Sunshine Trees & Arborists

04/05/2022

04/19/2020

What a treat to find tulips in the trees now – thanks to the tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera). This tree is related to magnolias and can grow to well over 100 feet, usually very straight and tall. Found throughout the state, we don’t often get to see the flowers up close until they fall to the ground, but this was a low branch.

The nectar and pollen in the flowers make it attractive to bees, flower flies and even hummingbirds. If you’d like a fast-growing tree, this might be a good choice. It is also a host plant for the tiger swallowtail butterfly as well as several other butterflies and moths.

03/30/2020

Do not plant Asian wisteria!! Even if you think it’s contained, the seeds can still spread.

Driving around Atlanta this weekend revealed massive infestations of Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) on I-20, GA 400, and I-285 along the roadsides. While it may look pretty in the 2-3 weeks of blooming, the aggressive vines shade out other plants, reducing the biodiversity of the plant community and thus supporting fewer insects and fewer birds than the area could support if it were not there. The heavy vines can also topple some trees over time. Do not plant Asian wisteria, remove it if you have it, and encourage others to control it as well. There are native species of wisteria (Wisteria frutescens is native to Georgia) that blooms in late spring. Always verify the scientific name of what you’re buying.

03/06/2020

We are doing corrective pruning to some previously topped crape myrtles today. Here are two excellent examples of why you should NOT top your trees, regardless of species. Topping trees causing stress which leads to rot and decay.

PLEASE DO NOT TOP YOUR CRAPE MYRTLES!!! Your trees will thank you 😊

01/17/2020

We are ready for our install tomorrow!

12/21/2019

One of my good friends is selling his house. He's been working on the house for months and has redone everything. Except the landscape (why doesn't anyone budget for the landscape??)

He sent me a text the other day asking about plants. Then told me he found $5 gardenias at Home Depot. I said absolutely not and to send me photos. Liam and I went over to install plants and mulch this afternoon. Less than $150 in costs and the front of the house now looks 'finished'.

12/07/2019

In case you needed an excuse to not do the yard work this weekend!

08/30/2019

I always recommend having less turf and more landscaped areas. Native plants are the best option.

08/16/2019

If you have a lawn company, please don't let them touch or treat your trees and shrubs without thoroughly researching them. Lawn companies generally specialize in lawns. Tree people specialize in trees and shrubs. I have just seen my second dying tree in a month and both are due to inappropriate care from a lawn service.

Also, if you hire someone to prune your trees and they start cutting huge limbs, especially in the middle of summer, fire them on the spot and call an Arborist.

Lastly, avoid any type of wound care dressing/coating/paint. Trees are fairly resilient and able to take care of themselves. By sealing the wound, bacteria can be trapped in the tree and the tree can't expel it.

The absolute best things you can do for your trees are have them checked by a Certified Arborist, soil test before putting down any chemicals/fertilizer and keep a 2-3" layer of mulch (not pine straw) over the root zone.

If you have any questions about your trees and landscaping, you are welcome to contact me.

08/07/2019

A chart of tree leaf shape, arrangement, margin, and venation can be used to identify individual tree species.

07/20/2019

Researchers have identified exactly where we can plant a certain amount of trees in order to stop the climate crisis in its tracks.

07/03/2019

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