10 Essential Steps for Residential Tree Care

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Timberlandtree

Taking care of residential landscaping trees requires a lot of work, but it is worth the effort. Proper tree care can help protect your property from damage caused by falling limbs, keep your lawn healthy and green, and provide you with much-needed shade during hot summer months. Fortunately, tree service doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With just 10 vital tips to keep your landscape’s trees healthy and thriving, you can make sure that your trees stay healthy and safe year-round.

From regular pruning to choosing the right fertilizer for each species of tree in your yard, below are 10 must-know tips for homeowners:

Call 317-348-0811 for Residential Tree Service in Indianapolis.

How to Take Care of Your Home’s Landscaping Trees

1. Inspect Your Trees Regularly: Regularly inspecting your trees will help you spot any signs of disease or pests that could be damaging the tree’s health and stability. Make sure to look for dying leaves, holes in the bark, or mushrooms growing near the roots.

2. Prune Dead Limbs: Dead branches can easily become a hazard if they are left unchecked. By pruning them away from sheds, walkways, playsets, or other suburban areas, you can ensure that no one is injured due to falling debris.

3. Remove Dangerous Limbs: Limbs that hang too close to edifices (i.e. power lines, sheds, barns, playsets, pool houses, etc.) should also be removed to prevent damage due to high winds or storms. If a tree has large branches hanging over such areas, a tree service should be called to safely remove them.

4. Choose the Right Fertilizer: Different trees need different types of fertilizer, so it is important to select one that is specifically designed for your tree species. This will provide your tree with the necessary nutrients for optimal growth and health.

5. Mulch around the base: Applying mulch around the base of trees helps retain moisture and improve soil fertility near their roots. Make sure not to pile up too much mulch as this can suffocate a tree’s roots and cause chemical imbalances in the soil.

6. Aerate the Soil: Periodically aerating lawn and garden soils help increase water absorption and root growth. This helps landscaping trees get the oxygen and nutrients they need for optimal health and growth.

7. Water Your Trees: Landscaping trees require plenty of water to remain healthy and strong, especially during hot summer months. Give each tree around one inch of water every week either through rainfall or with a garden hose.

8. Monitor Soil pH Levels: Soil pH can affect tree health, so it is important to regularly monitor the acidity or alkalinity levels in your landscape’s soil. If you notice any abnormalities, call a licensed Indianapolis tree service to assess your tree’s needs.

9. Control Pests: Pests such as aphids, beetles and moths can wreak havoc on landscaping trees. If you notice any of these pests, contact a tree service to help control the infestation and protect your tree’s health.

10. Watch for Diseases: Diseases such as root rot or Dutch elm disease can easily spread from one tree to another if left unchecked. Contact a local tree service immediately if you suspect that your tree is suffering from a disease.

Tree Care for Residential Properties

By following these 10 important steps for residential tree care, you can ensure that your landscaping trees and shrubs remain healthy all year round. For more helpful tips or assistance with your trees, contact a licensed Indianapolis tree service company and get expert advice.

Are you in need of expert tree services for your landscaping trees? Contact Timberland Tree Care at 317-348-0811 for licensed and insured tree service in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve residential and commercial customers all throughout the surrounding Indy areas.

Everything You Want to Know About the Black Gum Tree

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Timberlandtree

Gum trees may be popular among the Kookaburra birds, but they are not a high value tree here in the Northeastern parts of the United States. If you are looking to improve your property’s value, Black Gum trees may not be the best landscaping choice; however, if you are simply looking to upgrade the look of your landscaping, they are a great choice for ornamental value. From their waxy foliage in the spring and their brilliant summer and fall colors, to their resilient winter form, Black Gum trees are stunning all year round.

Continue reading to learn more about this interesting fruit tree.

Black Gum Trees (Nyssa sylvatica)

Tupelo Family (Nyssaceae)

☙ Habitat: Grows in acidic, moist soils that re well-drained. Found along the mid-Eastern and Eastern coastal parts of the United States. It is native to Kentucky. It is very adaptable and can even grow in swampy areas and dry uplands.

☙ Looks Like: The Common Persimmon, sourwood, Swamp Tupelo, and the Water Tupelo.

☙ Growth: It is a slow-growing, medium-sized, deciduous tree that begins pyramidal in its first stages, and then with age, develops a flat-top form.

☙ Leaves: Alternating, oval-shaped, and 3 to 5 inches long. They turn red in the fall and drop for the winter.

☙ Fruit: The fruit produced by Black gum trees is high in crude fat, fiber, phosphorous, and calcium, which makes it very attractive to small mammals and birds. They resemble blue colored grapes or berries, but they are not either of the two. They are a dark purple-like blue with a fleshy coating and ribbed pit. They are ripe in the fall.

☙ Flower: Black gum trees produce clusters of light green flowers that grow near the leaves.

☙ Height: It generally achieves heights between 30 and 60 feet, and widths between 20 to 30 feet.

☙ Hardiness: It is classified as winter hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 4.

☙ Sunlight: Based on the universal sunlight requirement rating scale for trees (0-5, with 5 being “full sun”), Black gum trees are classified as needing “two suns.”

☙ Value of Wood: Its timber is light, uniformed, and textured, making it a good candidate for containers, flooring, lumber, paper pulp, and more. Its value is on the low-side, making it an economical buy.

☙ Wildlife: The fruit of the tree attracts bees, birds, deer, and other small animals and insects.

Always Ask a Pro Before Planting

If you have questions about adding trees to your landscape, talk to a licensed tree care contractor for professional advice on choosing quality performing trees for your property. Certain trees provide higher value, such as evergreens and conifers. Learn how you can earn more benefits by choosing the right trees.

Indianapolis Fruit Tree Service You Can Trust

Call Timberland Tree Care at 317-348-0811 to schedule your needed Indianapolis tree care services for your residential or commercial property. We are licensed and experienced tree care contractors who offer a wide range of professional-level tree work at all scopes. Whether you need a stump removed, or an entire lot cleared, we are the pros to trust for quality work at the right price.

Timberland Tree Care Indianapolis, Indiana — Timberland Tree Care 317-348-0811

Cost Differences of Removing Difference Species of Tree

Posted on November 29, 2019 by Timberlandtree

When you hire a tree removal company to take down a tree, they will generally provide all-inclusive tree removal service, including removing all limbs, chopping down the tree, and hauling away all the debris. However, the cost to have this service done will depend on several factors, one of which being the actual species of the tree. Continue reading to learn how much tree removal will cost for pine trees, oak trees, and more, as well as, which additional tree service costs might apply to your tree removal needs.

Paying for Tree Removal

There is a very good reason why tree removal is not cheap. Not only is the job very dangerous since contractors must climb high trees while also coordinating the use of high-tech, heavy equipment, tree removal professionals must also implement loads of labor removing and hauling heavy pieces of tree debris. For these reasons and more, you can expect removal to be a bit of the cost. However, this does not mean you should ever overpay for tree removal, nor does it mean that you can’t afford when the time comes.

The most common factors used to determine the cost of troop of the project includes the size of the tree, the condition of tree, the location of the tree, the difficulty of the project overall, and even the species of the tree. On average, tree removal costs anywhere between $200 and $1,500 per tree. But again, these costs vary depending on the above mentioned factors and more.

Here are some average costs you can expect for certain species of tree:

🌳 Oak Trees: Like pine trees, Oak trees also grow to great heights. The average oak tree at full maturity can reach heights up to 60 feet or more. On top of height, oak trees are strong and durable, which also makes them heavier and harder. For these reasons, you can expect tree removal to cost around the same as pine tree removal.

🌲 Pine Trees: Because the average height of a pine tree is between 40 and 60 feet high, some as high as 80 feet at full maturity, they are typically more costly to remove. You can expect the average cost of punch removal to fall between $700 and $1,500 per tree, give or take.

🌳 Ash Trees: ashtrays are unique because they are quite vulnerable to several different types of pest infestations, namely – borers and similar wood boring beetles. For this reason, they can sometimes be complicated to take down, and even more difficult to dispose of since their infestations can spread quickly from tree to tree. For this reason, ash tree removal might cost little more than standard tree removal, falling anywhere between $500 and $1,000 per tree.

Additional Tree Removal Costs:

✅ Stump Removal
✅ Limb Chipping
✅ Wood Chipping
✅ Log Splitting
✅ Underbrush Clearance
✅ Large Limb Removal

Indianapolis Tree Removal You Can Afford

Call Timberland Tree Care at 317-348-0811 for affordable and professional tree removal in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. We are licensed and experienced tree care contractors who offer a wide range of professional-level tree service for both residential and commercial properties.

What is Tree Deep Liquid Root Fertilizing?

Posted on November 19, 2019 by Timberlandtree

For property owners that have multiple newly-planted, young, or sickly trees throughout their landscape, an arborist might suggest a process known as deep liquid root fertilization. In the tree care world, many people are wary about the effects of such fertilization. Does it really work? Do trees require fertilizer? And is the best method for this type of tree fertilization?

If you have similar questions, or simply want to learn more about deep liquid root fertilization, continue reading.

Deep Root Fertilization for Trees

Deep liquid root fertilization is a process that involves fertilizing the tree roots deep down inside the soil, rather than from the surface. It is generally accomplished by inserting a moderately-sized pipe 8 to 12 inches into the soil, just above the tree’s root system. And then using some form of air or water pressure, a liquid tree fertilizer is squirted down through the pipe, and directly onto the tree roots. This process sounds simple, but there are several factors involved that require the specialized training and equipment of a licensed tree care technician.

However, according to the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the process of deep liquid root feeding is non-effective and unnecessary. They state that tree roots are generally located in the top 8 inches of soil, and fibrous enough to absorb sufficient amounts of water and nutrients to thrive. So inserting fertilizer deep into the ground is not needed to adequately reach the root system of a tree. The peculiar part is, many ISA-certified arborists sell this service. We wonder why.

Professional Tree Services

You don’t need the specialized, over-priced services of a licensed arborist to professionally care for your landscaping trees. An arborist is really only necessary if you have diseased or insect infested trees that require professional identification, diagnoses, and treatment. In almost all cases, a trained and experienced tree service technician is the perfect solution for affordable, quality tree care you can trust. Be sure they are licensed, and retain years of experience in the industry. With previous happy clients, you will know they should be a trustworthy choice for tree service.

Indianapolis Tree Service You Can Trust

Call Timberland Tree Care at 317-348-0811 to schedule your needed Indianapolis tree services for your residential or commercial property. We are licensed and experienced tree care contractors who offer a wide range of professional-level tree work at all scopes. Whether you need a stump removed, or an entire lot cleared, we are the pros to trust for quality work at the right price.

Should I Stake My Trees?

Posted on September 27, 2019 by Timberlandtree

Fall is just about here, which tells us it is time for landscaping preventative maintenance. Newly planted or young-growth trees require a bit more attention at the moment, as they can quickly fall victim to the harsh winds, inclement weather, wildlife tampering, and more, unless that is, certain precautions are taken before hand.

This makes your landscaping trees a top priority on your fall and winter home improvement to-do lists. One way you can promote root and trunk growth, as well as protect your trees from seasonal damage, is to stake them. But in order to obtain the best results, you must understand when tree staking is right, and when it is not.

Continue reading to learn how to determine whether or not you need to stake your landscaping trees this year.

Tree Staking Rules of Thumb

There are limits to how and when a tree should be staked. Keep in mind that not all trees will require staking, even some young or newly-planted ones. In fact, sometimes tree staking can do more harm than good if not implemented properly. You see, if staking is done incorrectly, it can actually have the opposite intended affect by stunting root and trunk growth with artificial support.

You see, trees use nature to develop strength and resistance. So to some degree, growing trees rely on challenging weather to condition them for a long life. As a result of improper staking and artificial support, a tree will grow taller, but not stronger, wider, nor more stable. This can lead to falling or toppling over down the line.

Although most trees will not require staking since natural wind currents and weather conditions help trees become stronger and more resistant, sometimes a young or newly planted tree needs a little assistance growing to its fullest potential. This is where tree staking comes into play.

If you have a newly planted tree on your property, it may need some help growing tall and strong. Staking may help to prevent fragile trees from storm damage, wind damage, breakage, leaning, and other undesirable conditions caused by instability and feebleness.

Indianapolis Tree Service You Can Trust

Call Timberland Tree Care at 317-348-0811 for trusted Indianapolis tree services you can afford. We are licensed and experienced tree care contractors who offer a wide range of professional-level tree work at all scopes. Whether you need a stump removed, or an entire lot cleared, we are the pros to trust for quality work at the right price.

What Causes Chlorine Poisoning in Trees?

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Timberlandtree

Like most things in life, too much of a good thing can turn out to be bad. In the case of trees and chlorine, the same theory applies. Although chlorine is a trace element essential to tree health, too much can be poisonous. Continue reading to learn more about chlorine poisoning in trees, including causes, treatment options, and prevention.

Chlorine Poisoning

When chlorinated water comes into contact with elements in the soil, chloride compounds develop, which are then imbibed by the tree roots. The excess content of chloride compounds in a tree will eventually lead to chlorine poisoning, which is detectable by signs of stress and decline. Not only can chlorine poisoning make tree leaves turn yellow, curl, burn, or drop prematurely, it can also kill a tree in a very short amount of time. Tree species that tend to be more susceptible or vulnerable to chlorine poisoning include maple trees, box elders, ash trees, crab apple trees, dogwood trees, horse chestnut trees, mulberry trees, pin oak trees, sweet gum trees, and yellow woods.

Causes of Tree Chlorine Poisoning

There are several factors that influence the extent of damage caused by chlorine poisoning, all of which depend on the unique environmental surroundings. The most common factors that influence how harmed a tree is from chlorine poisoning include the time of year, length of time the tree was exposed, total concentration of chlorine in the tree, and just how the tree took in the chlorine water. City water is safe for trees. However, although municipal water has safe levels of chlorine, groundwater can be affected in various ways. Some common causes for chlorine in groundwater might include:

☑ Swimming Pool Water Runoff
☑ Swimming Pool Leaks
☑ Water Contaminated by Heavily Salted Roads and Driveways
☑ Air Pollution
☑ Naturally Occurring Chloride Salts in Soil
☑ Tampering
☑ And More

Prevention Tips

The number one rule is to never water your trees if the water smells like chlorine. From there, you can have your personal water supply tested and treated for high chlorine concentrations to ensure your hose is delivering safe water for your gardens. Another helpful approach to preventing chlorine poisoning in your landscaping trees is to keep them at least 10 feet from chlorinated swimming pools. If your soil is testing high for chlorides, consider incorporating some gypsum to drive out the excess chlorine content. The general rule of thumb for gypsum is 58lbs. per 1,000 square feet.

If your tree is already suffering from chlorine poisoning, water it thoroughly and deeply to extract the excess chlorine from the ground. You may also need to have the tree removed if it is too far damaged. Talk to a trusted tree service provider for advice on removing a sick or dead tree from your property. Not sure if your tree is dead? Stay tuned for our next blog to learn the signs of a dead or dying tree!

Indianapolis Tree Service

Call Timberland Tree Care at 317-348-0811 for professional tree service in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. We are licensed and experienced tree care contractors who offer a wide range of professional-level tree service for both residential and commercial properties.

Learn the Basic Anatomy of a Tree

Posted on March 5, 2019 by Timberlandtree

Trees are important allies in life for all living organisms on Earth. Did you know that we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide, and trees breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen? It’s a true partnership that deserves love and care. There are infinite and correlated benefits trees offer our planet, and even more reasons to admire them.

If you own property with landscaping trees, it is encouraged to take good care of them all year-long to support a long life and endless privileges. To develop an effective tree care plan for your home, it helps to learn some fundamental facts about trees first. A good place to start is with their basic anatomy!

Continue reading to learn the basic parts of a tree and what they do.

Roots

Tree roots are generally located within the top 3 feet of soil, beneath the base of the tree trunk, and can expand 4 to 5 feet past the dripline of the crown. The drip line is basically the perimeter of the tree at its fullest width. Think of an umbrella standing on its handle; the drip line would be where the water drips off of the edge of the umbrella canopy and around the handle. The roots are critical to a tree because they are in charge of collecting and distributing water and mineral nutrients throughout the tree’s internal system. They are also important for stability since they keep a tree strong and grounded, anchoring in place.

Trunk

The trunk provides the shape and support of the whole tree, and holds up the crown. It transports the sugar made by the leaves, and water gathered from the soil. A tree’s trunk is broken down into different primary parts: the inner and outer bark, the cambium cell layer, the sapwood, and then the heartwood. The inner and outer bark are for protection, while the cambium cell layer is the growth center. The sapwood layer transport water like a pipeline, and the heartwood is the central, supportive pillar of the tree.

✨ Stay tuned for our next blog that will further detail the various parts of a tree trunk and their roles!

Branches

From the tree trunk sprouts the branches, limbs, and twigs that eventually sprout foliage, like leaves, flowers, and fruit. In fact, the primary role of tree branches is to provide a foundation for these things to grow! Aside from providing a place for leaves and more to grow, they also aid in the transportation and distribution of water and minerals throughout the tree.

Leaves

Leaves are the first thing we see and admire on a tree during its peak seasons. But leaves serve a higher purpose than simple appeal. Tree foliage comes in all sorts of different colors, shapes, and textures, but they are serve the same purpose, which is to carry out photosynthesis, and thus, make food for the tree and ultimately release oxygen into the air for us to breathe.

Where to Find Professional Tree Care Near You

Timberland Tree Care Indianapolis, Indiana

Whether you need a tree removed, a stump ground, or an entire lot cleared, we are the trusted tree care contractors who can get the job done right the first time, and at a price you can afford. Request a free estimate, today.

The Basics of Routine Tree Care

Posted on February 18, 2019 by Timberlandtree

As a property owner, the appeal and performance of your landscaping is likely very important to you. If you wish to maintain healthy trees that look good and last long, it is necessary to implement a certain degree of tree care, year-round. Continue reading to learn some fundamental tree care tips, including who to call for scheduled tree work in your neighborhood.

Indianapolis Tree Service Company 317-348-0811

Tree Care

Trees, like most living organisms, require water, sunlight, and food to survive. In fact, they aren’t much different from us; are they? So long as you provide or ensure acceptable conditions for your trees, they should grow tall, wide, and strong, for years to come. Fortunately, most tree care can be done on your own with the right knowledge and materials; but some tree work will need to be carried out by a licensed professional, for safety and code purposes.

So what is it that you need to do, exactly? Look below to review the basics to tree care.

☑ Sunlight

Trees require a certain amount of sunlight for food and growth. The actual recommended amount of daily sun depends on the species, as there are partial-shade, full-sun, and many other types of trees. But typically, most need at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight, every day. When planting a new tree, you must take this into consideration. If you plant a tree on the side of the house that never gets any light, you will not get good growth results.

☑ Mulch

Mulching is critically important for trees, especially young ones. Placing mulch over the soil surrounding the tree trunk has several benefits, and it also adds a certain level of appeal for properties. Mulching improves soil structure, including the soil’s oxygen levels, temperature, and moisture availability. It also protects against pests and prevent soil from drying out. Mulch should be 2 to 4 inches deep and applied seasonally for optimal results. You can easily do this yourself, or hire a mulch provider to do it for you!

☑ Watering Trees

The only time you need to worry about watering your landscaping trees is when they are newly planted or young. Moderately-aged and mature trees generally acquire water naturally without any problems. Although it doesn’t hurt to water all of your landscaping trees periodically, especially during long periods of hot and dry weather. For newly planted or young trees, water once or twice per week. Stick your finger in the soil to see if it’s moist with water; if it is, it does not require more water. But if the soil is dry, it is time to water it again. Just be careful to not over water trees. This can drown the roots, and potentially cause a tree to suffocate and die.

☑ Tree Fertilization

Just like watering, the only time you need to really worry about fertilizing your trees is if they are in a growth stage, such as newly transplanted, newly planted, or very young. In most cases, trees do not require much fertilizing. When you do fertilize trees, it should be done in the late spring and early summer months. As your trees get older, several small applications throughout the year are helpful as well. Talk to your local tree service specialist for professional advice about proper tree fertilization.

☑ Tree Trimming

Tree trimming and pruning is important because they promote new branch and limb growth. This is essential for growing strong and sturdy trees. Just like getting a haircut keeps your hair healthy, periodically trimming a tree keeps it healthy as well. You may be able to get away with trimming small or young trees on your own, but in most cases, tree trimming is a job for a professional.

☑ Winterizing

To winterize your trees means to protect them during their dormant stage. This helps them remain healthy, strong, and free of insects and pests during the winter time. Talk to your local tree care specialist about winterizing landscaping trees on your property. Every property has unique and individual tree service needs that are best assessed by professional tree care technicians.

Indianapolis Tree Care You Can Trust

Timberland Tree Care Indianapolis, Indiana

Timberland Tree Care Invites You to Check Out Our Brand New Website!

Posted on February 1, 2019 by Timberlandtree

Timberland Tree Care is proud to showcase our brand new website, which features this informative and fun blog page! Continue below to learn everything our new site has to offer, as well as, why you should choose us to manage all your tree service needs in Central Indiana!

Here at Timberland Tree Care, we are a licensed and insured tree service company that specializes in residential and commercial tree work. As a locally owned and operated company here in Indianapolis, you can trust that we are committed members of our community, and strive to provide professional and personalized service at economy-based prices!

www.timberlandtreecareindy.com

Easy to Use and Informative

Check out our informative, easy-to-navigate website for information and advice about tree care and property protection in Central Indiana! When you visit our brand-new website, you will get the information you are looking for regarding our tree removal and routine tree services, right away. Start by checking out the About Us Page to learn about our company credentials and qualities. You will also find fun and informative pages on all sorts of topics, including Emerald Ash Borers, and much more!

One Click Away From Affordable Tree Care!

The licensed and insured specialists at Timberland Tree Care provide a wide range of residential and commercial tree work, all of which are listed right on our Home page. From tree removal and tree trimming, to stump grinding, crane service, lot clearing, and more, our experienced specialists are fully-equipped to manage your tree service needs, regardless of size or scope!

Simply click on the tree service you need to learn how to get started with an estimate and on-site inspection. If you are unsure about which tree service you need for your property, simply visit our Services page for an overview of all we have to offer, including how to get in touch with a live tree care expert.

Reliable Tree Service You Can Trust

In addition to tree care and tree removal, we offer a wide range of additional customer amenities, including free written estimates, on-site evaluations, storm damage clearance, full-property inspections, post-service checkups, and more. We even provide homeowners’ insurance claim work for damages caused by fallen trees and branches. You can also visit our Our Work page to view recent photos of us on the job!

We Serve All of Central Indiana

Timberland Tree Care Indianapolis, Indiana

Although based out of Indianapolis, Timberland Tree Care provides prompt and professional service for all of Central Indiana, from Noblesville to Greenfield, and everything in between!

Feel free to go to our Contact Us page and send us an email with any inquiries or questions you have about your tree service needs. Or just contact us directly at 317-348-0811 to request a free estimate or information, during regular business hours. Timberland Tree Care looks forward to helping you!