Blog Post

3 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HAVING YOUR FRUIT AND NUT TREES TRIMMED

  • By Holcomb Tree Service
  • 29 Nov, 2018
Fruit and nut trees are wonderful resources for the rancher and suburban property owner alike. Trees that produce food must be trimmed occasionally to ensure abundant harvests and healthy, sustained growth. There are three things you should know about managing your fruit and nut trees.

PRUNING FRUIT TREES TAKES PRACTICE

Trimming excess growth from fruit trees is a science and an art. Each type of fruit needs a different type of support from the branches. And each individual tree requires specific attention to address issues with its unique growth patterns and meet its sunlight needs.

In order to understand how to properly remove branches on a tree, an arborist learns the three basic types of fruit- and nut-tree pruning. The first way of shaping a tree is the natural-habit system. This method is recommended for citrus, pomegranate and fig trees. The tree is allowed to form its own habit, but you trim new suckers and overgrowth as needed.

The second method is the central-leader system, which means that the tree is shaped with a tall center trunk. All other branches stem off of this main leader. These fruiting side branches are routinely thinned to prevent overcrowding of fruit and provide more sunlight to the lower branches.

Trees that are pruned using the central-leader system include:
  • Apple
  • Pear
  • Cherry
  • Pecan
Some trees, including persimmon trees, can be pruned using either the central-leader system or the system called open-center pruning. With this method, the center leader of the tree is lopped off short. The fruiting branches are allowed to develop upward and outward from the shorter central trunk.

Experts recommend the open-center method of fruit tree cultivation for trees including:
  • Apricot
  • Plum
  • Peach
  • Nectarine
Some fruit and nut trees can be permanently damaged if pruned incorrectly. To keep your fruit and nut trees growing properly, hire an expert who has the tools and skills to remove and shape the branches correctly.

THERE'S A "RIGHT TIME" TO PRUNE TREES

It's always the right time to trim fruit and nut tree branches when they've died or become diseased. No matter the season, you should have any sick, dead or dangerous tree limbs trimmed away and removed from your property. Fruit- and nut-tree diseases spread easily from fallen branches and debris, and large, dead limbs can be dangerous projectiles during intense storms.

For most healthy fruit and nut trees, the optimum time to prune them occurs during the months when the plant is dormant. Trees that are dormant have dropped their leaves for the cold season and have not yet formed buds for the coming spring.

The months from early January to mid-February are generally acceptable months to have your fruit trees trimmed. If you wait too long to have trees pruned, you may put your trees at risk of pest damage and diseases at the wound sites of the pruned branches.

TRUST AN EXPERT TO TRIM TREES THE RIGHT WAY AT THE RIGHT TIME

A tree-trimming professional is the best person to consult to find out the optimum time to trim the fruit trees in your area. Since many trees form fruit on last year's growth, it helps your harvest to have an expert prune the trees at the correct time.

Some people mistakenly believe that the more branches a fruit tree has, the more fruit they'll get. They let trees grow naturally and hope for the best. Their trees may end up producing more fruits, but those fruits will be small and take a lot of energy from the tree.

When a tree must produce unchecked amounts of fruit on tangled branches, the tree becomes susceptible to plant diseases. The tree may die much earlier than it should. Proper pruning of
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By Holcomb Tree Service 29 Nov, 2018
After living in your home for a while, you may turn your attention toward resale value. Even if selling your house is still years away, it is never too early to look into ways you can get the most out of your investment. There are a number of ways resale value can be added, and one easy method is to plant a new, healthy tree.
By Holcomb Tree Service 29 Nov, 2018

Healthy, appealing trees offer enormous benefits some of which may surprise you. Not only will trees in your landscape design improve curb appeal and increase your home's property value, but they can also aid in energy efficiency. While surprising to learn, trees that shade your home, windows and outdoor AC units can reduce cooling costs in the summer by 35%.

Planting young trees around your home will add curb appeal, but the lack of height and foliage will not help your heating and cooling costs. Therefore, you should plant attractive trees that will grow quickly, producing shade for energy conservation within a few years. This guide, and your contractor's help to maintain  will help you know which attractive, fast-growing and shade-producing trees you should consider for your yard.

Crabapple Tree


One tree that adds color, texture and a great deal of shade, while also being easy to grow and maintain, is the Crabapple tree. The tree produces blooms of lush pink flowers in the spring and thick green foliage through the summer and fall. This foliage shades your home with ease.

Since the tree's branches grow up, instead of out, this tree is the perfect option for your home's exterior and outdoor AC units. Be sure to prune away dead flowers and limbs in the early part of winter to ensure new growth in the spring and summer.

River Birch Tree


The river birch is another fast-growing, shade-producing tree that will make a big impact on your landscape design and heating and cooling costs. This tree is also easy to grow, and survives in most soil conditions and requires very little water once established.

Also, the River Birch thrives in areas of your yard that receives full sun. Planting this tree close to a sunny outdoor living area will keep you and your guests under comfortable shade. In addition, planting these trees next to your home's exterior windows will help reduce cooling costs.

It is important to note that the River Birch is a massive tree. On average, it can grow up to 50 or 90 feet tall. Because of its height, avoid planting the tree near power lines.

To ensure the tree remains attractive and healthy, trim off dead foliage and fertilize in the fall.

Crepe Myrtle Tree


A Crepe Myrtle is definitely one of the easiest trees to grow since it does not require any special soil conditions and is heat and drought-tolerant. Its unique shape has been compared to a mushroom cloud. This tree has either a single trunk or a multitude of trunks that intertwine together.

You will love the floral blooms that occur at the end of spring and early summer. In most climates, the blooms will continue through the early part of fall as well. Available in a large variety of colors including white, pink, red and purple, the Crepe Myrtle tree adds appeal, shade and value to your home.

While easy to grow, the Crepe Myrtle does require a decent amount of maintenance to keep it healthy and attractive. To protect its shape, pruning off dying foliage and branches at the end of winter is important.

Flowering Dogwood


There are many varieties of the Flowering Dogwood tree to consider. From the Barton species, which produces white blooms in the spring and grows to a height of 25 feet, or a Japanese Dogwood, which offers vibrant pink and red blooms in the spring and summer, the possibilities are endless.

No matter which species you choose, a Flowering Dogwood is a great option for areas of your yard that receive full sun or partial shade.

In the fall season, trim away dead overgrowth and dying blooms before fertilizing. This will help the tree survive the harsh winter temperatures.

To learn more about planting and maintaining your fast-growing, shade-producing trees, contact the professionals at Holcomb Tree Service today.

By Holcomb Tree Service 29 Nov, 2018
If you are looking to invest in the long-term value of your property, one of the best options is planting trees. According to several estimates, healthy, mature trees can add 10 to 20 percent to a home's worth. Besides aesthetic appeal, trees can also cool houses and produce fruits and nuts.

But, not all trees are equally valuable. By selecting species that will thrive and contribute to a home's environment, you may make your property much more appealing to buyers. These five steps will help you decide which new trees to plant near your home in Dallas, TX, and the surrounding areas.
By Holcomb Tree Service 29 Nov, 2018
Healthy, appealing trees offer enormous benefits some of which may surprise you. Not only will trees in your landscape design improve curb appeal and increase your home's property value, but they can also aid in energy efficiency. While surprising to learn, trees that shade your home, windows and outdoor AC units can reduce cooling costs in the summer by 35%.

Planting young trees around your home will add curb appeal, but the lack of height and foliage will not help your heating and cooling costs. Therefore, you should plant attractive trees that will grow quickly, producing shade for energy conservation within a few years. This guide, and your contractor's help to maintain, will help you know which attractive, fast-growing and shade-producing trees you should consider for your yard.
By Holcomb Tree Service 29 Nov, 2018
Storms can do a considerable amount of damage to your trees and to your landscaping in general. From cracked tree branches to flooded root systems, the damage caused by a storm can have a long-lasting effect on your trees' health. After a big storm blows through, it is a good idea to assess your trees for damage, and also to mitigate a few other common problems the storm may have caused. Complete these four tasks, and you should be on the right track.
By Holcomb Tree Service 29 Nov, 2018
Storms can do a considerable amount of damage to your trees and to your landscaping in general. From cracked tree branches to flooded root systems, the damage caused by a storm can have a long-lasting effect on your trees' health. After a big storm blows through, it is a good idea to assess your trees for damage, and also to mitigate a few other common problems the storm may have caused. Complete these four tasks, and you should be on the right track.
By Holcomb Tree Service 29 Nov, 2018

From energy efficiency and added curb appeal to an increase in your home's overall value, it is easy to see the benefits of healthy trees in your landscape design. Unfortunately, many homeowners do not fully understand how to care for their trees. While watering and even fertilizing may be priorities, protecting your trees from different diseases and pests is also important.

Oak wilt is one of the most common diseases that affect oak trees today. It is also one of the most devastating diseases because it affects the health and appearance oak trees - while also shortening their life spans. While shocking to learn, oak wilt can kill a tree within a few months after symptoms begin to set in.

Understanding and treating this disease is imperative. With this guide and the help of a certified arborist , you will learn the causes, signs and treatment options for trees with oak wilt disease.

Development of Oak Wilt Disease

Oak wilt disease is caused by a fungus, Ceratocystis fagacearum. This infectious fungus spreads fast - destroying the leaf veins that carry the tree's water supply. The fungus also spreads through the tree bark and creates thick mats of the fungus that beetles and other insects feed on. Once an insect feeds off the fungal mat, they will carry and transmit the oak wilt disease to other trees.

Once the fungus spreads to the tree's roots, oak wilt disease can be transmitted to other trees near or connected to the same root system.

Symptoms of Oak Wilt Disease

The symptoms of oak wilt disease vary according to what type of oak is infected with the fungus. Red oaks will show visible signs in the actual tree canopy. You may notice an oily, green discoloration on the foliage of the tree's canopy. This discoloration may change to a tan or reddish color as the fungus spreads. If the foliage is discolored and falling off the tree rapidly, the tree is most likely infected by oak wilt disease.

In live oak trees, signs of oak wilt will be prominent in the veins of the leaves. The middle part of the leaves and side veins will start to turn yellow and brown - this is known as veinal necrosis.

Treatment of Oak Wilt Disease

Because oak wilt can spread through the root system, you should remove infected trees from your property. Hiring a professional is best for
the removal of these trees because proper handling is essential to prevent the fungus from spreading to other areas of your landscape.

To save multiple trees that are infected with the oak wilt fungus, you may need to create a deep trench around diseased trees. This trench can stop the spread of the disease to other trees by protecting the underlying root system.

If you only have one tree in your yard that is infected, treatment is possible. Fungicide injections to the tree's trunk and soil around the tree will kill oak wilt fungus. However, you must also prune off infected branches and foliage.

Pruning infected limbs should not be conducted between the months of February and June. Spring is the ideal season for accommodating new growth in healthy trees, but infected trees will not see any benefits of pruning in the spring. Diseased branches should be removed in the winter, summer or fall.
Trusting the professionals to prune your trees is essential. Arborists have the necessary tools and experience to work around fungus and disease.
Oak wilt disease can wreak havoc on the look and health of your trees, but help is available. To learn more about preventing oak wilt and other diseases with proper tree care, contact the certified arborists at Holcomb Tree Service today.
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