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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. Douglas FirThe Douglas Fir is one of the top Christmas trees sold in the United States, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. They have that quintessential pyramid shape, with their needles spreading out in all directions, so they look nice and full from every angle. The dark green needles make the perfect backdrop for colorful lights and ornaments, and are softer to the touch, so decorating is gentler on the fingers. Their sweet scent isn’t too overpowering but will still give your home that distinct Christmastime feel. The only downside to these trees is their tendency to drop their needles if underwatered. But if you take care of it properly, your Douglas Fir will stay green and vibrant well past the 25th. Fraser FirWhile the Douglas Fir is probably the most popular, the Fraser Fir is the one you see all the Christmas Candles labeled as. That’s because the Fraser Fir gives off that strong, classic Christmas scent as long as they’re in your home. In addition to smell, Fraser Firs offer soft, shorter needles that are more kid- and pet-friendly, and hearty, spaced-out branches that can handle heavier decorations and leave plenty of space in between for your favorite ornaments to take center stage. You won’t have to look for long to pick out the perfect Fraser Fir, since they grow in a near-perfect pyramid shape naturally. Colorado Blue SpruceThe Colorado Blue Spruce, as its name might suggest, is the state tree of Colorado. Blue Spruces are known for their stunning needles with distinct blue and silver tones that set them apart from other classic Christmas trees. Unfortunately, these beautiful needles can be a little sharp, so be sure to keep that in mind as you hang ornaments. Despite the potential hazard, many pet owners choose these Spruces, as the color and sharp points often deter curious noses. Colorado Blue Spruces grow in a nice pyramidal shape that still looks natural, with strong limbs for heavier decorations. They don’t give off the Christmas smell we all know and love, and some people actually dislike the scent the needles emit if bruised. Scotch Pine (Scots Pine)The Scotch Pine is a popular choice for those who prefer a low-maintenance tree. Where other trees will likely lose their needles as they dry out, the Scotch Pines handle drought like a pro, and won’t create a mess all over your floor just because its water bucket is empty. The catch here is that Scotch Pine needles are kind of sharp, which can be a pain while hanging ornaments. Scotch Pines are also usually sheared into the desired pyramid shape. This means that the ends of the branches you see are thicker than they would have been at their true ends, making them sturdier and more capable of bearing heavier decorations. But, this also means their branches will be a lot closer together, which can make it harder to string lights. Eastern Red CedarThe Eastern Red Cedar, despite its name, is actually a member of the Juniper family. Their soft, pliable “needles” are a popular choice for families with younger children, because they pose no risk for pricks. The needles grow in a feathery spread that gives the tree an overall full appearance, and the tree itself grows in an overall conical shape. As the needles and their branches are relatively pliable, they aren’t as weight-bearing as other Christmas tree choices. But many are happy to overlook this flaw thanks to the range of colors Eastern Red Cedars have to offer. Any given tree can offer any combination of dark green, bluish green, silvery, gray-green, bronze, and even purple leaves. Leyland CypressThe Leyland Cypress is especially popular in the southeast, and are just as likely to be found in public landscaping as they are in a home for Christmas. They have that natural pyramidal shape and the dark green leaves associated with classic Christmas trees, but their real appeal is how easy they are to grow in large numbers. Many “choose and cut” tree farms choose Leyland Cypresses because they require little maintenance, grow fairly quickly, and will reach respectable Christmas-tree-size without much input. While they don’t have a strong Christmas-y scent, Leyland Cypresses don’t shed many needles and don’t produce sap, making them a good choice for those with allergies. 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.
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December is here, which means Christmas is right around the corner! It’s about time to start setting up those Christmas trees (although, if you’re anything like us, you’ve had yours up for an amount of time you probably aren’t willing to admit to!). But besides being a decorative addition to the holiday season, and providing some delightful cover for those painstakingly-wrapped gifts, why exactly do we hack up an evergreen and put it in our home to garnish and light up? The history of the Christmas tree dates back beyond the night when our Savior resided in a humble manger. In fact, the first documented case of anything similar to what we now know as the Christmas tree belongs to the Egyptians. Every year, when the coldest months seemed to suck the life out of their world, ancient Egyptians would bring a little reminder of summer into their homes as a reminder that times would be good again. Similar traditions can be found in the early timelines of Rome, Scandinavia, and the Celtic nations. But the true predecessor to our festive friends lies with the Germans. In 1521, a painting was made in Germany of a tree being paraded through the streets by a man on horseback, dressed as a bishop. Some believe the man to be a representation of St. Nick, though little is actually known about the origin of the painting. But, thanks to some writings from later in the 1500s, we do know that the painting depicts a celebration in which an evergreen tree, decorated with nuts, apples, pretzels, and paper flowers, would be paraded through the town before ending up in the market square, where people would dance and sing around it. Sounds pretty Christmas-y, right? Except for the part where they’d burn the tree at the end of the party, that is! In fact, it’s likely that this painting is actually showing a “Tree of Paradise,” which was a medieval tradition that celebrated Adam and Eve on December 24th. So, not quite Christmas, but definitely on the right track. How this “Tree of Paradise” evolved from a celebration of the first humans to a celebration of the birth of Christ, it’s not known. The Germans have their own legend: “Once on a cold Christmas Eve night, a forester and his family were in their cottage gathered round the fire to keep warm. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. When the forester opened the door, he found a poor little boy standing on the door step, lost and alone. The forester welcomed him into his house and the family fed and washed him and put him to bed in the youngest son’s own bed (he had to share with his brother that night!). The next morning, Christmas Morning, the family were woken up by a choir of angels, and the poor little boy had turned into Jesus, the Christ Child. The Christ Child went into the front garden of the cottage and broke a branch off a Fir tree and gave it to the family as a present to say thank you for looking after him. So ever since them, people have remembered that night by bringing a Christmas Tree into their homes!” Another German legend (one that’s actually widely accepted amongst historians), claims that Martin Luther (yes, that Martin Luther!) was the first to put lights on the Christmas Tree. According to the legend, Martin Luther was walking home on a cold winter evening after having composed a sermon. He looked upon the brilliant stars twinkling amongst the treetops and was so inspired, he ran home and managed to rig some candles along his family’s own Christmas tree with some wire, so he could share the beautiful sight he’d seen with his loved ones. Supposedly, this is the story of how lights were first added to the Christmas tree. So while we might not know when bringing trees into the home first happened, but we do know that, sometime before 1546 (when Martin Luther died), most Germans homes wouldn’t see a Christmas without one. Whether or not either of those stories are true, history does credit Germany with the advent of both the Christmas tree tradition as we know it today (along with the addition of lights). Germany’s Christmas trees didn’t make their way over to America until the late 1700s, when German settlers brought the tradition with them to the New Land. But, due to some pre-existing Pagan practices and the negative view of Pagans in general, they didn’t actually catch on until the 1840s. Did You Know?The Christmas tree in Queen Victoria’s portrait is likely only around 5 feet high (if you look closely, you can see it sitting on some kind of platform). In fact, most Christmas trees in Europe averaged around 4 to 5 feet in height, depending on what the family could afford. But for some reason (potentially due to the Pagan influence), Americans liked their trees to reach floor to ceiling! In 1846, Queen Victoria of England stood for a portrait alongside a decorated Christmas tree with Prince Albert and their children. Though the previous ruling family also reportedly had their own Christmas tree set up, Victoria was popular with the people, and this portrait (with its widespread publication) sparked a new trend. Suddenly, everyone in the country had to have their own tree for Christmas. With the whole of England obsessing over these new Christmas decorations, and the German precedent already relatively well-known, the practice quickly became all the rage in America. Most trees were brought in alive, roots intact, and kept in pots, though by the 1860s, metal tree holders were available for cut trees. Potted and cut trees would usually be adorned with nativity scenes around the base to disguise what was otherwise an unsightly support system to keep the tree upright. Christmas tree holders soon became polarized, with the options limited to expensive models that were pretty to look at but impossible to afford for the average family, or cheap, flimsy models that only lasted one year and looked ghastly. This led to families covering their metal holders with carpets in addition to decorating with a nativity scene, and these carpets are where we get the Christmas tree skirt from! Early American Christmas trees were decorated with everything from homemade cloth ornaments to strings of berries and pastries. But, by the 1890s, ornaments specifically designed to decorate Christmas trees began arriving from Germany, and by the early 1900s, plenty of American companies began producing and selling their own specialty Christmas ornaments. The next 100 years would see the incorporation of things like tinsel, popcorn, and electric lights into tree decoration, leading us all the way up to the 21t century, where Christmas trees are just as likely to be synthetic as they are real, ornaments are sold by most stores and are a popular souvenir, and Christmas lights are all but a given. Most Christmas trees are topped with an angel, meant to represent the angel announcing Christ’s birth to the shepherds, or a star, meant to represent the star that shone above the stable as a guide to Jesus. No matter how you choose to decorate your Christmas tree (or even if you don’t have a tree at all!), we hope this Christmas season brings you joy, happiness, family, friends, blessings, and peace as we remember the reason for the season: our Savior, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. 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 at some point in your life that if you’re feeling down, you just need to go outside and get some sunshine. Take a walk and look at some green things, and you’ll feel better. And while such a nature prescription can’t cure things like depression or anxiety, and can’t make the stresses and worries in your life disappear, there is actually a reason why this idea exists. Humans have always, on some level, been aware of our need for nature. We’ve been domesticating plant species to keep them in our homes for over 11,000 years, long before we were aware of the science behind why that made us feel good. Studies have shown time and time again the health benefits of exposure to nature. In the short-term, spending time in proximity to trees can reduce feelings of anger and aggression, reduce stress, and boost mood. Though we aren’t yet sure why, the visual intake of flora is linked to the integrity of the amygdala (the part of your brain responsible for emotions, motivation, and stress management). Spending time outside also increases your oxygen consumption (since you’re around where all the oxygen comes from), which in turn improves your blood circulation. Better blood circulation means a clearer mind and raised energy levels, and is also linked to improved mood. So “getting some fresh air” is actually a really, really good idea if you’re feeling overwhelmed in the moment. As a bonus, better blood circulation can help lower your blood pressure. In fact, nature is used in a wide range of professions as a method of improving health. Patients in hospitals with views of trees and other plants from their room’s window are more likely to require less pain medication and experience less complications than those without, and their overall recovery time is notably shorter. Incorporating trees and shrubs into school buildings (along with direct exposure to nature outside) has shown increased test scores, improved graduation rates, and decreased likelihood and severity of “criminal” behavior. Offices with a respectable amount of indoor plants see a reduction in their employees’ stress levels, as well as better concentration, motivation, and efficiency. All of these short-term benefits can compound in the long-term, even if we aren’t consciously seeking out exposure to nature. Urban green spaces are known to increase a community’s sense of…well…community. A park is open to people regardless of cultural and social group, and mingling with people both inside and outside your personal circle is vital to combatting loneliness. These short-term benefits, like stress reduction, increased blood circulation, improved mood, etc all also lead to improved overall physical health over longer periods of time. In addition to an overall better general feeling, long-term increases in your encounters with nature can improve a variety of cardio-metabolic conditions. Think heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and other cardiovascular diseases. But let’s talk about trees specifically. Because sure, all nature is good, but there’s just something about trees that humans really, really like. Adults in neighborhoods with 30% tree canopy coverage have a 31% lower chance of developing psychological destress, and a 33% lower chance of reporting their general health as “fair” over “good.” These results could not be replicated in neighborhoods with 30% coverage of other types of greenery, like grassy fields or bushes lining the sidewalks. In fact, people in neighborhoods with more grassy areas than areas inhabited by trees actually reported poorer health than even those surrounded by just concrete. In cities, an increase of just 11 trees per city block showed significant improvement to the risk factors for cardio-metabolic conditions across the population. The benefits of increasing inner-city tree numbers actually seem to outweigh the benefits of just putting more trees in your backyard—having private access to trees is still linked to sizeable health benefits, but there’s apparently just something about having trees downtown that is really, really good for us. There are multiple theories on why trees, specifically, have such an impact on us. The shade provided by trees offers protection from heat and reduces the overall temperature of an area. Though some of us might be more warm-weather inclined, on the whole, humans tend to function better when not overheated. Tree canopies also create a physical sense of protection, which may, on an instinctual level, allow us to relax more. Trees produce larger quantities of oxygen than their smaller plant counterparts, and are often more capable of clearing toxins and pollutants from the air due to the larger surface area across all their leaves. There might also be something to the shape of trees. The straight up-and-down growth pattern of trees is visually pleasing (as opposed to, say, a mess of tangled vines). Humans, on average, tend to prefer order to disorder. Trees also offer a pleasing mix of colors, with a range of browns and greys in their trunks, and a wide variety of greens, yellows, oranges, reds, and purples in their leaves. If you’re experiencing feelings of depression or hopelessness, struggling with anxiety, or are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, you aren’t alone. While spending time outside might be able to offer you some relief, please know that help is waiting for you, and seeking help is not a sign of weakness. Take a look at these resources, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You can also chat with Lifeline representatives online. 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: University of Exeter - Early Humans and 'Forest Islands' ASLA - Health Benefits of Nature Psychological Benefits of Walking through Forest Areas Associations Between Geographical Properties and Brain Structure Nature, Prescribed? Impacts of Trees on Mental Health Trees: An Oasis of Mental Well-Being Living Near Tress is Good for Your Health How Forests are Good for the Mind and Soul Why Trees – Not Grass – Improve Our Mental Health Urban Tress and Mental and General Health At Classic City Arborists, we’ve done all the homework and taken all the tests to learn as much about the different kinds of trees as we can stuff into our finite heads—it’s our job, after all! But being able to determine what kind of tree you’re looking at can also be a useful skill for anyone to have, even if you aren’t an arborist. Beyond the simple satisfaction you get when you look at a tree and know what it is, recognizing the different types of trees can help you assess the ones you have on your property, or the ones outside your in-law’s house. Knowing a tree’s species means you can look that specific tree species up, and learn what to expect from them. Will they drop all their leaves in the fall? Should you worry about them in a heavy rainstorm? There are too many species to know all of them by heart, of course, and certainly too many to recognize even half of them on sight. But there are a few main types of trees you’ll find around Georgia, and more specifically, the Athens and Watkinsville areas. Did You Know?Georgia is home to approximately 250 different tree species. That’s no small number, but it’s nothing compared to the whopping 60,000 different species of trees on our planet! MapleMaples are easy to spot thanks to their palmate leaves. That’s a fancy word for a leaf stem that has multiple lobes spreading out from the base. If you’ve seen the Canadian flag, you’ve seen a maple leaf! The most common maple trees in Georgia are the sugar maple, red maple, and striped maple. All three lose their leaves in the fall, but not before offering a stunning display of oranges, yellows, reds, and even rusty purples. Their fallen leaves make great leaf piles for children (and fur babies) to play in. HickoryHickory trees, when left to their own devices, can get massive. We’re talking heights over 60 feet and crown spans of more than 40 feet on average! There a bunch of different species of hickories native to Georgia and the Southeast, including their cousins, the pecan tree. All hickories have similar leaf patterns, making them easy to identify. They grow stalks, each of which will have anywhere from 5 to 17 leaves on it. Barring mutations, the leaves grow in oppositional pairs, which means they mirror each other along either side of the stalk. One leaf grows from the end of the stalk, making the total number odd. The pair of leaves closest to the base of the stalk are usually much smaller than the rest. The leaves themselves can range from 2 to 8 inches long, depending on the age and size of the tree, and have little serrations all along their edges. These serrations can be sharp and pointy, or more rounded, but they’re almost always subtle. Hickories are also characterized by their bark, which has ridges that are universally vertical, rather than horizontal. OaksAgain, there are a few different types of oak trees native to our area, including white oaks, scarlet oaks, water oaks, willow oaks, and live oaks. Live oaks are probably the most widely known; they’re the ancient behemoths that grow along Georgia’s coastline, like Savannah, and are always dripping with Spanish moss. Any oak is pretty easy to recognize by lobed leaves. These lobes can be rounded or spiky, kind of like the maple leaf, but they’re always long and skinny. Oaks also have ridged gently ridged bark—not fissured, mind you. You won’t find massive cracks you could stick a penny into. Think rough, or bumpy. PinesAnd last, but certainly not least, come the pine trees. Pines make up the large portion of Georgia’s forests, and are probably the most easily recognized. Though there are dozens of pine species, like the loblolly, eastern white, and longleaf pine, all of them have the characteristic, evergreen needles that serve as leaves. When young, pines grow tall and skinny. Once they reach maturity, they’ll start filling out near the base and end up with a more triangular shape that you might associate with Christmas trees (although real Christmas trees aren’t actually pines). To learn more about some of the other species of trees you’ll find around our lovely little Athens, check out our Tree of the Month articles. If you have a tree you’re concerned about, be it one of these species or otherwise, check out our guide on how to identify if your tree is in decline. Or, contact us to schedule a free estimate! 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. Though sometimes our job at Classic City Arborists is to cut trees down, we do our best to keep as many trees standing as we can—and not just because they’re pretty. Trees are vital to our planet, atmosphere, and ecosystem, which we’re sure you already know. But these gentle giants do more than just produce the oxygen we breathe (although that in and of itself is no small task!). There are dozens of other reasons why trees are important, and why you should always want them around! Trees Clean the AirWhile you probably already know that trees absorb CO2 (carbon dioxide, which is what we exhale) and turn it into O2 (oxygen, that we breathe), you might not know that trees also filter out lots of different pollutants from our air. Odors, gases, and even airborne chemicals get trapped on a tree’s leaves and bark, leaving the air around trees much cleaner. Trees Reduce Water Pollution When it rains, water runs down the sides of the street and through various ditches and drains until it reaches the nearest creek, river, or lake. Eventually, that water will either make its way to the ocean, or to the groundwater supply. This wouldn’t be a problem, except this water will encounter oil build-up on the road and pesticides from the grass and even soap from when you washed your car. All those pollutants are then carried to the rivers, oceans, and groundwater supplies, which is bad for those ecosystems. But how do trees make this better? Well, any rain that encounters a tree will run down the leaves, branches, and trunk directly to the ground, where it absorbs directly into the groundwater without running across parking lots or crop fields. Even tree mulch that you have spread around your yard can help reduce runoff pollution, by soaking up rainwater and slowly releasing it directly into the ground. Trees Save WaterShade from tall trees protect moisture on the ground from the evaporating power of the sun. When you water your lawn, the nearby trees help ensure the sun doesn’t render all that work for naught. Trees Prevent Soil ErosionIf you remember from 6th grade science class, erosion is when wind and rain displace topsoil, which can drastically affect the shape and ecosystem of any landscape. A tree’s elaborate root system acts as a kind of anchor for soil, reducing what can be washed away in a storm. Trees Offer ShadeWhether you’re walking on the sidewalk in the park or enjoying an iced tea on your back porch, having trees around to shade you from the hot sun is always nice. Shade is also important for children playing outside, because it not only helps prevent energetic toddlers from overheating, but it also helps filter out harmful UV rays that could burn their skin. Shade is also a good thing to have if you have pets that you let spend time outside, so they don’t get too hot and have a nice, cool place to relax. Trees Cool Down the StreetsEveryone loves enjoying a warm Summer day sitting under the shade of a tall tree—but only if it’s not too hot. With a moderate scattering of trees, any given area (like your home, your backyard, or downtown Athens) experiences a temperature reduction of up to 10 full degrees! That’s the difference between it feeling like the 80s F and feeling like the 70s F, which, as all Georgians know, is a drastic improvement. Trees Save Energy – and Money on Your Power BillWith all that shade and helping lower the temperature around you, trees help keep your home cooler. A cooler home doesn’t need to run the AC as much. In fact, just three strategically-placed trees around your home could cut up to 50% off your monthly power bill. Trees Provide WoodThe house you live in, the office you work at, and the movie theater you visit on the weekends were all probably constructed with at least some wood, courtesy of our friends the trees. Your dining table, favorite rocking chair, and dresser might also be made out of wood. Take a second to peruse your home, and you’re likely to see the influence of trees everywhere you look! Trees Provide FoodFruit trees are a great source of nutrition, not only for the animals in the area, but for us as well. A single apple tree can grow between 15 and 20 bushels of apples in a year, which is more than enough to supply your family with applesauce, apple cobbler, and apple butter for the winter. Fruit trees don’t have to take up much room, meaning you can keep them even in a crowded neighborhood. Trees Create JobsWhen you sift through the pears at the grocery store, looking for one with the right level of ripeness, you might not really think about the fact that they grew on a tree—but they did, and someone had to pick them from that tree. Someone else had to wash them, and package them, and deliver them to your grocery store, where someone had to unload them from the truck and display them for you to look at. Even trees that don’t offer food still make jobs, like the trees grown for paper or lumber. Even Christmas trees create jobs every year! Trees Generate More BusinessStudies have shown that areas with multiple businesses will see higher traffic rates with more trees and landscaping. Tree-lined streets and sidewalks also actually slow down both drivers and walkers, which gives them more time to look at store fronts and any marketing material, which in turn increases the rate at which passersby visit businesses on a whim. Trees Increase Property ValueYou’ve probably never really thought about it, but having trees on your property actually makes it worth more. Statistically speaking, well-planted properties can be worth up to 15% more than barren ones. Interested buyers are generally more drawn to homes with mature trees and a variety of flora than they are homes surrounded by empty land. Trees Act as BarriersTrees are valuable as both visual and auditory barriers in a variety of situations. Cities will often plant rows of trees to obscure unsightly concrete walls, or line them up between a neighborhood and nearby highway to help reduce the sounds of cars on the road for families. Most parking lots are also broken up with trees, which can help mark the lanes and flow of traffic. Tree barriers are also used to block air currents and reduce wind intensity across open fields or in and around neighborhoods. They’re sometimes even planted to reduce glare from glass structures. You can enjoy privacy in your backyard by planting a row of trees on your property line, which will block anyone from looking or listening in to your serene oasis. Trees Reduce ViolenceOn a similar note, crime rates show that neighborhoods with more trees and green landscaping are less likely to experience both violent and non-violent crimes than their more barren counterparts. Trees Are Playgrounds for ChildrenTo a child, a tree can be almost anything. A sentry guarding the magic castle, or a tower concealing a sleeping princess. A wild jungle with new species to discover, or a private escape to take a quick nap under. Trees have fostered creativity in humans for ages, and help improve a child’s creativity, logic skills, problem-solving, and critical thinking, all of which are vital to their development. Trees Are GreenOkay, no, not all trees are green, and most trees aren’t green all the time, but the point stands: trees are plants. Studies have shown that humans, as a species and on some primal level, actually need exposure to plants—especially green plants. There are a wide range of theories on why this is the case, ranging from ancestral precedent to divine intention, but the fact remains that trees are really important to a person’s mental and physical wellbeing. Trees Can HealAgain, we aren’t exactly sure why this is, but studies have also shown that patients in hospitals or long-term care facilities who can view trees from their windows or have plants in their rooms will heal faster with less complications than a patient who doesn’t have such access. Children with ADHD, autism, and other cognitive or developmental impairments have also proven to experience less symptoms when given frequent access to nature. Trees Make You SmarterPerhaps for the same reason that access to trees improves mental health, studies have shown that schools with trees visible through classroom windows have, on average, higher test scores and graduation rates. Office workers also show more productivity and enjoyment of their work life when trees are visible through office windows. Trees Foster CommunityWhether it’s a local organization coming together to plant a new tree, or a local landmark like the Tree that Owns Itself, trees have been bringing people of all ages, sizes, origins, and colors together for thousands of years. Trees are so incredibly important for every part of our lives, from fostering creativity in children to encouraging productivity in adults at work to helping our sick and injured to recover. If we’ve convinced you to add some new tree friends to your property, be sure to check out our Tree of the Month articles to learn all about some great species to consider! 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 we work our way through the end of summer, we tend to hear a lot of similar concerns from our customers: how come my tree is already losing its leaves? It isn’t Fall yet, after all, and losing leaves can be a sign of interior decay, so your concern is definitely warranted. That’s why, in this article, we’re going to discuss the reasons your tree might be losing leaves at the end of summer, and whether or not you need to worry about your backyard forest. Some trees will naturally shed leaves during the summer, like live oaks and ornamental cherries. In fact, most ornamental trees, younger trees that aren’t fully established yet, and trees that are small in size are likely to drop leaves in the summer. As long as these trees still appear healthy (green leaves, bendy twigs, and new buds), and the falling leaves don’t have any leaf spots, holes, or indications of disease or infestation, then they are most likely just fine. OvergrowthSometimes, trees get a little overzealous in the spring and grow too many leaves. When summer comes, with its drying heat and reduced rainfall, your tree has to backpedal. Since it isn’t getting enough water to support all those leaves, it will let the least productive ones yellow, die, and fall off. Basically, your tree eliminates the weakest link(s). It’s pretty easy to determine if this is what’s happening with your tree—just look at the color of the fallen leaves. If they are yellowed or browned pretty evenly, with no consistent spotting, then they are definitely just the tree doing a little healthy maintenance. To help it out, consider giving it some water once or twice a week. This should stop the premature dropping and get your tree back to tip-top shape. If the leaves that fall are mostly green and appear healthy, this is the result of overcrowding, rather than lack of resources. Your tree didn’t grow more leaves than it could support; it grew too many leaves for the space it has! There’s not much to do about a tree that got too big for its britches, but rest assured that your tree is just fine. Disease, Pests, and DecayOn the other hand, if the leaves appear to be unevenly yellow, or have clear spotting or pockets, or are fully dead and dry, this might be cause for concern. There are a lot of environmental and health factors that can lead to a tree losing its leaves like this, not all of which are cause for concern. To figure out whether or not you need to worry about your tree in this case, first determine a rough percentage of how many leaves it has lost—is it closer to 10%, or 90%? If you feel like your tree has lost over half its leaves prematurely, it might be time to call your friendly neighborhood arborist. If your tree hasn’t lost more than half its leaves, the next thing to do is look at its new growth. Namely, look at the twigs and buds. Healthy twigs are bendy, and if broken, will be green on the inside. Dead twigs are dry, brittle, and dark on the inside. Buds should be some shade of green, whether pale or vibrant; dried-out buds are dead or dying. If the new growth is in good shape, then that tree is still alive and well, and there’s probably an external factor that caused the leaf drop. You can try watering once or twice a week and look for improvement. If, after a few weeks, you’re still seeing a smaller percentage of leaf drop, it might be time to call in the professionals. If the buds and twigs aren’t in such good shape, however, then at least that part of the tree you could reach is probably dead or dying as well. To check your tree for disease and decay, check out these signs that your tree might be in decline. If you think your tree might be infected, it’s definitely time to call the professionals! VerticilliumSometimes, rather than seeing leaves dropping prematurely, you see trees coloring prematurely. This isn’t always cause for concern, but keep your eye on the location. If the color is concentrated to a chunk at the crown (the top of the tree), or is clearly only along one branch, your tree might have a fungal disease called verticillium. Essentially, this disease impacts the vascular tissue of the tree and prevents water from getting where it needs to go. Verticillium is, unfortunately, usually fatal to the tree, but you’ll still probably want to have a certified arborist take a look to confirm that’s what’s happening, and assist you in figuring out how to take care of the situation. DormancySome species of tree go dormant in the late summer when the days get longer, hotter, and drier. These trees will lose most, if not all, of their leaves fairly quickly. The easiest way to tell if this is what happened to your tree is to, again, look at the new growth. If the twigs and buds look green and healthy, then your tree is still alive and just taking a little break. But if the twigs and buds are dead, your tree might also be dead, and you may need your local arborist to come examine it and determine whether or not it needs to be removed. DehydrationAnother instance of leaf loss in the summer can look like all the leaves on your tree drying out and turning brown and crunchy, seemingly overnight. They may all fall to the ground at once, or they may stay attached to the tree, even though they’re dead. This is definitely a sign that your tree just didn’t have enough water to sustain itself. A look at the twigs and buds will help you determine whether or not your tree is still alive and whether or not it can be saved. So there you have it! If you think one or more of your trees is exhibiting any of the symptoms listed in this article, or in our article on the signs of tree decline, please don’t hesitate to give us a call, shoot us an email, or request a free estimate on our website! 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.  gardeners.com September is here, and we can’t wait for the cooler weather, changing leaves, and of course, Pumpkin Spice Everything! But with September comes deer season: archery starts on September 10th, and firearms on October 22th. With the hunters of our community preparing their hunting grounds and doing everything in their power to get the deer right where they want them, you’ll probably start seeing more and more deer wandering around your neighborhood. This leads to two kinds of people: those who are excited to see the deer and want to encourage them to hang around, and those who appreciate the deer but would rather they stay away from their vegetable garden. Whichever one you are, you’re in luck; we’ve compiled a list of ways you can attract or repel deer from your yard. How to Attract DeerThere are three big factors when it comes to encouraging deer to like your yard. Provide all three, and you’ll have deer wandering through on a daily basis!  Feed Them, and They Will Come It might seem obvious, but the first thing you’ll want to consider cultivating to encourage deer is something they like to eat. Deer are notorious for grazing through gardens and feasting on flowerbeds, and the way to their heart is definitely through their stomach. Professional gardeners and landscapers recommend planting a specific plot of deer-attracting plants, rather than scattering them around your yard. Giving the deer a specific place to go to with a reliable and plentiful supply of food will result in more and more deer wandering to the new local hotspot. Where Should I Make It? You’ll want to keep this special garden a safe distance from your home. While deer are rarely a direct threat to humans or children, bringing them too close to where you live may result in a scare on both sides, which will discourage deer from visiting! Deer can also cause property damage in their escape attempts when confronted with a surprise, so you won’t want to lead them close to lawn ornaments, satellite dishes, or the kids’ sandbox. What Should I Plant? There’s an endless list of bushes, flowers, trees, and crops you can plant that deer would happily munch on. You can tailor your choices to what you’d like to have around your home. Are you interested in colorful flowers, or just greenery? Do you have the time to keep up with high-maintenance crops, or do you need a seed-it-and-leave-it clover field?  The biggest thing to keep in mind is that deer, just like us, prefer a little variety in their diet. Try to plant a range of different things for them to choose from. You may also want to look into what plants and crops are already available to them in the area; if there’s a huge corn field just down the road, then planting corn won’t be as enticing as planting something they don’t already have easy access to. Here’s just a fraction of the plants you can consider:
Don't Forget the Water! The next thing deer will happily congregate to is a water source. This doesn’t have to look like an expensive, man-made pond or creek—anything that will collect or hold water will do. For smaller yards, consider installing a little bird bath. Change the water every week or so, and you’ll help not only the deer, but also birds, squirrels, and more. If you’ve got the land for it, a shallow trench works great for collecting rainwater rather than letting it run off. Provide Some Coverage The last thing to keep in mind as you plan out a deer garden is that deer, like many woodland animals, don’t like to be out in the open. Giving them plenty of shrubs, trees, and foliage to hide in will make them safe enough to come around often, and bring their friends!  The easiest way to do this is to plant at least one food source that is foliage-heavy and/or tall. Corn, sunflowers, hydrangeas, and berry shrubs are just a few examples of deer-attracting foods you can plant that will double as cover for the skittish animals. You can also choose to plant things that aren’t necessarily known for attracting deer for the sole purpose of providing them with a place to hide. This might look like bushes, tall grasses, or even climbing vines on a trellis. How to Repel DeerDeer are elegant creatures, and we aren’t disputing their importance to the ecosystem and their value as game to feed families. But that doesn’t mean you want them around all the time. Especially when they like to eat half your garden! Deer are a year-round nuisance to gardeners and landscapers alike, but luckily, there a few different methods to help keep them away from your home. Grow Some Plants Deer Just Don’t Like An easy deterrent to the local deer population is to fill or border your yard with something they don’t want to eat. This isn’t 100% foolproof—if a deer gets hungry enough, she won’t be picky—but it’s a good way to discourage deer from wandering to the area. These kinds of plants include: lavender, catmint, garlic, chives, yarrow, and most all aromatic herbs. If you do happen to have (or want to have) any of the deer-attracting plants we mentioned earlier, there are few things you can do.  Consider moving them closer to your home—if a deer has to cross a lot of open space to get to their favorite snack, they’re likely to just move on. You can also plant some deer-repelling plants around the deer-attracting ones to help disguise their presence. Level Up Your Landscaping Like we said earlier, deer are skittish animals and prefer lots of different places to hide. If you take away their cover, they’ll be less likely to linger. This can be as simple as keeping your grass cut short and pruning back excess foliage, but can also be as intensive as adding terraces or different levels to your yard. Deer don’t like to climb or walk up and down steep slopes, so adding dimension to your land is a great deterrent. You could also install fencing around your property—anything that’s tall with no gaps to see through will have deer thinking your yard isn’t worth the effort. Liquid Sprays and Repellents If you don’t want to alter your yard or do any gardening to keep deer away, another easy solution is to buy a deer repellent. These usually come in the form of sprays or droppers that deter deer by smells or pheromones. Be forewarned, however, because these can be pretty strong, and don’t smell too great to us humans, either! Kinetic and Motion Activated Anything  We’ve established that deer are, by nature, skittish, so to discourage them from wandering your property, consider adding a kinetic or motion-activated ornament to your yard. These aren’t dangerous for the animals (or any animals, for that matter), but easily scary wary creatures without any input from you. Something as simple as a windchime can help, but there are also more complex devices, such as motion-activated noise and/or light makers. Any sudden movement, sound, light, or other sensory input will have deer immediately on high-alert, and they’ll high-tail it out of there. So there you have it. Whether you’re looking to encourage deer to come around or you’d rather they stay far, far away, just a few of these suggestions will ensure you’re fully prepared for the impending deer season! 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. Welcome back, UGA students! The Fall semester is upon us, and it’s time to settle back into your dorms, apartments, and houses. You’ve probably heard of the benefits of keeping plants inside, both for the air you breathe and your state of mind—and with exams and homework and extracurricular activities rearing to pile up, having a plant in your house might just be the de-stressor you need! We know not all of you have the luxury of a backyard where you can keep a garden to plant some of the flowers or herbs we’ve listed in other articles (like which plants to grow to attract pollinators, or keep pests away, or plants you can start late in the fall). But just because you can’t plant things outside in the ground doesn’t mean you can’t plant things inside, in a pot! We’ve compiled a list of plants that will thrive in pots indoors to help make your house a home. And before you worry—every plant on this list is low-maintenance and easy to care for, so you can keep your focus on getting to class, doing your homework, and spending time with your friends. There were dozens to choose from, so we picked our favorite 10; follow the links at the end of the article to read about more species perfect for apartment living! Devil’s Ivy This vine with the spooky name is also known as pothos, and is so good at growing inside, lots of people call it the cubicle plant. You can grow it in dirt if you want, or in a vase with just water. It grows pretty quickly, and you can cut off longer vines and stick them in their own vase of water to make more pothos! They’re fine with the shade of being inside and only need to be watered maybe once a month, when their dirt is officially bone-dry (assuming, of course, you’re growing them in dirt. If it’s in a vase with water, you can quite literally just forget about it!) ZZ Plant The Zamioculcas zamiifolia (hence ZZ) plant has smaller oval leaves and is low-maintenance enough you could go on vacation for a year and come back to find it happy and healthy. It needs such little water, and does well in any level of light, so whether or not you’ve got window space available, the ZZ plant will be fine. The only downside to this miracle plant is the fact that it grows pretty slowly, so be prepared for it to stay small for a long time. Aloe Vera Not only is aloe vera easy to grow, but it’s super useful! Whether you want to make a nourishing face mask or cool off the weekend (or gameday!) sunburn, aloe has intensive healing properties and also is a great air purifier. Aloe plants do like bright sun, so make sure to leave it by the window. Let the soil get really, really dry before you water it again (think maybe once a month), and watch it grow. Snake Plant The name sounds a little unattractive, but Dracaena trifasciata is actually … well. Pretty. It likes bright light best, and would prefer to sit by a window, but won’t die if your apartment sits more in the shade than the sun. It also doesn’t much care for water, and is great at surviving droughts—so don’t panic if you forget to water it! Spider Plant (pet friendly) This jungle-looking bush will bring some lighter green tones to your home, but keep in mind that the spider plant prefers lots and lots of light. Not direct sun, mind you, but just brightness. It’s great at cleaning the air and doesn’t need much water to provide you with “baby spiders” (spiderettes), which are basically mini-me versions that can easily be put in another pot to give you more spider plants! Philodendron Green This vine grows similar to pothos, but with heart-shaped, uniformly-colored leaves. It can’t grow in just water, like pothos can, but it’s fine with little to no sunlight and needs minimal watering. You can also propagate it just as easily as the pothos, which means even more plants for you. Dracaena Lisa This hardy, leafy plant can get pretty big—more like a small tree than a potted plant. But if you’ve got the space for it (maybe an empty corner?) it’ll clean your air better than almost anything. Like other Dracaena species, Lisa can adapt to most any environment, so whether the corner is sunny or shady, as long as you give her water every couple of weeks, she’ll be happy as a clam. Bird’s Nest Fern (pet friendly) With it’s bright-green, rippled fronds, and moisture-loving tendencies, this fern will bring some much-needed color to your bathroom or shower! As long as you’ve got a window to let a medium amount of light in, you’ll have clean air for your morning and/or nightly routine. The bathroom is usually where you use the most chemicals, like hair spray, bleach cleaners, and aerosol shaving creams, so having a Bird’s Nest in there will really help your long, de-stressing showers purify your lungs, too! Kalanchoe If you’re looking for something with pretty flowers to bring into the house, look no further than kalanchoe. The gentle red, orange, or pink flower bundles that will even bloom in wintertime. Give it a medium amount of light and water thoroughly only once the soil has completely dried out, and you’ll have a colorful addition to your living room all year long! Moth Orchid We know what you’re thinking—it’s an orchid! How can it be on the list? While most orchids are pretty finicky, the moth orchid is the exception. As long as you’ve got some medium levels of light (it also likes extra-bright light, and can tolerate lower light as well), and you water it every so often, the moth orchid will be just fine. The flowers last for a long time, and once the fall comes in and the nighttime temperatures start cooling off, you may even get a second bloom! So there you have it! Be sure to look at the links below for some other low-maintenance houseplants, and for tips on growing the ones we listed here. 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 August, and though the temperature outside might not seem like it, Fall is right around the corner! If you need proof, just check out your nearest department store; the Fall displays are up and selling quick. Some stores have even started putting out Christmas supplies! As we reach the end of summer, one of the biggest complaints we hear from our customers is how they meant to do some planting, but time just got away from them. It’s definitely too late to start anything new by now…right? Wrong! Lots of plants, trees, and vegetables actually prefer being planted in late summer or fall. So whether you’re looking to start a home garden or just want to spruce up your backyard, here’s a list of all the things you can plant in the coming months: HERBSAdd some fresh-from-the-garden flavor to your favorite dishes
FRUITFresh fruit is expensive and hard to find ripe—grow your own instead!
VEGETABLESGrow your own grocery store of greens and never have wilted spinach leaking in your fridge ever again.
Other veggies you can plant in the fall include parsnips, kale, swiss chard, leeks, fennel, edamame, beets, radishes, turnips, rutabagas, shallots, snap peas, scallions, cabbage, and gourds FLOWERSPlant a gorgeous array of colors in your backyard to create your own personal oasis.
Other flowers you can plant in the fall include gladiolus, nasturtium, marjoram, cannas, yarrow, asters, coneflowers, viola, astilbe, borage, closia, coreopsis, daylilies, petunias, impatiens, echinacea, salvia, tuberose, anemone, jasmine, calendula, sweet pea, phlox, sedum, delphiniums, crocuses, strawflowers, and anise hyssop. TREESGreat for shade, swings, and bird nests, no backyard is complete without trees!
So there you have it! If you’re interested in growing any of the plants we mentioned, check out the links below for growing guides and extra 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. At Classic City Arborists, one of the services we're proud to offer is professional underbrush clearing. This incredibly important component of land maintenance is often overlooked, because most people consider it to be a purely aesthetic choice. If you don't mind the sight of cluttered underbrush, why pay someone to do something about it? But underbrush clearing has many benefits beyond just enhancing curve appeal. What is underbrush?Underbrush is defined as “shrubs, bushes, or small trees growing beneath large trees in a wood or forest.” That’s about as on-the-nose as it gets! In the arboreal world, underbrush extends to yards as well—if you’ve got some tall trees lining your fence and a tangled mass of bushes and vines and shoots growing beneath them, then you’ve got underbrush. Why should you get rid of it?We already mentioned the widely-accepted reason for clearing underbrush, which is purely aesthetic. Your yard will look much cleaner and neater without the mess, especially if you’re looking to sell your home! Clearing out underbrush is like getting a fresh haircut before a job interview. It can up your curb appeal and the value of your land. But for those who don’t mind the visual of rampant undergrowth, there’s still plenty of reason to clear it out. Spiders, Termites, and Snakes, Oh My! One of the biggest selling points when it comes to underbrush clearing is the removal of pests. Twisting vines and thick, low-to-the-ground shrubbery is the ideal home for all kinds of creepy crawlies (think snakes, spiders, mice, ticks, and more). While that idea in and of itself isn’t necessarily off-putting, consider how close to your home your underbrush is. A family of mice living in the bushes outside could easily explore their surroundings and decide that your attic makes a much nicer nesting ground than the cold, dirty ground. And we don’t have to tell you the kind of damage termites could do to your house—you definitely want to keep them as far away as possible! In addition to running off the rodents and terrorizing the termites, clearing underbrush also reduces the chances of snakes and other bugs. Sitting on your back porch enjoying a glass of sweet tea in the evening is a lot more appealing when you aren't being eaten alive by mosquitoes, and having your kiddos run through the yard is a lot less scary when you’re not afraid of snakes lying in wait under every leaf. Removing that coverage is a sure-fire way to reduce the chances of all kinds of infestations. If you build it, they will come, and if you tear it down, they will go! Cut out the competition Excessive undergrowth also poses a threat to the trees and plants you actually do want around. Your new crepe myrtle needs a lot of water as it establishes itself in your yard, and it might not make it if it has to fight overgrown shrubs and vines for nutrients. Underbrush can also crowd out your new flower bed or vegetable garden, even if it doesn’t seem like it’s close enough—remember to account for the roots, because they spread a lot farther than you think. Getting the most out of your land Another reason to clear underbrush from your property is that it actually makes that property usable. Whether you’d like to have a nice outdoor fire pit for the cooler fall evenings, or you have fur babies who would love the chance to run around through open spaces, clearing underbrush gives you much more real estate to work with. Our clients are often surprised by just how much backyard they actually have once it’s not all cluttered with overgrown foliage! Weed out the wildfires Though this might not apply here in the Athens area, where we aren’t prone to frequent wildfires, underbrush is always at some risk for them. In dry seasons or after long dry spells, that undergrowth is all but self-lighting tinder ready to burn, and that’s the last thing you want anywhere near your home or family. Okay, I get it - but why can't I do it myself?Even if you do accept that underbrush is worth the effort of clearing, most people don't understand why you have to hire a professional to do it. It seems like a pretty easy thing, after all - just get out there and chop away, and you're done! Why pay someone for that? In reality, brush clearing is time-consuming, strenuous, and (especially here in the South) hot-and-sweaty hard work. Getting to the job often gets pushed by the wayside in favor of smaller, less-exhausting projects, which leads to rampant undergrowth that becomes even more overwhelming by the day. Calling your friendly neighborhood arborist is a great way to ensure the brush is actually cleared. But more than that, clearing underbrush can be dangerous. All those pests we mentioned? They might already be nice and cozy in those tangled vines, and they won't be too happy when you disturb them. Our team of professionals is prepared to deal with whatever nature has to throw our way, and we have the property equipment and safety gear to ensure no one (not even the pests!) gets hurt. If you're ready to get that underbrush cleared so you can start enjoying a pest-free, accessible, and beautiful yard, contact us today to get a free estimate! 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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23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24