Florida Tree Care in the Autumn and Winter

It's the height of summer and I wrote a piece for my Tree Service client about what to do for your trees during the fall and winter. I thought it made sense because now is the time to plan for what's coming up.

Here's a bit of what I covered in that piece:

Florida rarely gets hard freezes, but our trees still need some attention.

Since our winters mostly feel like an extended autumn, I put them together as a single season.

Many trees in the Mid Florida region can withstand cold snaps and light freezes, but some trees can be seriously harmed. Then, of course, is the rare hard freeze that can damage the toughest Florida Trees. Taking some pre-season precautions can mitigate these risks.

When the temperature begins to drop is often the best time to have your trees pruned. The cooler, drier weather holds a reduced risk of tree disease and infection.

The drier weather also allows the soil to become more firm, allowing allowing trucks and heavier machinery to work over the roots with less risk of damage.

Winter Tree Pruning also allows the tree some time to recover in time for the spring rains that will prompt the tree to put on new lush greenery.

Your grass and other ground level plants may benefit from having your trees trimmed. This is a time of less direct sunlight, so thinning the branches may allow more of that sunlight to reach your yard.

No matter the season, whenever you need tree service in Central Florida, my go-to suggestion is always Mid Florida Tree Service.

Preparation for Hurricane Season

Florida residents hear it every year: "Be prepared for hurricane season." That can mean a lot of things, like making sure you have plenty of water to drink, in case there's an outage, checking your roof to make sure it's in good repair and maybe getting an electric generator.

But, often overlooked is preparing one's trees for the season. It doesn't take a direct hit to damage trees and some preventative maintenance can go a long way to mitigate the threat the weather has on your trees, and therefor on anything those trees might fall or drop limbs on.

• In winter or early spring, have your trees trimmed. 
• Have your tree service expert clear the deadwood from your trees.
• Always work with a licensed company
• Always work with a certified arborist
• Don't go crazy with the trimming. Let the arborist help you decide how much to trim.

Professionally pruned trees tend to be stronger and healthier. Stronger, healthier trees are less likely to fail during a storm.

I'd suggest that you allow Mid Florida Tree Service to prune your trees' dead branches that could be blown around in heavy winds. If there are dead trees on your property, have Mid Florida Tree Service remove them. Whenever possible, avoid cutting large healthy limbs. The large cross section cut gives too much opportunity for wood destroying organisms to get a foothold on your tree.  

If you'll follow the link I provided earlier, you'll get some more information about Hurricane Tree Preparation and have the opportunity to get in contact with Mid Florida Tree Service.

Dealing with Invasive Florida Trees

When you recognize that a tree on your property is actually an invasive species, and you decide to remove the threat, ensure it is done correctly to prevent it from re-sprouting, or getting spread to a new location.

What am I going on about?

Florida's amazing warm and humid climate is an excellent environment for many plant species. It's so amazing, that some non-native species thrive better here than in their native lands. When that non-native species becomes a problem by out-competing the locals, it takes the lable "Invasive Species". 

Florida invasive trees include  the Camphor tree, Brazilian Pepper, Chinese Tallow, Mimosa, Melaleuca (aka: Paper Tree) and many others.

The optimum time to remove invasive trees might be in the fall, when they their resources are pulled into their root system, preparing for cooler weather. 

Hire a professional Tree Service

You don't have to do this on your own! Trust a professional arborist to remove your invasive Florida trees. As always, I recommend Mid Florida Tree Service.

Cutting them down to a very low stump, then painting the open top with herbicide may facilitate the herbicide being drawn down into the roots, killing them entirely and preventing the tree from re-sprouting.

The cut debris from invasive trees must also be handled with care so that seeds are not carried away and deposited on new ground. If burning the debris onsite is an option, that may be best, but often that option is just not possible. So, careful transportation to offsite incineration or deep burial would be other options.

When you are thinking of adding trees to your property, please choose native trees that thrive, but do not pose an invasive risk to our amazing ecosystem!

Dry Season Tree Care

Florida typically experiences a dry season from October to sometimes as late as May. During a prolonged period of very low rainfall, trees and shrubs are stressed. Let's see how to recognize drought stress and take corrective action.

Drought stress occurs when water in the soil becomes limited and unavailable to trees and shrubs. As the soil dries, young roots can be killed, further hampering the ability of trees and shrubs to absorb water. The inability to obtain sufficient water then reduces their ability to defend against insect and disease problems.

Signs to look for are 

• loss of leaves starting in the top center of canopy
• yellowing and/or browning of leaves
• wilting of leaves
• dead branch tips at the top of the tree. 

Each of these indicates water not reaching the canopy and signs of a dry root system.

Fertilizer can also cause root injury when soil moisture is limited. Avoid fertilizing during a drought. 

Florida Irrigation Strategy

Give priority to newly planted trees because they lack full root systems, as well as trees with damaged root systems, these are the most at risk.

Remember we want to keep the tree’s roots moist, but not wet. Saturated soil can weaken your tree’s root system. Let the top 3 or so inches of the soil dry out before considering irrigating again.

Most tree roots in mid Florida are within 2 to 4 feet of the surface. It is this area where we want to supply water. Light, frequent irrigation will not work for trees.

Water slowly so water penetrates the soil, use one or two deep watering’s every week or week and half during drought.

If you have them, soaker hoses and drip irrigation should be used because they are the most effective watering tools to discharge even streams of slow, trickling water directly to the root zone.

Water strategically. Trees absorb more water in the morning, before the warming sun causes evaporation.

Finally be sure your program complies with local water restrictions.

No matter the season, when you need help with your trees, I recommend Mid Florida Tree Service.

Florida Winter Tree Care

Preparing the Landscape for Cold Weather

Florida's winter hardly compares to the harsh northern conditions, but we do get some cold weather. We even get the occasional frost and the rare freeze in Mid Florida. A little pre-planning and proactive care can make the difference between your trees living or dying. 

The first thing you can do for your trees is to keep them healthy year round. (see my recommendation below) A healthy tree is more likely to survive a harsh winter vs. a tree that's already weakened. 

Get Ready for Winter

Avoid fertilizer in late fall and throughout the winter. Fertilizer promotes new growth, which is generally more prone to injury from the cold. Pruning in late fall and into the winter can also be troublesome as newly pruned trees may also be more easily damaged by the cooler temperatures. 

If you would like to keep less cold-hardy plants, keep them in containers so they can be moved to a protected area when we are expecting a freeze. Stock up on blankets for your most vulnerable trees.

This leads me to the next topic:

Pay attention to the weather forecasts.

We usually get some notice before a frost or hard freeze. When one is predicted, move your vulnerable potted plants inside or to an otherwise protected area.

Cover your trees with blankets before the temperature drops. Let the blanket reach all the way to the ground. An electric light bulb can be placed under the blanket for added heat. If you can't cover the entire tree, wrap just the trunk with blankets or newspaper.

Aftermath

Don't be too quick to prune away cold damaged portions of your trees. Once spring arrives, you'll be better able to see  what parts of the tree remain healthy and then prune only as needed. 

Of course, when you need help with your trees, I always recommend Mid Florida Tree Service. They've been in business about as long as I've been alive. They know their Florida trees and are ready to help you take the best possible care of your trees.

Gibsonton Tree Service

I've lived in the Tampa area for over 30 years, and in East Hillsborough for about 20. Before I moved to the east side, I really didn't know much about Gibsonton. I hadn't heard about it's connection to the carnival industry, nor had I heard its nickname "Gibtown".

It turns out that Gibtown is the winter home of a lot of showmen and their employees, sometimes known as "Carnies". You might see some businesses with Showman or Carnival related names, and you might see carnival rides, packed into their open semi-trailers, sitting in someone's yard.

Gibsonton Florida is a Census Designated Place on the south shore of the Alifia River between Hillsborough Bay and I-75 and down to Big Bend Road.

This area was once called South Shore, and that name is being used again to refer to at least Gibsonton, Riverview and Apollo Beach. As a significant part of SouthShore, hosting a new movie theater, Cracker Barrel Restaurant and an aging Walmart Super Center, Gibsonton is growing into a more urban town.

This urbanization hasn't rid Gibsonton of its trees! Just take a look at it on a map with satellite view and you'll see how green it is. If your business or property in Gibsonton, Florida needs tree work done, I'd like to suggest my client. Mid Florida Tree Service has been in business, in this area, since about the time I was born! They have professionals on staff to understand the best way to care for your trees, regardless of the situation. Mid Florida Tree Service offers pruning, trimming and removal with stump grinding to ensure the remains are below grade. They offer deep root fertilizing so that the tree, and not just the grass, gets the nutrients needed. Emergency service for fallen trees and difficult removals where cut limbs falling on buildings is possible are well within their domain. They have the equipment and knowledge to bring them down safely. For Gibsonton Tree Service,

give them a call at (813) 986-2258

Emergency Tree Service

Live Oak trees are a Florida favorite. They make excellent shade trees and are attractive as well as good nesting sites and food sources for birds and squirrels. They add value to your property and may mitigate storm damage by acting as a wind break.

We mustn't let our love of these trees blind us to their potential downside. All trees shed branches. Larger trees may shed larger limbs. If their health is impaired, they may fail entirely. Even a healthy tree might come down if the soil becomes too saturated and the tree simply uproots. Any tree falling like this is, of course, dangerous. It is especially so with these large ancient trees. A certified arborist's maintenance schedule can reduce the risks of failure by keeping the tree balanced and healthy.

Emergency Tree Removal

I've talked about Live Oaks, because they are so LARGE and so common in Florida, but any large fallen tree can be a danger. To safely remove a fallen tree and prevent additional damage to property requires skill and experience. My client, Mid Florida Tree Service has both. 

Plant City Tree Service

There are 3 cities in Hillsborough County Florida, Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City. Mid Florida Tree service takes care of trees in each of these cities and their surrounding areas. 

Today I'm writing specifically about Plant City.

Plant City's population is around 40k as of 2020. Known as a rural agricultural center, where strawberries are king and the Plant City Strawberry Festival draws crowds from around the state and beyond, Plant City's urban area is growing as well.

Farmers, home owners or businesses in Plant City all need professional tree service from time to time. Mid Florida Tree Service has been serving this area for nearly 50 years. They are located near Temple Terrace (Thonotosassa, near Harney Road). This puts them in excellent position to serve Plant City and the rest of eastern Hillsborough County Florida.

Mid Florida Tree Service has a genuine concern for their customers' opinion. They preserve that opinion by offering polite service and by working to high standards and efficiency as well as by leaving the site clean when the job is done.

In Florida, Tropical Storms and Hurricanes get a lot of press. That's especially true near the ocean and the gulf. Inland areas, like Plant City, still get their share of wind and rain from these systems, but even a normal afternoon thunderstorm can wreak havoc on Florida Trees. Whether that's limbs being broken by the wind, or roots failing because the ground is just too saturated for support, Mid Florida Tree Service can help you recover from these events. (A little prevention before the rainy season may even save you some trouble!)

If your home or business in Plant City has a tree emergency, or you just want to be prepared for the season, contact Mid Florida Tree Service today for help with your emergency or a preventative maintenance schedule for your property.

You can reach them at 813-986-2258

Is my tree dying?

Is your tree dying?

Dying trees can be dangerous! Large falling branches can cause property damage or bodily injury. Falling limbs and even entire trees have been known, unfortunately, to cause severe injuries and death.

A dead or dying tree can also hurt your property value. When it's time to sell, you want the best return on your investment so you are best prepared for whatever comes next. Even if you are not selling, you want your trees to look their best and a diseased tree tends to have more sparse leaves and the poor health is often evident in those leaves.

You'll want to protect your property, family and guests. You'll want to  maintain your home's value and improve your curb appeal, it is therefore  important to recognize the signs of a diseased or dying tree.

Knowing the signs can help you know when to ask an expert. Here are some things that will help you recognize the signs of a dying tree.

Any sudden changes in a tree's growth habits or appearance can be signs of trouble. 

Mushrooms or Toadstools

Fungus feeds on rotting organics, like wood. If mushrooms are growing on your tree, this is a sure sign that something is wrong under the bark.

Cracks or Cankers

Cracks & large open sores, called cankers, are a sign of disease. To make things worse, cracks and cankers let in pests, which can accelerate the destruction of the tree. These wounds may form due to damage from lightning or other external factors. Other times, these wounds are caused by a disease inside the tree. 

Leaning

If the angle of your tree's trunk changes, you can bet it's a problem! Look for bulging soil where roots might be heaving. Contact a professional right away if you see this.

Leaf Drop

Of course, deciduous trees are expected to drop their leaves once a year, but if your tree is dropping its leaves at the wrong time, it can  be a sign of trouble. On a similar note, look for dark or yellowing spots on the leaves as well.

What to Do When You Think Your Tree Is Dying

If you believe that your tree is sick or dying, contact a tree service in your area. I, of course, recommend my client Mid Florida Tree Service. Your tree service can diagnose the tree. Some trees can be saved if treatment is done in time. If the tree cannot be saved, your tree service can help you through the tree removal process.

Contact an Expert

If you're concerned about the state of one or more of your trees, contact an expert like my client, Mid Florida Tree Serivce.

 

The perfect living Christmas Tree - Southern Red Cedar

It's Christmas time! In Florida, that doesn't mean much, as far as the weather goes, but it does get a little cooler. The classic Christmas trees like the Fraser Fir may not grow well in Florida, so if you want a living Christmas tree in your yard, you will likely need to think of some alternatives.

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Herman, D.E. et al. 1996. North Dakota tree handbook. USDA NRCS ND State Soil Conservation Committee; NDSU Extension and Western Area Power Admin., Bismarck, ND., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The southern red cedar, actually a type of juniper, is low-maintenance and makes an stunning statement in Mid Florida Landscapes. 

Red Cedars have a natural symmetry that helps them look manicured with little to no effort.

Sometimes called Florida Red Cedar, it is the perfect outdoor Christmas tree, with it's pyramidal shape and it can grow wider as it matures. The beautiful emerald-green foliage matches well with the Christmas Theme. 

You'll want a spacious landscape for planting this tree. Red cedars can be used alone, or planted in rows as a living privacy fence. They also make ideal windbreaks

 Specs:

• Evergreen
• Height: about 40 Feet
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Sun: full to part
• Soil: Well Drained 
• Salt Tolerance: Mildly Salt tolerant.
• Cold Hardy
• Does well anywhere in Mid Florida.

If you'd like more information about caring for this, or any other tree in Florida, I suggest you contact the Tree Care Professionals at Mid Florida Tree Service. They've been in the business for literally decades, and have certified arborists on staff to ensure all your trees receive the best care possible.

Common Tree Care Errors

Obviously, you'd never intentionally harm your own trees, but there are things to consider to ensure their long term health isn't compromised by human actions.

Let's take a look at some common tree care errors.

 

Laying mulch too close a trunk

• Mulch balances the temperature of your soil and helps retain moisture and adds nutrients back into the soil. So, adding mulch around the tree is a good thing, right? Well, it's important that the mulch is not piled up around the base of the tree where too much moisture may cause the bark to rot and lead to serious health issues for your tree. It's easy enough to prevent though, just leave around 3 inches between  your tree and the mulch.

Crowded Trees

• Trees need personal space! When planted too close together, tree root systems obstruct each other and they have to compete for nutrients and water. It’s safest to contact a professional to help you determine the right amount of space needed for your tree landscaping, considering the immediate case and allowing for the future growth of your trees.

Girdling 

• Girdling may be done on fruit trees intentionally, to prompt them to yield more fruit. It is done by removing a thin ring of bark from around the tree. Girdling can work  and may be necessary in some cases, but it is also a potential killer. Cutting the bark blocks the flow of nutrients from the leaves to the roots. Malnourished roots can lead to an unhealthy, unstable tree and possibly even the death of the tree. Accidental girdling can happen due to fences, pet tie-outs or forgotten guy wires. It is important to remove anything that is tied around a tree trunk before it gets overgrown, and to get help from a professional when girdling for fruit productions.

The use of fasteners like screws and nails on a tree

• Mature, healthy trees can usually withstand a few staples, light drilling or having something nailed to them. Young trees, thin barked trees or trees that are weakened should not be subjected to nail,screws, staples or anything else that penetrates the bark. If you have any doubt as to whether your tree can handle these things, stop and find another way to hang your item.

Covering roots

• Consider anything that might cover your trees' roots. If that's new construction near an existing tree, or planting a tree near existing or planned construction, concrete is a real concern. Tree roots are designed to grow into whatever direction is required to find water and nutrients. Their slow but steady power will heave and crack concrete. Root pruning may become necessary and must be performed by a knowledgeable tree service professional. Obviously, root pruning of this nature should be minimized or avoided if possible. 
  
  
• If you need to mask visible roots, consult a tree service professional for options that won't harm the tree or cause trouble for you in the future.

Mid Florida Tree Service can help you remove the guesswork from the decisions about caring for your trees. They have a team of expert professionals, including Certified Arborists, to help you make the right choices for your trees.

What happens if my tree is struck by lightning?

What should you do if your tree has been struck by lightning?

Taking quick action is most important to save your tree.  With or without human intervention, most trees will continue to thrive after being struck by lightning but there are some things you can do that will minimize the stress on the tree.

Within the first 8 to 24 hours after the lightning strike you can help the tree begin its healing process by ensuring it has plenty of water. Loss of moisture is one of the most stressful parts of a strike for Mid Florida varieties of trees.

Resist the temptation to treat the wound yourself. It’s natural to want to trim away the damaged area or attempt to “bandage” the wound. Studies have shown however that these types of actions can often do more damage than help. Trees are astonishingly resilient. Your tree knows what to do. It will quickly send chemicals to the damaged area to try to confine the injury. Just provide extra water and fertilizer to help encourage the tree's own natural healing process.

If there isn’t obvious damage that is a hazard to your home or family, hold off on trying to prune immediately. Experts tend to recommend a period of time to wait and see how the healing process is doing and what further steps may need to be taken to help your tree to thrive.

It is important to note that not all trees can be saved and many trees that have been struck by lightning can be dangerous. Contacting a company like Mid-Florida Tree Service that specializes in tree care and/or one of their Certified Arborists, is highly recommended before making the final decision to further treat or have your tree removed.

If you have tree that needs to be looked at, whether it’s been struck by lightning or not, contact the professional family of experts at Mid Florida Tree Service at 813-986-2258 to discuss all your tree care needs. 

Pre-commision pipe pigging

You have a newly constructed piping system here in Florida and you’re ready to put it to work.  Now stop for a moment. Have you had your new system cleaned? It may seem contradictory to think about cleaning a brand new system. That is, until you consider that cleaning new piping;

• Fits well into the finalizing process of completing a system. The assurances that a system is now capable of functioning properly 
• Requires minimal costs to perform 
• Provides a good hydro-static test the first time its applied as the cleaning process will effectively dispel and remove all of the air in a system.
• Will eliminate the threat of foreign particles causing damage to pump impellers, valve seats, meters and other expensive inline appurtenances.
• Will resolve potential threats to the proper operation of a system caused by difficult, or wet installation environments, which are prone to the inclusion of undesirable fluids and solids in the piping while being installed.
• Will effectively remove any foreign matter, tools, debris, garbage, animals, lumber, etc., that can inadvertently find its way into a system during the course of its construction

These are just a few items to consider cleaning or pigging your new pipeline before putting it into service. Florida's sandy soil certainly presents unique challenges to your fresh piping system. Contact professionals, like the ones at Professional Piping Services, Inc to discuss the benefits and your options to help protect the sizable investment you made in new piping.

Summer is coming!

Sunny, muggy and just a bit buggy! That’s right.The dog days of summer are right around the corner and here in Florida we know what that means. We, and our plants and trees, are about to experience months of more concentrated heat, more intense humidity and a greater number of six and eight legged guests. With summer, everything seems somehow magnified by the frequent intense storms, the common threat of tropical weather, and the extreme heat. Our trees and shrubs experience this right along with us. Given all that the summer months bring, we should be especially aware of what our trees will need and do all we can to prepare them.

Now’s the time to cover your bases. It’s best to be proactive. Have your trees professionally inspected for any damage or warning signs that may require attention, like insect infestation, weak or broken limbs, signs of disease, low ceiling or otherwise overly heavy foliage. Let the friendly people at Mid Florida Tree Service help you prepare. They’ll come out and inspect your trees, answer your questions and let you know what plan of action they recommend whether that be trimming and pruning, removing weak limbs, fertilizing or some other treatment. They’ll advise you what can be done to keep your trees healthy and looking good for the summer and beyond.

Florida Flowering Trees

Flowering trees are a big part of the central Florida landscape. They provide fragrant and colorful flowers during their season of bloom. Many of them make nice shade specimens. Florida’s temperate, subtropical climate is ideal for a variety of trees to grow and thrive in..The following are just some of the flowering trees that grow well in our area.

The Magnolia Tree
There are few things that depict the south like the Magnolia when it comes to trees. Magnolias are a common flowering tree and have many different varieties. One of which is the Southern Magnolia.  It’s a Florida native and therefore the most common type seen within the state. This tree grows up to heights of 60 feet high and has large, exceptionally fragrant white flowers that typically are in full bloom in the latter spring and summer.

The Loblolly Tree
A type of evergreen, the loblolly tree is native to Florida. It is commonly used in landscaping. The loblolly can grow with heights of up to 30 feet.  It yields small delicate white flowers during the summer months and is closely related to Camellias.

The Trumpet Tree
One of the most common flowering trees in Central Florida is the tabebuia or the trumpet tree. This tree gets its name from its uniquely trumpet shaped flowers. Yellow, golden, purple, pink and silver are some of the several color varieties of the tabebuia.. They all thrive in full sun and have a high tolerance to drought like conditions. They typically grow from 12 to 20 feet in height depending on type.

The Jacaranda Tree
The Jacaranda has feathery foliage with a large amount of deciduous purple flowers that peak during spring and is considered one of the most beautiful varieties of flowering trees. The Jacaranda is a fairly large tree that is best suited for a medium sized yard.

The Orchid Tree
The Orchid tree is probably on of the most commonly used flowering trees in Florida landscapes. They grow up to 35 feet in height, have slim trunks and arching branches covered in deciduous, two-lobed, large leaves. Their blooms are are at peak during the fall when they are covered with many large fragrant blossoms that can be up to 5 inches wide. The flowers are a wonder to behold  with their vibrant pink, lavender and purple petals that blend together to resemble an orchid. This unique flower makes the orchid tree a favorite.

The Bottlebrush Tree
With its red, pink, white or purple bottlebrush shaped flowers, the bottlebrush tree is one of the most widely seen flowering trees in mid Florida.  They blooms at peak during the warmest months of the year. Being drought tolerant, the Bottlebrush is an excellent choice for Florida.

Florida is blessed with a wide variety of magnificent and attractive flowering trees, with these being just a few throughout the Tampa Bay area.

When planning your landscaping or adding to it, it’s always a good idea to consult professionals. Let Mid Florida Tree Service, with their experienced and knowledgeable staff, help you choose which of your personal favorites is best suited for your next landscaping job.

Riverhills Park

While using the Temple Terrace public library as a temporary remote office, I went to a park for lunch.

The view was great. You could almost forget you were in the city.

Riverhills Park

Camera: Whatever is built in to the Samsung Galaxy Avant

The Sunshine State

I was driving this morning and as I stopped at the traffic light at US 301 and MLK in Tampa, I shot this out the window of my car. I thought it was a decent representation of the kind of sunshine we've been getting lately:


I knew a place where I could get a similar shot that I thoght might be even better, so I went to where MLK goes over I-75. I had to drive past it to park and walk a ways back to get there:



Yeah, that's to overpass back there in the distance. Once I got up there, I took a couple of shots:

Here's what a lot of Florida looks like, especially to tourists or those commuting to work every day:

 

That's really a pretty light example, but I figured while I was up there, I might as well snap those shots as well.

Here's a good reminder that even walking in Florida can be dangerous:

I'd have hated be that driver, or a pedestrian nearby when this happened!

Well, that was my morning diversion before return home to resume work for TecBrat.com LLC where I am a Web Developer.

Camera: 1.3mp built into my OLD Motorola RAZR that, as far as I can tell, is a V2. Sometimes the best camera is the one you have with you.

Welcome to Sunny Florida!

Generally, when people think of Florida, they think of sunny beaches and palm trees.

There's a lot more to Florida than that, and I hope to highlight some of those things here.

That's not to say I won't have an occasional "beach" themed post, but I'd like to see what other parts of Florida I can introduce to the world.