Edging is an often overlooked, but important piece of effective and attractive landscaping. This technique creates a border and boundary around your garden bed, trees, or shrubs. This way, the organic mulch will be less likely to shift around onto the rest of the lawn. It is also a way to stop growing weeds from popping up.

There are four main types of edging you should keep in mind when edging around your home’s flower and tree beds:

• Spade-cut edging – This is the easiest and simplest way to edge; all you need for this one is a spade shovel. Use your spade to make a narrow trench about 3 inches deep around your flower or tree beds.
• Strip edging – Use this method is best used for following curves. You can use plastic or metal strip edging materials and anchor them into the ground. Make sure to leave the top portion of the edging above the trench for effective separation.
• Masonry edging – For this, you will need concrete, brick, or stone pieces. While it is the most popular choice for edging, it is also the most expensive and will take a bit more time to arrange neatly.
• Wood edging – If you choose to go this route, you can choose between a range of heights for the wood pieces – from flat boards to round logs. Wood is a good choice if you are looking for an affordable way to edge. Also, the wood that is used for edging is naturally resistant to rot: redwood, cypress, and cedar.

Mulching around your trees is a way to keep moisture available for the roots and provides a barrier from both hot and cold temperatures. Adding mulch to your flower or tree beds also prevents soil runoff, allowing the nutrients to stay in place. When you edge around your garden beds, you are taking the next step in ensuring that your soil and mulch are providing the most benefits for your trees, shrubs, and flowers.

Have more questions about how our Cleveland tree company can help you take care of your property? Call us at VanCuren for more advice or for your next project. We also provide tree services for: tree removal, tree trimming, and even emergency tree removal. Get started with us today!

Whether you are looking to clean up the landscape of your Cleveland home, making preventative changes, or getting emergency tree removal, it is probably best to let your neighbors know as a courtesy. It is important to think ahead about tree removal to avoid a potentially messy yard or messy neighbor relationship. The following are examples of situations to think about when a tree becomes a liability:

• A strong storm just hit Cleveland and severely damaged a tree that is located on your property, but overhangs your neighbor’s property. While your property is unscathed, your neighbor’s property has noticeable signs of damage.  You may, or may not be, be responsible for the damages caused by the occurrence.
• Similarly, if a dead or weak tree from your property has fallen onto your neighbor’s property, it might be on you to fix the damages.
• If a tree sits on a shared property line with your neighbor, both parties may both own the tree equally.
•  If a tree is situated on your neighbor’s property, but the branches are on your property, you may have permission to cut the tree.

Please contact your local council for the latest rules and regulations regarding tree removal. You may even find that you need a permit to remove a tree or a tree on your property is classified as a protected species. Again, these concerns are all dependent on the tree laws in your specific area.

Remember that if you are in need of Cleveland tree removal services, it is a complicated process that should be handled only by a group of professionals who belong to a trusted and experienced tree service. The arborists at VanCuren are ready to help you attend to your tree needs in Cleveland, OH.

The truth of the matter is that there are many factors to consider when cutting down a tree, and therefore the price is not necessarily dependent on the seasons. The price actually depends on the size, location, and specific needs of your tree.

If you want a tree removed for landscaping reasons or if your tree has only minor issues, our professional team at VanCuren recommends that a tree removal process takes place during the dormant season, or between late winter and very early spring. It is easier to remove a tree during the dormant state due to the absence of leaves and the tree itself is lighter. But this is not a hard-and-fast rule, every tree should be inspected before being removed.

If a tree on your property has any of these issues, you should call an arborist right away. These situations are signs that call for immediate attention, no matter what season it is:

• Extreme trunk lean
• Exposed and upheaved roots
• Weakening and close to your home
• Lots of peeling bark
• Bug and insect infestations
• Loss of several branches
• Splintered wood

Please remember that tree removal is a dangerous and involved task and it should be handled by experts who are trained and have a lot of experience. Do not attempt to remove a tree by yourself through your own methods. Call us at VanCuren for advice from our experienced arborists. If you do need either emergency Cleveland tree removal or would like to start planning to remove a tree from your property, you can rely on us to have the equipment, knowledge, and expertise to get the job done right.

Cleveland Small tree trimming advice from a professional. Most homeowners are comfortable with basic tree care like mulching, watering, and fertilizing. However, when it comes time to trim trees on your own you may not know where to start.

For large trees, VanCuren strongly advises using a professional Cleveland tree trimming service. For small trees there are best practices to follow when trimming on your own. So, how small is a “small tree”? A small tree has lightweight, skinnier branches and a canopy that is at eye-level. On the other hand, a tree that is larger with heavy branches and will require the use of a ladder to reach the branches is too big for DIY tree trimming methods. Do not attempt to trim a tree, regardless of size, that is sitting near your house or a power line. Leave large or conveniently situated trees like these to the professionals for the safety of you and your home.

How to Trim a Small Cleveland, OH Tree

Follow these fundamental guidelines when planning to trim your tree yourself.

• Take a few steps back and look at the balance and overall shape or composition of the tree. This will help you plan out the branches that you will cut and leave the branches to keep.
• Visualize your tree as a clock and its branches as the hands. Keep any branches that are growing at the 2 o’clock and 10 o’clock angles relative to the trunk and look to trim branches that protrude at odd angles or that dip too low to the ground.
  • Also, make sure to remove branches that have grown across the centerline of the tree. For example, a branch is attached to the tree on the right side and has grown in the opposite direction and is bent across the tree to sit on the left.
• Declutter by trimming away any overgrowth, dead branches or twigs, and weeds around the trunk or roots.
• Cut off the branches you planned to trim. We recommend only removing 25% of the tree’s canopy. The other 75% is necessary for the tree’s growth.

If you are unsure or have any questions about how to DIY trim a tree on your Cleveland property, you can call any of our trained arborists at VanCuren. First and foremost, we at VanCuren want you to stay safe. Remember that these guidelines for DIY trimming apply only to small trees! You should never attempt to trim a big or tall Cleveland, OH tree by yourself.

Greenery Overload

It is said that everything is best when in moderation. This also applies to trees. When you look at your tree, can you see through the leaves or branches? If the answer is no, then your tree is due for a trim. When branches are too dense with leaves it is easier to catch the wind and topple over.

Broken Branches

Heavy rain and wind storms can snap off large branches on even the strongest of trees. If you see a lot of branches littering your yard after a storm, the branches need to be cleaned up and the trees should be checked. A tree with a lot of missing branches, or main branches is a risk to your property and to you.

Cankers

Not all cankers look the same as there are a few varied types. In general, a canker looks like an isolated dead patch, a discolored area, or a caved in portion and is caused by a number of things such as: lawnmowers, insects, fungus, or weed killer chemicals. You might need to search around a bit though since it may occur on bark, branches, stems, and twigs. If you see a canker on one of your trees, call a professional at VanCuren to come and inspect. Cankers can leave a tree highly vulnerable to bacteria and fungus among other problems.

Large, Deep Cracks

Fluctuations in temperature are usually the reason why you might find deep cracks in the bark of the tree. For example, in freezing temperatures the water from the tree’s cells freezes which causes the wood to shrink. This shrinkage is not evenly dispersed and the pull between the regular, unfrozen wood and the frozen, dehydrated wood starts to make deep cracks. The frost cracks can be prevented, however by trimming the tree.

Growth Gone Wild

Regularly scheduled trimming for your tree helps keep its shape, strength, and disease-resistant properties. An unbalanced tree is a danger to your property and to you. This especially applies to young trees that require more attention and guidance for growth. Rely on a professional arborist to make sure that trimming is done safely while maintaining the health of your tree.

If you notice any of these five signs on the trees around your property, give our VanCuren professionals a call for a free inspection or to schedule a Cleveland tree trimming project.