Author: Safari Tree

As a homeowner in South East Michigan, you take great pride in all aspects of your property. This includes trees, which must be properly maintained and cared for to ensure they remain healthy and robust. That’s why securing effective tree care techniques such as tree disease and tree fungus treatment is so important. Unlike other threats to your trees, such as insect infestations, tree fungus may not be readily apparent to the untrained eye. Safari Tree can help you identify any possible issues and offer a reliable solution. We believe in a comprehensive approach to tree health, which is why our Michigan tree fungus services are so trusted by local clients.

The first step to tree fungus control is to identify any possible issues. There’s a range of tree diseases to look out for, each of which presents with specific signs and symptoms. Being aware of these signs will help you determine the specific threat facing your tree and allow you to take the proper steps to find a reasonable solution. The following are just a few things to look out for if you’re concerned about the health of your trees this summer.

Tree Cankers

Bacteria often cause cankers, but a tree fungus can also be to blame. The problem usually begins with an injury to the tree. Once the injury occurs spores make their way inside, which results in obvious defects. While it depends on the type of tree canker, look for things like ridged calluses which can be rather large in size.

These callouses will continue to grow and grow, until splits in the bark form. These areas will be discolored while also giving off a foul smell, as well as cause leaves to shrivel and die. If left unchecked, the tree’s vascular system will eventually become infected.

Professional tree fungus services are crucial in this case. Pruning can alleviate the issue, but it must be done carefully to prevent the fungus from spreading. You should also take steps to prevent injuries to your tree, such as applying a safe insect repellant.

Tree Rust Spot

Much like its impact on metal, tree “rust” grows on trees gradually. This fungal infection usually targets the leaves, and while there are innumerable types of rust that attack different trees, there are a few common signs to look for if you suspect an issue. For instance, tree rust spot often causes bumps on leaves.

Leaves may also become deformed, and after so long they will wither and die without proper treatment. The first sign of rust is discoloration on leaves, which start as white sports before changing to colors like red, brown, and orange. Identifying the correct type of fungus is key to providing treatment. Then remove any infected leaves and apply a fungicide.

Anthracnose

Some types of Michigan tree fungus thrive on the area’s cool, moist climate. This is the case with anthracnose. But by using the proper treatment methods, you can avoid serious damage. Spring is the most likely time for anthracnose since the temperature and rainy conditions make for an ideal breeding ground.

Leaf damage will also be prevalent, including brown-colored lesions that continue to become darker in color until leaves are finally shed. Fungus on tree branches may also be evident, and fruit-bearing trees will show signs on the fruit itself. Additionally, anthracnose can easily spread from tree to tree, which illustrates the importance of getting it under control quickly.

Safari Tree Care

Safari Tree is here to help you identify, treat, and prevent common tree fungi and other diseases. Our tree health care programs take a holistic approach to trees and plants, including the application of insecticide, fungal sprays, and fertilizer. We also offer a pest control service, including rodents, mosquitoes, fleas, and ants. Call (855) 317-5965 today to schedule tree service at your home.

Mosquitos spoil outdoor activities, but mosquito fogging can save them. The welts left behind from their bites are often itchy and painful. Scratching them hard enough to tear the skin can lead to infection. On top of that, mosquitos can be dangerous too. They can carry viruses that cause potentially life-threatening diseases.

Many homeowners are now taking steps to protect their properties with residential mosquito control services in the form of fogging and other methods from Safari Tree whose expert pest control service is trained to handle mosquitos and other outdoor pests.

What Is Mosquito Fogging?

Mosquito fogging is a way to kill large numbers of adult mosquitos at the same time. You’re actually spraying small droplets of a synthetic pesticide into the area. When adult mosquitos come in contact with droplets of the pesticide that linger in the air after the fogging is complete, they are killed instantly, meaning they no longer pose a threat.

Is Mosquito Fogging Harmful to Humans or Wildlife?

The concentration of pesticides used in mosquito fogging is so small that it only poses a danger to mosquitos and insects of similar size. Neither animals, plants, nor human beings are harmed by it. The chemicals involved are also odorless, so you are unlikely to detect any evidence of the fogging in the air after it takes place.

In fact, you’re in greater danger from mosquitos themselves than fogging. Mosquitos carry viruses that can cause a number of diseases. If an infected mosquito bites you, you have the potential to contract the diseases, some of which can be deadly. Mosquito-borne diseases in North America include the following:

• West Nile virus has been present in the United States since 1999. Infections can be mild or severe. Severe infections can cause neurological symptoms including partial paralysis, seizures, tremors, or coma.
• St. Louis encephalitis is a rare but serious mosquito-borne infection found throughout the United States that causes swelling and inflammation of the brain.
• Zika virus is found mostly in tropical and subtropical climates. It can cause neurological disorders in adults, as well as birth defects if a woman becomes infected while pregnant.

Are There Limits to the Effectiveness of Mosquito Fogging?

Mosquito fogging will remain effective at killing adult mosquitos for approximately three weeks at a time. After 21 days or so, it will be necessary to have another treatment to continue unbroken protection from adult mosquitos on your property. But it won’t destroy eggs.

Fortunately, there are other mosquito control services like larvicidal surface water treatment available to prevent larval mosquitos from becoming adults. You can also take the preventative step of draining any unnecessary standing water from your property.

 

Can You Perform Mosquito Fogging Yourself?

There are products available for do-it-yourself mosquito fogging. However, remember that the process is only safe when you follow the instructions on the label to the letter. It is better to leave mosquito fogging in the hands of the professionals, as an amateur mistake has the potential to cause harm to you or to the environment.

Are There Alternatives to Pesticides?

While the chemicals used in traditional mosquito fogging are safe and effective, some homeowners are uncomfortable with the idea of using poisons in their yards that could have unforeseen effects on their families or the natural environment. Unlike some mosquito control companies, we understand this concern, and that’s why we offer organic mosquito control solutions that are just as effective, yet use natural materials that won’t harm the environment or cause unpleasant side effects.

What Are You Waiting For?

Mosquito season will soon be here again. Contact Safari Tree today to discuss which mosquito control services will work best to protect you, your family, and your property.

If you’re wondering when to prune trees and shrubs, look no further. As a homeowner, you work hard to keep your property in top condition. For outdoor spaces, that means paying special attention to exterior structures and landscaping. Your maintenance routine should include a tree and shrub care program that promotes healthy growth and aesthetically pleasing results.

Safari Tree’s expert tree service can give you some expert tips to help you achieve these goals.

Start With the Basics

Nourishment and support are key factors for tree and shrubbery upkeep. Before you think about pruning, you need to make sure that you give your plants essential nutrients and protect them against pest damage. To start them off right and boost their growth, we recommend tree and shrub services with a multi-season approach:

• Spring: Apply dormant oil and a deep root feeding.
• Summer: Perform multiple rounds of insecticide and fungal spray applications.
• Fall: Do a deep root feeding and apply anti-desiccant spray.

In early spring, an initial application of dormant oil inhibits pest infestations and staves off damage to trees and shrubs. Dormant oils are formulated to kill harmful insects and prevent their eggs from hatching. Deep root feedings in the spring and fall consist of fertilizers, delivering nutrients directly to the roots to help plants thrive all year. Safari Tree’s pest control service continues throughout the summer with insecticide and fungal sprays, designed to keep destructive organisms away. Anti-desiccant spray help trees and shrubs retain moisture during deep freezes, protecting them from drying out and suffering from winter burn.

Pruning 101: Understanding the Techniques

Besides nutrition and pest control, pruning is a vital step in caring for your shrubs and trees. It can help improve their health, shape their growth patterns and even encourage flower and fruit production. Many homeowners don’t feel confident in their pruning abilities. You needn’t be afraid to perform this simple task, but the techniques are important.

Pruning typically involves making two types of cuts: heading cuts to shorten single branches and thinning cuts to remove branches. Heading cuts should be made at a 45-degree angle and placed just after a healthy bud. A thinning cut should occur as closely as possible to the location where a branch intersects with its primary limb.

Your first goal is to remove dead, diseased, dying and damaged branches to keep each plant in good condition. You should also prune suckers or odd branches that sprout near the base or roots. Several other types are prime pruning candidates:

• Limbs that sag or seem to compete with a tree’s central leader
• Branches that grow too close to or rub against others
• Branches forming acute angles with the trunk
• Watersprouts, or fast-growing vertical branches originating from the trunk or older branches

Develop Your Pruning Regimen

Knowing when to prune is also critical to achieving best results. Not only that, each tree and shrub category has its own particular pruning needs. Summer-flowering species benefit most from pruning in late winter or early spring, while they’re still dormant. New growth on random-branching conifers such as junipers and yews can also be pruned during this time. In early summer, prune whorl-branching conifers along and spring-flowering plants after their blossoms have declined. Trees with heavy springtime sap flow should be pruned in midsummer.

When is it a bad idea to prune? Some homeowners make the mistake of doing so during fall or early winter. However, this practice can injure plants and impede new growth. During this season, only branches that are dead, dying, diseased or crossing each other should be removed.

Tree and Shrub Care Services in Southeast Michigan

With 15 years of knowledge and expertise, the professionals at Safari Tree help maintain healthy trees and shrubs all year round. For a free quote, complete our online form or call us toll-free at (844) 500-8733.