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Stein Tree Care Service discusses the Eastern Hemlock-pennsylvania state tree - tree care

Stein Tree, Tree Care Service Company Discusses the Pennsylvania State Tree

Written by Stein Tree on . Posted in Stein Tree Service Blog, Tree Care.

Local, tree enthusiasts may already be familiar with the Pennsylvania State Tree, the Eastern Hemlock. For residents who are unaware, the tree care service specialists at Stein give details about this slow growing evergreen. Stein Tree Service provides services to many areas in Pennsylvania, in addition to Delaware and Maryland. Our certified arborists are passionate about trees and enjoy informing residents about the native trees in our area.

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Leyland Cypress - Tree Care - Stein Tree Service

Can Tree Care Save the Area’s Embattled Leyland Cypress?

Written by Stein Tree on . Posted in Stein Tree Service Blog, Tree Care.

Leyland Cypress trees make a fantastic addition to any northeasterner’s home. These beautiful evergreens are fast and hardy growers that quickly mature into tall and wide trees that add a pleasing touch to just about any yard or landscape. Many Delaware residents will use them either as accent trees to break up the landscape or plant them in a row to create a type of living privacy wall or barrier. In short, there are a lot of ways to incorporate Leyland Cypress trees into your landscaping layout and, in general, they are guaranteed to thrive in most climate conditions with proper tree care — except when their local area experiences sudden and extreme temperature fluctuations such as we had this past winter.

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Tick on leaf - Tree Care - Stein Tree Service

Tree Care Provider Stein Tree Advises Care During Tick Season

Written by Stein Tree on . Posted in Stein Tree Service Blog, Tree Care, Tree Service.

Delaware is simply stunning in the summer and autumn months. This state and its neighbors enjoy warm temperatures that beckon residents and visitors to go outside and explore the many beautiful natural recreational areas we have here. However, the outdoors has its inherent risks and as tree care professionals, we recognize that one of those risks is tick bites.

Ticks are dangerous creatures that are more than just nuisances. Due to their parasitic nature, ticks are known for carrying and transmitting several serious diseases that can leave a person with long-term ailments and, in some cases, can be fatal.

According to the CDC, the worst of these diseases and the ones that Delaware residents are susceptible to include:

Lyme disease. Left untreated, Lyme disease frequently causes an array of flu-like symptoms, including fever, fatigue, chills, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and joint aches. Generally, a quick round of antibiotics will clear up these symptoms but for some people, those symptoms can persist for months and, in a few rare cases, even years.

Alpha-gal allergy (aka red meat allergy).  This frustrating disease originated from the Lone Star tick, a tick that once remained primarily in the Great Plains region but has steadily made its way as far north and east as Delaware. When a person is bitten by this tick, they may have a sugar called the alpha-gal transferred into their immune system. This alpha-gal sugar causes the person to suffer food allergy symptoms when consuming red meat. The recovery period can be anywhere from 8 months to 5 years.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever.  Also most commonly carried by the Lone Star tick, this disease causes aggressive fever-like symptoms that can be life-threatening if not quickly and properly treated.

Keep Your Family Safe From Ticks & Their Diseases

Ticks are relatively small and can be easy to miss, especially as they will commonly latch onto creases like underneath armpits, at the crease beneath your waistband, and in the fold behind your knee. They are also especially good at finding hidden places on your dogs, cats, and other furry friends. Because most of these diseases occur when ticks have stayed latched onto a person for at least 24 hours, prevention and quick removal are the two primary methods of protecting yourself and your family from disease.

Use DEET-labelled insect repellant on both clothes and skin before going out into wooded areas or areas with high grasses as these are the places ticks are most likely to be found. Additionally, make sure any outdoor pets are on a reputable tick-prevention pill like Bravecto before venturing out. Finally, always do a tick check in the shower once you return from a day in grassy or woody areas.

Trust Stein Tree Service for Skilled Professional Tree Care

Stein Tree is the oldest independently owned tree care company in Delaware. We care about the residents of our community and we are passionate about the health of the plants and trees in our landscapes. For information about how to properly care for your trees, or for tree care services, such as tree removal, trimming and pruning or insect management, contact us today. We offer free consultations.

tree struck by lightning - Stein Tree Service

Does a Tree Die When Struck by Lightning?

Written by Stein Tree on . Posted in Stein Tree Service Blog, Tree Care, Tree Care Video.

As many trees are the tallest structures in a landscape, they naturally become targets for lightning to strike. While not all trees are equally susceptible to lightning, vulnerable trees are everywhere— they populate our yards and line our streets. Lightning poses risks to the trees, as well as to surrounding property and buildings. Stein offers a look at some preventive measures and post-damage assessments which can be conducted to care for your trees and ensure the safety of the community.

3 Tips for Homeowners Worried About Trees Being Struck by Lightning

So, does a tree die when struck by lightning? Sometimes, but if the damage is minimal or only occurs to a small portion of the tree, saving the tree could be possible with the right care. Stein offers tips on prevention and care of trees that have already been struck by lightning.

Professional Inspection

Even before a lightning strike occurs, you may want to consider a consultation with a professional tree service company. Depending on how vulnerable your trees are to lightning, a professional may suggest a lightning protection system, which reduces the risk of damage from a strike. As lightning poses risks to nearby buildings as well as individual trees, these lightning protection systems minimize the risk of a side-flash to adjacent structures. A tree care specialist from Stein Tree can inspect your tree to determine whether or not one of these systems should be implemented.

Pruning and Water Maintenance

tree care - lightning damaged-tree-Stein Tree Service

For less dire situations, a professional may simply suggest water management and other forms of maintenance to monitor your trees. While water levels can be adjusted at any time according to rainfall, pruning may be recommended only after waiting post-lighting strike to see whether the tree can recover from the stress. If the tree is healthy enough and removal unnecessary, a professional may suggest pruning out damaged wood and branches. Both pruning and additional watering are critical to supply needed care to your trees.

Tree Removal

In situations where a tree is irreversibly damaged and posing an imminent risk to surrounding structures, tree removal is actually necessary. In situations such as these, you will want a professional to safely remove the structurally degraded tree. Consulting with a professional tree care company before inclement weather strikes vastly reduces the future possibility of tree removal, as problems can be spotted and systems can be implemented beforehand.

Stein Tree Offers Tree Inspection for Vulnerable Trees

Lightning damage is better prevented than repaired. A professional tree care company can employ various tree risk assessors to determine what your trees need. Don’t wait for a  tree to be struck by lightning which will compromise your tree’s functional and structural stability— contact Stein Tree for a free consultation today!

spring tree in bloom - What does an arborist do - Stein Tree Service

What Does an Arborist Do?

Written by Stein Tree on . Posted in Stein Tree Service Blog, Tree Care, Tree Service.

As warm weather arrives and trees begin to blossom and bloom, homeowners often begin to think about hiring someone to inspect and care for them. Who should that someone be? Many landscape companies offer tree care services, however, an arborist is the right person for the job if you want someone with a lot of knowledge who is passionate about the tree’s overall health, rather than just focusing on aesthetics. Today Stein Tree answers the question: What does an arborist do?

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Tree Canopy - Learn about great tree care from Stein Tree Service

Celebrate Arbor Day by Planting a Tree That Grows Well in Delaware or Pennsylvania

Written by Stein Tree on . Posted in Stein Tree Service Blog, Tree Care.

Today is Arbor Day and festivities have been taking place all over the country to celebrate trees and all the benefits they offer us. In recognition of Arbor Day, Stein Tree Service offers some great choices for trees that grow well in Delaware and Pennsylvania as well as some information about good tree care.

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Adult Spotted Lanternfly | Invasive Species Awareness | Stein Tree Service

Tree Care in West Chester, PA: The Invasion of the Spotted Lanternfly

Written by Stein Tree on . Posted in Pests & Diseases, Stein Tree Service Blog.

Photos courtesy of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

The first presence of the spotted lanternfly, an insect originating in China, India and Vietnam, in the US was noted in 2014 in Berks County, PA. In November 2017, Philadelphia County was added to the existing quarantine. The quarantine was put into effect because the insects endanger local agriculture, specifically grapes, apples, hops, stone fruits and hardwoods.

Spotted Lanternfly Phases

Spotted_Lantern_Fly life cycles - Stein Tree

The spotted lanternfly has several phases before maturity. These are four nymph, or instar, phases beginning when they start to hatch in mid-May. In the first instar, nymphs are black with white spots and no wings, gradually developing red patches as they mature.

Adults’ heads are black and they have gray wings with black spots on the front portion. The wing tips of the wings have black rectangular blocks with grey outlines. If the spotted lanternfly is seen flying, you will see hind wings that are red at the base and black at the tip with a white stripe dividing them. The red part of the wing has black spots and the abdomen is yellow with black stripes on the top and bottom.

The nymphs may commonly be seen in late April to mid-May. Adult insects, which prefer the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus alitissima) as host, can be seen from July into the fall months. In the late fall months, they lay eggs, in masses of 30-50, on trees, vehicles or other outdoor surfaces.

What if You See a Spotted Lanternfly?

The spotted lanternfly is very destructive and spreads quickly. If you find any in an area in which they are already known to be present, you should kill them. If the area has not been identified as having lanternfly presence, you should report the presence, either taking a picture or sample to be confirmed with authorities. You can do so by contacting the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA), either via emailing badbug@pa.gov or calling the Invasive Species Hotline at 1-866-253-7189.

How to Avoid or Treat for an Infestation

Regular inspection and tree care is helpful in early identification of lanternfly presence. In addition, the quarantines in place regulate the movement of the following items, so being careful of what you may be transporting into or out of quarantine areas, either on your person or belongings, can be helpful.

  • Firewood, brush, debris, bark, or yard waste
  • Logs, stumps, or any other tree parts
  • Remodeling, landscaping, or construction waste
  • Grapevines
  • Nursery stock
  • Crated materials
  • Outdoor household articles including RVs, lawn equipment, grills and furniture cover or tarps, tile, stone, deck boards, mobile fire pits, or any associated equipment and vehicles that are stored outdoors.

If you have ailanthus or tree of heaven in your yard, you may wish to remove them. Contact and systemic Insecticides can be used to treat trees that you elect to keep on your property. Your certified arborist or other tree care professional can advise you on the best course of treatment as well as help you identify lanternfly or other pests

Call Stein Tree for Experienced Tree Care in West Chester, PA

Stein Tree Service services areas in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. For a free consultation or more information about our services, contact us at 302-478-3511. You can also learn more about spotted lanternfly at agriculture.pa.gov/spottedlanternflyalert.

Call Stein Tree for emergency tree removal nor easter - Stein Tree Service

Stein Tree Urges Emergency Tree Removal Preparations Ahead of the Coming Nor’Easter

Written by Stein Tree on . Posted in News & Announcements, Stein Tree Service Blog, Storm Clean Up, Tree Removal.

March 2, 2018 – Wilmington, DE – Local tree care company Stein Tree Service urges Wilmington residents to prepare for the coming Nor’Easter by having a tree care company’s phone number handy for possible emergency tree removal. According to the Inquirer Daily News, thousands are already without power, and winds are continuing at 25-35 miles per hour, gusting even higher up to 60 miles per hour. Some residents have already experienced downed trees from this week’s weather, and the strongest of the storm is still ahead.

Prepare ahead of time and research now so that you know who you will call in case of storm damage, where a tree falls on power lines or even your home, and you need emergency tree removal for the safety and well-being of your family.

4 Top Reasons to Call Stein Tree for Your Emergency Tree Removal Needs

  1. Emergency service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  2. Radio-dispatched trucks can reach most addresses within 2 hours to begin the clean up process and limit damage to other trees or property.
  3. Stein’s equipment is state of the art and our professionals are well-trained in the safe removal of trees.
  4. Stein Tree Service is fully insured in case of any incidents or injuries.

Stein Tree encourages Delaware and Pennsylvania residents to be prepared for this powerful storm and the potential effects.

  • Have emergency supplies ready in case of power loss.
  • Keep important numbers ready in case of injury or home damage from wind, branches or downed trees.
  • Prepare back-up generators if you have them.
  • Fill tubs with water for necessities like flushing if power goes out.
  • Check on elderly neighbors who might not be physically able to ask for help if power is lost.

About Stein Tree Service

Stein Tree Service is the oldest independently owned tree care service company in Delaware. The company performs inspections, all types of tree care and provides timely emergency tree removal for residents of Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. The professional certified arborists and specialists at Stein are dedicated to exceptional and safe tree care. For more information call 302-478-3511 or visit the company website at: www.SteinTree.com.

Protecting Trees From Frost is Part of Good Winter Tree Care in Wilmington, DE

Written by Stein Tree on . Posted in Stein Tree Service Blog, Tree Care.

Did you know that frost damage is the single largest cause of weather-related economic loss to crops in the United States? Outside of the agriculture business, tree care in Wilmington, DE and plant replacement following frost can get expensive. In addition, losing plants to a sudden freeze is disheartening, especially when the dying plant happens to be your favorite tree.

Young, old, and newly planted trees are especially vulnerable to frost damage, which occurs when the water inside the cells of a plant freeze. Such cellular freezing then causes damage to cell walls which causes the entire tree’s health to deteriorate. A few signs of frost damage include withering or browning shoots and buds, cracking and splitting tree bark, and wilting young branches. Left unresolved in severe or long-term periods of frost conditions, vulnerable trees will die.

Thankfully, a few simple tips for tree care in Wilmington, DE may reduce the risk of frost damage. Consider the following protection methods:

5 Methods of Protecting Trees from Frost

  1. Blankets. This is the simplest and fastest form of protection, especially when residents are caught unaware by a sudden freeze forecast. Just throw blankets or old clothes around the base of the tree for insulation.
  2. Hay. Instead of blankets, Delaware residents can also pile hay around the base of a tree to offer insulation and keep the surrounding ground warm.
  3. Hot water bucket with blankets or plastic sheeting. For this method of frost prevention, fill a 5-gallon bucket with hot water and place underneath a tree. Use a heavy blanket or plastic sheeting to cover the bucket and wrap around the tree. Over the course of a few hours, the hot water will evaporate but the heat will be trapped by the blanket and keep the tree warm.
  4. Drip lines. As with the previous methods, this method utilizes the principle that water that is warmer than air will protect trees from frost. For best effects, use blankets or plastic to help trap the energy expended during the evaporation process.
  5. Christmas lights. This method has the added bonus of being festive! Use one or two sets of Christmas lights around each tree you want to protect and wrap the whole trunk to the soil line. You will need older, non-LED lights for this method to be effective, as newer lights give off negligible heat.

Stein Tree Service Offers Skilled Tree Care in Wilmington, DE and Surrounding Areas

Winter tree care is important during cold Delaware and Pennsylvania winters. We inspect trees for damage and perform preventive pruning. We also offer our TreeFall Program as insurance against winter storm damage. For more information about winter tree care in Wilmington, DE, contact us today.