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

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

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

Who Ordered The Rain In San Diego?

With no reprieve in sight for all the rain we're getting here in San Diego, damage is sure to follow. There can definitely be too much of a good thing and the rain doesn't show signs of calming down. We already saw the loss of a local legend and things aren't looking too hopeful for the rest of us. Those of you with trees on your properties need to brace yourself for the massive clean up this storm is going to require:

Parts of California and Nevada braced for another powerful storm after getting lashed by downpours that flooded roads, homes and vineyards and toppled a storied giant sequoia.

Northern California was soaked by more than a foot of rain over a 72-hour period that ended early Monday, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate and leaving thousands without power. The heavy rains forced rivers out of their banks and toppled trees, among them the famed "Pioneer Cabin" in Calaveras Big Trees State Park that had a drive-thru tunnel carved into its base more than a century ago.

In Southern California, scattered light showers are possible during the late morning and afternoon. Most of the day will be dry before a stronger system moves in early Thursday, providing the southern part of the state with a brief break before another strong storm bears down on the region late Tuesday and into Wednesday.

A mudslide early Tuesday closed southbound Kanan Dume Road, about one mile north of Pacific Coast Highway, in Malibu. Authorities warned of more possible mudslides in recent wildfire burn areas after a weekend of stormy weather that authorities called the heaviest rain in a decade.

[...]

"It's been about 10 years since we've experienced this kind of rainfall," [Steve] Anderson said Monday. He said the storm system arriving Tuesday was not as potent as over weekend but could still cause problems. "The big concern is flash flooding, rapid rises on creeks and the Russian River coming out of its banks again."

Via: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Storm-Rain-Weather-California-Snow-410252485.html#ixzz4VZJJC97K

With all this water and mess people will need time and assistance cleaning up their yards. There are likely to be many downed trees that need to be removed and some stumps that need pulling out. It's not recommended to try to remove a stump on your own and honestly, those videos of people yanking them out with their vehicles don't show what can go wrong. Leave it to the professionals to remove your stumps: http://www.allcleartree.com/stump-removal.

We've got the tools and the manpower for the job. Without that barren stump in your yard you'll find you have more space to live and play.

The blog post Who Ordered The Rain In San Diego? is courtesy of The All Clear Tree Service Blog

source http://www.allcleartree.com/removal/ordered-rain-san-diego

Making History: Disappearing Trees

It might come as a surprise to some people that trees can live for hundreds, even thousands, of years. If you think about it, trees used to cover vast expanses of land until they were cleared so people could live or farm there. However, there are still trees here and there that have lived for hundreds of years. If they could talk, it would be interesting to hear what they have to say.

There are times, however, when a tree becomes a danger to those around it. This is when finding the right professional is key to solving any kind of tree-based danger.

Removing a Relic

SAN DIEGO – Several residents were angered Monday morning as they watched crews remove a 73-year-old Torrey pine in Ocean Beach.

Earlier this month, city officials said the tree at 4652 Saratoga Ave. was in danger of falling, but opponents contended the city hadn't adequately explained why it had to be taken down.

Read More: City suspends removal of Torrey pine in Ocean Beach

The city of San Diego then put off its plan to remove the Torrey pine after an Ocean Beach woman climbed the tree  and stayed there to prevent the removal attempt.

"We originally had scheduled this tree removal for August 5^th and then we took another try on August 12^th.  The longer were waited the more of a risk this was that it could fail," said Jeremy Barrick, the City of San Diego's Urban Forestry Planning Manager, “

Community members later suspended their fight to save the tree after consulting an independent arborist who concluded the tree is not healthy enough to be saved.

"We trust him. He said it needs to come down and so we trust him. We are all okay with that,” said Jamie Holcomb who lives on Saratoga Avenue.

However, others in the community still disagree with the removal.

“The failing condition of the tree is directly as a result of the neglect, improper maintenance and the unqualified tree service that was subcontracted through the City of San Diego,” Friends of Peninsula Trees – a recently formed non-profit group – said in a press release.

According to the City's Master Arborist, the tree trunk will be sculpted into benches around the city along with other pieces of art. Crews will also leave pieces of the trees to residents along the street.

The Torrey pine was adjacent to two other large Torrey pine trees which were removed after one of this winter’s El Niño storms caused them to uplift and actively fail.

Via: http://fox5sandiego.com/2016/08/22/historic-torrey-pine-to-be-removed-in-ocean-beach/ 

What This Means For You

While it's never a fun thing to see a legend die, sometimes it's necessary. You can't count on a tree to grow straight forever and there are times when selective trimming doesn't really help matters either. Pay attention to the trees of all kinds that are living around your home. You are able to ensure that they live long, healthy lives if you continue to make sure that they grow healthy and keep their reach from extending into power lines and other areas of concern.

Let yourself be proud of the 200-year-old tree that occupies your backyard or even the seedling that you planted with your children. We all need trees to continue to filter our air and provide us with healthy oxygen so we can, you know, function.

The article Making History: Disappearing Trees Find more on: http://www.allcleartree.com/

source http://www.allcleartree.com/trimming/making-history-disappearing-trees

Holiday Cleanup: How Are Your Trees?

We got some wicked weather over the holiday that may have done more than just water your lawn. If you have trees on your property you may have looked out the window to see if the tree has given up and laid down in defeat. Of course, no tree is permanently defeated - sometimes it just needs a trim. We're no strangers to the wind and rain here in San Diego. It's important to regularly review your property before and after storms to find out if you're at risk for having an unwelcome visitor in your living room, like a tree:

Rain and wind are in the forecast over the holiday weekend and that may pose a serious threat to trees in your yard.
“The fact is that trees might be stressed due to low water and the root system isn't as sturdy,” said Fausto Palafox, the owner of Mission Hills Nursery. “If we do get a severe wind, it could knock them over.”

There are signs you can check for: First, look at the ground. If you see cracks or shifting, that could be a potential sign that the wind is uprooting the tree. Second, check to see if your trees are upright. If any lean, you may have problems.
“You should do some preventative maintenance and get a professional tree-trimmer to come out and prune out the tree and take the sail out of it," Palafox said.

He described trees branches like sails on a ship. The more branches, the more wind they pick up. Also, the more likely they will break or fall over.
On Saturday, forecasts show winds speeds as high as 35 miles per hour in San Diego.

Now if you don’t have time, have trouble trees trimmed by the time this storm strikes. Palafox said you can stake your trees to the ground with rope as a temporary way to brave the rain.

Via: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Weekend-Storm-to-Bring-Strong-Winds-Could-Down-Trees-408106675.html#ixzz4VZGYg8rG

While the storm may have passed there's no denying that there is some sound advice in the article above. These are tips you should always keep in mind as general maintenance: storm or no storm. This is the time to be cautious and pay attention to the state of your home and yard. For those who live on large pieces of property you may want to make going for a perimeter-walk a weekly thing. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not happening. If you need help with your trimming, we've got you covered: http://www.allcleartree.com/trimming.

We can't help but wonder though: when trees fall in a forest and no one is around, do they really make a sound?

The following blog article Holiday Cleanup: How Are Your Trees? was initially published to ACTS Blog

source http://www.allcleartree.com/trimming/holiday-cleanup-trees

Even The Mighty Fall

No matter how big you are, you can still fall. Trees are no stranger to toppling over thanks to weakened soil or raging winds. If you have trees on your property you want to make sure they they are well supported so that a sudden rainstorm or flash flood won't tip them over: potentially into your house. Just as all beginnings must have an end, the 'death' of the Pioneer Cabin tree came as a shock to everyone:

Fans are mourning a giant sequoia in California that’s famous for a “drive-thru” hole carved into its trunk after a massive storm toppled the mighty tree.

The tree shattered when it went down Sunday, Calaveras Big Trees State Park volunteer Jim Allday said.

“It was majestic,” he said. “Now it’s basically a pile of rubble.”

A tunnel was carved into the tree’s trunk in the 1880s to allow tourists to pass through, though it weakened the giant. The tunnel had allowed cars to pass, but only pedestrians could crossed in recent decades.

Generations of locals and tourists have visited the tree for centuries, posing for photos and carving their names into it. Many of them took to social media Sunday and Monday, posting their memories of the tree.

“It’s kind of like someone in the family has died,” said Joyce Brown, a 65-year-old retired middle school teacher who has been visiting the tree since she was 12 and owns a cabin in nearby Arnold.

Brown said four generations of her family spent countless hours at the tree and often took out-of-town visitors there, some from as far away as Turkey.

“Everyone who went there was shocked at how big a tree could be,” she said. “As a child you think you had come to a land of giants, that there must be giant people and giant animals living there because of the diameter of these trees.”

Sumner Crawford remembers every detail of his first visit to the tree as a kid in the early 1990s.

“I remember I was walking through the tree and thinking, ‘I’m inside of the tree right now!'” he said. “It was madness.”

He was stunned by the sequoia’s size – when his family of four tried to join hands around the tree they discovered they couldn’t even come close.

Via: http://lethbridgeherald.com/news/world-news/2017/01/09/dead-giant-storm-fells-californias-drivethru-sequoia/

It is sad to see the end of an era, a legend. For a tree that has lived for well over a hundred years and stood the test of time to be downed by a storm is bittersweet. How many storms has this massive beast stood against before? However that last one was it's undoing. Now it's time for the biggest job of all: cleanup. Trying to clean up in the wake of a storm, not to mention the shattered remains of a giant, is a daunting task. Tree removal is serious business. If you find yourself in need, you'll be happy to know we do that too: http://www.allcleartree.com/removal. All Clear Tree Service continues to provide San Diego County with by far the best, most consistent tree services available. Our help is only a phone call away, pretty much any time.

The article Even The Mighty Fall was first seen on The All Clear Tree Service Blog

source http://www.allcleartree.com/removal/even-mighty-fall