Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Tree Transplantation Company Saves Large Maple Trees at Remodeling Site

Mid COVID-19 Pandemic Big Trees Inc Still Committed to Saving Scenic Trees

SNOHOMISH, WA: Big Trees Inc., (https://bigtreesupply.com/), a tree sales and transplant company in northern Washington State, recently handled the transplanting of 10 large Vine Maple trees at a construction site. The company has over 30 years of experience in the tree transplanting, and they were able to carry out the task with no complications or difficulties.

In January 2020, the owners of a company taking over an old building in the Redmond, WA, area contacted Big Trees Inc., asking for their help with the trees. The 10 large Vine Maple trees were in the way of the company’s remodeling project for the building, but the owners were adamant that the trees be saved. After initial evaluation Big Trees determined that the best plan to move the trees was prior to mid-March, while the trees were still dormant.

However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to the plans. That is until May, when the site was opened up again and the transplanting project was resumed. Due to the change in climate, Big Trees employed techniques to treat the trees and put them in a temporary state of dormancy, so the trees could still be moved despite already leafing out. The trees were then moved using a 10,000 lb heavy duty forklift. There was not enough room on site to store the trees, however Big Trees Inc was able to find room for them in their tree nursery, where they will stay for the next 2 years while the company remodeling project is fully completed. At that point Big Trees Inc. will assist in safely returning the trees to their home. The company was very thankful for Big Trees Inc.’s assistance on the site, and the company’s landscape architect stated she was excited to design her plan around the large specimen Vine maples.

Nancy Penrose, owner of Big Trees Inc., stated: “I love projects like these. Today, more and more owners of large projects are genuinely concerned about the existing landscape and try to do everything they can to save what is viable.  It is really nice to see – and good for all the parties involved, but particularly the plants!”

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., located in Snohomish, WA in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only deliver young trees, but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including large trees. Their blog can be seen at http://www.bigtreesupply.com/blog/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.

Can I Still Plant a Tree this Summer?

by Nancy Penrose

With summer on its way, and after the difficult times we’ve all been through as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, people are beginning to turn their attention again outdoors. Caring for our lawns, gardens and trees naturally brings a bit of much needed enjoyment. There has never been a better representation of regrowth and rejuvenation than the time-honored tradition of planting a tree.
So it leads to the question: “Can I really plant a tree successfully in summer?” Traditionally in the Pacific Northwest, planting trees is done in Fall, Winter or Spring, because the trees are more dormant during this time. However, planting in summer can be done, provided the tree is consistently irrigated and monitored.

Planting Trees in Summer
The danger with planting a tree in summer is that when you plant a tree, at any time, it puts a lot of stress on the tree. Your new tree is in an unfamiliar environment and hasn’t established its roots to the extent that a mature tree has.

When trees are first planted, they need a lot more water than mature trees. For the first 2 years you should be prepared with an automated watering system.

In summer, trees need enough water to make it through the season, but also to ensure their roots are built up with enough strength to survive the cold of winter. You will need to watch the trees carefully to ensure they are getting enough water, but not so much that the roots get flooded.

Proper watering practices are vital to the survival of a newly planted tree. Watering trees sounds simple enough. Surprisingly, it's not that easy given that new trees die in the landscape from lack of water every year. The most common cause of decline in newly planted trees is improper irrigation. Here's the secret: Get water slowly to the root ball to ensure slow delivery so water can gradually soak into the root-ball. Forget sprinkler irrigation, and especially rainfall. Oftentimes, people start up their irrigation systems too late in the season assuming the rain is sufficient. Rainfall WILL NOT water your newly planted tree effectively. Remember, newly planted trees must live entirely off the moisture in their root-ball until roots grow away to surrounding soils. Give them a chance.

Newly planted trees should be irrigated with automated drip irrigation for TWO COMPLETE GROWING SEASONS. This is typically April through October. Water for 15 minutes every day the first year, and 30 minutes 3 days a week the second year. Drip irrigation uses the least amount of water with the highest efficiency. It evenly distributes water directly over the rootball of newly installed trees and it provides consistent moisture levels. Regular pop up sprinkler heads WILL NOT water your newly planted tree effectively, nor will “diligent” hand watering.


Irrigation amount and frequency are dependent on:
Season, Air Temperature, Soil Texture, Soil Structure and Tree Species
With so many factors it is difficult to give an irrigation standard that is appropriate for all trees and landscapes. Generally, no irrigation is needed when trees are dormant. The period of dormancy for deciduous trees is easy to determine because they lose their leaves. Evergreens go dormant also. Use deciduous trees as indicators for the dormancy period for both types of trees. Irrigation should begin when deciduous trees start to bud up or leaf out in early spring. The most amount of water will be required mid to late summer when soil moisture has been reduced and air temperatures are at their highest. In mid to late fall the irrigation schedule can be tapered off back to a watering schedule that was used in early spring. Once fall leaf drop occurs discontinue watering until the next growing season.

So how do you know if you have achieved the right irrigation frequency and timing? One simple method that gives good results requires some investigation:
Use a trowel to dig down at the root zone approximately 4-6”. Pick up a small handful of soil and squeeze it tightly in the palm of your hand. If the soil has formed slightly to the shape of your palm after you have opened your fist, the soil moisture is ideal. If the soil easily crumbles and falls apart the moisture level is too low, and if you are able to squeeze water from the soil when it is in your fist the soil is too wet. All water should be absorbed within 6 hours, and no puddling should occur in the root zone.

Trees absorb both oxygen and water from the soil. Overly saturated soils have little available oxygen and soils that are too dry hold any moisture so tightly that it is unavailable to trees. It is a fine balance that requires continued monitoring and adjustments.
Mulch to Conserve Soil Moisture
Mulch should be used to help conserve soil moisture, and you should replenish the mulch often enough. Bare soil can heat up too much in summer, as water will evaporate quickly. You should generally lay down a couple inches of mulch at a distance about 1 foot from the base of the trunk. Your tree should have a layer of mulch around it all year-long, but in summer this is critical.
Inspect For Tree Health
Keep an eye on your trees to ensure they are remaining strong. If leaves or branches are damaged, they can be pruned. If you notice or suspect any signs of damage or a disease, you can always call a specialist to do an inspection and see what the trouble is. Remedying this quickly could mean the difference between whether the tree will be able to thrive, or not.

With enough care and attention, you can ensure your trees survive the summer and continue to be a beautiful addition to your yard for years to come.


Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., located in Snohomish, WA in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only deliver young trees, but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including large trees. Their blog can be seen at http://www.bigtreesupply.com/blog/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.

California Construction Company Provides Free Advice and Consultation to the Public

Silva Construction Providing Advice on Remodeling, Repairs and Additions to Homeowners
SAN PEDRO, CA: Silva Construction, (https://www.silvaconstruction.com), a commercial and residential construction company in Southern California’s South Bay, recently extended its line of service to the public by offering free consultation and advice to homeowners. The company is extending the same offer to business owners and companies for their business renovation and repair needs.

With over 45 years of experience in the construction field, Silva Construction is now offering advice to any homeowners seeking assistance with home repair, remodeling projects, and general structural problems with their homes. This is in addition to the company’s already established service of free estimate on projects of home remodeling and construction. Ways to reach the company can be found on their contact information page on their website: https://www.silvaconstruction.com/contact-us/

Dave Silva, co-owner of the company, made the announcement in response to the continuing problems encountered by public due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, making it clear he stood by to do anything he could to help the public get through this crisis. He stated: “In this time, when so many people are forced to stay at home due to the unfortunate circumstances we find ourselves in, we want homeowners to know they are not alone. People find themselves faced with things breaking down in the house, or there’s the remodeling project that you’ve been meaning to do but never had the time. We want to help people achieve their home building goals. So we’ve opened our doors to giving any and all advice and consultation to the public on whatever is needed to improve their homes.”

Dave Silva and David Clarke are owners of Silva Construction, Inc., located in San Pedro, CA. The company has over 40 years of experience in remodeling construction, and serves Southern California’s South Bay area, including Westchester, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, San Pedro, Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Harbor City, Lomita, Torrance, and other select areas. Their blog can be seen at https://www.silvaconstruction.com/blog3/ and their website can be seen at https://www.silvaconstruction.com/. They can be reached at 310-831-6310.