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Q: I am having problems with surface roots. What products or services do you offer that will help this problem?

A: Surface roots like those seen in the picture can cause many problems in your yard. They can be a trip hazard, mowing hazard, cause driveway and foundation damage and make your property look unkept.

Usually, surface roots are cause by compacted heavy soils which are common in Southern Louisiana. The heavy soils do not allow for the passage of air and oxygen. Tree roots are like lungs, they need oxygen to be healthy. Many root functions are accompanied by the exchange of gases. If roots are unable to do this exchange under the ground, they start to grow towards the surface. Very healthy trees can have surface roots.

The problem with surface roots for the tree is that they are exposed to mechanical damage which can lead to fungal or bacterial infections. As surface roots are constantly nicked by lawn mowers and weed trimmers, the tree must extend energy to seal the wounds. The energy is diverted away from some other process and can lead to tree decline over time.

Bob’s Tree Preservation is able to help reverse soil compaction with the incorporation of Eco-Mulch and aeration of the soil around the surface roots.

A root barrier might also help in protecting your hardscape (driveways, sidewalks, patios, pool decks or foundations). Bob’s Tree can install Biobarrier which is guaranteed to last for 15 years for your peace of mind.

Q: I have a tree that is planted very close to my house. Is there anything that I can do to protect my foundation or does the tree have to be cut down?

A:
More often than not, people forget how large trees can grow and as a result, plant them too closely to their home. In this situation, there is concern that the tree roots will break or damage the foundation and cause disruption to the home. Each case is different and should be evaluated by a professional; there are however, some services that can be performed to prevent such a situation.

First and foremost, a professional reduction and thinning prune should be performed to clear foliage and limbs away from the house.

Secondly, Bob’s Tree Preservation has a product called Biobarrier (see more info in our Products section) which protects the foundation by way of both a chemical and mechanical barrier to prevent roots from penetrating.

When installed by our professional staff it has a 15 year guarantee that can give you peace of mind and confidence when it is time to sell the house.
Another method to preserve the foundation of a home or business is to create radial trenches by way of an Air-Knife. These trenches are directed away from the foundation creating a safer, more structurally sound path for the roots to direct themselves. This not only keeps the home or business safe, but allows the tree to stretch into open soils increasing its health and sustainability.
In some cases, an older tree planted too closely to a house that has some structural defects may have to be removed before it damages the house. Certified arborists at Bob’s Tree can help you with that decision and we have a trained staff that can remove the hazard without damage to your home or landscape.

Q: I have an Oak tree that needs to be trimmed but I cannot get to the branches that have become hazardous. Can you help?

A: Yes we can! Bob’s Tree Preservation is capable of handling even the most difficult pruning jobs. We have many years of experience, trained professionals that are knowledgeable in working around electrical hazards, in tight spaces and many other difficulties that can be found around trees. Most importantly, we pride ourselves in leaving your property the way we found it.

At Bob’s Tree, we are respectful to your property and go the extra mile so that our equipment, procedures or workers leave no marks on your home or landscape

Q: I see a web-like growth on the bark of my Live Oak making the tree look ghostly. What is it and is it killing my tree?

A: This phenomenon that is seen periodically is actually the webbing from a small insect called bark lice. It lives on the outer surface of the bark of trees but causes no damage to the tree at all. Outbreaks of the lice are usually seen in late August and early September. Heavy infestations are usually associated with long periods of high humidity. The small insect sometimes creates very thick webbing on the trunk of the tree but the foliage is not affected. The insects feed only on decaying organic matter so they are harmless to the trees in which they reside.

Q: My tree has some dead branches at the top or throughout the tree. Is my tree dying?

A: At certain times of the year, we get more calls than usual about sporadic dead branches in mostly oak trees. Many times what causes the die back is the nibbling of the tender branches by young squirrels. One can usually tell if this is the root of the problem by looking at a branch that has fallen or, if possible, get up into the tree to see the transition site between live and dead tissue. There is usually bark gnawed off and possible breakage of the branch. Not much can be done about the squirrel damage without removing the squirrels but, there is no long term damage done to the tree by these pesky rodents.

Sporadic dieback in a tree is not a common sign of a dying tree or an insect/disease infestation. A area in the canopy that has a concentration of dieback is more likely to be a concern. Bob’s Tree Preservation has a plant health care specialist on staff that is extremely knowledgeable in the cyclical oddities that are seen in landscape plants. He will be able to quickly diagnosis the problem and offer the best solutions to remediate the problem.

Q: What can be done to protect the health of an old tree?

A: Older trees in the landscape can be given some special care to prolong their lives and make them a safe, beautiful addition to you property. One of the most important services that Bob’s Tree performs to older trees is proper pruning. Sometimes, older trees are neglected to be pruned because they are not growing as fast as the younger trees on a property. Older trees need to be pruned to remove dead wood and sometimes a thinning prune is beneficial to ‘open up’ the crown to allow more light to the interior of the tree. The proper pruning for older trees should be light and remove a very limited amount of green tissue.

Bob’s Tree Preservation also has a variety of products including soil enriching fungi, eco-mulch, root zone therapy and plant health care products to boost the health of an older tree. It is also worth considering protecting an older specimen tree in your landscape with lightning protection. New advancements in lightning protection make protecting the most invaluable aspect of your landscape more cost effective. Call Bob’s Tree Preservation offices to find out more about our lightning protection and other services.

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