Friday 28 April 2017

A Future With No Trees

The world is not just home to us humans but for many other living beings. From animals that roam the skies, walk the earth and swim the depths of the ocean to plants both big and small, we all coexist in this planet that we call home. Many of these living beings have even been living on earth far longer than mankind. However, it is us who managed to cause so much damage and destruction to the planet while everybody else suffers.

Oceans are becoming more acidic and ice caps are melting causing the sea level to rise. Island nations like the Maldives are at risk of disappearing off the face of the earth. Forests and other natural ecosystems are converted into agricultural, manufacturing, commercial and residential lands as we continue to improve the quality of our lives at the expense of others. If you look outside most modern cities, it is filled with one skyscraper to another with barely a few random trees on the outskirts. Not even stumps can survive!

If we continue this lifestyle, will there be no more trees left for us in the future? Trees are cut to make paper-based products and wood needed for construction and furniture making. Illegal logging has mainly been the cause why forests are receding at a faster rate than new trees are growing if there is any at all.

When the Europeans first came to North America, forests were so dense and continuous that a squirrel could have travelled from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi without ever touching the ground, some historians say. Since then, agriculture, logging, urban development and other human activities have thinned or wiped out these once-lush forests.

Scientists have long tried to estimate the extent of deforestation inNorth America and beyond. One of the most common ways of doing so is by simply measuring the total amount of forest cover lost. But not all deforestation created is equal, said Giorgios Mountrakis, an associate professor at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, USA.

In a paper published in PLoS One in February, Giorgios and Sheng Yang, a graduate student, tried slicing deforestation in a different way. Using satellite maps, they calculated the average distance to the nearest forest from any point in the continentalUnited States in 1992 versus 2001. Between these years, they found, distance to the nearest forest increased by one-third of a mile.

(Via: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/604482/how-far-next-forest-way.html)

The natural landscape has changed drastically over the years. A big part of the forest and natural habitats of wild animals and numerous plant species are now home to humans. And the trend continues as the population continues to explode and capitalists need to double their efforts to meet human needs. However, we are also seeing first-hand the dangers of deforestation as natural calamities strike us with more vengeance.

There’s no doubt America is a large consumer of animal products. But how much animal products do Americans actually consume?
As reported by National Public Radio, in 2007 the average American consumed 270 pounds of meat.
That same year the Environmental Protection Agency reported that agriculture in the
United States alone contributed to 18 percent of the nation’s pollution. Shocking? It gets worse.
Agriculture is a wasteful method to produce food and is detrimental to the environment. The amount of energy it takes to support agriculture versus the effects on the environment are outstanding.
Following a vegan lifestyle can promote a sustainable environment.
Veganism is a lifestyle in which a person doesn’t eat or use animal products. This means not eating beef, dairy, eggs, fish, chicken or using animal products with authentic leather or animal fur.
Following a vegan lifestyle can lead to minimizing harmful agricultural practices.
Resources that are already limited are consumed at aggregate amounts when it comes to the cultivation and slaughtering of animals.
To produce just one pound of beef it takes 6.7 pounds of grains and feed, 52.8 gallons of drinking water, 74.5 square feet of land for grazing and a massive 1,036 BTUs for feed production and transport. BTU’s are a unit of measurement, British thermal unit, that measures the amount of energy used to raise the temperature of one pound of water.

(Via: http://www.sonomastatestar.com/opinion/2017/4/23/why-veganism-can-help-save-the-environmentwhy-veganism-can-help-save-the-environment)

The solution to most human dilemmas is to support a sustainable environment. Without us knowing, the little things that we do have bigger consequences and it can likely result to our own undoing. What will happen to us if we run out of trees in the future? Where will we go if our planet is no longer livable? We may ignore answering these questions for now but they are just lurking there and often felt in the face of a disaster.

Our planet is dying. It has been said over and over again. Loggers cut down trees but only a few plant new trees in its wake. The country will even have a more difficult time addressing important environmental issues as the Trump administration imposes further budget cuts including funding for the US Environmental Protection Agency. Any environmental progress the nation has achieved over the last few decades will likely go down the drain without the necessary support and funding coming from the government.

So, instead of cutting down that tree that you feel is not working out for your home’s landscape, visit this link: http://www.allcleartree.com/trimming to learn more about trimming or even hire the services of trained professionals, so no more tree will fall down because of negligent human activities.

The article A Future With No Trees was first published to http://www.allcleartree.com/



source http://www.allcleartree.com/trimming/future-no-trees

Thursday 20 April 2017

Time to Deport To the Down Under

Some trees are nicer than others. There are trees that evoke certain childhood memories, like Christmas trees, and trees that just creep us all out: think a willow tree in the dark. Those tendrils are scary. For those of us in San Diego there's been a bit of an upset over eucalyptus trees.

Get Out Of My Yard

“Deport the eucalyptus back to Australia!”big-stump

That’s Johnny Sevier, a certified arborist, on the tree he loves to hate but that many San Diegans revere, the ubiquitous eucalyptus.

Long an arboreal staple in San Diego and environs, these tall, gangly imports make headlines now and then when branches give way at inopportune times, maiming or even killing. And Sevier says that local bureaucrats, fellow arborists, and euc-enthusiasts have blood on their hands.

On March 9 of this year, the eucalyptus struck again, this time in Scripps Ranch, which is, along with Rancho Santa Fe, perhaps the epicenter of eucalyptus worship in San Diego County. At Miramar Ranch Elementary, school had just adjourned, and Lana O’Shea, a kindergarten teacher, was leading her saplings out to meet their parents. A eucalyptus limb, apparently weakened by prior rain and wind, broke off and plummeted, leaving O’Shea with injuries requiring a six-day stay at the hospital. According to some reports, O’Shea took the proverbial bullet (or literal branch) for her charges, pushing them away right before impact. In any event, the children were unharmed.

Sevier, a voluble, colorful character — some would say feisty or even irascible — has a four-step plan to prevent the next airborne eucalyptus assault in San Diego. “Wake up, San Diego,” he proclaims, “there’s a simple solution. First, admit that planting eucalyptus in San Diego was a mistake with unintended consequences.” Next, he says, “Chainsaw, stump grinder, and [plant] different species.”

Unintended consequences? To address that notion, one must venture back to the hoary days of nascent San Diego, when the eucalyptus was touted as the perfect Southern Hemisphere import. Folks lauded its rapid growth and pleasing aesthetics. Its use for railroad ties was derailed by the wood’s tendency to warp when spiked. As for eucalyptus fishing poles fashioned for the local tuna fleet, that remains an apocryphal tale. Notwithstanding the tree’s dubious utility, it was here by the Civil War years.

Via: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2016/jun/01/cover-deport-eucalyptus/#

Grind Them Up

So what can you do when you have an unwanted tree in your yard? There are several options that you can consider such as cutting the offender down, trimming it to nothingness or even attempting to starve it. Whichever one you choose is going to leave you with a reminder: the stump. There are some fun things you can do with a stump. Usually, however, it's just an eyesore. A big blob of leftover tree flesh. Maybe it's taking up space in your yard. Maybe it's right in the way of where your kids play. Or maybe you're just sick of looking at it and reminding yourself that there used to be a tree there.

Worry not! You can have your stump removed! You can clear out that ugly reminder of what it was. Just think of the possibilities you can have with that extra space in your front or back yard! Also, by leaving it to the professionals, you don't even have to get dirty. Sounds like a win-win situation to us!

The following post Time to Deport To the Down Under See more on: allcleartree.com



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Sunday 16 April 2017

The Shocking Tree Revolt

While trees might not actually be trying to take over the world, they are definitely uprooting themselves lately. The weather has been less than nice lately which has had a negative impact on the trees around the city. With lots rain comes flooding. And with flooding comes mudslides and weakening of the soil. With all of that comes giant trees toppling down because they just can't support themselves as much as they would like to. It's not a happy thing, and those living this current nightmare are going to find themselves hoping they've kept up on their home insurance. How is the city going to recover?

Mayor Kevin Faulconer declared a state of emergency for the city Friday, following a series of storms that caused millions in damage and deadly flooding across the region in January.

San Diego City Council will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 7. to ratify the declaration.

While Gov. Jerry Brown has already declared an emergency proclamation on the state level, a local proclamation is needed to secure state assistance.

A state and local proclamation allows San Diego to claim assistance through the California Disaster Assistance Act.

“We believe we have a strong case in applying for and receiving emergency aid from the state,” John Valencia, City of San Diego Office of Homeland Security Executive Director, said. “We estimate that close to $5 million may be recouped following the severe storms that pounded our City last month.”

January's storms prompted emergency crews to respond to a variety of calls, ranging from emergency response calls to swiftwater rescues, tree and debris removal, and traffic control. City officials announced this week that they estimate damages in the county during the stormy weather could range from $4.6 to $5.1 million.

Via: http://www.10news.com/news/mayor-faulconer-declares-state-of-emergency-following-january-storms

These storms are no joke. The force of nature is a scary thing to try to fight against. Trees seem so powerful and eternal as they tower above the rest of the world, but take away their support and you get the picture. You might have some issues with fallen trees yourself. Depending on where your property is, you might have a host of fallen trees dotting your yard. No matter the size, you should remove them. It's going to be a big, back-breaking job. Don't try to do it yourself. Hire the professionals who can do the job for you: http://www.allcleartree.com/removal.

Whether or not the city gets the relief money they're hoping for is another thing. It's been a tough winter storm that seems to be tapering off a bit. There's no denying this storm was stronger than perhaps expected. It's also seems to have lasted a bit longer than most of us would like. Let's hope that the storm is actually ending. It would be nice to get a bit of a break from all the rain and mess. No likes to clean  up a mess they didn't make, but we're not being given much of a choice. Let's hope the power of positivity can bring us some sunshine and rainbows. At least that way it'll look nicer outside.

The following blog post The Shocking Tree Revolt Read more on: allcleartree.com



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Wednesday 12 April 2017

Blow Me Down: Winter Storms and Falling Trees

It probably feels a little bit like the world is ending right about now. Water is flooding the streets and trees are just toppling down and crushing everything beneath them. It's a bit scary to think about, but the trees aren't showing mercy to anyone. This winter storm is seriously kicking butt, although not in a very nice or helpful way. If you've been able to steer clear of the destruction, that's fantastic! It's not a pretty sight at the moment, but it will get better. If you need an idea of the gravity of what's going on, you should probably check out the news:

As the rain let up a little bit on Saturday, San Diego residents rolled up their sleeves and got to work cleaning up the damage of the storms that have pummeled the county over the past few days.

Friday’s powerful rain – the second in a series of three winter storms – caused power poles and trees to topple, some crushing cars, and caused flooding in parts of the county, plus road closures. Emergency crews were called to several water rescues in different parts of the county as motorists became trapped in the flood waters.

In San Diego’s South Bay, the severe weather knocked down trees and knocked out power to some homes. At a shopping center on Bonita Road, a eucalyptus tree came crashing down amid the storm Friday, crushing several cars. Luckily, no one was hurt.

"It sounded like thunder. A big cracking," explained Ryan Kessler.

Kessler's car was one of the vehicles damaged. You could barely see it hidden beneath the branches. His friend's Scion was crushed like an accordion by the weight of the tree's trunk.

Blanca Salas, who owns Very Best Travel, is one of multiple tenants at the strip mall who says they've warned the owner about the danger posed by the eucalyptus trees.

“We were expecting this,” said Salas. “That’s why I park far away from the trees. We told him about the trees a long time ago and he said there's nothing he can do.”

On Saturday morning, crews and locals there worked to clear the tree, debris and shattered glass from the South Bay parking lot.

Via: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-January-Storm-Damage-Road-Closures-Flooding-411422485.html#ixzz4Y16jcp2C

The third time might be the charm, but when it comes to storms once is more than enough. It's been chaotic and even if the trees haven't fallen down, they've taken a serious beating. There are probably a good deal of them out there that need a serious trim. A dangling branch can be a hazard so you should probably get that removed. You can count on the experts to have your back in this situation: http://www.allcleartree.com/trimming.

It's time to roll up some sleeves and get to work. This hectic weather should seriously be over with. That means there's nothing stopping you from getting your clean on. No more winds, water or madness to undo all your hard work! Although, of course, nature does have it's own ideas. Perhaps crossing our fingers will help?

Blow Me Down: Winter Storms and Falling Trees is courtesy of ACTS Blog



source http://www.allcleartree.com/trimming/blow-winter-storms-falling-trees

Saturday 8 April 2017

Hey, You, Get Off of My Lawn!

If this title doesn't evoke the image of a grumpy old man waving a fist at some neighborhood kids, we're doing it wrong. Aside from troublesome teenagers getting into your green space, there are other entities creeping up and taking over space. These could be out of control grass, a cat camping in your bushes or trees that are attempting a slightly hostile take over. Their roots can get under the sidewalk and if you aren't careful, a low-hanging branch might try to take your eye out:

Shelly Schwartlander has been living at the Point Loma Tennis Club since 1991. The complex, built in 1968, sits on 13 acres and has approximately 260 trees of many different species. But it’s the eucalyptus trees that keep Schwartlander awake at night. She says they are overgrown with heavy branches and the roots have been removed.

“For a few years I have tried unsuccessfully to get [the homeowners' association] to reduce the heavy limbs of a 90-foot and a 80-foot eucalyptus tree as an independent certified arborist advised should be done in fall of 2014," she said.

“Now, at the end of 2016, the overgrown trees threaten two 3-story buildings — at 4012 Valeta Street — that each have 26 units, as the trees are less than six feet from the buildings, lean close to the buildings, and the heavy limbs are over the buildings and walkway…. Not only are they neglected, but the landscapers have removed the roots from both trees in December 2015 and then again in September 2016 to make room for a sidewalk."

After the root removal, Schwartlander said it “looked like a graveyard full of tree roots…huge amounts of roots dug up right at the tree trunks, roots filling large garbage bins full and roots as wide as ten inches or so close up…. With the amount of roots removed, it's hard to imagine the trees are stable, especially as eucalyptus don't have deep roots.”

Via: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2016/dec/29/stringers-monster-eucalyptus-loma-portal/#

Hopefully these trees are looked after properly to prevent any accidents. A major concern when dealing with trees is that if you remove too much of their lower support they have no where else to go but down. Proper tree removal, http://www.allcleartree.com/removal, or stump removal, http://www.allcleartree.com/stump-removal, then becomes a necessity. Tree maintenance should be routine for anyone who has them on their property. It's just as important as mowing your lawn or watering your garden. If you can make time for one, you should be making time for the other.

Hey, You, Get Off of My Lawn! Read more on: ACTS



source http://www.allcleartree.com/removal/hey-get-off-lawn

Not All Fungi Are Fun Guys

Trees can stand up to a lot of things. They can recover from being burned. Even if you shoot a tree, it will survive. You can also cut off parts of a tree and it will still keep growing. Trying to remove a tree and miss some roots? That tree is going to come back to haunt you. Like all living things, however, even trees have weaknesses:

Dying willows in Escondido Creek appear to be victims of fungus, rather than a beetle infestation, the Escondido Creek Conservancy announced on its website Wednesday.

The problem began over the summer, when the conservancy learned that trees in Elfin Forest were wilting and dying, Executive Director Ann Van Leer said. Withered branches lined the creek bed, and blackened leaves drooped from nearby trees.

Conservancy officials temporarily closed trails in the area in August, and enlisted Riverside plant pathologist Akif Eskalen to study the die-off, hoping to pinpoint the cause.

After testing samples from the willows, he found four different types of fungus that can attack trees.

Conservancy officials plan to take a wait and see approach to the problem, monitoring whether the infestation worsens in the spring and discouraging hikers and visitors from moving any wood from the area.

“These fungi are known to cause wood canker and dieback on a wide variety host trees worldwide,” Eskalen wrote in a report to the conservancy. “They are also known to produce overwintering structures where they release spores the following spring to “reinfect” its host plant and possibly spread to others.”

Eskalen included a photo of a tree from the watershed, showing a grayish patch of fungal spores on tree and the damaged wood tissue beneath. And he sent photos of willows with dried out, dying branches, indicating that the infestation is still ongoing and could continue in the spring. Officials warn that transporting wood could also spread pests between woodland areas.

The collapse of willow groves can devastate habitat for the least Bell’s vireo, an endangered songbird that lives along streams, and the stands of dead wood could pose fire hazards to surrounding communities.

Via: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/environment/sd-no-dying-willows-20170201-story.html

With warmer weather comes the desire to camp. Camping brings about the need for firewood.  You've got to be careful where you get your wood from. Using the infected logs from a tree can transport the disease to a new area. For some tree borne diseases, burning the wood causes the spores to be released over a huge area. With a puff of smoke you could be infecting an entire forest. It sounds a little ridiculous but it's serious business. Do you have willow trees on your property? It's best to get them inspected to see if they are carrying the disease. There may be other trees at risk as well, so stay informed. If you have infected trees, proper removal will ensure that the trees are looked after properly and disposed of properly. We provide tree removal service that can help you out: http://www.allcleartree.com/removal. Don't leave things up to chance: let us do the hard work.

The following post Not All Fungi Are Fun Guys is courtesy of ACTS



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Tuesday 4 April 2017

What The World Would Be Like Without Messy Trees

Trees are generally pretty. They have nice leaves, some of them have flowers, and they tend to provide excellent shade. Animals use the trees for their homes and the trees also provide a lot of food for us. They're nice to look at and they clean the air around us. All trees were not created equal, however. Some of the lovely trees leave behind a massive mess with falling berries or thousands of petals that flutter all over the place. There's one area that is happy their messy trees are going to be dealt with:

Coronado’s streets and backyards are among some of the lushest in the county, but there’s now a plan in place to cut down hundreds of trees that could pose a threat to residents and infrastructure.

The City Council and the majority of the locals are on board with the plan.

They’re the wispy weeping willow looking trees, with a fern like leaf and bunches of hanging red berries that have to go.

“We’ll probably get rid of 30-40 trees in the next six months,” Clifford Maurer said, who is the Director of Public Services and Engineering for the City of Coronado.

Thousands of California and Brazilian Pepper Trees were planted in Coronado in the 1930’s. They’re cheap, grow fast and produce a lot of shade; but now, the 900 aging pepper trees that remain could be dangerous and a powerful storm could bring dozens of them down at once.

“We’re looking ahead and managing as opposed to reacting to it,” Maurer said.

The City Council voted to cut down hundreds of the trees in coming years.

“We won’t do all 900, maybe 600 or 700. There will still be pepper trees around here for a while!” Maurer added with a smile.

‘That’s a good start. Hopefully ours are part of it,” David Warren said, who lives in Coronado.

Neighbors aren’t crying foul because the pepper trees are not only old, they’re messy and their roots are aggressive. “They come out and go across and raise up,” Warren said.

Warren has lived in Coronado for years and says his friends and family have tripped over the roots time and time again. They can also interfere with sidewalks and break pipes and the red berries that litter the street can be corrosive to car paint.

“That’s one reason my car is parked across the street, you would have to wash it every week if you park under the thing,” he said.

Via: http://www.cw6sandiego.com/coronado-residents-happy-700-trees-will-cut/

It's an instance where the residents and the city are actually happy together about the idea of trees being removed. No protests required! If you've recently cut down one of these mess-makers yourself, don't forget about stump removal! Leaving the stump behind is just asking for the tree to come back. Not to worry though, we can help you with that: http://www.allcleartree.com/stump-removal. You can rest easy knowing that the city is on your side. They also don't like having to wash the streets all the time and the energy for the constant clean up can now be directed to somewhere else. Sounds like a win-win!

The blog article What The World Would Be Like Without Messy Trees was first published to All Clear Tree Service's Blog



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