The winter solstice is almost here, which means it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! It’s time to wrap up in cozy blankets with mugs of hot chocolate by the fireplace, and of course, decorate the Christmas tree. 

​But what is the winter solstice, and what does that mean for you?

​There are two solstices every year – one in summer, and one in winter. The word “solstice” comes from the Latin word solstitium, and means “sun stands still.” A solstice occurs when the Earth’s axis, or tilt, is aligned with the sun. In the summer, that alignment means we have the longest day, or the most hours of sunlight. But in the winter, it means we have the longest night, or the most hours of darkness.

​In colder climates, the winter solstice is used to mark the middle of the cold season, and celebrated as midwinter. But in warmer climates, like here in Georgia, the solstice is more often considered the first day of winter. 

​This year, the winter solstice is on December 21st. But you probably noticed on your calendars that December 1st was marked as the first day of winter. So what gives? 

December 1st is considered the first day of winter in the meteorological world. People who study the climate and the weather divide the 12 months of the year into 4 equal sections so it’s easier to compare climate date over the years. The “winter” section of the meteorological calendar is December 1st to February 1st. 

​But traditionally in cultures throughout the world and throughout time, the longest night of the year has been used to mark the changing of the seasons, be it the start or the middle.

​No matter which “first” day of winter you choose, winter weather is undeniably upon us, which means there are a few arboreal best practices it’s time to revisit:

We know you’re spending less time outside in the cold, and more time inside where it’s warm, but it’s important to take a moment to look at the trees around your house this winter. Certain signs of decline can be more visible in the winter, when the leaves have dropped and bare branches are easier to see. 

Even if you don’t see anything concerning, it’s still a good idea to have the trees around your home assessed by a Certified Arborist. What looks like a healthy pine tree to you might be a fall risk with all the wind and rain we can expect this season!

​The colder seasons are often the slow seasons for tree care, which means it’s actually a great time to get your tree care needs scheduled! The slow seasons of course means less wait time between getting a quote and actually getting your work done, but it can also mean better prices as companies try to fill their calendars.  

If you’re in the Athens, Georgia area, give Classic City Arborists a call to schedule an assessment and get a free quote!

​Like most tree companies, the majority of calls we get from customers involve pretty big, obvious tree concerns: a pine down in a storm, a big limb with all dead leaves that hangs close to the house, or a sweetgum that drops gumballs all over the driveway. These kinds of noticeable problems are an important part of the work that we do, but it’s also important to have the trees that you don’t notice looked at, too. 

​When you feel sick, or you fall and break your arm, you of course go to the doctor. But you also go to the doctor for check-ups even when you’re feeling fine, just to make sure everything is working the way it should. Your trees need the same: regular check-ups to make sure nothing is wrong that you can’t see. What might look like a perfectly healthy tree to the average person could actually be at a high risk of failure, with signs only a trained arborist is likely to spot. 

A perfect example of this would be a tree we removed last month. Take a look at the stump:

​The inside is entirely hollow. The tree’s structural integrity was shot, and it could have failed at any time. 

​Now take a look at the outside:

If you don’t know what you’re looking for, this seems like a pretty healthy tree. That small cavity at the base, a fairly normal occurrence that’s easy to overlook, is the only sign that something might be wrong. Our Certified Arborist, Scott, spotted this cavity and knew it could mean more serious issues were at play. Further investigation and testing revealed the hollow interior, and so we removed the tree as soon as possible. 

​Our regular estimate appointments are customer-led. This means that, when our Certified Arborist, Scott, comes out to take a look, you’ll walk around together and point out to him the concerns you have or the work you’d like done. He’ll let you know what the options are, and whatever you discuss, he’ll write you a quote for. Of course, if he sees any glaring concerns that you don’t mention, he’ll point them out and can add them to your quote if you’d like. 

An assessment, on the other hand, doesn’t necessarily have to be customer-led. While Scott is happy to meet and walk around with you, especially if you do have any specific concerns, he can also take a look on his own. He’ll wander your property to examine all the trees near important structures, like your house, your driveway, your shed, or your kid’s swing set. Any tree within striking distance of persons and/or property gets the once-over. 

​An assessment also doesn’t necessarily end in a quote. Once he’s looked at everything, Scott will send you an email report of his findings. This could be a short “everything looks great!” or it could be a longer list of concerns. The report will include important information like how urgent the concerns are, and what the recommendation would be for each, whether that’s pruning or removal, monitoring, or some kind of tree health care. 

After reviewing the report, if you’d like to get a quote for any of the items listed, we will of course write one up!

​Our usual recommendation is to have an assessment once a year. After your first, Scott will note if there are any trees with concerns that should be checked on sooner than a year and include that recommendation in his report. 

If you’d like to schedule an assessment, give us a call today!