News and Blog Articles
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News and Blog Articles
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White oaks prefer full sun or partial shade at all life stages, which means at least 4 or so hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. They’re pretty adaptable to most soil textures and compositions, but deep soil is a must, as a white oak’s tap root (the main root that grows straight down) grows incredibly long. This long tap root makes these trees difficult to transplant, even when young – so if you plant one, be sure you’re absolutely confident in where you put it!
White oak trees are what’s known as monoecious, which means they both male and female flowers on the same tree. The male flowers, called catkins, are skinny yellow clusters that hang down from the branches. On average, they sit around 4 inches long. The female flowers are smaller, reddish in color, and more spikey. In the fall, before the leaves drop, these flowers will produce acorns that are generally at least an inch long, with about a quarter of that covered by a warty cap. These acorns germinate quickly, within just a few days after falling from the tree, which makes them extremely easy to cultivate. It’s important to remember, though, that the acorns, along with the shedding bark and fall leaves, can present quite a ground litter problem – especially if they’re in your yard. But, if you don’t mind a little raking, white oaks make perfect shade trees in the hotter months, and will stand for generations to come. AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.
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You’ve probably heard that you should prune your trees in the fall, before the first freeze. In fact, one of the most common myths of pruning is that all trees should be pruned just before winter. But the truth is, fall may actually be the worst time of year to prune! So what is the best time to prune? That depends on what kind of pruning you want to do. Sometimes, the best time to prune a tree is in the dead of winter, or in the middle of summer, or even early spring, like it is now. What is Pruning?
Crown thinning, on the other hand, is used to create more space between branches. This gives them more room to grow, reduces the risk of any branch getting crowded out of sunlight, and also prevents branches from damaging each other from repeated contact and friction. Why is Fall Pruning Bad?The myth that the best time to prune is in the fall comes from the idea that you should prune a tree while it’s dormant. That line of thinking is actually correct – pruning a tree while it’s “asleep” for the winter encourages new growth come springtime. The important distinction here is that you want to prune only after a tree has gone dormant for the winter, never before. Pruning live growth (which just means pruning away branches that are still alive and healthy), while good for the tree in the long run, does create “wounds” where you cut away branches or parts of branches. In the fall, your tree is winding down in preparation for winter. During this time, it won’t have the energy to seal those wounds. In the cold, winter months, this isn’t a problem, because the low temperatures discourage rot and decay. Most pests and fungi are also dormant for the winter, so they aren’t likely to infect a tree through an open wound. Basically, pruning in the fall is leaving your wounded tree vulnerable to infections and infestations that may actually kill it. Winter PruningThe rule of thumb when it comes to pruning in winter is to wait until after the coldest days have passed. For the Athens area, the coldest part of winter is in January, which makes the best time to prune in winter mid- to late-February. Summer PruningWinter isn’t the only time you can prune live growth, though. If you’re looking to redirect some growth, then late spring or early summer is the best time to do it. Redirecting growth basically just means if you want to encourage your tree to grow in a different direction – like say, away from the powerlines or your roof. Redirecting can also refer to if you want to encourage a specific leader on a tree with more than one.
Flowering Tree Pruning
If you have a tree that you want to prune, or a tree you think needs pruning, but you aren’t sure where to start, when to start, or what to do, feel free to give Classic City Arborists a call! We offer free estimates, and will send our certified arborist to look at your tree and give his professional recommendation, as well as get you a quote for how much it would cost for us to do the work for you. AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. National Invasive Species Awareness Week (or NISAW, for short), is actually an international movement that aims to raise awareness of the dangers of invasive species all across the world. NISAW 2021, Part I starts on February 22 and goes through the 28. This week is all about spreading awareness about invasive species and promoting legislative changes at local, state, and federal levels. Part II will be May 15 through 22, and will continue these efforts, but will also include events that bring communities together to remove invasive species. In the spirit of NISAW this week, we thought we’d do our part in getting the word out on one of the biggest threats to our beloved trees. What Are Invasive Species?
Consider this: the invaders decide they really, really like eating a specific other species in this new environment. The native species in the area aren’t evolved or adapted to defend against the new threat, so their numbers suffer. Plus, since the invaders aren’t native to the area, they won’t have any natural predators to keep their numbers within reason. So, you end up with an overpopulation of the invasive species decimating the populations of native species. What Are Some Invasive Species in Georgia?
Kudzu is a climbing vine, and it uses existing structures to reach for more sun exposure and access to rainwater. In doing so, it blocks these resources from whatever tree or plant it’s growing on.
When we do underbrush clearing for a customer, Chinese Privet is usually one of the culprits clogging up their property. It’s difficult to get rid of, so if you suspect you’ve got some Chinese Privet spreading, give us a call so we can remove it before it becomes a problem! Other common invasive tree species in the Athens area specifically are the Chinaberry tree, Mimosa tree, Paulownia tree, and Tallow tree.
If you think you have an invasive species in your yard, or are worried about the health of any of your trees, check out our guide on some simple signs that your tree is in decline. Or, contact us for a free quote! AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. Most of us have probably heard of Arbor Day before, but fewer and fewer people seem to celebrate it. The holiday has faded into the background over the years, taking a backseat to the more famous Earth Day. And while they’re similar, Arbor Day has its own history and traditions separate from Earth Day. So, in honor of Georgia’s Arbor Day this Friday, let’s take a minute and learn about the holiday! Where Did Arbor Day Come From?Arbor Day was founded in 1872 by a humble newspaper editor by the name of Julius Sterling Morton. Morton, along with many other pioneers, noticed the lack of trees in Nebraska almost immediately after leaving Detroit to travel there. While he missed having trees around like he used to, Morton also knew how important trees were to a functioning society. At the time (and now), trees were an important source of fuel and building materials. They also acted as windbreaks to protect towns from harsher weather, and prevented soil erosion, which in turn meant better conditions for farming. Soon after arriving, Morton began advocating for the community to plant as many trees as possible. He would eventually become the Secretary of the Nebraska Territory, a position he quickly used to establish a tree-planting holiday, which we now know as Arbor Day. The first Arbor Day was celebrated on April 10th, 1872. Nebraska awarded prizes to the communities and individuals with the “largest number of properly planted trees” for the day. By most estimates, more than 1 million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day. What Is Arbor Day Today?Nowadays, nearly 150 years later, Arbor Day is still around. Communities come together on this special holiday to reflect on the importance of trees and work together to plant more. New research has proven that trees, in addition to producing the oxygen we breathe and supporting our environments, actually have a multitude of benefits. These include sheltering homes and towns from hot summer temperatures, encouraging creativity, and improving both our mental and physical health.
When Is Arbor Day?Nationally, Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April. In Nebraska, where it began, Arbor Day is actually a civic holiday. Over the years, many other states began to adopt Arbor Day, choosing their own dates to celebrate it. Now, all 50 states celebrate Arbor Day at some point early in the year. In Georgia, we celebrate Arbor Day on the third Friday in February. This year, that’s this Friday, February 19th! How Can You Celebrate Arbor Day?The traditional way to celebrate Arbor Day is by planting a tree. After all, the holiday is set aside for us to remember the importance of trees. What better way than to foster a new one? This year, the Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission will be giving out free Red Oak and Dogwood saplings outside Watkinsville City Hall to celebrate Arbor Day. Stop by and pick one out (while supplies last) and plant your own Arbor Day tree! But there are lots of other ways you can celebrate trees this Arbor Day, if planting one isn’t an option for you. Here are just a few:
AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. For our next Tree of the Month, we’re featuring one of the biggest trees in North America, aptly named the American Sycamore. These behemoths can reach heights over 100 feet on average, with trunks measuring between 5 and 6 feet in diameter.
In addition to being one the largest trees in North America, American Sycamores are also one of the fastest-growing. They can add up to 6 feet to their overall height each year. As they’re getting started, these trees have a pyramidal shape. But, as they age, the midsection fills out nicely.
As the weather warms, the flowers will develop large, globular fruits nearly 2 inches wide. Each fruit dangles off its own rather thin stalk. They make popular treats for birds, squirrels, and other wildlife, who will happily pluck them from their branches or steal them after they’ve fallen. Though the fruits will eventually dry out and fall to the ground, they are what’s called achenes, which means they retain their seeds rather than expelling them. If you cut one if half, you’ll find that the dried exterior is attached to feathery, fluffy seeds inside that are designed to be eaten or blown away in the wind.
AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. One of the main concerns we hear from potential customers is that our equipment will leave tracks on their yard or tear up existing landscaping. After all, even our smallest motorized vehicle weighs in around 3,000 pounds! Surely that can do some serious damage to your newly-laid sod? And these customers are right – without the proper precautions, it would be easy for our industrial equipment to cause problems. But at Classic City Arborists, we truly believe that age-old adage of “leave it better than you found it.” We take a range of steps to ensure that, aside from the tree we take down or underbrush we clear away, you won’t be able to tell we were there! EquipmentThe gear, tools, and vehicles needed to do any kind of tree work come in many shapes and sizes, and every arborist has their preference. One of the main considerations we keep in mind as we choose what to use (aside from making sure the thing can actually get the job done!) is the impact it will have on the environment around it. For example, one common vehicle used in tree work is a bucket truck. These help workers get up close and personal with higher limbs, which is very important to most all kinds of tree work. Unfortunately, bucket trucks can weigh around 26,000 pounds or more on average. All that weight will definitely leave some gouges in soft ground.
Our other major piece of equipment we use on a frequent basis is our miniature skid steer. This compact vehicle allows us to clear away limbs, trunk sections, and other debris from an area in larger loads. While actually cutting down or pruning a tree is the main part of any job, that’s only half the work. Cleaning a tree up from a hard-to-access site is a physically-demanding process, and the miniature skid steer helps cut down on the time and effort needed to get everything spick and span. The miniature skid steer only weighs around 3,000 pounds, and is also on tracks like the lift to protect your ground. Preventative SafeguardsWhile having our equipment on tracks definitely helps reduce any wear and tear on the ground, we still take certain measures in special circumstances. For example, if you’ve just laid down delicate sod, or if it’s been raining and the ground is wet. In cases like this, we will lay down simple ¾-inch plywood for the machinery to drive over. Sometimes, we only need to lay plywood over certain areas. Other times, we might lay it all the way from the road to the tree we’re cutting down! The pictures here show a job where we used our miniature skid steer, SK, and self-propelled lift steer to remove and clean up numerous cypress trees from a backyard. We laid down plywood in strategic areas to protect softer ground, especially over areas where the machinery would need to pivot. After over 20 trips back and forth, you can see that the sod was virtually unaffected – even in the areas where we didn’t lay down plywood. For more images and videos showing us using our equipment, check out our Photo Gallery! Initial AssessmentWhen Scott (our certified arborist and co-owner of Classic City Arborists) comes out to your property to give you an estimate, he isn’t just looking at the work you want done. He’s also looking at factors like how crowded the area is (which will impact how easy or hard it is to get the work done), and what the access to the work site looks like. There may be multiple ways to get from the road to the site, and Scott will consider all of them before deciding which they will use. Now, the route he recommends may not be the shortest or most efficient path from the road to the work site. The equipment we use is, for the most part, big, bulky, and heavy, and Scott takes these things into consideration when planning out a job. Whatever route he decides on will be noted on your estimate. This lets you know the plan, and also gives you the chance to weigh in. If you still have questions or concerns regarding our equipment, your yard, or our methods, please don’t hesitate to contact us! We’re happy to walk you through the process more thoroughly and discuss any thoughts you may have. Or, check out our other Frequently Asked Questions, to see if we’ve answered your question before! AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. As a native tree found pretty much everywhere in the southeast, it’s about time for us to feature the Southern Red Oak as our Tree of the Month! Also known as the Bottomland Red Oak, Three-Lobed Red Oak, and Spanish oak, Quercus falcata is a deciduous tree known for its stunning fall color displays and classically shaped acorns.
Both types of leaves are a deep, glossy green in the spring and summer, with tan, downy undersides that offer a nice contrast when the wind blows. In the fall, this green fades to rich reds and reddish-browns, which is the reason why we call them Southern Red Oaks.
AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. It’s January, the beginning of a new year (finally!). Time to make New Year’s resolutions, fill out 2021 planners, and start thinking ahead. In fact, when it comes to gardening, it’s time to start thinking very, very far ahead. We know it seems much too cold outside right now to be considered Spring, but nonetheless, the Spring planting season is upon us. But what plants would survive the weather right now? Believe it or not, there are actually plenty of species that like to get their roots established before they poke their heads out of the ground come the warmer weather. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a modest list of what flora prefers to be planted in the colder months, so you can stay on schedule and enjoys the fruits of your labor come summer time! FLOWERSNothing says “summer” like a gorgeous array of color!
FRUITS AND VEGGIESRather than throwing away wilted greens or rotten apples from the grocery store, why not pick fresh ones from your own backyard?
HERBS AND FOLIAGEPut back the jar of dried oregano, and season your spaghetti with some fresh herbs instead!
TREESNo landscape is complete without a tree or two.
So there you have it. If you’re interested in growing any of the plants we mentioned, check out the links below for helpful tips! Worried about your new flowers attracting too many bugs? Never fear! Check to see if what you want to plant is on our list of plants that attract pollinators, or maybe our list of plants that discourage pests! AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. Sources:
House Beautiful: Flowers You Should Plant for Spring Plants to Put in the Ground This Spring 10 Great Trees to Consider Planting this Spring Design Ideas for Small Gardens Growing Daffodils Growing and Caring for Hyacinths Chrysanthemums: Growing, Care, and Design Tips Growing Primrose Growing Tulips How to Grow and Care for Pansies Growing Rhododendrons and Azaleas Growing and Caring for Hydrangea Flowers Gardening 101: Daylily Dahlia Care Growing Bell Peppers How to Grow Broccoli How to Grow Brussels Sprouts How to Plant and Grow Cabbage How to Grow Cauliflower How to Grow Eggplant How to Grow Asparagus How to Grow Cantaloupe Growing Tomatoes How to Plant and Grow Watermelon How to Grow Basil Learn How to Grow Oregano Growing Rosemary Plants Growing Sage Thyme Plant Profile Growing Chives How to Grow Plum Trees Gingko Tree Care How to Grow Crab Apples How to Grow a Red Oak Tree How to Grow Sweetgum Trees While we know Jesus is the real reason for the season, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without Christmas trees. There’s nothing like that sweet smell wafting off the needles and drifting throughout your home, and of course, there’s something special about going to a tree farm and picking the best one to bring home. But what kind of tree should you look for? There are a few different species that are popular for use as Christmas trees, and you’ll probably find a mix of these types available at various tree farms in your area.
So there you have it: the 6 most popular Christmas trees. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a strong scent, needles that won’t litter your floor, or branches strong enough to handle the heaviest of ornaments. As you set up and decorate your trees and homes this holiday season, we want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. Sources:
The 10 Best Christmas Trees You Can Buy 11 Best Types of Christmas Trees The Best Types of Christmas Trees for Your Living Room 15 Best Types of Christmas Trees for Your Home The 10 Best Real Christmas Tree Species Images: How Did the Tradition of the Christmas Tree Start? Choosing the Right Christmas Tree Douglas Fir Christmas Tree Green Valley Fraser Fir The Tyger Tree Company Colorado Blue Spruce Bengtson’s Christmas Trees Scotch Pine Covington’s Eastern Red Cedar What Grows There Leyland Cypress How to Recycle Christmas Trees For December’s Tree of the Month, we’re featuring the river birch, scientifically referred to as Betula nigra, also known colloquially as the water birch and the black birch. Like these names suggest, this beautiful tree naturally grows along river banks and other bodies of water, but can also be cultivated just about anywhere in the United States.
This hardiness, along with a rapid growth rate and an excellence at preventing erosion, makes them great for landscaping. While maples and oaks are generally the most popular choice when it comes to public landscaping, the river birch has risen in the ranks in the last decade or so.
In the wild, river birches are a long-lived tree, often seeing over 100 to 150 healthy years. Urban-cultivated river birches, on the other hand, rarely make it past 40. It’s not known why exactly domesticated river birches don’t live as long, but we do know that river birches naturally prefer to grow along bodies of water. River birches grown in a neighborhood or public park don’t have nearly the same access to water, which is what many arboriculturists attribute to discrepancy to.
.The outer bark of young river birches can even be nearly pinkish in hue, while the inner bark is most often a darker, cinnamon-like color. More mature river birch trees will display darker brown bark that grows in ridged scales that lie close together rather than peeling away.
This color is made even more stunning against the backdrop of their mottled bark.
AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. Sources:
Arbor Day: River Birch HGIC: River Birch Betula Nigra Monrovia: River Birch River Birch Plant Profile NC Extension Gardener: Betula Nigra Interesting Facts About Birch Trees Images: The Remarkable River Birch Arbor Day Foundation: River Birch Tree Service: River Birch Weeping Birch Tree Betula Nigra Fire Building History of Information: Oldest Surviving Buddhist Manuscripts Heritage River Birch |
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