Instagram

Menu

Arizona Arbor Care

Arizona Arbor

Arizona Arbor Care; Spring Bloom of Purple Leaf Plum Trees

, ,

Spring is right around the corner and with that comes the beautiful bloom of some of our favorite plants and trees here in the Valley. One noteworthy item that is expected to bloom quite early this season is the Purple Leaf Plum tree. This tree is known for its fragrant pink/purple flowers and its shrub-like shape that it takes on during bloom. It is also known as being one of the first trees to start blooming in the early Spring, with an estimated start date around the end of January for Arizona communities.

Tree Maintenance

The Purple Leaf Plum tree is a great option for communities not only because of its ornamental nature and the beauty it supplies but also because it is relatively low maintenance and heat tolerant. This tree can withstand both heat and drought, common here in the Arizona desert, and thrives when there is ample sunlight. In fact, large amounts of sunlight are what makes this tree produce the beautiful pink, purple, and white flowers that it is known for.

Maintenance that can be expected for this tree species involves pruning on an annual basis and additional pruning when necessary, water and feeding practices as needed, and cleanup of fruit and leaf drop. Though this tree is beautiful with the leaves on it, this species is notorious for having quite a bit of leaf drop and should not be planted near busy walkways or sites where there is heavy foot traffic.

Pruning

The Purple Leaf Plum tree is a small to mid-size tree that has a rounded growth pattern, similar to that of a shrub. Typically, its blossoms produce leaves that are 1-3 inches long and it can yield round fruit that ripens in late Summer. These trees do not always bear fruit and are typically chosen for their ornamental flowers rather than for their fruit, as fruit can attract unwanted mites and flies. These trees will need annual pruning to control flowering/fruit growth and achieve desired shape.

Keep an eye out for the bloom of the Purple Leaf Plum trees as they are sure to be the start to other bloom happening in plant species throughout your landscape!

Interested in Arbor Care for your HOA community or commercial property? Request an Arbor Bid or submit a general inquiry here.

arizona arbor care

Hiring the Right Arborist for Your HOA Tree Management

, , , , ,

Trees are an important asset to any HOA community or commercial property as they provide a number of benefits including adding economic value to a property, energy savings, carbon dioxide capture, and shade production for the surrounding landscape. When it comes to tree management, it is important to find certified professionals who are able to keep these amazing assets maintained.

Certified arborists are trained individuals who understand the ins and outs of tree care and can perform all of the necessary steps of installing and maintaining a tree to maturity. When looking for a certified arborist to trust with your community’s largest asset it is important to consider the certifications that your arbor contractor holds as well as their education and reputation as tree experts.

Arborists should be trained in the planting, pruning, removal, and maintenance of trees. Their job goes far beyond the installation of trees in a community and reaches out to maintaining the health and structure of the tree into maturity.

Planting: Arbor care professionals may plant or transition trees from nursery to a new site. It is not uncommon to have different companies install and maintain the trees. However, companies that offer a wholesale nursery or other service to provide trees while also offering arbor care are a great way to go to get the job done from start to finish.

Arizona Landscape Contractor’s Association Sustainable Tree Planting

Pruning: The ultimate goal of tree pruning is to maintain a healthy and structurally sound tree that grows naturally into its mature size. Your arborist should be pruning only when these goals are not being met or when there is a need caused by external factors. Common tree pruning purposes include the removal of tree limbs or foilage due to (or to prevent from) storm damage, seasonal pruning, pruning to keep the tree from obstructing walkways, structures and streets, and removal of branches that may cause a safety hazard to others or to the tree itself.

Pruning Deciduous Shade Trees

Removal: Tree removal is inevitable over time and needs to be done carefully so as not to harm the overall landscape. Certified arborists should be able to help you understand when the correct time is to remove a tree and provide you with a plan for the removal as well as reason. Reasons for tree removals can range but typically include the changing of a certain species of tree, death of a tree, risk, and a tree outgrowing that area in which it was planted.

It is important to have a professional perform any tree removals to ensure safety of everyone in the community.

Maintenance: Maintenance of trees includes all of the above steps as well as emergency tree services, disease control, fertilization and soil management, and more. In finding a company to provide these services and maintain your landscape it is a good idea to go with a comprehensive company that has divisions dedicated to both Arbor and overall maintenance.

Here at ELS, we have five divisions dedicated to ensuring that all of your landscape needs are met. Check them out here.

Need Tree Work Done? Request an Arbor Bid!
Palm Tree

HOA Arbor; Planting and Maintenance of Palms

, , , ,

Palm trees are notorious for their height, beauty, and position as focal points in a community. While they are not native to Arizona, they fit in perfectly with the Southwest desert climate and landscape- making them a popular choice in homeowners associations and commercial properties.

Palm trees are low maintenance and represent higher monetary value. They are an investment that is well worth what you put in as they add value to a community and serve as an accent planting in the landscape design. When maintaining this investment, it is important that your landscape management company properly cares for these trees to avoid costly replacements.

Our Arbor team has established some tips to follow when maintaining Palms:

Pruning:

  • Only remove fronds that are deceased
  • Refrain from using spikes/nails to climb the trunk of the tree for pruning. Instead use a hydraulic lift so as not to cause damage to the trunk of the tree
  • Do not remove over a quarter of the foilage at any given time
  • When removing fronds, keep removal minimal and to a 180 degree angle

Irrigation

  • Palm trees are not drought tolerant, this is a common misconception
  • Administer slow irrigation drop every couple of weeks to a depth of about 2 feet.
  • In Winter, keep irrigation administration to every 4-6 weeks

If your community or commercial property needs arbor care services to ensure that your trees are being maintained correctly, reach out to our arbor division here at ELS Maintenance.

Arbor Inquiry
Request an Arbor Bid
Tree Being Staked to Promote Growth

Arizona Arbor Care; Tree Staking

, , , ,

Tree staking of younger trees here in Arizona is a common practice that promotes strength and proper growth of the tree. This practice holds tree roots in the soil until they are able to securely establish themselves and helps these young trees in the transition from nursery to landscape. This important step is not necessary for every young tree (multi-trunk trees and low branching trees can typically be planted without a stake) however it can make a world of difference for smaller, main trunked trees that do need growing assistance.

When staking, it is crucial to ensure that you are following the proper steps, monitoring the staking materials and tree growth, and not leaving the stake on the tree for too long. There are detrimental effects for those trees where staking is performed improperly.

Here at ELS, we have an entire division of our company dedicated to Arizona arbor care and this team has come up with some helpful tips and best practices for tree staking that will help you ensure your next young tree is staked properly and can grow to its full potential.

Staking Best Practices

  • Position tree stakes outside of the rootball
  • Position stakes at a depth of 24 inches. Utilize 2″ poles on each side of the tree and ensure that wires/ties used are coated with plastic or flexible to protect the tree itself
  • Monitor tree growth and staking materials so that the stake is removed at the appropriate time without causing damage to the tree
  • Change and adjust wires/ties if they effect tree growth over time
  • Ensure tree is not tied too tightly- the top of the tree should be able to move freely in the wind while the trunk remains stable and anchored
  • Remove staking materials once the trunk of the tree is 3/4 inches in diameter or the tree is able to securely stand by itself

For more information about tree staking and/or tree management for your HOA community or commercial property, reach out to our Arbor Divison!

Request a Tree Bid
Ask an Arbor Professional

Arizona Arbor

Arizona Arbor Care; Tree Planting

, , , ,

Trees are a great addition to any landscape as they protect soil underneath them, provide shade for surrounding plants, and mitigate wind effects. However, it is important to consider that in the Arizona desert landscape, the choice of which trees to use may be quite a bit different than that of a cooler climate.

In Arizona, we have a variety of native trees that look great in a community landscape and thrive in the desert climate. Trees such as Mesquite, Palo Verde, and Acacia are recommended as they typically adjust better to the local environment and are much healthier to use in an Arizona landscape in comparison to their non-native counterparts.

When planting a new tree, make sure to do your research and refer to professionals such as certified arborists or landscape architects to help you make the best decision when it comes to species of tree.

Planting How-to

Once you’ve decided the type of tree/trees you want to plant in your landscape, it’s time to get started!

When planting new trees make sure to:

  • Plant them in a space that they can grow in! Plant trees in areas large enough for them to grow to their projected full size.
  • Leave temporary/small branches on the new tree if possible
  • Dig a large enough plant pit for the new tree (This should be anywhere from 1/2-2 times the width of the tree’s root ball, according to ALCA)
  • Loosen outside of the root ball to help with growth into the new soil of the planting pit
  • Backfill the planting pit with soil that was previously removed, while ensuring not to mix with any decomposed granite surrounding the area
  • Cover the backfill with granite or mulch

Arizona Arbor Care Specialists

It is always a good idea to work with an arborist or landscape management company when looking to plant multiple new trees, especially in the case of a larger landscape project such as a commercial property or HOA community.

For trusted and certified arbor care, contact the ELS Arbor team today!

Request An Arbor Bid