News and Blog Articles
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News and Blog Articles
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Classic City Arborists is a family-owned business started right here in our very own Athens, Georgia. We’re proud to bleed red and black (go Dawgs!), and our Athens heritage is just as much a part of our company as our honest work ethic and loyal customers. As you probably know, Athens is an old town with lots of rich history. This city is made of relics from years past that stand alive and well today, like the Arch on UGA campus and most of downtown. But there’s some history of Athens that isn’t locked away in buildings or structures. Some of our city’s legacy lives in its trees. Tree That Owns ItselfIf you’ve lived in Athens for any length of time, you’ve probably heard of the Tree That Owns Itself. This once-massive white oak stood on the corner of Dearing Street and South Finley Street. A faded plaque at its base explained that this tree was deeded itself by former owner, Colonel William H. Jackson. According to legend (and a newspaper article or two), Col. Jackson grew up by this tree, and loved it dearly. So much so, in fact, that in his will, that left the tree and all land 8 feet in all directions to the tree itself. At the time, this presented something of a legal conundrum. How can a tree own itself? But the City of Athens, after some time, officially recognized the tree’s right. Unfortunately, the Tree That Owns Itself was damaged during an ice storm in 1907. After many years of erosion near its base, root rot, and other conditions, the 100-foot-tall oak fell to the ground. It was replaced in 1964 by one of its seedlings that had been cultivated by Captain Jack Watson. Thus, the Son of the Tree That Owns Itself legally inherited itself and all land 8 feet in every direction from its base. Spec Towns OakThe Spec Towns Oak is named after Olympic track and field star Spec Towns. After winning a gold medal in the high hurdles, Towns’ athletic director Herman Stegeman presented him with an oak from the Black Forest in Berlin. This oak was planted behind the North Stands of Sanford Stadium and stood for just over 30 years. However, in 1967, the stadium was expanded. The Spec Towns Oak was moved elsewhere on campus, but the team in charge failed to dig a hole large enough for the tree’s root system. To solve this, they cut back the roots until everything fit. Unfortunately, this led to the tree’s death not long after. The late Dean of Men, Mr. William Tate, got into contact with Berlin and managed to have a replacement tree from the Black Forest brought to campus. That tree also died, for unknown reasons (usually attributed to problems surviving the international trip). But as luck would have it, an acorn of this replacement tree was saved, and planted successfully. So now, the Son of the Half-Brother of the Specs Town Oak survives on the south end of the Spec Towns Track. The Pecan Tree Courtyard at the Georgia Center for Continuing EducationYou might not find this one on a list of historic landmarks for our city, but we certainly think it’s worth a visit. The Georgia Center for Continuing Education features a wildly popular restaurant with courtyard seating centered around a large pecan tree. Pecan trees are known for their stunning foliage displays (and of course, their delicious pecans), and many believe this tree and the view it provides has contributed to the restaurant’s success over the years. The Tree RoomThe Tree Room, located at 159 Oneta Street, is known for the large mulberry tree growing inside it. In the 1960s, some kind of fire or other incident left most of the space exposed to nature, with much of the inside charred or burned. For many decades, it stood empty, and it was during this period that the mulberry tree began to grow. Over time, the building was used for a variety of purposes: a squat house for travelers, a dumping ground for a neighboring concrete plant, and even a playground for local children. Now, the building has been transformed into an event space owned by Athenians Ashely and Doug Booher, who discovered the building and tree as children and grew to love it. Most of the original architecture still stands, with accommodations made in the name of safety and design. The name “the Tree Room” comes from the toddler of one of the Booher’s friends, and is proudly used by the public to refer to this stunning natural display. UGA ArboretumIf you’re looking for more beautiful trees to look at, then you should definitely pay a visit to the University of Georgia’s Arboretum. Where is the Arboretum, you ask? Across the entire campus! The founders of UGA didn’t want to dedicated any one location as an arboretum, because they didn’t want it to be inaccessible to anyone in town. Instead, they treated the entire campus as an arboretum, planting a wild range of species all over. 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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As you might remember from some of our Tree of the Month articles, many common species in our area have pretty long lifespans. For example, in places like Savannah and Charleston, the southern live oaks you see there are likely to be at least 150 years old. Loblolly pines, which are common to the Athens area, can be expected to live up to 300 years in favorable conditions. But what’s the longest living tree? The first species that comes to mind is probably the redwood. Those towering behemoths are surely some of the oldest in the country, if not the world, right? That’s pretty impressive, but redwoods are by no means the longest-lived tree species out there. In fact, they are comparatively going through their angsty teen years. Species such as the bald cypress, chestnut, Grecian olive, and sequoia have recorded members well over 3,000 years old. The World’s Oldest Living TreeSo which tree is actually recognized as the oldest on the planet? Until just a few years ago, that title belonged to a humble bristlecone pine known as Methuselah. You might remember from Sunday School that Methuselah was the longest-lived person in the bible, reaching the ripe old age of 969 years. But that’s pennies compared to the age of Methuselah the bristlecone pine. By most estimates, the tree Methuselah is believed to be over 4,852 years old. Aside from microscopic organisms whose ages we can’t definitely confirm, that makes Methuselah the oldest living thing on the planet. This ancient tree resides in the Inyo National Forest, somewhere between the Sierra Nevada range in California and the California-Nevada border. Its exact location is undisclosed by the US Forest Service to prevent vandalism, but you can visit the Inyo National Forest and see plenty of other bristlecone pines that are similarly ancient. But wait – we said Methuselah was the oldest living tree up until a few years ago. What about now? In 2016, another bristlecone pine in the Inyo National Forest was discovered that is believed to be over 5,000 years old, beating out Methuselah by at least 150 years. This tree has not been given a name, and is usually referred to collectively with Methuselah as “Methuselah and its senior.” 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. Springtime is here! There are little blue and white wildflowers blooming in the grass, and the trees are sprouting new leaves and buds. Or are they? As you’ve probably noticed, not all trees are showing new leafy growth. In fact, some look just as dead as they have all winter. Your first instinct might be that these trees are dead or diseased. But don’t cut them down just yet! There are a lot of different factors that go into knowing when a tree should be growing new leaves. As a general rule, trees start to wake up after their winter dormancy once the temperatures start warming and the days get longer. For the Southeast, that’s as early as mid-March, and as late April. But there isn’t any one specific day of the year when that happens. And when it does start to get warmer and the days longer, it’s not like flipping a switch. The shift happens gradually. In addition to this, trees bloom and develop leaves at their own pace. Things like their species, size, age, and the availability of resources can direct how and when a tree starts to leaf out. Some trees might get the memo earlier than others, so they’ll start to bloom first. Other trees might take much longer to grow leaves, so the change is a bit delayed. Birch and willow trees tend to bloom earlier than other species to get a head start on food production time. Oaks and elms, on the other hand, wait until the last minute to start budding, because the sudden drops in temperature in the spring can be especially damaging for them. So how are you supposed to know if your tree is just getting a slow start, or if it’s actually in danger? The first thing you can do to check on the health of your tree is just look at it. Get up close and examine those branches. Leaf buds, especially when they’re brand-new, are pretty small. If you’re looking from a distance, you might not be able to see them. If you don’t see any buds, the next easy way to check a tree’s health is by bending the twigs. Healthy, living twigs will bend easily, and are difficult to break off without the use of cutting shears. Dead or dying twigs, on the other hand, will break in half, crack, or crumble. If you aren’t confident about the twig’s status after bending it, try a few more. After bending a few twigs, if you still aren’t sure, you can cut a twig or two from the tree and examine the inside. Living twigs will be moist and colored some shade of green, depending on the species. Dead twigs will be dry on the inside, and will be a “lifeless” color (white, cream, grey, brown, ash, black, etc). If you come across dead or dying twigs, it’s time worry. Check for other signs of decay, like insect burrow holes or rot. You can also give your friendly neighborhood arborist a call. We offer free estimates, and will come out and diagnose the problem for you. But what if you don’t find anything wrong? The twigs are bendy and green on the inside. There’s no visible rot or insect burrow holes. But you also don’t see any new growth. The best course of action here is to be patient. Give your tree some time to catch up. You’ll most likely begin to see those leaf buds peeking out in just a few weeks. If they don’t, we still do free estimates all summer long, so you can give us a call then and we’ll come check it out! 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. You’ve probably heard before that there is a Cherry Blossom tree festival in Japan every year – but did you know there’s an International Cherry Blossom Festival celebrated right here in the United States? In fact, the Cherry Blossom capital of the world is in Macon, Georgia! What Makes Cherry Blossoms So Special?Cherry trees bloom once every spring, but the flowers only last for about a week before the petals begin to fall from the trees. From start to finish, any given cherry tree will have blooms for a mere ten days on average. Despite the short-lived nature of their beauty (or perhaps because of it), cherry trees have been an important symbol in Japanese culture and identity for centuries. Called Sakura in Japanese, cherry trees were originally used to determine harvest times, as their blooming is heavily dependent on the weather. This practical application led to an association of good harvest, health, and plentiful times with the pink and white flowers. Over the years, the anticipation of seeing those flowers led to gatherings, celebrations, and eventually, formal festivals. Today, cherry blossoms represent ideals of impermanence, hope, and renewal. There are countless events, parties, specialty tours, and more in Japan around cherry blossom time, and the blooming is a major tourist attraction for the country. How Did the Cherry Blossom Festival Come to America?Our nation’s Capital is littered with beautiful cherry blossom trees, making the beautiful grounds even more stunning for a few short weeks in the spring. The credit for bringing Japanese cherry blossoms to Washington DC goes to one Eliza Scidmore, a diplomat who became enamored with cherry blossoms after visiting Japan. Upon returning to America, Scidmore petitioned to have cherry blossoms planted in DC. This first appeal, in 1885, would not become successful until 1909, about 24 years later, when a renewed request reached First Lady Helen Taft. The First Lady had lived in Japan and knew the beauty of cherry blossoms, and agreed that they would be a wonderful addition to Washington. Within the year, plans were underway to plant hundreds of cherry trees along the Speedway. Before they broke ground on the project, the Japanese consul in New York heard of the plans, and suggested that the City of Tokyo donate an additional 2,000 trees to fill out the area. First Lady Taft agreed to accept the donation, and the mayor of Tokyo similarly approved of making the trees a gift to the United States. The completion of the project took a few years due to scale and a few technical problems along the way, but the fruits of that labor can be seen to this day in the beautiful cherry trees surrounding the Capital. The Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, Georgia
During this time, you can walk the cherry-blossom-lined streets on the Cherry Blossom Trail, a special route that passes by near-endless blooming cherry trees. Cherry trees will also be available for purchase at Carolyn Crayton Park, for just $15 each. The Different Kinds of Cherry TreesThe term “cherry tree” might seem like it refers to a specific species. But actually, there are dozens of varieties of cherry trees, all native to China and Japan. They come in many shapes and sizes, some with pale white flowers, bright pink flowers, and every shade in between. The tree that spurred the devotion in Japan is the Yoshino cherry. The Washington DC cherries are largely Yoshino, but there are many other varieties there as well. What Are the Best Cherry Trees to Grow in Georgia?If you’d like to plant your very own cherry tree, you’ll be pleased to know they are very easy to maintain. There are four main varieties that do well in the unforgiving heat of Georgia summers. All four of these varieties prefer full sun to partial shade, which means about 4 hours of unfiltered sunlight every day. They like plenty of water, but grow best in well-drained soil. Weeping Cherry Weeping cherries are often confused as a variation of the weeping willow. While their branches have a similar drooping appearance, they aren’t actually related. Weeping cherries come in different strains, with different average sizes, growth patterns, flower colors, and leaf colors. When you go to buy one, be sure to read the characteristics to make sure you’re getting your favorite. Yoshino The Yoshino cherry is the star of the International Cherry Blossom Festival. On average, these trees reach around 35 feet tall, and have light pink to pinkish-white blooms. Their leaves change to yellows and reddish-browns in the fall. Okame Okame cherry trees are more ornamental, and are a good indicator of the arrival of spring in the south. The flowers of the Okame tree are deep pink, and the branches are largely leafless. On average, they reach about 20 feet tall, and have an overall oval-like shape. In the fall, the foliage turns orange-red, and the park itself turns a glossy red-brown, giving an overall stunning fall display. Kwanzan The Kwanzan cherry tree grows larger blossoms than the other varieties. The blooms are ruffled, similar to carnations, and come in a range of pink shades. These trees can reach up to about 30 feet tall. They tend to grow out just as much as they do up, giving them a broader appearance than other cherry varieties. Do Cherry Blossom Trees Grow Cherries?This might feel like a silly question. They’re cherry trees, after all. Surely they grow cherries? The answer is yes, all cherry blossom trees do grow cherries, but not the kind you’d find at the grocery store. These cherries are small, bitter, and generally unappetizing. You can eat them if you like, but most people don’t. They are, however, a favorite of birds. 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. Quercus alba, more commonly known as the white oak tree, is one of the most important trees in America. These gentle giants are native to the continent, and can be found from Florida all the way to Canada, and as far west as Minnesota. Their presence helps encourage native biodiversity and discourage invasive species. White oak is heavily relied on in the lumber industry, and can be used for everything from furniture to houses. White oaks get their name from the color of newly-cut wood, which is much lighter on the inside. The bark on the outside is an ashy grey color, and grows in flaky plates that overlap, creating a series of furrows and scales. Eventually, older bark layers will fall to the ground and be replaced with new ones. Many white oak owners see the pieces of bark littering the ground and worry their tree is diseased or otherwise dying. But the flaking bark is completely natural. Did You Know?The white oak is the official state tree of Connecticut, Illinois, and Maryland! The branches of the white oak grow much lower to the ground than other tree species, and spread horizontally more so than vertically. This gives the tree an overall rounded appearance, as it grows nearly as wide as it is tall – which is saying something, because these trees reach average heights of 50 to 80 feet! Wild white oaks left undisturbed at moderate altitudes have been known to reach heights well over 100 feet, and can live as longs as 600 years. That growth doesn’t come easy, though. When young, white oaks may grow anywhere from 1 to 2 feet in a year, but as they age, that rate slows down considerably. The trunk of the white oak is generally just as massive as the rest of the tree, with an average diameter of 3 to 4 feet. 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! Did You Know?The largest white oak tree on record was called the Mingo Oak, and lived in West Virginia. It stood 145 feet tall, with a crown spread of 96 feet and a trunk diameter of over 8 feet! The Mingo Oak lived to be almost 600 years old before it was cut down after succumbing to damage from local coal fire. A cross-section of the Mingo Oak is on display at the West Virginia State Museum. The leaves of the white oak are appropriately sized for the tree they grow on, and average anywhere between 4 and 8 inches long and 2 and 5 inches wide. Both sides grow 3 to 4 rounded lobes, with another rounded lobe at the tip. When they first sprout, the leaves are a soft, silvery pink color, and covered in soft, downy fuzz. Once they’re established, the leaves develop a bright green on the top with a softer, whiter green on the bottom. In the fall, white oak trees change to a mix of deep reds, reddish-purples, and dark oranges. 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. 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?Pruning is an important part of maintaining a tree's integrity and health. There are a couple different types of pruning, but the most common are crown cleaning and crown thinning. Crown cleaning is a pruning technique that removes dead, dying, or diseased branches so they don't harm or hinder healthy ones. This is the type of pruning that can be done year-round, and is safe to do in the fall. 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. But in the fall, the weather is just cool, and generally damp. It’s the happiest time of year for a variety of nasty pests and fungi, and is also a great environment for rot and decay. Oak trees are especially vulnerable from April until July to oak wilt, one of the deadliest tree diseases. Basically, pruning in the fall is leaving your wounded tree vulnerable to infections and infestations that may actually kill it. Winter PruningWith the protective barrier of cold temperatures and dormant pests, winter is usually the “best time to prune.” If you’re looking to thin out your branches, trim back wayward limbs, or just improve the overall health of your tree, then waiting until the dormant months is probably your best bet. The 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 and early February, which makes the best time to prune in winter late February and early March. 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 to become dominant on a tree with more than one trunk. So, for example, crepe myrtles have multiple leaders (trunks) that grow from the base and out into a shrub-like shape. If you want to encourage the tree to grow taller rather than wider, you can trim back some of the leaders so one becomes stronger. This will encourage the tree to grow into a more stereotypical “tree” shape. Summer is also a good time to remove defective limbs or branches that have grown too heavy to support themselves any longer. Any wounds created by removing limbs will be easily taken care, as the tree will have plenty of energy to spare in its most active period. Flowering Tree PruningWhen it comes to trees that flower (like Bradford pears and crepe myrtles), the best time to prune actually depends on the blooms. If your tree blooms in the spring, then pruning should be done after all the flowers have fallen. If your tree blooms in late summer, then pruning should be done in winter, or early spring at the latest. 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?You may remember learning this term back in high school, but basically, invasive species are plants or animals that have been introduced to an ecosystem they aren’t native to. Not all “invaders” will survive in a new environment, because they haven’t evolved or adapted to the conditions there. But sometimes, the invading species actually takes really well to their new home. 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?Probably the most well-known invasive species in our area is kudzu. You’ve seen kudzu blanketing trees around town, covering ground along the highway, and even taking over powerlines. Kudzu is a vine native to Japan. It was introduced to the United States in the late 1800s as a new way to control soil erosion. 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. In its natural habitat, with insects that feed upon it, kudzu is just another vine in the forest. But in the States, we don’t have those insects. Our insects actually tend to avoid kudzu. So, with nothing keeping the kudzu in check, it grows wildly in every direction, literally choking our native trees and plants. Another major invasive species in our area is the Chinese Privet. You may not have heard of it, but you’ve definitely seen it, because it’s everywhere. This shrub grows quickly into a dense thicket that blocks light and water from reaching anything beneath it. It also tends to leech nutrients from the soil around it, making the surrounding area less hospitable to native species. 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. How Can You Help?
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. 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. 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. Platanus occidentalis is also known as the Eastern Sycamore, American Plane Tree, Plane Tree, Buttonwood, and Buttonball Tree. While these trees can be found throughout the Southeast, they’re native to North Carolina. They prefer full sun exposure with plenty of water, and are naturally found along streams and bottom lands. Once fully established, these Sycamores are moderately drought-tolerant. 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. Though eventually reaching a rounded shape, the crown of the American Sycamore is asymmetrical, with widely-spaced, crooked branches growing randomly in all directions. One of this species’ defining features is its mottled, flaky bark. The outermost layers, which are generally a darker greyish-brown, lose their elasticity and break off in irregular chunks, revealing lighter grays, browns, and whites underneath. This flaking will lessen as the tree reaches full maturity and its growth rate slows down. American Sycamore leaves are generally wider than they are long, with 3 to 5 pointed lobes. In the Spring, the medium- to dark-green leaves are accompanied by very tiny red and yellow flowers that grow in clusters. Sycamores grow both male and female flowers on the same tree, so they can self-pollinate. 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. While the fruits of the Sycamore are one of the things that make them attractive, they’re also one of the reasons these trees don’t make great lawn ornaments. Most trees just drop dried leaves in the Fall, which can still be a pain to clean up, but is pretty normal. Sycamores, on the other hand, scatter their large, dried seed pods all over your yard. These trees also present problems when it comes to their size. Many homeowners don’t realize quite how big an American Sycamore can get, and naively plant one near their driveway or out in the backyard. And while they are generous shade trees—so much so that they can save you money on your power bill in Summer by keeping your house cooler—they also block the sun from reaching any plants underneath them. Those widespread branches can also easily interfere with nearby powerlines. Did You Know?The largest American Sycamore on record measured 174 feet tall, and nearly 13 feet in diameter! But the real threat of the Sycamore is the one under your feet. While it’s easy to forget to account for the roots when it comes to planting any species, failing to do so with a Sycamore can have drastic (and expensive) consequences. The roots of the American Sycamore spread deep and wide, and are notorious for damaging underground piping, cracking pavement and driveways, and even rupturing septic tanks. Definitely do your research and plan ahead if you’re thinking of adding one of these beautiful trees to your landscape! 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. |
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