thought the pavement around the trees looked fine.

They reiterated that having huge trees downtown has enormous benefits, including providing wildlife habitat, absorbing pollution, offering shade for passing pedestrians, and helping to muffle late-night noise from the ever-increasing number of downtown bars and restaurants.

Via: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/environment/sdut-ficus-tree-decision-encinitas-2016sep07-story.html

It seems these four giants have received the short end of the stick. They're marked for removal, even though many are up in arms about it. Proper trimming, http://www.allcleartree.com/trimming, could have helped with these issues. Prevention is the best medicine. However, we don't own a Delorean or a TARDIS so there's very little we can do about going back in time to try and prevent this outcome. The people who planted these trees all those years ago had good intentions, however controlling what nature does isn't an easy task. These giants have done so much for their city and unless someone changes their mind, these trees are on notice.

Bringing Down the Giants: Ficus in Trouble Read more on: All Clear Tree Service's Blog



source http://www.allcleartree.com/trimming/bringing-giants-ficus-trouble