Tag: tree care

Winter weather typically brings winter winds, and that means turning up our heating systems to stay warm indoors. But with windbreaks, you can stay warm and reduce your heating and even cooling costs. Even though you might have seen one, you may be curious and ask, “What is a windbreak?” As tree care specialists, Stein Tree discusses how windbreaks work, the benefits of having one, and how to plant one.

What Is A Windbreak?

A windbreak, sometimes called a shelterbelt, is a planting, usually of multiple rows of trees or shrubs that are planted specifically to provide shelter from the wind. Windbreaks are also used to protect soil from erosion. An example would be a hedgerow around the edges of a farm or a row of trees separating farm fields from one another.

Windbreaks can also act as barriers for snows, keeping snow from drifting onto nearby roads or yards. That barrier works both ways, as sometimes farmers use them to keep snow on farmland, which provides water for crops when the snow melts. Although we personally prefer trees and shrubs, non-plant barriers such as gates with fabric, glass barriers, or plastic fences can be wind barriers, too.

How Does a Windbreak Work?

As a gust of wind approaches the windbreak, the air pressure builds up on the windward side (the side towards the wind) and decreases on the leeward side (the side away from the wind). The trees force the wind to flow up and over, and eventually, the air pressure pushes the wind back down and to the original level.

Say a house has a row of trees in the backyard, and the wind is 35 mph. The aerodynamics of the trees reduce wind velocity in both the back and front yards, becoming only 10 mph and 15 mph respectively. That results in less cold air moving into the house, keeping the warm air inside; the reverse happens in summer (cool air stays inside while hot air stays outside.)

Another segment of air affected by a windbreak is a layer of still air near a building called the boundary layer. Boundary layers in winter consist of warmer air from the house, which gets swept away with the wind, causing the home to get colder. The trees prevent most of the wind from reaching the house and retains that boundary layer, keeping the walls, windows, and house warm.

All of this results in lower heating costs during the winter and lower cooling costs during the summer. Well planted trees in the right spots can help you reduce your heating costs up to 30%. Trees and shrubs use less energy which means the house and utility company use fewer fossil fuels, which means less carbon dioxide emissions.

How to Plant a Windbreak

So now that we know the answer to “what is a windbreak?” and “how does a windbreak work?” the next step is knowing how to plant one. First, where the trees get planted is important, because each region has different prevailing winds. In Delaware, for instance, the wind tends to blow from the northwest, while in winter winds in Pennsylvania are primarily from the west and northwest. For distance, the trees should be planted a maximum of one or two tree heights from the house. Ideally, the trees should also be around a one or two tree-height distance from the rooftop and driveway to prevent snow from accumulating too close to the house.

The simplest windbreak is a single row of trees planted far enough away that, once mature, the trees can block wind effectively. Two staggered rows of trees is another effective pattern. Irregular spacing and placement can also work if you want a more unique landscape.

The type of trees or shrubs planted also matters. For trees, ones that are sturdy enough to withstand strong winds and that grow fast are ideal. Trees with a conical shape and a lot of branches close together are highly effective at blocking the wind. Evergreen trees such as the Douglas Fir and White Spruce species are great choices. Pines trees such as the Eastern Red Cedar or Northern White Cedar also make good choices.

Contact Stein Tree for Quality Tree and Shrub Services

While farmers most commonly use windbreaks, anybody can have one in their landscape. To learn more about trees and their benefits, contact the experienced certified arborists at Stein Tree Service. Since 1983, Stein Tree has been providing Delaware and Pennsylvania residents with high quality, comprehensive tree services. For a free consultation, contact us today.

When people think about tending to their trees, watering, pruning, and general care, they tend to think about spring and summer unless a tree breaks or falls. After all, the warm spring and summer are times when we can see trees grow and become the beautiful landscape features we want them to be. But tree care can occur at any time of the year, so below are some tips on how to care for trees in winter.

How to Care For Trees in Winter

Below are 4 areas in which you can provide care for trees in winter.

Pruning

One of the first things you should know about how to care for trees in winter is that winter is a great time to prune. Pruning helps maintain a tree’s aesthetic and functional value. The most important reason to prune in the winter is that the tree is dormant. During dormancy, pruning causes less stress on the tree and the wound is less likely to attract insects. Another significant reason that winter is ideal for pruning is that the lack of leaves makes the arborist’s job much easier. He can more easily see the structure of the tree, and spot problems in the tree, such as dangerous branches that need to be removed or signs of disease that may be treatable.

Watering

Even when the weather is cold, making sure that trees have enough water is important. Water is an insulator for your trees and soil. If your soil has enough water, that soil will stay warmer. Plant cells that have plenty of water are also more resistant to cold weather damage. The best way to ensure that trees have enough water through the winter is thoroughly watering in the fall. You should also water only when temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and the area around your trees lack snow or ice. Also, if your area tends to have strong winter winds, you may have to water your trees more frequently.

Mulch

Mulching is important for maintaining the health of your trees, and you can mulch in winter. A layer of organic mulch helps the soil prevent moisture loss and regulates soil temperatures during the year. Mulch also protects the tree from damage, whether the damage is from diseases or from landscaping equipment such as lawnmowers or weed trimmers.

In late fall and early winter, you should add a thin layer of mulch beneath the tree’s drip line. The layer should be a maximum of 2 inches deep. Keep the mulch away from the trunk, too. Piling the mulch up to the tree trunk too much is known as volcano mulching. Volcano mulching causes too much moisture to build up around the trunk, which can lead to fungus, rotting, and decaying.

Get Advice From an Arborist about How to Care For Trees in Winter

Pruning, watering, and mulching are all good tasks to keep trees healthy during the winter, but you can do even more. Consult a certified arborist, as he can determine the best course of tree care action. He may recommend cabling and bracing, which reduces the chances of trees falling or experiencing other structural failures.

Knowing how to care for trees in winter is important. Doing so will help your trees remain healthy and allow them to really flourish next spring. So, put in the time and effort this winter to properly care for your trees.

Call Stein Tree for Winter Tree Care Services

Stein Tree Service provides many tree care services to communities near Wilmington and Philadelphia. We know how to care for trees in winter, as we have been caring for trees and shrubs for over 30 years, and our certified and licensed arborists have decades of experience. Our equipment is state-of-the-art and is capable of immediate response, especially for emergencies. Contact us today for information or a free consultation.

Trees provide numerous benefits, making them a vital part of a community. These benefits encourage us to properly maintain and even increase a city’s trees. The Arbor Day Foundation, a conservation nonprofit and the largest nonprofit dedicated to tree planting and tree care, has a program just for this mission: Tree City USA.

What is Tree City USA?

Tree City USA is a program started by the Arbor Day Foundation in 1976. The program gives communities the tools and support network they need to preserve, manage, and expand their publicly owned trees. Over 3,400 recognized communities and 143 million people live in or near a tree city. Below are some of our local cities that have qualified as Tree Cities.

• Wilmington, DE
• Newark, DE
• West Chester, PA
• Malvern, PA
• Media, PA

What are the Benefits of Tree Care and Being a Tree City?

In addition to the beauty of trees, many of the benefits of a town or city becoming a tree city have to do with the natural impact of numerous healthy trees. Studies have shown several health benefits people get from living near parks and forests, such as improved immune systems, increased mood, reduced stress, and an improved ability to focus, even in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Plenty of economic benefits exist as well. Trees, and good landscaping in general, increase property values, with mature trees increasing values by up to 20 percent. Trees also act as natural air conditioners. More than just adding shade, when water evaporates from the leaves, the conversion to air vapor removes heat energy from the air. The U.S. Forest Services says “strategically placed trees save up to 56 percent on annual air-conditioning costs.”

How to Make Your Community a Tree City

The Arbor Day Foundation outlines 4 standards that must be met in order for a community to become a registered tree city. The city must

1. Maintain a tree board or department
2. Have a community tree ordinance
3. Spend at least $2 per capita on urban forestry
4. Celebrate Arbor Day.

The Arbor Day Foundation also has several resources online that include checklists, worksheets, and applications, that must be submitted in order to qualify and begin the process.

Trees are more than a pleasing sight; they provide many tangible benefits to entire communities, both rural and urban. Whether you live in a tree city or just want to enjoy trees in your landscape, planting new native trees and learning about good tree care are great ideas.

Contact Stein Tree Service for Experienced Tree Care in Pennsylvania and Delaware

Stein Tree Service has been a trusted tree care service company for over 33 years. Our certified arborists and other tree specialists are conscientious about preserving the tree and plant health in Pennsylvania and Delaware landscapes. For tree removal, tree trimming and pruning, pest infestation treatment and storm clean up services, or information about tree care, contact us today or explore our website.