Tick Management

Washington DC has the infamous rank as the #1 place for ticks in the United States according to 2012 statistics. The risk of human infection from ticks is greatest in late spring and summer.

Wood Acres Tree Specialists’ Plant Health Care (PHC) is a multifaceted method of care custom designed for each homeowner. It incorporates a specific number of “visits” by one of our urban foresters, which are tailored to both monitor and control the potential insect and disease developments on your plant material. In addition, we also provide a service that controls ticks in your yard to protect you.

Our trained PHC Specialists use the most advanced, state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly controls available. Consistent and timely application is your best defense. Ticks are most dangerous to humans and your outdoor-loving pets in the late spring and summer.

About Ticks
Ticks transmit pathogens that cause disease through feeding. Getting ready to feed can take 10 minutes to 2 hours depending on the type of tick. The host may not feel the tick because it can secrete saliva with anesthetic properties. A feeding tube with barbs keeps it in place. The tick will slowly feed on its host’s blood for several days ingesting any pathogens they have. After feeding they drop off and prepare for the next stage of life. The next time it feeds, any pathogens they’ve ingested (like Lyme Disease) can be transmitted to the next animal.

Ticks are able to detect animals’ breath body odors, heat, moisture and vibrations. They wait on the edge of grasses and shrubs near pathways for their hosts in a position known as “questing”.
Things You Can Do Yourself  To Lessen Tick Infestations

• Keep your yard clean of leaf litter and trash where ticks can hide.
• Mow your lawn frequently and clear tall grasses and brush around the edges.
• Keep unwelcome animals from your yard with fencing. They may be carriers of diseased ticks.
• Have Wood Acres trim low-hanging branches where ticks may be waiting.
• A 3-foot wide barrier of wood chips between recreational lawns and wooded areas helps restrict tick migration. Contact Wood Acres for wood chips (FREE on an availability basis).
• Keep wood stacked and dry to discourage rodents nesting there.

Contact Wood Acres to help combat this area problem and protect your loved ones from dangerous ticks in Montgomery County MD and Washington DC. While we are caring for your trees and shrubs, protecting them from damaging insects and diseases, our Licensed Pest Control Operators can give you a little extra peace of mind this summer that your family is better protected also with Tick Management.

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That’s why, as arborists, Wood Acres Tree Specialists are passionate about their work and care about the health and safety of trees through Pro-Active work. Trees play an important role in all of our lives but they are living things. Unfortunately, we share in a tree’s misfortunes on our property, like toppling or breaking from wet or windy weather – or poor health. There are some things you can do to keep the trees in your care on your property from becoming a liability instead of a valuable asset:

Annual Checkups: have Wood Acres check your trees’ health and remove trees that have become hazardous or infringe on your home or power lines’ space. Healthy trees have stronger roots and resist being toppled so have us stay on top of insect and disease outbreaks before they irreversibly damage your tree’s strength. Ask us about our Plant Health Care (PHC) program.  It’s a multifaceted method of care custom designed for each homeowner. It incorporates a specific number of “visits” by one of our urban foresters, which are tailored to both monitor and control the potential insect and disease developments on your trees and shrubs.

Pruning:  Have us selectively and expertly thin your trees so they’re not top heavy (never have your trees topped!). They won’t catch the wind like a big kite. Thinning increases sunlight penetration and air movement through the crown. Pruning is not just for mature trees – pay attention to your young trees, too.  If young trees are pruned to promote good structure, they likely will remain serviceable in the landscape for more years than trees that have not been structurally pruned.

Don’t live in fear of your trees in bad weather.  Lighten the worry-load by taking care of your trees on a regular basis and your trees will continue to bring you positive memories instead of homeowner headaches. Contact Wood Acres Tree Specialists, certified, licensed and insured arborists for professional tree care in the Montgomery County, MD and Washington DC area – and keep those pleasant tree-memories growing!

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Different trees can survive different temperature. Once they’re hardened, red oaks can survive -40ºF. Some trees like spruces, balsams, quaking aspen can make it to -100ºF.

Coniferous trees retain their needles and can photosynthesize in winter and early spring. Some deciduous trees have chlorophyll in their bark – they can make sugar all year for food.

How To Winterproof  Your Trees:

• Plant only native trees to Maryland.
• Water coniferous trees thoroughly in autumn.
• Don’t encourage late tender growth. Stop using nitrogen fertilizer near trees in late summer.
• Protect young trees’ bark with a wrapping to prevent freezing and thawing from damaging the bark.
• Protect lower parts of trees with hardware cloth – deer and gnawing animals get hungry in a bitter winter when food is scarce.
• Prevent winter “browning” or winter burn with a screen of burlap on the south and west sides to protect them from blustering, icy winds or have your arborist apply 100% organic anti-desiccants.
• Resist the temptation to shake snow or ice from trees in winter. You could do more harm than good. Consider cabling/bracing for trees that need structural support.
• Protect the tasty tops of young pines so deer don’t dine on your tree structure. Deer also polish their antlers by thrashing trees which will expose the living part of the tree so those trees might need some extra barrier protection.

If you have a tree that’s taking it hard this winter, seek the advice of a certified arborist from Wood Acres Tree Specialists - serving the Montgomery County, Maryland and Washington DC area. With Wood Acres’ professional Pro-Active winter tree care your trees can see another beautiful Spring without unnecessary damage.

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During the winter, Old Man Winter can take a toll on trees and shrubs. Winter’s extreme storms can produce heavy ice and snow that break branches or topple your trees. Harsh winds and sun can dry out and bleach frozen plants. Wood Acres provides arborist services that can help safeguard your trees and bushes against winter’s blast.

Winterburn Protection

Winter injury to evergreens is rarely caused by excessive cold, but rather by desiccation or complete loss of moisture. Although water loss is naturally low during winter, drying winds extract precious moisture at a time when roots are embedded in frozen soil thereby making it very difficult for water lost through the leaves to be replenished by root uptake. Leaves and needles become scorched at the tips and along outer margins. Buds and twigs will become brittle and snap when bent or loaded with precipitation. Often, the winterburn becomes more visible to the homeowner as Spring approaches and the damage is already done.

Wood Acres Tree Specialists provide winterburn protection with anti-desiccants for trees and bushes. Anti-Desiccants are 100% ORGANIC substances that form a thin, transparent film on leaf surfaces. This creates a moisture barrier over the plant’s surface, holding water in place or slowing its outward movement. This film naturally wears-off at the end of the winter season. This treatment is especially important during  stress situations that occur with winter weather.

Snow and Ice

A frosted landscape is a lovely sight except when it gets so heavy it brings down branches or whole trees. Proper pruning, to eliminate multiple leaders and weak branch attachments, will reduce snow and ice damage. For trees with large wide-spreading leaders or large multi-stemmed trees, the main branches should be cabled together by a professional arborist.

 Cabling uses flexible cables or rigid rods reduce the chance of failure on defective structures during high winds, storms or from the weight of new growth. Cabling connects two limbs to each other by means of extra high strength steel which will provide equal support to both branches. Cables should be taut but not extremely tight. A cable installed too tightly will put pressure on the hardware and create tension in the V-fork. Periodic inspections will be necessary to take the slack out of sagging cable. While there are no established rules available on what the average life of a cable is, Wood Acres recommends that cables be checked every time work is performed on the tree.

Although plant winter injury  can happen in particularly harsh Maryland/DC winters, appropriate plant selection, selecting the proper site, proper cultural practices, and preventive maintenance will significantly reduce or prevent severe injury or loss of landscape plants.

Even though plants respond differently to winter stress and each winter provides a different set of stressful conditions, plants possess a remarkable ability to withstand extremely severe winter conditions. For an ounce of prevention contact Wood Acres Tree Specialists’ arborists for a consultation if you have concerns about vulnerable trees or shrubs in your yard getting damaged when old man Winter blows in.

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Unhealthy trees damaged by storm (note fungus on trunks)

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy (Oct. 29-30, 2012) many trees were downed due to the high winds and heavy rains in Maryland and Washington DC. Waterlogged soil in combination with powerful sustained wind and gusts are a deadly combination for large trees – especially when unhealthy to begin with and in close proximity to property.

The best way to “insure” against surprise tree removal costs or litigation from neighbors is to get your Maryland or DC trees assessed by a local tree service employing certified arborists, like Wood Acres Tree Specialists, before the next storm and have documentation that your trees are healthy.

Every homeowner should maintain and be responsible for their trees and property – and not depend on homeowner’s insurance because in the long run – tree care is a lot less expensive:

• First, carefully review your insurance policy for coverage  and see what position your carrier takes in the event of a fallen tree. If you don’t understand the language, ask your agent to clarify.  If you’re near the coast, check if you have a hurricane deductible. The hurricane deductible was created after there was increased coastal development ( & thus greater risk). It forces the policyholder to share more of the risk with the insurer. It usually is from 1%-5% of the insured value of your home and could force you to pay $1,000′s before your deductible coverage kicks in.
• Insurance coverage depends on where the tree falls and if it produces damage. Usually, the structure it falls on, regardless of whose tree it is, is the insurance that pays for it. If it falls on a car and you have comprehensive auto insurance, that car insurance covers the damage. If a tree just falls in your yard and doesn’t damage anything, insurance does not cover removal. Depending on the size of the tree – that can be a major expense for you.
• What if it’s along a public road and falls in the road? The exception is a tree along a well-traveled right-of-way. Most local jurisdictions are responsible for maintenance and removal.
• If your neighbor knew he had a dead tree that was dangerous and that caused the damage, your insurance company may try to seek reimbursement for the claim (subrogation) because he was negligent.
• The amount of insurance coverage may vary and is limited (policies vary) and it doesn’t matter whether 1 tree fell or 10 as it is based on the “event”.
• Damage to your trees is generally very limited and is normally not covered or is capped at 5% of the structure’s coverage for one item
• Contact insurance right away and always photograph damage before minor repairs so you can prove your loss.
• If you sue your neighbor, this is a long road: you would have to file suit and prove it was negligence, not an Act of God – this is difficult to do and results in a lengthy trial and legal bills. Best course is to talk to your neighbor and propose sharing the cost of removal.
• If you file an insurance claim, know that you could face possible non-renewal next year or an increase in your premium.

If you have questions or wish to file a complaint about insurance, here is additional information for Maryland and Washington DC.

Contact Wood Acres Tree Specialists today to get your trees assessed before the next serious storm.  There is a greater chance of mitigating pitfalls and disruption in your life if your trees come down. Forewarned is forarmed.

Wood Acres Tree Specialists can access your mature trees.

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Can These Trees Be Saved?

A storm can leave trees looking like there’s no tomorrow. Major limbs may be broken or damaged, foliage can be shredded or stripped, or the bark may be torn or gouged. But what at first glance may look like mortal wounds are not necessarily fatal to a tree. Trees have an amazing ability to recover from storm damage.

First, Assess the Damage

Before writing off a damaged tree as a “goner,” homeowners should evaluate their trees by asking the following questions:

- Other than the storm damage, is the tree basically healthy and vigorous? If the tree is basically healthy, is not creating a hazard, and did not suffer major structural damage, it will generally recover if first aid measures are applied immediately after the storm.

- Are major limbs broken? The larger a broken limb is, the harder it will be for the tree to recover from the damage. If a majority of the main branches are gone, the tree may have little chance of surviving.

- Has the leader (the main upward-trending branch on most trees) been lost? In species where a leader is important to upward growth or desirable appearance, it may have to be a judgment call. The tree may live without its leader, but at best would be a stunted or deformed version of the original.

- Is at least 50 percent of the tree’s crown (branches and leaves) still intact? This is a good rule of thumb on tree survivability. A tree with less than half of its branches remaining may not be able to produce enough foliage to nourish the tree through another season.

- How big are the wounds where branches have been broken or bark has been damaged? The larger the wound is in relation to the size of the limb, the less likely it is to heal, leaving the tree vulnerable to disease and pests. A two- to three-inch wound on a 12-inch diameter limb will seal over with new bark within a couple of years.

- Are there remaining branches that can form a new branch structure? The remaining limbs will grow more vigorously as the tree tries to replace its missing foliage. Look to see if branches are in place that can eventually fill out the tree’s appearance.

- Is the tree of a desirable species for its location? If the tree is in the wrong location (such as a potentially tall tree beneath a power line), or an undesirable species for the property (messy fruit, etc.), it may be best to remove it if it has serious damage.

Then, Make the Decision

The questions listed above will help you make informed decisions about your trees. In general, the answer as to what to do about a particular tree will fall into one of three categories:

1: It’s a Keeper

If damage is relatively slight, prune any broken branches, repair torn bark or rough edges around wounds, and let the tree begin the process of wound repair.

Some examples:

An Easy Call:

A mature shade tree can usually survive the loss of one major limb. The broken branch should be pruned back to the trunk. In the months to follow, large wounds should be closely monitored for signs of decay.

Minor Damage:

Although the tree has been damaged, enough strong limbs may remain on a basically healthy tree to make saving it possible.

Too Young to Die:

Young trees can sustain quite a bit of damage and still recover quickly. If the leader is intact and the structure for future branching remains, remove the broken branches and let the tree close over the wounds and recover itself.

2: Wait and See

If a valuable tree appears to be a borderline case, resist the temptation to simply cut the tree down and be done with it. In such cases, it may be best to stand back for a while and think it over. Remember that time is on your side. After careful pruning of broken branches, give the tree some time to recover. A final decision can be made later.

Easy Does It: 

Resist the temptation to prune too heavily. Remember that the tree will need all the foliage it can produce in order to make it through the next growing season. Remove only the damaged limbs, wait and see what happens.

Hold Off: 

A healthy mature tree can recover even when several major limbs are damaged. With large trees, a professional arborist should be brought in to assess damage on a borderline situation, and to safely accomplish needed pruning and branch removal.

3: Say Goodbye

Some trees simply can’t be saved or are not worth saving. If the tree has already been weakened by disease, if the trunk is split, or more than 50 percent of the crown is gone, the tree has lost its survival edge.

Tree Tragedy: 

This otherwise healthy young tree has lost too much of its crown -  the leafy head that is vital for survival. It will probably not be able to grow enough new branches and leaves to provide needed nourishment, and will never be able to regain its former beautiful shape.

Hopeless Case:

About all that’s left of this tree is its trunk. The few remaining branches can’t provide enough foliage to enable the tree to make it through another growing season.

Farewell to a Friend:

A rotten inner core in the trunk or structural weakness in branching patterns can cause a split trunk- the tree equivalent of a heart attack. The wounds are too large to ever mend, and the tree has lost its sap lifeline between roots and leaves. This tree is all but dead.

Don’t Try to Do It All Alone

Some of your trees may have damage that’s too close to call, or may have hidden damage. To help with such questions, a tree professional may be needed to help you decide what to do about your trees. Don’t hire just anyone who shows up at your door following a storm. Look for qualified arborists in the phone book or by contacting your state or city forester.

 Wood Acres Tree Specialists‘ main focus is on Pro-Active Tree Care. Every effort is made to save your tree unless removal is indicated. All arborists on the Wood Acres team are certified and they have a Master Arborists on staff.  They are TCIA Accredited (Tree Care Industry Association). TCIA Accreditation provides consumers a way to find tree care companies that are trustworthy in their business and tree care practices. Wood Acres Tree Specialists is licensed and insured and employs the highest adherence to safety and standards and ethics.

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Wood Acres Tree Specialists would like to know: Are your trees ready for severe weather?

Hurricane season is officially from June 1 – November 30. September is the statistical peak of hurricane season. 2012 has had the most active season before July 1, Record-tying 8 named storms forming in August so there’s a very good chance of strong activity this Fall.
Beat the storms and save your property (and what’s in your wallet) by keeping up on a pruning schedule and keep an eye out for weakening pests and diseases to avoid disastrous consequences from storms.

Trees are one of the most beneficial plantings you can add to your yard – and one of the lowest maintenance plants. They are the oldest living things on earth, provide welcome shade, seasonal beauty, and are a home for wildlife of all types. Occasional pruning and care is needed though.

When a tree grows in its natural habitat – like a forest – it has to compete for available light. In a residential landscape it frequently has more than adequate sunlight and can tend to grow quickly and develop multiple trunks which weakens the structure of a tree and can break off in storms. Regular yearly pruning and a tree health checkup is a good place to start. Pruning can keep your tree’s branches in check and good health can strengthen it  against the damaging effects of wind, rain, snow and ice.

• Take care of young trees while they’re maturing. Don’t plant near wires, too close to a building, or in shallow soils or on steep banks. Prune dead or weakened limbs and excessive branches from crowns. This gives the tree an ideal shape and keeps it growing strong and balanced.
• For valuable trees, hire a professional arborist, like Wood Acres, to further strengthen a tree by installing cabling or bracing on weak limbs and split crotches.
• Plant wisely. Don’t plant brittle species of trees in the first place. Some species to avoid include elm, willow, box elder, poplar Bradford Pears, and silver maple. The slower a tree grows the stronger the tree the denser the wood. Also, trees that hold their leaves late in the fall are susceptible to early ice storms
• Be careful not to harm trees during construction- when digging around trees, avoid damaging or cutting roots. They anchor the tree and send nutrients and water to the whole plant. Wood Acres Tree Specialists can consult with you and offer the best approach for building near an established tree.
• Keep the tree healthy by watering, fertilizing, and protecting the soil from compaction. Wood Acres Tree Specialists provide many services that can alleviate tree problems: root collar correction, subsurface fertilization, and vertical mulching.

If you have tree concerns consult with a certified arborist at Wood Acres Tree Specialists today and get the facts about your trees. We have a Master Arborist on staff and have been expertly taking care of trees in Montgomery County Maryland and NW Washington DC neighborhoods like yours since 1983 so you can weather the inevitable storms up ahead.

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Homeowners might panic and be in a hurry to clean up the damage any way they can. This is not a wise choice because tree removal is the most dangerous and expensive of tree care services. For instance, the fatality rate among police officers and detectives is about 13.5 per 100,000. Tree workers rate does not go below 30 per 100,000. If something happens with an unlicensed or uninsured tree worker – you could be held liable.

Unlicensed “tree experts” are making themselves available and you could have a lot more problems in the end than a downed tree if you are impatient and don’t check credentials.There are 30% more complaints filed against unlicensed tree experts.

Just because someone advertises in telephone directories for tree removal does not mean they are licensed and/or insured. A comparison report shows unlicensed tree experts equal 69.91% of online advertising. A sure red flag that there’s a problem for consumers is incomplete contact information, such as a cell phone number or email address only or asking for more than 1/3 payment up front.
See report from ISA “Certain Characteristics of Unlicensed Tree Expert Companies Advertising in Maryland, U.S.” by Michael F. Galvin

Since October 1, 2005, the law for tree services has been strengthened to protect the consumer. The law requires that prospective licensees meet the qualifications for licensure, including passage of an examination administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Reourses (MDDNR), and maintenance of insurance protection for as long as the license is in effect.

Wood Acres Tree Specialists is licensed and insured in MD – and more than meets the qualifications of a qualified tree service. We have a Board Certified Master Arborist (MA-4358B) on staff which is the highest professional certification in arboriculture. We adhere to strict ISA standards in the care of trees and our workers’ safety. We’ve been in business since 1983.

So keep our contact information handy. State law requires a written contract for any work completed so we will be happy to assess your trees and give you an estimate. Keep in mind, the best way to minimize damage from storms is to keep your trees strong and healthy over time. Have them checked regularly by Wood Acres Tree Specialists and you’ll be more assured the next time a severe storm is predicted. Be sure to ask us about our Plant Health Care (PHC) Program for ongoing tree care.

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Wood Acres Tree Specialists removing tree from Maryland home

Trees were downed all over Maryland and Washington DC last night in a powerful storm that damaged the area with winds up to 79 mph. If you have a tree damaged by the storm make sure you contact an accredited tree service like Wood Acres Tree Specialists for emergency service.

More than 1.5 million area customers were without power last night after thunderstorms with hurricane force winds battered utility lines overnight. Toppling trees and branches brought down electrical wires at several locations in Bethesda, Potomac and Rockville. Traffic lights are out and large fallen trees blocked the roadways all throughout the area.

Today with temperatures near 100, we eye the possibility of another damaging storm complex moving toward and through the area this evening. Given how intense yesterday’s was, it’s hard to say we’ll see a true repeat, but it’s certainly possible so keep emergency numbers handy if you find yourself without electricity. Wood Acres Tree Specialists number is 1-888-464-3926.

Removing trees from power lines and homes is dangerous business. Beware of non-local “lumberjacks” who are unlicensed and go door to door in storm hit neighborhoods. Wood Acres Tree Specialists are licensed and insured so you are protected. We are equipped with the latest heavy tree removal equipment and a highly trained tree removal team to get you back to normal quickly.

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Avoid Tree Topping

Your tree is out of control and a tree company suggests topping your tree. What is “topping”? It is excessive and arbitrary removal of parts of a tree with no regard for its structure or growth pattern, — also known as hat-racking, heading, tipping and rounding over. It is practiced among some tree care service companies, despite disapproval from the two leading tree industry groups. Every tree species has an optimum shape to keep it strong and healthy – not respecting nature can result in reduction of your tree’s life and beauty.

Tree topping is against TCIA (The International Society of Arboriculture) and ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) standards. TCIA has more than 2,000 member companies that follow stringent safety and performance standards. ISA is the only organization that certifies individual arborists worldwide.

Wood Acres Tree Specialists, as certified arborists, are members of these organizations and is committed to excellence in tree care. These organizations only accredit tree companies which adhere to their best practices in trimming trees, tree industry safety and performance standards.

Topping completely destroys the shape of the tree from which it never fully recovers from. Taking care of the trees on your property should be a regular part of  the maintenance routine of your home. Trees add significant value to the property and character to your yard.

Should you have concerns about an unruly tree you’ve ignored for years and now you feel it’s time for drastic measures – contact Wood Acres Tree Specialists first. We can recommend the plan of action for keeping your tree – that’s taken years, maybe decades to grow in optimum shape without taking the topping shortcut that could ultimately destroy your graceful giant.

Wood Acres – Caring for trees in Montgomery County, Maryland and Washington DC area since 1983.

Actual Trees in our area that are damaged and deformed from tree topping in Maryland.

dying and diseased topped tree

Everything else is blooming except this topped, damaged tree

Don’t let this happen to you. Plant trees that are suited to your yard’s size. When they need to be shaped, trust your trees to a licensed arborist, like Wood Acres Tree Specialists.

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