FAQs – Page 2

How can I identify what types of trees I have in my yard?

Here is Sioux Falls tree identification is a fairly straightforward process. First, you start by deciding what type of tree you have, deciduous or evergreen. Evergreen are broken into 3 categories, Spruce, Pine, and Fir, with many varieties within those 3 categories. Spruce needles are shaped like a square and can be rolled between your fingers. Spruce needles are also individually attached to the branch. Pine tree needles grow in pairs attached to the branch, and are usually longer than a spruce needle. Lastly, Fir needles are flat and do not roll between your fingers. Deciduous trees can be a bit more difficult to determine what tree they are, especially during the winter months when the tree does not have any leaves. You use leaf shape to determine what the tree is along with its branch orientation. Some trees grow branches opposite of each other, while other trees grow branches in an alternate direction. The majority of opposite branched trees include ash, maple, and boxelder, leaving the rest of the trees to their alternating branch pattern. This is a great starting point to identification, and there are a lot of resources online, flow charts to guide you down the path of identification.

Should I be mulching around my trees in Sioux Falls SD?

Mulch is a great way to help provide your tree with the nutrients and water supply it needs to grow, but there is a proper and improper way to go about mulching around your tree. Oftentimes we see people creating what is referred to as a mulch volcano, where the mulch is piled right next to the trunk of the tree, resembling a volcano shape. This mulch against the trunk of the tree introduces moisture on the bark, causing rot and mold to occur where the tree is not protected. A proper mulch job more closely resembles a donut, where the mulch is brought up right near the trunk without touching it. This leaves the bark and exposed wood to remain dry and free from mold while providing the root system with all the benefits of mulching. As mulch breaks down it pushes vital nutrients into the soil, allowing the tree to grow happy and healthy while providing a great look to your property. Proper mulching also helps keep the ground moist and wet during times of drought or less rain than expected, giving the tree a great chance at life.

How should I be watering my trees during a drought?

During years of average rainfall trees do not need to be watered like your grass or ornamentals, but when the rain is not falling from the sky it is important to keep up on watering your trees in a proper manner. Trees take most of their moisture from the drip line of the branches, meaning almost the outside edge of the tree. Putting a hose on the trunk of a tree for 10 minutes a day is not enough for the tree to get its proper water and can cause the tree to deteriorate and search for water elsewhere, oftentimes finding water in your septic or water pipes deep underground. Trees need a long soak across the entire root structure to benefit from watering, allowing the water to penetrate deep into the soil and to the tree’s roots. There are many tools to aid in this long watering process, mulching can be very beneficial to maintaining soil moisture, and various watering bags and jugs provide the slow uptake that trees need vs a hose. 

What are some ways that I can protect my tree from being damaged by the wind?

Here in the midwest we can get heavy and strong winds that damage trees. While devastating to lose a tree this destruction can often be prevented or avoided. One of the first steps to avoiding wind damage is to plant the right tree. There are so many different varieties of trees, some fare better than others during high wind events. Silver maple trees grow quickly and make a lot of shade but are often weaker than a slower growing and more hearty tree like the American Elm or Green ash. Proper pruning techniques can also help prevent and avoid wind damage. When trimming branches it is important to avoid a practice called lion tailing, which is where you remove all the loser limbs from a large branch leaving only limbs and leaves at the very end. This puts a great amount of strain on the branch during a wind event that can cause the branch to splinter and break. Another terrible trimming technique that is now avoided at all costs is the act of topping a tree. When you top a tree it causes the tree to push new growth out of the cut, but this new growth is weak and not joined properly to the tree. As this new growth gets larger the union where it grew becomes weaker and often rotted from the past cut. One large wind event later all these new branches can peel off the tree, causing damage to the tree and any structures surrounding it. 

How can I find a trustworthy tree company in Sioux Fall SD?

The times of hard searching for a tree company are long gone after Google has taken over the internet! It use to be that you looked up in a phone book for tree companies, found one, asked your friends, and hoped they were ok, but nowadays all it takes is a quick Google Search, and Google does all the hard work for you! Google will order tree companies usually ranking the better ones higher on their list. You can also find reviews from past customers letting you vet the company out. Another great place to check is on the company’s website. If the website is up to date, fast loading, and clean looking, there is a good chance that the tree company will also treat you and the entire customer experience in the same way. All companies in Sioux Falls SD are required to hold a Arborist License, so another great place to check is with the Sioux Falls Parks and Rec staff. They keep an updated list of all the licensed arborists in the city and may have a recommendation for you!