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Gypsy Moths are back!

Gypsy Moths are back! The Maryland Department of Agriculture is taking action to prevent damage to its trees but MD homeowners need to be proactive too.

According to the Associated Press, cyclical infestations of Gypsy Moth caterpillars caused defoliation damage to 19,000 acres of trees last year.

So what are these terrible pests? Well, in 1869 a scientist in New England brought the moth - native to Europe, Asia and North Africa - to North America. He was trying to cross a Silk Worm with the Gypsy Moth but a few of the moths escaped into the surrounding woods. The experiment failed but we have been dealing with the effects of the escaped Gypsy Moths ever since. They have propagated and migrated throughout the eastern United States and are one of the most disliked insects in the US.

What do they attack and what can you do? They attack almost every species of tree with a strong preference for Oaks and Maples. For most homeowners, the practical solution is to have a Professional Arborist visit your property to list the most vulnerable trees and propose a spray-treatment regimen. Some treatment the homeowner can do themselves. The spraying should be done by a licensed applicator (A Year Round Tree Expert Company would be happy to do this for you!) with tall tree high volume spray equipment. Pickup trucks mounted with low volume sprayers used on lawns is a BIG no-no! In some cases one spray a year is sufficient; in other cases two sprays will be needed. Call Steve, your Year Round Tree Expert, for advice and a free estimate!!

Sources:

Picture from A Year Round Tree Expert Company

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bay_environment/bal-gypsy-moth-0501,0,2426297.story

Want to know the names of trees? Cool new phones that can do the trick!

Ha! This just in: Apple is coming out with a new application for iPhones that will allow you to take a picture of a tree's leaves and bark and will identify the tree for you! Technology and trees together, now that is fun!

Source:
http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/04/future-iphone-app-may-identify-trees-from-photos/

A Note from the Office: "Treat Me Right"

Warmer weather serves as a reminder to all of us that we must take care of ourselves. Eat right, get out and exercise, spring cleaning. Out with the old and in with the fresh new season. It is also a reminder that our trees and shrubs need proper treatment as well!

At a Year Round Tree Company we offer full service care for your trees to keep them healthy and beautiful through every season. Have us trim your trees now, remove weakened branches from winter’s wrath, prune deadwood, trim and shape for aesthetics and health.

We also have a full service health program for your trees. We will assess your trees for health and integrity at absolutely no cost (assessments and estimates are always free!), provide disease diagnosis, treatment, licensed pesticide applications and fertilizing. The healthier your trees and shrubs the more enjoyment you have for friends and family and it doesn’t hurt your property value either!


Well maintained properties are desirable. Do you feel like that tree just isn’t going to make it? No problem, just give us a call. With our in-house 23 ton crane and equipment, expert crews and the most attractive pricing, we can safely and efficiently remove the big trees and the small ones, grind the stumps and leave your area clean. Are your trees near wires? Leave them alone and give us a call. We handle all aspects of power outages with the utility company. We will safely care for your tree and have your services restored the same day. So treat your trees and shrubs (and yourself!) right. Call our Experts at A Year Round Tree Expert Company today!

Funny Stuff...

From the Huffingtonpost: "When President Obama attended a tree-planting ceremony in Washington on Tuesday, he made the mistake of wearing dress shoes to work in the mud, a decision he appeared to regret."

When you work outside everyday it sure does tickle your funny bone to see something like this!

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/22/obama-wears-wrong-shoes-t_n_190000.html

Is the Economy Affecting our Love for Trees?

Well now, this is a bit of a downer on what is one of the most exciting days of the year for your local tree expert. (Ok, how many of you know today is Earth Day..and how many more know that this is almost synonymous to Christmas for a tree guy?) We had wondered if the shrinking economy would make us Americans (both people and companies) begin to pull back on helping the environment if it meant digging even farther into our already overstretched pockets... and well, it looks like there are some mixed views.

According to the Arizona Republic, a series of polls that were done in January confirmed our fear, that Americans felt more concern for the economy than the environment. "For the first time in 25 years, people told Gallup they would sacrifice environmental protection for economic growth. The green movement started to look like a luxury, and some of its leaders wondered if it would become another victim of the recession," reports the Arizona Republic.

But it's not all black and white. Even though many of us have begun to worry about bringing in the bread and butter (and who can blame this basic instinct to first preserve yourself in the present), we still haven't forgotten that caring for Mother Nature is also preserving ourselves in the future.

"The environment is an integral part of our survival," says Tia Holmes, Miss Earth Maryland 2009. "If more people were aware of all of the things they could do to help the environment, then it would not have ranked so low on the importance scale [...] Going green in many ways is much cheaper than not."

Thankfully, when your Year Round Tree Expert asks, "is the economy affecting our love for trees?" we can still say for a good many of us that the answer is a resounding no!

Sources:

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2009/04/19/20090419env-attitudes0419.html

http://www.onemotherearth.blogspot.com/

Picture courtesy of Tia Holmes, Miss Earth Maryland 2009.

One Tree Expert that is down for Earth Day!

This Wednesday is Earth Day...and of course you can expect your local Tree Expert to celebrate with you and the millions of others this year too!

We've found some cool things to do around the B-more area (we like to include DC too because of its proximity):

Today, April 19 - DC is holding a HUGE gathering on the National Mall to rally support for national action on global warming. The Celebration begins at Noon and runs until 6:00 p.m. The focus this year is on environmental volunteerism. The event will include a free festival with music, entertainment, speakers and environmental activities.

Wednesday, April, 22 - Baltimore is hosting an event put on by Maryland's Transit Administration (MTA). State and local officials will be in the pavilion area of Power Plant Live in Downtown Baltimore from 11 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The MTA will exhibit a hybrid bus along with other environmentally-friendly information. Demonstrations on the use of MTA’s bus-mounted bicycle racks will be provided throughout the celebration. Enjoy outdoor workshops and live performances at center stage!

And since we're all paperless and online anyway, you should try the Facebook application: Every Day is Earth Day. Look for the GenGreen life logo.

...Just a few more tips from your Year Round Tree Expert;)