Tree Service Articles

Why We Prune Trees
There are three basic reasons why we prune trees. The first is to improve the look of a tree; the second is to improve the health of a tree; and the third is to make a tree more storm resistant. More on Tree Pruning...

Topping Trees
Topping is the worst thing you can do to a tree. When I was in Hawaii working for companies that topped trees I remember customers asking me if it was necessary to be so drastic with the trees. Since I no longer work for those companies I can be less evasive and say, "no."   More on Tree Topping...

Enough Water, but Not too Much
Question: I live in Queen Creek. Four weeks ago, a local nursery planted two 24-inch box trees--a sissoo and a Shamel ash--in my backyard. Both seem to be doing poorly, mainly, I suspect, from improper watering... More on Watering Trees...

Fruit Trees Grow Well in Containers
Question: I am redecorating my courtyard and would rather use trees in containers than plant trees in the ground. Which trees would live long in containers? How large should containers be? Southwest Gardener lets you know. More on Growing Trees in Containers...

Choosing a Tree Service
I have been in this business 8 years now and have gained an insider’s perspective on the tree care industry.  In addition to our own booming little tree business, I have been a climber for about 20 different companies. More on How to Choose a Tree Service Company...

Why Hire a Certified Arborist?
The tree service industry is replete with all kinds of characters whose knowledge about trees range from laughable to fanatical. At the top tier of the industry stands the Certified Arborist. There are many tree services that have nothing to do with the International Society of Arboriculture and its certifications. Some of them even do a good job. The odds of getting high quality tree care go up when a Certified Arborist is employed. The certification shows a level of dedication to the industry that may be lacking otherwise. More on Why You Should Always Hire a Certified Arborist for Tree Care...

Arizona State Tree
The Arizona state tree is the Palo Verde. Palo Verde is Spanish for "green pole" or "green stick.", and refers to the tree's greenish branches and trunk. More on the Arizona State Tree...

Arizona Lemon Trees
In the United States, lemon trees started growing in the state of California many centuries ago. Then they spread to other areas, including the desert regions of Arizona. More on Arizona Lemon Trees...

Fast Growing Trees of Arizona
Antoine St. Exupery, French author of The Little Prince, notes: "It is futile to plant an acorn in the morning and expect that afternoon to sit in the shade of an oak." More on Fast Growing Arizona Trees...

Preparing Arizona Trees For Monsoon Storms
For a longtime native of the Arizona desert such as myself, the monsoon season is a familiar part of late summer. It typically spans from about mid June through the end of September. More on Avoiding Storm Damaged Trees...

Arizona Ash Trees
Arizona ash trees (Fraxinus velutina) are quite common to Arizona, and are well adapted to the sunny climate here. In fact, many other types of ash trees grow in Arizona as well. There are over 65 species of ash trees. More on Arizona Ash Trees...