Why Is The Top of My Tree Dead and The Bottom Alive?
For anyone who lives in an area surrounded by trees, it can be a devastating experience when your beloved tree shows signs of decline. Crown decline is one of the many common issues that can affect both young and established trees, presenting as a gradual thinning or recession of the foliage. In this blog post, we explore some causes of crown decline in trees that make the top of your tree dead while the bottom stays alive.Why The Top of Your Tree Is Dead: Crown Decline Root Stress or Damage
Root stress in trees can be caused by several things, from extreme temperatures to too much or too little water. In some cases, root stress may be an indicator of some underlying issues, like root rot due to poor drainage, infestation from pests like root-feeding weevils, or even diseases. Almost any disruption to a tree’s root system can have a detrimental effect on its health and vitality; this includes anything from soil compaction to cutting roots when digging near the base of the tree. Trees are complex organisms that rely on healthy root systems to thrive, so taking care of them is extremely important if you want your trees to stay strong and happy!Insects
If you have trees on your property, it can be disheartening to realize just how much of an impact that insects can have. Many different types of insects feed on trees and the damage they cause can range from slow, long-term damage to sudden tree death. Take lanternflies, for instance – these pests feed on sap in trees and shrubs, which can lead to an imbalance in nutrients and cause wilting leaves or even plant death. In addition to lanternflies, other harmful pests such as aphids, mites, beetles and borers may also put your precious trees at risk. To change this pattern, be sure to inspect your trees regularly for signs of insect infestation and take the necessary steps to control them if needed.Drought
Drought can take a heavy toll on your trees, with usually disastrous outcomes. Symptoms include wilting and yellowing leaves and begin with the tops of the branches seeing the worst effects. Other signs are twig dieback, which doesn’t look pretty but is a sign that something isn’t quite right. Fortunately, there are things you can do to combat drought: The most important thing is to give your trees thorough waterings as often as possible. You can also help keep moisture in by mulching around the base of your tree; this will help regulate soil temperatures and limit evaporation.Bad Soil Composition
Whether you’re planting a new tree or keeping one alive, soil composition is key. Poor soil can easily lead to your trees dying, but supplying the right soil nutrients can prove beneficial to them in the long run. To keep your trees healthy, soil should be able to deliver essential minerals and nitrogen for proper growth. It should also have the ability to maintain moisture and drainage effects- both of which enable efficient root development. Moreover, soil components like clay and sand must make sure air gets delivered through roots appropriately. Bad soil composition may hinder these processes, ultimately resulting in poor health or even death of the tree. It’s best to double check soil composition so you don’t end up with an unhappy (or dead) tree!Is the Top of Your Tree Dead While the Bottom Is Alive?
Protect your valuable evergreen broadleaf plants like Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Pieris, Japanese Hollies, and Boxwoods from disease, pests, and weather with our Tree and Shrub Program. The anti-desiccant helps minimize damage to the leaves, keeping your plants healthy and beautiful. As part of this program, we will visit seven times throughout the year to inspect, treat, and fertilize, helping keep your evergreen and dormant trees in top shape. Call us today at 888-581-5296 to learn more.
Professional Lawn Care Services vs Sunday Lawn Care
Green Lawn Fertilizing | Lawn Care Blog by Green Lawn Fertilizing – 3M ago -Mark Unread
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Now more than ever, there are seemingly endless ways to complete a task like your regular lawn care. Do you go with a company? National or local? Is it best to DIY your lawn to-do list or hire someone? If you want to DIY, can you figure it out on your own, or should you try a subscription service? If you’ve started to see ads for these subscription DIY products, it can be tempting to explore those options over a professional lawn care team. Use this guide to help you determine if professional lawn care services or DIY kits like Sunday Lawn Care are right for you.Professional Lawn Care Services vs Sunday Lawn Care
Professional Services
Pros
- Customized, proper care. Lawn Care companies are purchasing and applying the proper products for your lawn. Not all fertilizers and weed controls are the same, and the products will change as the season progresses. Hiring a Lawn Care company eliminates the risk of applying a product incorrectly, leading to damage to the lawn or ineffectiveness of the application.
- Followup support. Caring for the lawn is unfortunately not an exact science. There are external conditions that are oftentimes beyond your control that may have adverse effects on the lawn. For example, a neighbor that does not care for their lawn may have dandelions that spread over to your lawn on a daily basis. A lawn care program will in most cases include free service calls to address any issues that occur throughout the season, versus the DIY treater possibly needing to treat far more frequently than they had initially anticipated.
Cons
- Not all companies are created equal. Unfortunately, you might hire a great company, or you might find one that doesn’t have consistent, quality service. It will take research and time to hire the right provider that meets your needs and is within your budget.
- Some companies lock you into a contract. While year-round care is recommended to achieve a healthy lawn, you might be surprised to discover the lawn care company you choose has a hidden clause that requires you to sign a contract for long-term care. That’s why it’s important to choose a company you trust, like Green Lawn Fertilizing, that lets you know upfront what to expect.
DIY Methods Like Sunday Lawn Care
Pros
- Satisfaction. Some people enjoy the satisfaction of DIYing tasks around the home. If this is you, you might feel accomplished when you research and complete your lawn care on your own.
- Potential money saving. While it might seem like this is the cheaper way to go, DIYing your lawn care often requires more costs up front in order to get the supplies and equipment you need.
Cons
- Time. DIYing your lawn care takes significantly more time than hiring a professional. Even if you get a kit from a supplier like Sunday Lawn Care, you still need to apply the product yourself and do other tasks your lawn requires to be healthy.
- Incomplete care. Your Sunday Lawn Care kit might come with the chemicals suitable for your lawn, but they’re not the only things that create a healthy lawn. You’ll also likely need to aerate, seed, check your lawn’s pH, and treat for insects—all things you’ll need to do in addition to the steps provided in your kit.
Choose Green Lawn Fertilizing for Thorough Lawn Care.
Call Green Lawn Fertilizing to help keep your yard as healthy and green as can be. Our Green Lawn Program features eight applications throughout the year to take care of the entire health of your lawn. Read our Google reviews, check out Angie’s List, and visit Yelp to see what a difference Green Lawn Fertilizing can make.
Green Lawn Fertilizing | Lawn Care Blog by Green Lawn Fertilizing – 3M ago -Mark Unread
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Most of the time, you’ll hear us say how important it is to keep your grass uncovered and free from debris that can cause disease and prevent necessary oxygen and moisture from reaching grass roots. While this is a great general rule, sometimes rules are meant to be broken, like when topdressing your lawn. Topdressing is the act of spreading a thin layer of material over your lawn, often an organic component like compost or sand, to improve growing conditions. Learn all about this lawn care task, like why you should topdress your lawn and how you can do it yourself.Why Should You Topdress Your Lawn?
There are many reasons you might want to top dress your lawn. If your soil isn’t supporting growth or your new lawn isn’t growing well, your grass might be a great candidate for topdressing. The benefits include:
- Adds organic matter to the topsoil to improve soil quality
- Improves the soil structure, including water-holding capacity and cation exchange capacity
- Builds up beneficial soil microbes to support growth
- Naturally reduces thatch
- Levels uneven terrain
- Acts as a fertilizer to support growth
How Do I Topdress My Lawn?
Step One. Select the type of topdressing material that’s best for your lawn. We recommend choosing one that is similar in texture to the soil you already have. Otherwise, it could limit air and water movement. Sand, topsoil, and compost are popular choices. Sometimes, all three are combined to create the ideal mixture for your lawn.
Step Two. Prepare your lawn by checking the soil pH and adjusting accordingly. Open the thatch layer with a rake or aerator to create channels for the topdressing to infiltrate the soil. Then, mow the grass as short as possible.
Optional: If overseeding, spread your grass seed now.
Step Three. Apply your topdressing by shoveling out a small amount at a time. Work in small areas to prevent over- or under-dressing different spots on your lawn. You can use your shovel and use a flinging motion to spread the topdressing. Aim for a depth of 1/8″ to 1/2″.
Step Four. Rake the topdressing to form an even layer across the lawn. Then, water well to help the material to seep down into the soil surface.Do You Know If Topdressing Is Right for Your Yard?
We know just what your lawn needs to be the greenest on the block. Whether you need to know if topdressing is right for your lawn, you need help with aeration, or you want a green lawn year-round, we’re your local team serving residents and businesses in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Call us today at 888-581-5296 for a free quote and to schedule a service.