We are blessed in Florida to have so many amazing trees and rich urban canopies. Unfortunately, just like in many other states, urban canopies are under constant stress from development and construction activities. Many property owners have trees in poor structural condition, trees that have suffered from neglect, disease, construction damage, or which are simply…Read more
Tag: Trees
The Importance of Monitoring Tree Health
With the start of the 2024 Hurricane Season, which is forecast to be an active one, homeowners should be proactive about preparations. Some storms in recent years have wreaked havoc on locales, and in many situations, trees have been a major cause of damage and injury such as broken limbs piercing roofs, fallen trunks crushing…Read more
How to Protect Trees From Lightning
Florida is a state where lightning strikes, and it is more than twice. With summer bringing multiple thunderstorms weekly, the chances of tree damage are quite significant. Lightning protection systems for trees are old technology, having been developed decades ago. They consist of three connected parts. A copper cable “down-conductor” directs the charge of a…Read more
Some Important Steps for Safe Tree Replacement
The recent storms and tornadoes have focused the attention of many residents on trees within their home sites. Typically, these large plants are part of the background and receive little to no notice. However, weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes and the like can reveal often overlooked safety and maintenance issues. Much of the damage…Read more
Keeping Trees Healthy During Big Projects
Before initiating construction, it is prudent to consider all the ways to preserve tree root zones when building a home or making improvements on an existing site. There are several reasons why preconstruction study and planning are worth the effort. Healthy trees add significantly to the appraised value of a home. Larger trees take two…Read more
An Intriguing Clue With a Surprising Cause
A clue, by inference, directs the viewer to a conclusion. The deduction which is based on the exhibited evidence may provide some insight into an activity occurring at some point in the past. No matter how good the data, much depends on the effective detective work of the individual attempting to understand the situation. The…Read more
An Ancient, Tough Tree With Many Uses
There is a lot to be gained from having a tough reputation. Only those with an excessively stalwart disposition or lack of good sense will dare to make a challenge to the individual who holds this distinction. Unbending, rigid and durable are descriptors which invoke a firm, if not dogmatic, state of resiliency. With this…Read more
Squirrels Pine for This Tasty Meal
Many native plants and trees have finished their assigned annual task in the closing days of 2023 and are now in a state of rest. Their ultimate job is to produce seeds which will hopefully continue the species. While a majority of the seeds are small and easily overlooked, there is one “seed pack” which…Read more
A Reliable Food Source in the Cold
The traditional season of harvest and the gatherings of families and friends is at hand. A celebratory holdover from past generations who were completely dependent upon the land for food and other critical resources, in November one counted their blessings collectively or tightened their belt individually for a long and dismal winter. Today’s residents of…Read more
The Importance of Summer While It Lasts
The summer solstice has passed, and the weather reflects the seasonal change. High temperatures and stifling humidity are the daily norm. Still, the sun has begun its daily retreat into the southern sky, and the northern hemisphere repeats its regular annual tilt away from solar exposure. The creatures and plants which populate the woods, swamps…Read more