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.