Helpful Tips

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Bearclaw Arborist

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We care about your trees.

With Aprils beautiful weather, you might be looking at your trees and wondering when the best time to prune them is. Well wonder no more.

The simple answer is anytime other than during leafing out, or leaf fall. There are however best times to prune listed below.

Deciduous Trees- Late winter or early spring before they begin to leaf out.

Evergreens- Any time in winter. To reduce the annual growth of pines, you can pinch off 1/2 to 2/3 of the candle in June to July.

Fruit Trees- Immediately after blooming, usually late Febuary to early April.

The weather is getting better, but your trees are still struggling from the harsh winter. Give them a long deep watering to help battle the winter drought and get your trees started off on the right root!

Winter is hard on us all, especially your trees. Those broken branches are hard on the tree, opening wounds at a dangerous time of year when insects are starting to find their home in your trees.

You could be in danger too! Those broken branches are structually unsound and could come down at anytime to hit people or even crush houses!

Call Bearclaw Arborist if you see storm damage in your trees. We will evaluate your trees and help you decided the best course of action for your personal safety, property, and the health of the tree.

Lawn fertilizer if often applied this time of year to help your grass grow to a rich green and stay that way. However trees don't need the high nitrogen that lawn fertilizer adds to the soil. When fertilizing your lawn, be sure to use a slow release fertilizer so you won't injure your tree. Bearclaw Arborist offers a unique tree fertilizer specifically made for trees called Enviro Grow, (previously Enviro Tree). Enviro Grow offers a custom mix of nitrogen, phosphate, and sulphur as well as improving the environment by increasing the growth and activity of microorganisms, critical to plant health.

Remember to implement a watering schedule for your trees to help prevent drought during the hot months. Trees like a long slow drink of water. Water for about an hour every other day using a drip line. Every day if its really hot. You don't need to "deep water" the roots, the point is to soak the soil without runoff. It's really important to let the soil dry between soakings. (trees breathe through their roots too!) To test the moisture in the soil, dig about six to eight inches and feel for moisture.

Insects become very active at this time of the year, keep a sharp eye out if you detect any trouble.

This is the perfect time to transplant new trees into your landscape.

There are several factors you need to consider before you select your new tree for transplanting, and the two most important are size and location. You need to allow the tree to grow to its mature size (height and width, you don't want it growing into power lines) without hindrance with other trees or any other object which may interfere with your new trees healthy growth.

Keep an eye out for drought stress. With the hot days of summer and our dry climate here in colorado, your trees can stress easily. Look for wilting or curling of the leaves, this can be a sign of drought. However, be careful, the could also be a sign of overwatering. If your trees have these symptoms and you are unsure call Bearclaw Arborists for a consult.

This is also a great time to prune your evergreen shrubs. (Evergreen trees rarely need to be pruned unless you have storm or insect damage.)

If you are not already on a water cycle like we discussed last month, start one now.

Trees whos leaves change color this early in the season may be stressed. Whether it's from drought, insects, or fungus, your trees needs help immediatley. Call me to diagnos and design a treatment plan for your sick trees.

Were almost there... but not yet. If leaves are already falling, it's and indication of stress. Call for a in depth consult and review actions needed to heal your trees.

Take a stroll around your property while admiring the fall colors, and make note of any branches that may come into contact with any telephone or power lines when laden with the wet fall snows. If you do see any branches touching ANY wires, call Bearclaw Arborist to clear the lines. We are professionally trained to work around power. (Remember, any wire could be energized!) Its not worth risking your life when it comes to electricity.

Also be sure to rake up and dispose of leaves to prevent the possible spread of disease. Fungus can overwinter on fallen leaves of infected trees.

Keep up your regular cleanup including leaves, and keep a sharp eye out for potentially hazardous limbs. Look for deadwood, cavities and exposed or damaged roots. These are all things that need to be taken care of before the heavy winter snows hit. Bearclaw Arborist offers the latest cabling technology using the c Cobra Cabling System. A non-invasive technology that is leaps and bounds ahead of the old "steel cable" system. We are professionally trained to install the specific custom system that will work best for your tree. Find out more Cobra's website.

Hey you've worked hard all year to keep your trees beautiful and healthy, now enjoy them! Think how beautiful a planted christmas tree would be and create a plan to plant one in the coming spring.