Winter 2009 Newsletter
Inside this Issue:
Dear Friends and Fellow Tree Lovers
TLC Update
Critters & Cruds
Tree of the Quarter
Tree Care Tips - Give Your Trees TLC
Download the Winter 2009 Newsletter [pdf]
Dear Friends and Fellow Tree Lovers
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at Tree Loving Care. We have been very blessed this year and hope you have a very blessed holiday
season and coming year.
While you are out looking at Christmas lights, please come by to watch out animated display. We are 7 miles from Loop 289 on US 62 (Brownfield Hwy) just past Wolfforth. There are over 100,000 lights in the display and is animated to the music that also is broadcasted on our radio signal FM101.5.
TLC Update
Tree Loving Care is proud to announce the association of Heath Dean. Heath has over 10 years experience in arboriculture. David Rios will celebrate 10 years with Tree Loving Care this quarter. Thanks David.
James Tuttle will attend the 24th annual Think Tree
conference in Albuquerque, NM, in January. This conference is always an outstanding source of information on the latest advances in tree care.
Read the full story in our newsletter [pdf]
Critters & Cruds
We continue to have a problem with Eriococcus scale on Red Oaks. Dormant Oil is a good management tool for this critter as well as many other sap sucking critters can. We will
begin our dormant oil program the first or second week of January. Now that Bermuda grasses are dormant, winter weeds are flourishing. It is time to apply pre and post emergent herbicide on Bermuda lawns. Call us at 806.785.8733 to schedule an appointment today.
Tree of the Quarter
Alligator Juniper, Juniperus deppeana, is a small growing tree with blue/grey foliage. It grows in
far west Texas from the Guadalupe and Davis mountains up to central New Mexico. It is a common
tree near Ruidoso below 7000 ft elevation. These areas are all arid, with an average rainfall of less than 14 inches.
Read the full story in our newsletter [pdf]
Tree Care Tips - Give Your Trees TLC
Winter has traditionally been the season for pruning. There is nothing magical about the time, but we don't prune Oaks February through May. The structure of trees can be more easily seen. It is also easier to spot defects. Inspection of trees is
something that should be done every year at the minimum and after every big wind or ice storm. If you would like one of our Certified Arborists to inspect your trees, call 806.785.8733 to
set up an appointment.
We would be delighted to give your trees the TLC they need.
Read the full story in our newsletter [pdf]
Dec/23/2009
Fall 2009
Inside this Issue:
TLC Update
Critters & Cruds
Tree of the Quarter
Tree Care Tips - Give Your Trees TLC
Dear Friends and Fellow Tree Lovers
First, I want to thank all of our clients for their business this year. This has been a difficult year for many. There is no doubt that the economy has suffered this year and TreeLoving Care finally had no choice but to participate in the down turn...
Download the newsletter now [pdf]
TLC Update
James Tuttle went to the Christmas Décor convention in July. It was a very informative and inspiring show. There are many new and innovative products on the market. TLC will be introducing many of these products to our clients this year...
Download the newsletter now [pdf]
Critters & Cruds
Kermes scale is still a little active. Most of the hatch has occurred, but control can still be achieved with a spray. While the damage is fresh on every ones mind, the elm leaf beetle has done a tremendous amount of damage this year.
Download the newsletter now [pdf]
Tree of the Quarter
Mimosa, also called Silk-tree (Albizia julibrissin), does fairly well in the West Texas area and seeds so well that many people dislike it. It can be a little bit messy, but is a pretty good selection where a small tree is needed.
Tree Care Tips - Give Your Trees TLC
Fall fertilization is very important for plant health. Nature drops a blanket of leaves in the fall, which not only insulate the soil from cold temperatures and retains moisture, but also decays and returns nutrients to the soil.
Download the newsletter now [pdf]
Oct/12/2009
Summer 2009
Inside this Issue:
Dear Friends and Fellow Tree Lovers
TLC Update
Critters & Cruds
Tree of the Quarter
Tree Care Tips - Give Your Trees TLC
Dear Friends and Fellow Tree Lovers,
What a great time we had at the Texas Tree Climbing Championship in Austin. Wish all of you could have been there. We will be in Waco next year. I’ll keep you posted. This was my last year to chair the event. It is quite a job, especially at long distance...
Download the newsletter now [pdf]TLC Update
Glen Seaman, Anthony Rivera and Johnny Duncan are all celebrating anniversaries with Tree Loving Care this quarter. It is Anthony’s 4th year and Glen and Johnny’s first. Johnny is also still recovering from his motorcycle wreck. Although not yet up to full speed, he has made great progress. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.
Download the newsletter now [pdf]
Critters & Cruds
There are still quite a few things going on the in the insect and disease world. There are articles about 2 problems that have the potential to affect trees in our local area. The Western Soapberry is a highly desirable tree for our area and the Soapberry Beetle is the first insect problem that I have seen attack this tree. So far, the insect outbreak seems to be only in central Texas. The Chalcid Wasp on Afghan Pine seems to be only a far west Texas problem. TLC will be on the lookout for these problems.
Download the newsletter now [pdf]
Tree of the Quarter
Even though we do have a new exotic pest that is attacking Western Soapberry, Sapindus drummondii, in some counties of central Texas, this is still a great tree for our environment. It is native from central Texas into New Mexico and Oklahoma. It is relatively insect and disease free.
Download the newsletter now [pdf]
Tree Care Tips - Give Your Trees TLC
Weeds and spring rains just seem to go together. If we have been applying pre-emerge to your yard to control weeds, it is time for the last round for the season. If you have a weed problem, we can solve it. One really great way to help problems in bed areas is to mulch. A mulch layer 2-3 inches thick will not only greatly help reduce weeds, it will also conserve moisture, loosen soil, return nutrients to the soil and promote soil life. TLC has an over abundance of compost. Enough that we are continuing our THANK YOU VERY MULCH SALE. We’ve REDUCED the price from $22 PER YARD TO $12 PER YARD.
Download the Summer 2009 Newsletter [PDF]
Jun/26/2009
Spring 2009
Inside this Issue:
Dear Friends and Fellow Tree Lovers
TLC Update
Critters
Tree of the Quarter
Tree Care Tips - Give Your Trees TLC
Dear Friends and Fellow Tree Lovers
Spring seems to be pretty early this year. It has been a lovely spring, not much dust, just very dry. The little bit of moisture we had 2nd week of March and the one rain in February is less that 2" in over 6 months...
Read the newsletter for the full story [PDF].
TLC Update
We are happy to still have Johnny Duncan with us. Johnny had a pretty bad motorcycle wreck on his way to work about a month ago. The road was very slick and he lost control of his bike. Thankfully, he was only going about 30 mph. He spent only 5 days in the hospital. He is on the road to recovery now, mostly staying in his office. We expect him to be climbing again in a few months. Thanks for all your prayers...
Read the newsletter for the full story [PDF].
Critters & Cruds
Spring is the most active time for plants and the critters and crud that live on them.
Siberian Elms are just about completely leafed out and that means the Elm Leaf Beetle won't be far behind. It is already time to soil inject with Merit for that problem. Slime flux has always been a problem in Siberian Elms and we've never had a good solution for that problem until recently. Mauget now has an injectible anti-biotic that seems to work fairly well at controlling the disease...
Read the newsletter for the full story [PDF].
Tree of the Quarter
Pinyon Pine is the common name for several species of pine. All are drought tolerant, with native ranges from northern Mexico to central Colorado...
Read the newsletter for the full story [PDF].
Tree Care Tips - Give Your Trees TLC
We are almost 10" above average for rainfall for the year, but the last rain was back in September and of that record 8" that fell in a 24 hour period, much ran off. It is time to give your trees a thorough watering.
Read the newsletter for the full story [PDF].
Download the Tree Loving Care Spring 2009 Newsletter [PDF].
Mar/27/2009
Winter 2008
Inside this Issue:
TLC Update
Critters & Cruds
Tree of the Quarter
Tree Care Tips - Give Your Trees TLC
TLC Update
Tree Loving Care is proud of all of our
employees and their families... Read the newsletter for the full story [PDF].
Critters & Cruds
Dormant oils are an excellent tool to manage many
critters from mites and scale to aphids. Mid to
late winter is prime time for oils. We generally
start spraying dormant oils about the first week of January.
Some winter weeds are already up and growing,
especially in dormant Bermuda lawns. This is
a prime time to apply a pre and post emerge
herbicide on your lawn. Call the office at 785-
8733 to schedule an appointment with one of our
Certified Arborists.
Tree of the Quarter
Alligator Juniper (Juniperus deppeeand) is on of the numerous junipers that grow in the dry southwestern United States. Read more about this hardy tree in the latest edition the newsletter [PDF].
Tree Care Tips - Give Your Trees TLC
We are almost 10" above average for rainfall for
the year, but the last rain was back in September
and of that record 8" that fell in a 24 hour period, much ran off. It is time to give your trees a thorough watering. Read more about caring for your trees in the latest edition of the newsletter...
Download the Tree Loving Care Winter 2008 Newsletter [PDF]
Dec/23/2008
Spring 2008
Inside This Issue:30th Anniversary Celebration
TLC Update
Critters & Cruds
Tree of The Quarter
Newsletter Download Link
30th Anniversary Gift
I started Tuttle Landscaping Company 30 years ago. To help us celebrate this milestone, we are offering all of our tree fertilization programs at 30% off through the end of April, 2008. We are also offering our fantastic compost for only $15 per cubic yard. Delivery for up to 10 cubic yards, normally $60, will be $30. That will make a large load of mulch for only $180!!!
TLC Update
Tree Loving Care is celebrating our 30th anniversary. This celebration will last through the end of April and you get all the gifts. Read the full newsletter to get details.
Critters & Cruds
The mild winter we’ve had has been nice in some ways, but it was too mild to kill many pests. Aphids have been active for much of the winter. Eriococcus scale on Red Oaks continues to be a growing problem...
Tree of the Quarter
Texas Madrone, Arbutus xalapensis, grows in scattered spots in mountains and canyons in southwest Texas.
Download the Spring 2008 Edition of Love Letter (PDF)
Read past editions of Love Letter in our Newsletter section.
Apr/17/2008
Winter 2007
Inside This Issue:Christmas Decor by Tree Loving Care - The staff and management of Tree Loving Care and Christmas Décor hope that you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Christmas Décor by Tree Loving Care is a new division of Tree Loving Care and has consumed so much of my time the last 3 months that I’ve had little time to reflect on the events of the last year. What an exciting time it has been.
This spring, we had the opportunity to do a job at Fort Davis for the National Park Service on a historic grove of Cottonwoods. Oscar Mestes, Urban Forester with the Texas Forest Service, had been trying to convince them of the great needs of these trees for many years and when they finally bid out the work last year, we competed against Arborlogical Services from the D/FW area, the tree care company that I have long considered the best tree care company in Texas. To be awarded the contract that was based on the best interest of the government, not just on price, is something that I have been quite proud of all year. That job alone doesn’t define Tree Loving Care, but I think it has been a feather in our cap and helped raise awareness of arboriculture in all of the West Texas area.
TLC Update - Tree Loving Care will celebrate our 30th anniversary with the next newsletter. Watch for ways to help us celebrate. The presents will be all yours.
Critters & Cruds - Dormant oil is an excellent way of managing many insect populations. Th e oil coats the insect or egg and smothers the critter. Dormant oils have a very low impact on the environment. Th ey are generally applied January through February.
Tree of the Quarter - The Chisos Red Oak (Quercus gravesii) is found only west of the Pecos River in far west Texas and in the Davis and Chisos mountains, gives excellent fall color.
Download the Winter 2007 Edition of our Newsletter here.
Dec/19/2007
Fall 2007
Inside This Issue:
Tree Loving Care is Now a Christmas Decor Franchise!
We are delighted to announce that we have purchased the Christmas Décor franchise from Mike Redeker and Lighting Specialties. Tree Loving Care has been the leading lover of trees on the South Plains or many years and we are now teamed with the national leader in holiday lighting. Christmas Décor began right here in Lubbock and is now a national franchised company with almost 400 franchises around the country.
Critters & Cruds - Generally, there are few insect or disease situations to be greatly concerned about in the fall and early winter. Just like us, many insects are going dormant unless they are getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas, in which case they are quite busy. The four legged critters are getting ready for winter and they are the ones that you need to watch out for.
Tree of the Quarter - Western Soapberry (Sapindus drummondi) is native in over half of Texas, including all around Lubbock and even on the Caprock. It is a small tree, up to 50’, but usually no more than 35’ tall in 50 years. It is very drought tolerant and virtually pest free in our area.
Fall Fertilization Program - The time for fall fertilization is upon us. Much of the root growth that a plant puts on for the year occurs in the fall. Our fertilization program is designed to take advantage of this. Call 785-8733 to set up an appointment with one of our Certified Arborists to discuss the needs of your landscape.
Download the Fall 2007 Newsletter here
(PDF)
View Archives
Sep/18/2007
Summer 2007
Inside This Issue:
Critters & Cruds - The Eriococcus Scale that our arborists discovered in Southwest Lubbock has been spreading. We’ve now found it north of 50th St.
Trees of the Quarter - Cedar of Lebanon, Blue Atlas Cedar, & Deodora Cedar
Did you know many of the plants that are commonly called Cedar are actually Junipers?
Texas Tree Climbing Championship - Plano. James Tuttle was head judge of the Aerial Rescue event and James Majors judged the same event. All preliminary events have 3 judges. We all had a great time.
Download the Summer 2007 Newsletter
(PDF) View Archives Jul/10/2007
Spring 2007
Inside This Issue:Name Our New Compost - As a staunch civil libertarian, I jealously covet my personal freedoms. I firmly believe that Lubbock City government has trampled on the constitution and our personal freedoms with approval of the red light cameras. We found that if we mix just the right amount of clay with our famous compost, it will stick to stuff , such as your windows, license plates, etc. (I'm not suggesting that anyone run red lights, obstruct view of their license plate or do anything else illegal.)
WE NEED YOUR HELP to name the product. Vote online at Treelovingcare.com. Get a free bag of product for voting. See our website or read the newsletter for details.
Fort Davis Mountains Cottonwood Restoration - We just finished a project in a historic grove of Cottonwoods on Fort Davis in the Davis Mountains. We removed three of the most dangerous trees and pruned eight.
Customer Satisfaction Survey - To help us provide you with better service, we’ve developed a survey. To show our appreciation for your participation, we will have a drawing for a $50 gift card to use anywhere VISA/Master Card is accepted. Take the Survey Online or by phone. Call our offices and talk to Matt to take the survey. 806-785-TREE
Critters & Cruds - Now is the time to prevent damage to your trees. Call us to schedule an appointment with one of our ISA Certified Arborists.
Tree of the Quarter - Emory Oak
Download the Spring 2007 Newsletter
(PDF)View Archives
Mar/29/2007
Winter 2006
Inside This Issue:
Critters & Cruds - Eriococcus Scale; with a severe infestation, they will turn a branch completely white.Festive Adornment - Tree Loving Care lighted trees in Kingsate and Kingsgate South
Tree of the Quarter - ‘Nellie Stevens’ Holly
Pruning & Trimming - If your trees haven’t been pruned in the last couple of years, they probably need dead wood removed and perhaps some lifting of low limbs to clear roofs and driveways.
Download the Winter 2006 Edition of 'Love Letter', the Tree Loving Care Quarterly Newsletter.
Dec/22/2006
Fall 2006
Download the Fall 2006 Edition of 'Love Letter', the Tree Loving Care Quarterly Newsletter.
Oct/11/2006
Summer 2006
Inside This Issue:
Critters & Cruds - Spider Mites, Obscure Scale
TLC - Plant Heath Care Program
Tree of the Quarter - Afgan Pine (Pinus elarica)
Download the Summer 2006 Edition of 'Love Letter', the Tree Loving Care Quarterly Newsletter.
Oct/11/2006
Winter 2005
Inside This Issue:
Critters & Cruds - Control Scale Insects with Dormant Oil
TLC - Winter Watering
Tree of the Quarter - Incense-Cedar (Calcedrus decurrens).
Download the Winter 2005 Edition of 'Love Letter', the Tree Loving Care Quarterly Newsletter.
Oct/11/2006
Autumn 2005
Critters & Cruds - Soil Application for Bur Oak and Pecan, Kermes Scale on Oaks
TLC - Fall Mulch
Tree of the Quarter - Texas Sophora (Eve's Necklace)
Download the Autumn 2005 Edition of 'Love Letter', the Tree Loving Care Quarterly Newsletter.
Oct/10/2006
Spring 2005
Love Letter
Spring 2005
Dear Fellow Tree Lovers,
Spring has sprung. And as usual, I didn’t get all of my winter work done. At 55 years of age, I’m finally figuring out that I get over committed. That always creates a problem for someone like me, with a limited mental capacity. I find my self forgetting things; maybe some of it a product of age. One change that we are making to try to help that problem is more computerization of the office and the field.
The program will help track calls from initial contact through progress of the work until final billing. So, I won’t have any more excuses. Hopefully, this will streamline a lot of things and help keep track of you and your trees.
At some point, we should be able to incorporate insect and disease alerts. So, for those purposes, as well as sending this letter, if you didn’t get this letter by email, please send us your email address. Donna’s email is donna@treelovingcare.com and mine is james@treelovingcare.com.
We hope that you have a great spring and may the forest be with you.
James Tuttle Certified Arborist TX 0117
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Amendment IX US Constitution
CRITTERS AND CRUDS
This is the time of year that the critters are coming out. The first generation of pine tip moth and elm leaf beetle should be out about the end of March. The biggest problem on Live Oak is Oak Leucanium Scale. Over the next month, it will grow from a spot the size of a period on this paper to the size of a split BB and suck a lot of sap from last years twigs in the process. They will need to be sprayed when they hatch in mid-May.
If we have anything like the wet spring we had last year, you can count on lots of Powdery Mildew on a number of different shrubs. That needs to be treated before the disease makes headway in the new foliage. In other words, it needs to be sprayed with a fungicide within two or three days after it quits raining and the sun comes out, and that is after rainy spell in spring and early summer.
Aphids are a perennial problem that can be solved with a single application of Merit. We soil inject this product so there are no drift problems nor is there does it harm beneficial insects.
If you need help with these or any other disease or insect problem, call 785-TREE to set up an appointment.
GIVE YOUR TREES TLC
There are still lots of broken hanging branches from the snow storm in November. These need to be removed because they may cause even more damage if blown down by spring winds. Stubs need to be removed. Wood rot fungi will decay that stub and the decay will be more likely to move down the parent limb. And of course, the falling limb may damage other targets on the way down.
One great thing about all the rain and snow is that it has flushed some of the salts out of the soil. If you have been watering with Lubbock water for years, you probably still need an annual application of gypsum. It is time for spring fertilization. Call and ask about the Humega soil activator that we are now using.
Along with the onset of warmer weather, here comes the thunderstorm season. Along with thunderstorms, we get high swirling winds and lightning that rip trees apart. Narrow crotches have a higher risk of failure because of poor attachment. They may need to be braced or cabled. Since lightning can be so devastating to a tree, tall and high value trees should be considered for a lightning protection system.
TREE OF THE QUARTER
It was great to see in the Texas Electric Coop magazine an article on small trees suitable for planting near power lines. One tree that was on the list was ‘Bradford’ Pear.
I think that tree is grossly over planted and prefer a couple of other varieties of Callery Pear. ‘Capital’ is a narrowly upright tree that may get to 30’ tall and 8’ wide. It is fairly susceptible to Fire Blight but that doesn’t seem to be much of a problem in drier climates like ours. It is encouraging that some nurseries are carrying this and other varieties.
TLC UPDATE
Since the last letter, the TLC family has a new addition. Congratulations to Erik and Angel on a new baby, Jonathon. Mom and baby are fine and Dad is proud.
At the end of January, James and Donna went to Albuquerque for the 19th annual Think Tree Conference. It was as usual a great conference. It’s always good to get together with people that love trees as much as we do and know even more.
The Texas Tree Climbing Championship will be held June 10 & 11, in Austin. TLC will have 3 and maybe 4 contestants this year.
-Love Letter From TLC
** This edition is available online only.
Oct/10/2006