Trees Come To Our Aid

We try to find a use for something in our environment. We either use them for shelter, food, security or whatever we can think of. In our environment, trees are among the most useful resource to us. We use its wood in building homes, furniture, or other wood-related items we use in our daily life. Some fruit-bearing trees also give us fruits that we need for nourishment. Trees also provide us shade when it is hot outside but most importantly, trees provide us with oxygen that all living beings need to breathe and live.

There are other benefits of trees we aren’t aware of. Leaves that fall reduce the temperature of the soil and soil moisture loss. In itself, a tree is already an ecosystem that is home to certain birds and animals aside from also providing them nourishment. Just being with nature also helps us feel relaxed and calm especially when in the countryside or in parks.

“Getting your daily dose of trees is good for your health and easy to do,” said Jennifer Teegarden, DNR forestry outreach specialist. “You can climb a tree, go camping, sit under a tree, take a hike or visit a forest.”

To encourage people to get a daily dose of trees, the DNR is launching the #31DaysOfTrees challenge during Arbor Month. Simply post a photo or video while getting a daily dose of trees on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Use the hashtag #31DaysOfTrees and include @MinnesotaDNR when posting to Facebook. Participation will be tracked using hashtag #31DaysOfTrees.

(Via: http://www.voiceofalexandria.com/everything_else/outdoor/dnr-celebrates-health-benefits-of-trees/article_38700e78-2c39-11e7-a3e3-6f5202f7ad9c.html)

Most communities today organize programs to raise awareness on certain causes. Advocacies on the benefits of trees are among those that are celebrated all over the globe because we need trees now more than ever. Imagine how hot it would be living in a world devoid of trees. However, little progress is made in tree planting especially in urban areas.

We really need to do a better job of planting the trees properly, and then, once they are planted, caring for them. One thing that’s come out of the large-scale tree plantings that were popular in the last decade is exactly that realization: that it’s not so much how many trees are given away at an event, but it’s more how many trees actually survive to grow to reasonable size, provide benefits and then not cause too many problems.

To the credit of our policymakers, they recognize this. One thing we’ve learned is that trees do best in places and situations and during times when there’s good cooperation between residents, community benefit organizations and municipal governments. We are not only trying to plant trees that do well today, but we’re also trying to anticipate climate change and what kinds of conditions we might be facing 10 or 20 years from now.

This is a challenge for urban trees in general: They are a very, very long-term investment. So we are looking at the legacy of urban forestry programs from 50 to 100 years ago. That’s why our cities look like they do.

(Via: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-ol-patt-morrison-igor-lacan-drought-trees-20170503-htmlstory.html)

Indeed, planting trees is a long-term investment that will not only benefit the people of today but more so the future generation. Whatever we do today can impact the lives of everyone in the future especially when it comes to the environment. We can’t just do whatever we feel like doing especially if these are bad habits that damage our surroundings over time. We only stay on the planet for a short while but the effects of our neglect and abuse will stay on for years and years to come.

Taking care of the planet now will leave a positive impression to everyone in the future. We don’t want to condemn them to a life of suffering because we were too lazy to make an effort in saving the planet now when we still can. One of the easiest things to do is to plant a tree. You don’t have to be an expert in doing it and you can plant on a clear space or land where the mature tree won’t likely obstruct anything. When it grows and it does obstruct something, http://www.allcleartree.com/trimming can help trim the tree so there’s no need to really cut it down. We can use one more tree in this world, so count on their professional help to save the life of one tree by trimming it instead of cutting it down.

The blog article Trees Come To Our Aid Find more on: All Clear Tree Service's Blog

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Live Green To Save The World

We may think that all is well in our own little bubble but when you look around you, you can see that much has changed in the world and it is not always for the better. Tall skyscrapers are everywhere. They are proof of engineering and technological advancements however they may also pose a big risk in the face of calamities. Our carbon footprint increases as we continue to rely on technology in our daily life.

The only way for the human race to survive and prevent further environmental deterioration, both big and small lifestyle changes must be made for the sake of the humanity and the world. A little inconvenience in doing things manually won’t hurt us that much. It’s even an excellent form of exercise, a welcome change from our increasingly sedentary lifestyle.

There’s been a lot of concern recently over the use of pesticides in our homes and gardens, and now a new group in Pacific Grove is taking action and pushing the issue forward.

Non Toxic Pacific Grove formed earlier this year to call attention to pesticide use and to help people and government agencies to look for ways to use less, or none at all.

This subgroup of Sustainable Pacific Grove was among the organizers of the rally this past week at the city’s Monarch Sanctuary in an effort to draw attention to the harmful effects of pesticides on pollinators like bees and butterflies.

But NTPG is also concerned about the effects on humans — in particular, children whose development could potentially be harmed by use of pesticides in schools and parks. That’s why they’re putting special emphasis on creating pesticide-free landscaping and lawns.

The overall message, according to co-organizer Cathy Wooten, is that the fewer pesticides and hazardous chemicals that are around, the better. And Pacific Grove is by no means alone in spreading this gospel — similar groups have sprung up around the country, including Non Toxic Santa Cruz and many others just in California.

(Via: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/article/NE/20170427/FEATURES/170429713)

Spring has come and we can hear the bees buzzing out and about, forever in pursuit of honey. What many of us don’t see is that pollination is also at work as these bees go back and forth from one flower to another. They ensure the survival of everyone on land for years to come. And we humans too should adopt a sustainable lifestyle for our survival.

Essentially, “sustainable living” defines a lifestyle that attempts to cut an individual’s and on a larger scale, the society’s dependence on the earth’s natural resources.  A huge part of this type of living involves understanding how natural systems function, and the need for the ecology to stay in balance. Jared Diamond, in his book, Collapse: How Complex Societies Choose to Fail or Survive, talks about how several civilizations have fallen as an aftermath of damaging its environment. It is estimated that currently we use about 40% more resources every year than we can put back. This needs to change, but how?

The crux of sustainability lies in accepting that our modern way of life puts a strain on natural resources and that we must figure out ways in which we can progress while ensuring that our actions and consumption habits do not jeopardize the needs of the future generations.

(Via: http://www.theplaidzebra.com/sustainability-10-ways-to-get-started/)

The world’s resources are finite. While we continue to enjoy what the world has to offer now, will there be enough left for future generations? Even trees have been reduced to more than just half of what it used to be because of rapid urbanization and rainforests are converted for agricultural purposes. Instead of cutting trees, we should actually be planting more.

However, tree removal is considered if the presence of a tree is proving to be harmful to the people. It happens when someone plants a tree in an urban location not knowing how big it can get upon maturity. When that happens, call on a professional for help since cutting down trees may be a bit tricky and dangerous if done in a crowded space. Ask the help of http://www.allcleartree.com/removal and they’d gladly do the job for you. However, as much as possible, let trees live if they aren’t posing any threat to anyone because we need more trees now that ever.

The article Live Green To Save The World was first published on The All Clear Tree Service Blog

source http://www.allcleartree.com/removal/live-green-save-world

Trees Succumb To Parasitic Fungi

We may think of microorganisms to only attack living beings like humans and animals. However, trees are also susceptible to microorganisms and it can make them sick, just like how humans succumb to them. For instance, a common problem trees face is fungi. Fungi are actually everywhere. They are even present in the air that we breathe but there are instances when fungi can make you sick. Fungal diseases on man include candidiasis, ringworms or other pathogenic fungal infections.

Fungi actually play a beneficial role in many ecosystems and help the life cycle of various plant species. However, like any other relationships in the planet, some can be symbiotic while others are parasitic. The latter are dangerous to any plant or trees as they live at the expense of their host plant. Most of the time, these harmful fungi attacks already diseased or dying plants but they may at times attack healthy ones too especially if these trees are just nearby.

Fungal diseases kill by clogging the vascular system of the plant, so you will see dieback in the leaves on one side of the plant initially. Citrus trees require good drainage, good aeration (pruning out excessive branches and leaves), regular watering, and fertilizing. Citrus trees like acidic pH soil.

Due to our severe drought for the past several years, this may have stressed out the tree to a point that the fungal disease became a secondary problem since the tree became weakened. Healthy trees are able to wall off fungal diseases to prevent the fungus from entering into the vascular system.

(Via: http://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/living/home-garden/garden-detective/article146212554.html)

Fungi infections on trees are often characterized by slowed growth, dead branches, and smaller leaves or discoloration. Even the removal of a diseased tree is not an assurance that it will likewise eliminate the fungi in the soil. As soon as you see the first signs of fungi growth, promptly cut off the affected part to protect people from accidents caused by falling dead branches, for instance.

If it wasn't bad enough that the emerald ash borer is devastating the local population of ash trees and the woolly adelgids are after our hemlock trees, a deadly fungus that has the potential to destroy countless Oak trees is also creeping into the region.

State foresters discovered oak wilt in two trees in Canandaigua, Ontario County last October and issued an emergency order then in hopes of keeping the infection confined.

And, late last month, the state Department of Environmental Conservation established an Oak Wilt Protective Zone in the Town of Canandaigua. People are prohibited from removing any living, dead, standing, cut or fallen oak trees as well as oak branches, logs, stumps or roots from the zone unless it has been chipped into pieces that are smaller than one inch in two dimensions. Removing any species of firewood from the zone is also prohibited, as it is difficult to distinguish oak from other types of wood when it is cut into small pieces. Non-oak wood leaving the protected zone must be at least 29 inches in length or greater.

(Via: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2017/04/08/deadly-oak-fungus-imperils-local-trees/100206016/)

Communities seldom feel the impact of fungi on trees especially when these affect trees that are out in the woods. However, for those that are grown for a purpose, having trees succumb to fungal infections has a big impact on revenue and the loss of a valuable resource. There are various types of fungi present in the environment that can make trees sick. When trees get sick, they don’t immediately die but they suffer for a while and yields are reduced. It’s especially painful if fruit-bearing trees are affected since they are generally grown for a living.

For trees that are already infected, consider: http://www.allcleartree.com/stump-removal to make sure that the tree’s trunk is removed as well so that other nearby trees does not get infected. We hate cutting down trees but when the condition can no longer be salvaged, it’s better to lose one than to put other trees at risk as well. Let the pros handle this task since there are more to cutting down trees than meets the eye.

Trees Succumb To Parasitic Fungi is courtesy of http://www.allcleartree.com/

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Are Your Ready To Plant Some Trees?

The world is a rich diversity of flora, fauna, and animals even before humans came into existence. However, as men learned to harness the resources of the planet and mastered above all creations big and small, nature had to give way (or demolished) for progress to take place. But fast-forward to our present day and we now live in a world overwhelmed by pollution, people, and conflicts.

While we still haven’t found the solution to human conflicts that surround us now, there is something we can do to prevent the continued abuse and misuse of natural resources. One of the best solutions to counteract environmental deterioration is by planting more trees.

For centuries, nature enthusiasts around the world have hosted events to plant and care for trees. At the first U.S. Arbor Day, held in 1872, Nebraska residents planted an estimated 1 million trees. In more recent years, some groups have called for reforestation (planting trees in areas where they had formerly grown but were cut down, burned, or otherwise destroyed) and afforestation (planting trees in areas where they have not historically grown, such as in grasslands) with a new goal in mind: to help mitigate climate change.

When a tree takes in carbon from the atmosphere, it stores it throughout its lifetime through a process called carbon sequestration. The surrounding soil can sequester carbon for even longer periods, for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years.

(Via: https://eos.org/research-spotlights/can-tree-planting-really-help-mitigate-climate-change)

Climate change is already happening, so there’s no point in spending all your time and energy worrying about it. Instead, start planting trees to help counteract pollution, global warming, and scarcity in resources we all have to deal with because of these global changes. Aside from that, it is refreshing to see trees planted beside roads or on the countryside.

The DTE Energy Foundation and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources are funding more tree-planting projects around Michigan.

The partnership is in its 21st year. Nearly 40,000 trees and seedlings have been planted in over 500 communities. The foundation pays for initiative, which is administered by the DNR's Urban and Community Forestry program.

(Via: http://upnorthlive.com/news/local/partnership-offers-grants-for-tree-planting-projects)

While our personal efforts make a difference in our own little ways, the collective effort of the community has an even bigger impact and is a big help in realizing our goals of environmental sustainability and in slowing down climate change. And the benefits of tree planting, for instance, are felt by more people when many trees were planted.

Planting a tree is as easy as finding a place to dig a hole, right?

Over 100 elementary schoolers from Hartington learned Wednesday that there is a lot more to it than that.

Officials from NPPD hosted an Arbor Day tree-planting event in Hartington. Kids learned about not just the importance of planting trees, but doing so without disrupting the many power lines buried underground.

“Everybody has a conception that a tree doesn’t grow next to a power line or over a power line,” Lammers said. “This is a good age group to get them started with the knowledge that there are certain types of trees that will grow around power lines. It’s just the proper tree in the proper spot.”

(Via: http://kwbe.com/local-news/elementary-schoolers-learn-proper-tree-planting-technique/)

Kids these days learn about advanced technological stuff at a young age. Most kids spend their days glued to their tablets or iPads, watching life pass them by and missing out on the benefits of active play. So, it is a must to teach them important life skills that include tree planting. Getting their hands dirty does not only do them good but the environment as well. A few more trees around us can provide us with the fresh air we desperately need in our growing polluted cities.

You can also contact All Clear Tree Service for any concerns involving trees or planting in general especially if you intend to plant trees in your own yard. You can’t just easily plant trees everywhere now because of certain laws or local policies. But with their help, you get to do your part in helping the environment while at thhttp://www.allcleartree.com/trimminge same time beautifying your home.

The blog article Are Your Ready To Plant Some Trees? is republished from The All Clear Tree Service Blog

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Spruce Up Your Lawn This Spring

All of us dream of having our own homes someday. From a young age, we dream of landing our dream job so we can finally afford to buy our dream home where we can build our own family. And once we do have one, we all consider our homes as one of our most prized possessions.

We spend a great deal of cash making our homes look lovely both inside and out. However, we get cooped up inside for a while during late autumn and winter but we feel liberated once spring comes. Aside from being the perfect time of the year to be outside, it’s also the best time to do some major spring cleaning both in and out of the house.

Tree removal companies were traveling around southwest Oklahoma on Monday. They were responding to calls from homeowners to get the toppled trees off their cars, homes or front lawns. Sunday’s strong winds that reached 40 to 50 miles per hour brought many trees tumbling down.

In this Oklahoma weather, a tree can be damaging and deadly if it's not properly taken care of. The owner of Family Tree Service Pros said doing a little upkeep on the trees in your yard every year can prevent property damage and save you thousands of dollars.

The clean up can be tough. But on Sunday, homeowner Annette Lukasik just happened to be looking outside when the tree in her front yard tree crashed down in her front yard.

"Beyond the wind, I heard a little creaking,” Lukasik said. “And sure enough that branch, I mean, it just happened so fast.”

(Via: http://www.kswo.com/story/35299338/windy-day-keeps-tree-removal-crews-busy)

Spring can be unusually windy as well, so incidents of toppled trees are not new in some parts of the country. While it is easy to get rid of a few branches and cleaning up the mess, it is a different thing if a big tree crashes through your house or gets uprooted on your lawn.

Firefighters and Department of Transportation workers were kept busy on Monday after trees were blown down across roads in Burke County.

Around 12:30 p.m., a tree uprooted and fell on Stephens Road off of N.C. 181, causing several power outages. Fire personnel with Oak Hill Fire and Rescue were on scene chopping up the tree.

Less than two hours later, another large Oak tree fell across Conley Road in Morganton. West End Fire Department and Burke County Department of Transportation were on scene working to get the road cleared.

DOT responded to clear downed trees in numerous places, including on Jamestown Road, Conley Road, Poteat Road and N.C. 126, Mashburn said.

(Via: http://www.morganton.com/news/update-weather-causes-downed-trees-power-outages/article_be4dd634-2ec7-11e7-918c-fb5974ab7084.html)

This is something only the professionals can do. While you can safely do routine spring cleaning tasks, taking care of toppled or uprooted trees is a different matter. You wouldn’t want your lawn to look cluttered and ugly because of this mess especially if there is a big tree stump in plain sight of everyone. http://www.allcleartree.com/stump-removal can help you get rid of the stump in as easy as 1-2-3. Aside from that, they also provide other tree or lawn-related services you don’t feel confident in doing yourself.

Nothing is as satisfying as seeing your home finally spic and span after months of not being able to tend to it. Not only is it healthy to live in a clean space but comfortable as well. The state of the home is also often a reflection of the owner. How well you maintain your house says a lot about your character as a person. You can truly enjoy the better weather and the coming of summer if your home is ready for it too. And it makes perfect sense to clean up your yard since you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors in the months to come.

Spruce Up Your Lawn This Spring is available on ACTS Blog

source http://www.allcleartree.com/removal/spruce-lawn-spring

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 theUnited 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

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!”

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!

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