Bees don’t have many fans. They can be pesky when they’re trying to get a taste of your food, or annoying when they infest your garage with a nest. In addition, they can even be scary due to the chance that they could sting you. Even though you may not see the importance of these pesky insects, they are actually very beneficial for the ecosystem.

So, why are bees so important? Well, they do much more than just produce honey and beeswax. They are also used for medical uses. Their bee venom has been used for treating arthritis, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, cancer, epilepsy and depression. They also are very essential when it comes to our ecosystem. These tiny workers pollinate around 80 percent of our flowering crops in the U.S., which constitutes about one-third of everything we eat. They are essential to the growth of many fruits and vegetables such as apples, cucumbers, broccoli, blueberries, asparagus and strawberries. Losing them could affect the growth of those nutritious foods, and the beef and dairy products that we eat. Consider them as little field workers and farmers. They pollinate approximately $14 billion worth of crops in the U.S.

So, are you now a bigger fan of bees than you were before? They are productive citizens of our planet and deserve to get more credit for all of their hard work. There are some things that we can do to help protect the bees:

• Diversify your garden or yard with many different plant species. These plants should bloom during different times of the year so that the bees can have pollination throughout the year.
• Plant an array of trees, plants and flowers that will provide the bees with both nectar and pollen.
• Plant trees and plants that are native to your state or area. The bees around you are the most familiar with these plants and they are better able to support a larger number of bees.

Make sure that our insect friends are getting as much nutrition as they need. The plants and trees that you plant can affect the bees. When deciding what to do with your landscaping, just ask us and we can better advise you about how to save the bees!

Homeowners sometimes don’t realize how important a good fertilization program is for their trees. A great time of year to start is in the fall so the trees are more prepared to enter the spring growing season healthy and vigorous. Especially coming out of the drought from 2011, the trees are still striving to recover and get their health back. How many trees have you seen while driving down the road with dead tops and multiple dead branches throughout the canopy? If you haven’t, just look up while driving down the road through your neighborhood and you will probably notice many trees still showing signs of drought stress.

Trees in the forest are fertilized naturally by leaf litter and other organic materials that break down, releasing their nutrients back into the soil. Additionally, most forested areas do not have a blanket of beautiful green grass growing around them absorbing many of the vital nutrients from the soil. Most landowners then haul off the grass clippings, rake away the dead leaves and clean up any other organic material that gets onto the lawn. Therefore, trees often do not get the nutrients they need in the correct amounts to be healthy and vigorous.

Liquid root feeding is the best method to fertilize trees as it puts the product into the ground beneath the layer of grass and directly to the trees rooting zone. The tree is then able to absorb the fertilizer and disperse it among itself to prepare for the upcoming growing season.

Do all trees need fertilization? The short answer is no, not all trees will benefit from fertilization. That is why it is important to have an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist come take a look at your trees and determine if fertilization is needed and customize a program specific for your property and individual trees.

Fall is a good time of year to look at insect control for your trees as well. Although most insects are not very active during the fall and winter, a good application of a systemic herbicide will aid the tree in defending itself from insect attacks once spring time gets here. Systemic insecticides can be applied to the soil or sprayed directly onto the trunk of a tree and then are absorbed by the tree. The product is then dispersed throughout the entire plant and will protect the tree from many damaging insects for up to a year. Once spring and summer arrive in our area it can be too late to apply a systemic insecticide due to the insect’s numbers growing very quickly.

Again, not sure if your trees can benefit from a fall insecticide program? Give us a call and have a Certified Arborist take a look at your trees and develop a program for your individual trees.

It’s about that time. The time when the temperature starts dropping, the leaves start falling, and the holidays are approaching. This is an exciting time for change because we see the earth physically changing before our eyes. Before your trees start hibernating for the winter season, make sure you get them well prepared. Follow these guidelines for fall to help keep your trees healthy:

Fall Fertilization

When was the last time you had your trees fertilized? Fall is the perfect time to fertilize trees. The changes between the summer heat and insect activity, and the chill winter and ice capped trees means your trees go through many drastic changes during the year. These changes can cause trees to lose some of their nutrients and minerals that are important to their health. To make sure that your trees stay healthy during every season, apply a fertilizer to help improve resistance to winter damage and intense weather.

Prepared for Snow

Start preparing for colder temperatures before they arrive. Even if your trees don’t have to face the snow, they’ll still be hit with a temperature drop. If you start pruning and grooming trees now, they’ll be better able to withstand chilly winds and frosted tips. Pruning is easier in the fall since most of the leaves have already fallen, making it less heavy and easier to see the skeleton of the tree. 

Keep Trees Hydrated

Trees, especially young trees, need adequate water and soil moisture during the winter. Even during the winter, roots need a significant supply of water to stay nourished. During cold temperatures, the ground can freeze, meaning that the water in the ground freezes up. When the water is frozen, roots aren’t able to absorb as much water as they need. To prevent trees from getting too thirsty, stock them up on water while they can still absorb it. This also helps prevent winter dieback.

Remove Fallen Leaves

Raking up and removing leaves from the ground reduces the amount of fungal leaf disease after winter. All debris should be removed from around the tree before the first new leaf bud in the spring. This allows the new leaves and flowers to grow without the spoilage of old leaves. Disposing of infected leaves from the previous season can help control the disease by removing spores that can re-infect the new leaves.

For help with tree care, call the professionals at Grandiflora tree service in Spring, Texas!

We all love trees. But sometimes they can grow to an out-of-control size that can cause them to be dangerous. Just like people, trees should also have checkups. These checkups are meant to examine their health and potential hazards. These tree inspections should be done by a certified arborist who knows what to look for, and knows what a hazardous tree looks like. Here are a few symptoms of what to look for before calling your arborist:

Check the Root
A tree’s root structure is the whole base to it’s support. The anchoring roots keep the tree’s foundation in the ground and keep it secure and stable. The smaller roots consume nutrients through the water in the soil. Unfortunately, roots can sometimes decay and deteriorate, making them a hazard. Since the roots are no longer strong and stable, a gust of wind or a rainstorm can cause the tree to fall unexpectedly. Without knowing that the tree is hazardous, it can be a danger to your yard. To inspect your tree for rotten roots, you will need to evaluate the base of the tree. If you spot fungus or other growths around the base, this could be an indication of a problem. Cracked soil can also indicate that the tree is starting to lean downwards and beginning to fall over.

Check the Trunk
Like the roots, cracks or decays in the trunk can be a prediction of a future tree split. It is common that trees have cracks, so it is important to be able to inspect how bad the crack is and if it stems from other sources. Another indication to keep an eye on is if insects have been attacking your tree. Insects normally eat tree trunks if they are sick. These insects will leave round circles of sap on the trunk. If any of these symptoms have been detected, it is time to call your arborist.

Check the Branches
Dead wood on a tree is normally an easy symptom to identify. You can tell when branches are dead, because the leaves on those branches become brown and frail. Those leaves will start falling off, and if it’s not during the fall season, then it is easy to tell. If the branches on the tree start to die at a steady rate, then it is time to get it inspected. To protect yourself from these potentially hazardous situations, dead branches should be trimmed or removed.

When you notice that something is wrong with your tree, it is best to call a certified arborist to handle the situation in a professional way. Grandiflora’s ISA certified arborists understand a tree’s needs and will do their best to preserve the tree while keeping you safe and out of danger. Don’t wait until the tree causes damages, get it inspected today to take care of the problem.

While we are all big fans of the summer season, one has to admit that the fall season makes for some beautiful colors. Since these rich autumn colors don’t show in certain areas of the country, we wanted to give you the option to bring the fall feel to your home! Here are some of best trees to plant that will provide a great range of color and can survive in most climates.

Pomegranate Tree

This vibrant tree not only produces delicious red fruit, but displays bright yellow leaves year-round. Some would say that the pomegranates mirror Christmas ornaments. Some types of these trees develop small orange flowers that resemble carnations, which make this tree even more pleasing to the eye.

Katsura Tree

With its thick and rounded leaves, this tree is great for shade all year long. When fall comes around, the green becomes a bright pinkish-yellow and emanates a smell similar to brown sugar.

Gingko Tree

These beautiful trees give off a dazzling yellow color that is sure to impress. Brighten your yard with these trees that date back to over 200 million years ago!

Maple Tree

This tree is very popular on the list of fall foliage. Maple trees are the perfect choice if you want to turn your landscape into a beautiful gradient of reds, oranges and yellows.

Smokebush Tree

This type of plant can be grown as a tree or shrub, but offers little yellow flowers and stalks with fuzzy pink hairs. When these go away, this plant then displays outstanding shades of purple and scarlet red.

Whether you want to spruce up your landscape or create a brand new autumn environment, these trees will not disappoint. Bring warmth into your outdoor space all year long! Do you need help planting or caring for your fall trees? Contact Grandiflora Services today! We are happy to help.

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With summer in full swing, now is the perfect time to enjoy Texas’ beautiful weather and spend time outside! Whether you’re looking to barbecue, lay around the pool or cozy up next to a bonfire, the Texas sun creates the perfect atmosphere for almost any occasion. However, taking advantage of our beautiful weather can be made that much easier with a custom tree house from Grandiflora Services! Whether you’re looking for a tree house as an escape from the busy household or the setting for your children’s imagination to run wild, our certified arborists can help you create the perfect blueprint for your own tree house! Here at Grandiflora Services, whenever we build a treehouse we take into strong consideration the tree itself, the sustainability of the surrounding landscape, and the impact of the tree’s health. Here are some things our arborists always consider before starting a tree house build:

The Tree’s Health

When building a treehouse, the healthier and stronger the tree the better. However, an unhealthy tree shouldn’t be automatically disqualified. If a tree suffers from a small disease presence, it can still be built upon, however it’s important to have an arborist assess it beforehand. Because trees only have a limited amount of energy, you want to make sure the tree has enough to handle the structure being built on top of it. Other factors to consider when assessing the tree’s health include age, condition, and the surrounding environment.

Type of Wood

In order to properly construct a tree house, using bolts, screws and other hardware is essential. Because these are made out of metal they don’t typically bend or move normally. However, if the tree’s composition isn’t strong enough the tree could start sinking or will start getting crushed. For this reason, a tree with stronger wood like oak, walnut or cherry is better for support. Trees with weaker or more malleable wood include pine, cedar or redwood. If you would like to build on a tree with more malleable wood, it can be done however it’s best to construct a lighter tree house frame.

Receive a Professional Arborist Opinion

Once you’ve chosen which tree you want to build on and constructed the perfect tree house design, its best to consult a certified arborist for an opinion. A certified arborist can look into the current health of the tree, identify any potential problems and properly assess the tree’s strength. With a certified arborist’s opinion and approval, you’ll be ready to build with confidence!

To get a thorough evaluation of your tree or discuss tree house design and the best methods, contract Grandiflora Services today. Our knowledgeable arborists and tree experts look forward to helping you!

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Whether it’s the dead of winter or the hottest day in summer, trees remain as a focal point for most landscapes. Trees, with their large canopies and big trucks, act as the main backdrop for most of our adventures. Although tree leaves tend to get the most attention, tree trunks and bark seem to get undervalued. However, bark can be just as interesting. Just like leaves, bark is unique to the tree’s species and age. Trees faced with drought, temperature changes, and interactions with specific organisms tend to show signs through their bark. Check out this list of characteristics and factors that make bark one of the most interesting parts of a tree:

Bark Structure

To understand exactly how bark evolves, first you must understand the anatomy of a tree trunk. A trunk is comprised of multiple layers. The term “bark” actually doesn’t refer to the outer surface of trunks, but instead it means the entire shell of a tree that can be detached from the wood. That means “bark” includes everything from a tree’s trunk except a thin layer called the vascular cambium. As a tree grows, this inner layers starts to push out the bark, leaving it no choice but to adapt or fall off. Depending on the species of tree, the bark may react differently. Some species keep their outer layers while other species start to shed their bark. From an outside appearance, the tree’s bark looks different depending upon its overlapping layers, its type of connective tissue, and how the bark breaks as the tree grows.

Bark Defenses

Possibly the most interesting part about tree bark is its ability to protect the tree from outside forces. Just like walls of a house, bark is able to regulate the tree’s temperature. In addition, like skin, bark helps protect from intruders and outside forces coming in. However, if a tree has bark that has begun cracking, it allows for intrudes such as fungi, bacteria, and insects to come in. Depending on its species, different trees develop preventative measures to stop this from happening including chemical and structural defenses. Some trees create a smell, acidic nature, or change their color to help deter insects. These defensive tactic are extremely valuable to the livelihood of the tree itself.

Curious as to how your favorite tree protects itself? Learn more about bark and its evolution by calling Grandiflora Services!

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On a warm spring or summer day, there’s nothing better than biting into a fresh citrus fruit picked right from your backyard. The delicious juices help revitalize your body, the taste satisfies a craving, and it’s a hassle free snack. Although growing a citrus tree to full maturity is incredibly rewarding, growing the perfect citrus tree can also be intimidating and a daunting process to most beginning gardeners. To make the process less worrisome, Grandiflora Services has put together this hassle free mini-guide for making the most of your citrus tree growth this Spring and Summer!

Fertilizer
Depending on your tree’s life cycle, it will need a different amount of fertilizer. For most mature trees, it’s best to apply three applications of fertilizer throughout a year (one in the winter, one in the late spring, and one in the late summer). Citrus fertilizers come in a variety of forms, although granular is the most popular and easiest to apply. Whether you choose to use granular or organic fertilizer, it’s important to make sure it includes the most ideal nutrients for citrus tree growth!

Ideal Nutrients
Whether you’re wanting to grow oranges, lemons or grapefruits, all citrus trees require an immense amount of nutrients to grow to their fullest potential and produce the best fruit. When you apply your fertilizer make sure it has the correct nutrients for citrus trees. Citrus trees require fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, all called macronutrients. Out of these three nutrients, nitrogen is the most essential for the growth of citrus trees. As far as micronutrients, citrus trees also need iron, manganese, and zinc.

Signs of Nutrient Deficiency
Because citrus trees need an abundance of nutrients in order to reach full growth, it’s important to listen to your tree’s signals of nutrient deficiencies. Trees display deficiencies through their leaf color, canopy density, and fruit maturation. For most tree species, yellowing of leaves is a sign of a nitrogen deficiency. In order to get the tree back in optimal health, spray it down with a foliar liquid spray! In addition, a tree with an iron deficiency will produce newer leaves that are light green in color with dark green veins. To treat an iron deficiency, it’s best to spray down the affected tree with a solution that contains iron, manganese, and zinc.

Spend your Spring and Summer sitting under the sun and eating fresh citrus fruit picked right from your garden! Following our tips on the best fertilizer and nutrients for your citrus tree will allow your tree grow to its full potential. For more information on the health of citrus trees, contact Grandiflora Services today!

Unfortunately, our nation’s drinking water infrastructure is slowly deteriorating and is reaching the end of its lifeline. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Water Companies, 7 trillion gallons of water per day are wasted due to inefficiencies in our system. The unstable infrastructure has annually over 240,000 water main breaks resulting in a drastic amount of lost water. Unfortunately, repairing our system would be costly and time consuming. It is quoted that in California alone, we will need to fund $39 billion to fix the drinking water infrastructure.

Installing a Rainwater Harvesting System
Although fixing the system is a daunting task faced by our government, there are steps as citizens we can take to help the problem at hand. By switching our main use of water from utility water to rainwater harvesting, we will help take away from the stress the infrastructure is facing. Having a personal rainwater harvesting system installed on your property will provide your home with safe, high-quality drinking water for both residential and personal use.

Why not capitalize on nature’s resources?
Annually, there is an average of 12 inches of rainfall. This means that a standard rainwater system can collect 10,000 gallons of rainfall from a 1,500 ft2 residential roof. The 10,000 gallons of rainwater collected from your single home will benefit you financially due to the drastic decrease in your water bill. In addition, if every home was able to collect 10,000 gallons of fresh water, the stress put on our nation’s drinking water infrastructure will be reduced drastically. Also, collecting rainwater will help reduce stormwater runoff and therefore decrease pollution being dragged into our local freshwater lakes and rivers.

Still considering whether or not a rainwater harvesting system is the right fit for you? Contact Grandiflora Services today and we will walk you through a long list benefits experienced by our current and past clients!

Most trees are planted to provide shade or for visual appeal. Although these are great reasons for their existence, trees also provide many other benefits. A landscape full of trees tend to bring relaxing vibes, lower our heart rates, and reduce our stress. However, in addition to their plethora of health benefits, trees also better the environment as a whole. For more reasons why you should defend a tree’s standing, read about their environmental benefits:

1. An average tree produces enough oxygen in one year to keep a family of 4 breathing.
Without trees in our environment, the Earth would almost be uninhabitable. Trees convert carbon dioxide into oxygen through a process called photosynthesis. Through photosynthesis, the tree uses the energy from the sun and to combine carbon dioxide and water and produce a sugar. The tree uses the sugar that’s produced as their food. However, in this process the tree also releases extra oxygen from the water particle. This extra oxygen is released into the environment and therefore gives us oxygen we can breathe. So in short, a tree does the exact opposite as humans- trees breathe in carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen. Therefore, trees are our perfect counterpart!

2. Trees provide shelter and food for wildlife such as squirrels, birds, and bugs.
For many species, trees act as a year-round form of shelter, protection, and food. Birds for instance use trees to scan the environment, build nests for their eggs, and source food. Having trees on your property encourages the ecosystem to continue thriving, wildlife to keep producing, and allows natural predators to control unwanted pests.

3. Trees help with water conservation by reducing storm runoff. 
When a storm hits and rain pours down onto a tree’s canopy, a large percentage of the water is caught on a tree’s leaves or absorbed by a tree. When tree’s capture rainwater, the tree allows some of the water to evaporate while the rest of the water is able to slowly filter into the ground. Trees slow down the process of a storm and give the ground time to absorb a storm’s shock. By absorbing some of the storm, trees can reduce as much as 65% of water runoff. Less water runoff means less water rushing into city gutters and as a result, water is cleaner when it reaches a reservoir such as a river or lake.

Trees are not only beneficial for our personal health and property value, but they also help encourage a better quality environment to all of Earth’s species. For these reasons and so many more, plant a new tree on your property today!