April 2015 - Top Notch Arbor Care

The Importance of Hiring a Pro

Owning a home may be the American dream but taking proper care of your property may become a nightmare. The do-it-yourself route may sound like the easiest and cheapest route however there are plenty of things that can go wrong in an instant. For starters, large projects like tree trimming and/or removal require extensive equipment that can be dangerous when handled incorrectly. A professional arborist is skilled and trained in handling hazardous situations, such as tree removal, and are more likely to be up-to-date on the latest techniques to ensure property maintenance services are performed safely and correctly. Professional arborists and landscapers are also skilled in determining the right type of plants and trees that grow in the San Antonio area, greatly reducing the risk of picking a plant or tree that may die soon after planting. Once planted, the professional landscaper is trained and equipped to provide proper care throughout the lifespan of your plants and trees, including mulching, fertilization, aeration and irrigation, ensuring each project is completed to the utmost standards to further enhance one of the biggest investments in life — your home. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the look of a well-maintained property. Not only will it help increase the value of your home, but proper maintenance will help keep bugs and other pests away, extends the livelihood of plants and trees and deters crime. Should an emergency occur, a professional property maintenance company is fully equipped to handle the damage caused by a storm without causing any further damage to the property. Homeowners play an important role in the entire process. Top Notch Arbor Care listens to...

Perennial Plants For Your South Texas Landscape

Flower Tip

If you are looking for some great information on Perennial Plants for your South Texas Landscape, below is an excerpt from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. For more great info and a listing of some Local Perennial Favorites, see the fill post here: http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/earth-kind-horticulture/best-plants-for-bexar-county-south-texas/perennial-plants-for-south-texas-landscapes/ Perennial plants may be defined as those which endure or persist from the same root part year to year. Once a prominent part of nearly every Texas landscape, perennials are often overlooked by today’s gardeners and nurserymen. Although many species still can be found in private gardens, their availability is often restricted to sharing among friends and neighbors. Most perennials are easily propagated by division, seed or cuttings. Division is particularly successful since it not only provides new plants but is often necessary for the continued vigor of plants. Perennials can be highly useful and attractive in the home landscape. They often persist for many years and usually require less maintenance than annuals. They can provide long seasons of color and cut flowers while enhancing overall landscape development. If a perennial border is more than you care to attempt as your initial experience with perennials try adding a few to existing plantings. Many perennials have attractive foliage and are an asset even when not in flower. Division is an important cultural requirement of many perennials. Without an occasional thinning, most of these plants will slowly lose their vigor. Most perennials will tolerate relatively poor growing conditions but respond very favorably to well-prepared planting areas containing high percentages of organic materials and moderately high fertility rates. Contact Us And Get A Free Estimate...

What is Ball Moss

Lawn Tip, Tree Tip

Here is some great info on Texas Ball Moss. See the full article here: http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/main/popup.aspx?id=1264 What is ball moss? Ball moss (Tillandsia recurvata) is a small epiphyte commonly found clinging to limbs of liveoaks and other trees in southwest Texas. Ball moss is not a moss, but a true plant withflowers and seeds. It is a member of the bromeliad family, which also contains Spanish moss and pineapple. What is an epiphyte? Epiphytes are plants that attach themselves to limbs, tree trunks, power lines, fences, and many other structures with pseudo-roots. These are not true roots. They do not absorb water and minerals; they merely attach the plant to an aerial structure. Since epiphytes do not take nutrients and water from these aerial structures, they are not parasites; therefore, ball moss is not a parasite. If ball moss is not a parasite, then why did those branches covered with it die? If you take careful notice, you will observe the majority of these dead limbs are in the interior of the tree’s canopy. Ball moss prefers an environment with low sunlight intensity and high humidity. The interior canopy of trees (especially live oaks) provides an ideal environment for ball moss. These interior limbs die from a lack of sunlight; then the ball moss plants colonize these branches. Should I control ball moss? If the tree is heavily covered with ball moss (to the extent that the plants are covering the exterior of the canopy) or if you just cannot stand having something growing on your trees, control is recommended. If it is a light infestation and does not bother you,...