Squirrel Work Tree Care

05/20/2026

This is one of the reasons we encourage retaining the lower 30-40 feet of hollow or partially decayed trees whenever possible in wooded areas. This vertical habitat is incredibly important for many species, and makes for very entertaining bird watching as an elevated perch for owls and hawks.

05/18/2026

These trees are highly invasive, with poor structure and very prone to catastrophic storm damage. They also host spotted lantern fly, which is a noxious invasive species threatening the local ecosystem. If you have one, get rid of it!

Tree-of-heaven is an invasive w**d tree growing aggressively along NC roadsides and yards, and it's the spotted lanternfly's favorite host plant. Here's how to identify it and why removing it matters more than ever this spring.

04/21/2026

Important news for landowners of forested tracts: The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services was awarded a U.S. Department of Agriculture block grant to support Hurricane Helene recovery. Part of these disaster recovery funds will be administered by the N.C. Forest Service through a new Timber Loss Relief Program (TLRP). TLRP funds will be used to partially compensate eligible woodland owners for the value of timber loss as a result of Hurricane Helene.

The TLRP began accepting landowner applications yesterday (April 20, 2026), and will remain open for a two-month period, until June 12, 2026. TLRP timber damage assessment reports associated with a landowner’s TLRP application will need to be submitted by July 10, 2026.

To begin the application process, landowners should contact their local N.C. Forest Service county ranger’s office directly. If staff are unavailable in that office, the N.C. Forest Service district offices overseeing county offices can be contacted. Contact information is available here: https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/nc-forest-service/contacts

03/29/2026

03/24/2026

An oak tree can support hundreds of insect species, plus birds, mammals, and fungi—functioning like a whole ecosystem in a single canopy. For urban and landscape sites, protecting just a few mature oaks can dramatically increase habitat value. How are you currently monitoring and managing the health of the oaks in your care?

03/17/2026

City trees do a lot more than look good—they help cool our neighborhoods, clean the air and water, manage stormwater and store carbon. But growing in urban environments isn’t easy. Compacted, low-quality soil makes it tough for trees to thrive long-term.

That’s where biochar comes in. This carbon-rich material is gaining traction as a powerful way to improve soil conditions and support healthier, more resilient trees. Learn how it works and how it can be used in real-world tree care - https://hubs.li/Q047cYf50

02/10/2026

Almon R Cox knows what he is talking about about. There are a lot of structurally unstable high risk trees right now. Please be alert, we are happy to come assess risk if you have concerns

01/26/2026

That "Gunshot" you just heard? It was a Tree. 🌲💥

If you are sitting in your warm house during this and hear a loud CRACK or BANG outside... don't panic. It’s likely a Frost Crack. The trees are literally exploding.

Here is the physics of the Sap Bomb:

🧊 1. The 9% Expansion Rule Tree sap is mostly water. When water turns to ice, it expands by 9%. Imagine filling a glass bottle with water, sealing it, and putting it in the freezer. The glass shatters. The same thing happens to the tree. The sap freezes, expands, and runs out of room.

📉 2. The Hydraulic Pressure The pressure inside the trunk builds to thousands of PSI. Simultaneously, the outer bark shrinks because of the extreme cold (-10°F). The inside pushes OUT. The outside squeezes IN. Something has to give.

🔫 3. The Sonic Rupture When the wood finally fails, it doesn't tear slowly. It snaps. The trunk splits vertically from the bark to the center. The release of energy is so violent it creates a shockwave that sounds exactly like a rifle shot. It usually happens on Maples and Oaks, often on the side facing the sun (where sap thawed during the day and refroze instantly at night).

The Good News: The tree rarely dies! 🌳 Like a healed broken bone, the tree will grow a "frost rib" (a callus ridge) over the crack in the spring. It’s a battle scar from the winter of '26.

Stay warm and listen to the woods!



📌 Quick FAQ (For Comments)
Q: Is the tree dangerous now? A: Usually, no. 🪵 The crack is vertical (along the grain), not horizontal. The tree remains structurally stable and won't topple over just because of a frost crack. However, the open wound can let in fungi or bugs later in spring.

Q: Can I prevent it? A: For young fruit trees, YES. 🍎 You can paint the trunks with white latex paint (diluted 50/50 with water) or wrap them in tree guards. The white color reflects the sun, keeping the bark cool during the day and preventing the "Thaw-Freeze" cycle that triggers the explosion.

Q: Why don't pines explode? A: Anatomy! 🌲 Conifers (Pines, Spruces) have a different cell structure (tracheids vs. vessels) and their resin/sap has a different chemical composition (more "antifreeze" terpenes) that handles freezing better than the watery sap of a Maple or Sycamore.

01/24/2026

01/24/2026

Proper pruning really matters. Not only for the long-term health of your tree, but also for the structural integrity and storm stress resistance of its weight distribution. Over printing and topping create growth patterns that overload rapidly grown branch tips with excessive material. That increased service area on what is basically the end of a lever, results in catastrophic failure under snow or ice load. Structural printing early in the Tree‘s life provides a single dominant stem, removes limbs with narrow aspect ratio early to prevent codominant tops. Allows for adequate limb, spacing, and limits, limb, and top expansion to what the trees main components can withstand. All that can be accomplished without any large cuts being made on the tree if the pruning process is started early enough. Invest pennies now, or pay dollars later.

🌬️✂️ Pruning Matters — Especially During Wind Season 🌳

How a tree is pruned can make the difference between weathering strong winds or becoming an emergency response call.

❌ Over-pruning increases risk
Removing excessive foliage reduces a tree’s natural ability to dissipate wind energy, allowing forces to pe*****te deeper into the canopy and place added stress on major limbs and the trunk.

⚠️ Large, aggressive cuts create weak structure
Severe pruning often stimulates rapid, poorly attached regrowth, which is more likely to fail during high-wind events.

✅ Proper pruning improves wind resistance
Pruning in accordance with ISA Best Management Practices focuses on:
• Structural integrity
• Balanced canopy distribution
• Reduction of defective or high-risk limbs

This allows trees to flex and move safely with wind rather than break.

🌿 Strategic pruning today helps reduce storm failure and prevent emergencies tomorrow.