Pest infections occur when there is a susceptible host, like a damaged or decaying tree and a suitable environment, like moist, hot weather. This can attract disease-causing organisms, like fungi.

The treatment for tree diseases differs, based on the specific disease and state of the tree. It will usually include cultural practices, like changing irrigation or pruning because these diseases can be brought on or aggravated by improper watering or when air cannot move through the branches and leaves well. Also, some diseases can spread quicker when fallen leaves lay under trees and the spores can be released again the next season.

Here is a list of some common pests in Northeast Ohio and signs that they are infecting your trees.

• Needle Cast diseases
  These diseases are caused by different fungi that infect the needles of evergreen trees, like pines, douglas fir, and spruce. They form small structures on needles where thousands of spores reside. Infected needles change colors and eventually fall off.
• Powdery mildew
  This appears as a powdery white substance that has millions of fungal spores. It can infect many different plants.
• Apple scab
  This is a fungus that occurs in apple and crabapple trees. It affects both the leaves and fruit. Signs of apple scab include pale yellow or olive green spots on the upper portion of the leaves and dark spots on the lower portion. This can result in twisted, puckered leaves that fall off.
• Cedar apple rust
  This also occurs to apple and crabapple trees, but it can also affect junipers and red cedars. Symptoms include pale yellow spots on leaves that become orange over time. There may also be small black fungus that forms in these spots and excrete orange fluid.
• Thousand cankers disease
  This is caused by the walnut twig beetle, which burrows into the bark of walnut trees and creates cankers. Over time, repeated attacks and an increasing amount of cankers can disrupt water and nutrients moving through the tree and eventually kill it.
• Anthracnose
  This refers to a group of related fungal leaf and stem diseases. They can affect many different species of deciduous trees. Symptoms include small, dead spots on leaves, premature defoliation, and twig death.

Other pests include the Asian long-horned beetle, emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid, gypsy moth, and spotted lanternfly,

By working with a tree service company in Gates Mills like Vancuren Tree Service, you can get advice on how to fix the damage caused by pests, as well as advice on how to prevent them. Pests can be one of the most harmful things to affect your trees so learning how to properly prevent them is critical to the health and beauty of your trees.

There are many options when it comes to buying trees. The first place to look would be your local nursery or garden center. These are a good option if you have a lot of questions and want to consult experts. You’ll also be able to find trees that are best suited for your environment. This is the case for garden centers as well.

Many people may not realize it, but you can actually buy trees online. This is a convenient and relatively cheap option, especially if you don’t have time or access to a nursery. You can possibly find a more diverse selection of trees and plants online than you can at a local nursery.

Typically trees are sold bare-root, balled and burlapped, or in nursery containers to keep the roots safe.

It is best to look for a tree that isn’t too large or too small, with evenly spread branches. Also, look for trees with foliage along the lower portion of the trunk because this will contribute to its strength. The trunk should also be straight and evenly tapered.

One you find a tree or two that you like, you can contact Gates Mills tree service companies, like Vancuren Tree Service, to help you plant and take care of your trees. They will help you come up with a plan to ensure the health of your new trees.

Planting a tree in the right place can have many benefits. For example, planting trees in certain places around your house can conserve energy and reduce your energy bills.

The first step is to choose the right species for your yard. You should look for a tree that will thrive in your climate and soil. This is why it’s a good idea to consider native trees. Consider the amount of sunlight you get, as well as your region’s hardiness zone to determine if a tree will be able to grow in your yard. Also, consider drainage. Is your yard sloped or flat? If it is sloped, trees at the bottom of your yard will retain more water and potentially have drainage issues. Also, consider the chemistry of your soil. Will you need to add chemicals to the soil for certain trees?

You should also take the present structures into consideration. How much space does the tree need to grow, and will structures get in the way of this? If planted too close to structures, or even driveways and sidewalks, you could have some serious problems with underground plumbing or above head powerlines. For this reason, you should know how tall your tree is going to get at its maturity, as well as how far the crown and roots will spread.

If a tree is planted close to a power line, it will need frequent pruning to remain safe. This can result in a less attractive and healthy tree than you intended, as well as cause issues for you and the utility company. Sometimes these trees can be a public safety hazard. It’s a good idea to call your utility company first so you can mark any underground lines.

Also consider how the trees will look and grow throughout each season. Will falling leaves or needles be a hassle if you plant it in a certain spot? You should also take note of summer sun and winter wind. How much sun will the tree receive in summer and winter? Planting trees in the right spot can help cool and warm your home. For shade in the summer, plant trees at the southeast, southwest, and western parts of your house. Plant evergreens in the north and northwestern parts of your house to help block it from winter winds.

Also, what about fruit and sap? Will it cause messes and stains?

Another thing to consider is future plans for your property. Do you want to add a garage or extend your driveway in the future? Don’t plant trees where they could interfere with these plans.

There are many factors to consider when it comes to planting a new tree on your property. Luckily, there are tree care companies in Kirtland Hills, like Vancuren Tree Service, to help you make the best decision for your trees and home.

What are the benefits of growing fruit trees? First, growing fruit trees gives you control over how your food is grown, harvested, and processed. You know exactly what happens to it, from sprout to harvest to the table.

When you buy fruit trees from a nursery, they are sold bare-root during the dormant season or containered during the growing season.

While each fruit is a little different, there are some general guidelines that apply to most fruit trees. Young fruit trees are somewhat delicate, although trees like apples, pears, and plums tend to be a little tougher. Young trees should be watered every other week and need enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of three to four feet because this is the depth to which most roots extend. Water the soil when the top two inches are dry. They also need periodic “deep soaking”, either by rain or intentionally, to ensure a juicy, abundant crop. Drip systems and mulching help conserve this moisture as well. 

Here are some other tips to keep your fruit trees as healthy as possible:

• Young trees should also be fertilized at least once a year, in the spring before the tree starts producing new growth. 
• It is also best to take measures to prevent pests and diseases in new fruit trees. Treat properly if pests and diseases do occur.
•  Weed regularly.
• It is recommended to thin the fruit so that you get a quality harvest. This also prevents branches from becoming heavy and overburdened, and breaking. Pruning and inspecting regularly are important to maintain the tree’s health as well. Thinning them can also eliminate diseases and insect-infested fruit. It also prevents alternate-year bearing so you have fruit every year!
• The fruit trees should be placed in a space where sun is not blocked by buildings and at least three feet away from sidewalks and driveways, and at least six feet from buildings because the roots can grow wider than the crown of the tree. Trees should be spaced 10 to 15 feet apart. 
• They require at least six hours of full sun during the growing season. 

Growing fruit trees is a relatively simple and fun way to incorporate trees into your yard and healthy, delicious fruit into your diet. Tree service companies in Hunting Valley, like Vancuren Tree Service, can help you maintain healthy, bountiful, beautiful health trees. 

Let’s find out which practices are actually encouraging or hurting your tree’s growth.

Mulch Mountain

Yes! Adding a pile or mountaineering the mulch around a tree trunk will suffocate it. This locks in too much moisture which weakens the tree’s bark and leads to a weak foundation. The proper way to mulch around trees is to leave a moat about 2 or 3 inches away from the tree trunk.

Tree girdling

Although this method may prompt your tree to produce more fruit, it will more likely kill your tree. By taking off a layer of bark, your tree is more exposed to things like bug problems. Also, cutting off pieces of bark hinders a tree’s ability to transport nutrients from the tip of the leaves all the way down to the roots. Avoid this outdated practice!

Closely planted trees

Give them the space they need – pay attention to the recommended space between plants and other structures based upon how big the tree is expected to grow.

Looking for more expert advice on how to help your Cleveland trees grow big and strong? Give the VanCuren Tree Service team a call for advice, to schedule a free inspection, or for tree services such as tree removal and tree trimming.

Trees cannot possibly keep all of its roots while being moved, which means that the process begins with tree root pruning. Tree root pruning will create a new root ball which will be transported with the rest of the tree to the new location. It is hard to give any sort of recommendation as to the amount of tree roots to prune because every tree’s root system is different. Obviously, try not to cut too many roots and call an arborist at VanCuren to cut them if you are not quite sure at any point.

Planting large trees is a dangerous task for yourself and for your tree, so the professionals at VanCuren strongly suggest only trying to transplant small or young trees. We would consider a small tree to have roots that are no thicker than two inches wide and/or are two inches in diameter. If you are looking to transplant a bigger or older tree, check with an arborist first to assess the situation and then let the professionals do the transplanting for you. This way, there is less chance of something going awry or of killing your tree. Keep in mind that when transplanting a tree, even when following best practices, there is no guarantee that your tree will survive.

Your tree may even survive a transplant initially and show no signs of harm, but the determining factor will be the ability of the tree’s roots to regrow. This is why it is important to keep enough of the roots attached when trimming and to use clean cuts when root pruning.

Cleveland tree company VanCuren tree care is here to help you with transplanting your tree and to offer advice. . Our team of experts can also provide an inspection of your tree before the transplantation process to make sure your tree is in good health to transplant. We also provide other tree services like tree trimming and tree removal, just give us a call!

To build a retaining wall, check the surrounding area for tree roots, or if you are planting a new tree, make sure to leave enough room for the tree roots to spread out. Avoid setting stones or laying concrete on established roots or where roots can get too close to the wall. You may not think that a tree’s roots can do much damage to a stone or concrete wall, but they can spread under the structure and cause the wall to crack, up-heave, or buckle. The best example of this is when you see a slab of concrete sidewalk forced into a mountain shape due to a nearby tree’s roots pushing up into the concrete.

What about cutting or trimming the tree roots? Our experienced Cleveland tree experts at VanCuren do not recommend trimming since it can severely damage the tree and it’s stability. If you think a tree absolutely needs its roots trimmed, it is best to call a professional team to take a look and do the job — it is a risky and challenging job that should not be done on your own.

So, how close can I plant my new tree? Or how close to the tree can I build the wall? If your tree is expected to grow 20 feet tall, then it will need at least 20 feet in diameter of space to properly lock into the ground and thrive. Plan to set up your wall a bit farther than the recommended growth area for the tree just to be sure.

In general, the best options for planting near a wall or retaining wall are bushes and perennials. Adding a tree to your landscape can really add to the beauty of your home, so if you do choose to plant a tree near a wall, pick a tree that will remain small once it is matured.

Have more questions or want to schedule a free inspection from the experts at Cleveland tree company VanCuren? Call us today! We specialize in tree removal and tree trimming but we have serviced the Cleveland area on all sorts of landscaping projects as well.

Arborists suggest that you choose a new spot for your new tree addition. While you could plant in the same exact spot as before, you probably shouldn’t…it is best to plant in another location where the soil is fresh. The soil where your old tree used to stand has most likely used up a majority of the rich nutrients that a new tree really needs to grow. Also, that leftover sawdust from the recently removed tree or ground up stump has the ability to change the composition of the soil. Consider, too, that the tree has been removed, but some of the roots will remain. WIth old roots in the way there won’t be enough room for new roots to spread out and develop properly. Maybe you had to remove a beloved old tree from your yard due to a disease or infestation.

Where is a Good Place to Plant a Tree?

You have a couple options for planting your new tree nearby or exactly at the old location. If you are okay with the tree being near the removed tree, plan to plant about six-eight feet away from the old stump or ground out stump.

If that old spot is truly “the perfect spot” and you can’t bear to start anew in fresh soil elsewhere, it can be done with a little more effort:

• What was wrong with your old tree – once you know exactly what the problem was, then you can then pick out a tree that is resistant to the past issue.
• Wait a little while – The roots will take some time to stop doing their job. Once they decompose after about a year, the soil will be in better shape to prepare as a planting site.
• Treat the removed tree’s spot – This will take a bit of work on your part. Remove any sawdust remains, cut out as many roots as possible, and then add topsoil and perhaps some compost  for the best start to your new tree’s home.

Have more questions about your specific trees? Cleveland tree company’s team of tree service experts can provide answers! Give us a call for an inspection, tree removal tips, or for more information on services like tree removal and tree trimming.