Why we love trees— and why you should too

It's well established that trees placed strategically around a building can decrease air conditioning use by 30 percent. But there are many other benefits. Here are a few:

• Trees remove pollution from the air
  Air quality improves when trees remove ozone, dust and soot, sulfur dioxide and more. One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and produces four tons of oxygen per year.
 
• Trees clean and conserve water
  Rainfall is cleaned as it filters through the leaves and root system. An average-sized tree can filter up to 2,380 gallons of rainfall a year.
 
• Trees can keep your house warmer in winter
  Properly placed trees and shrubs can decrease heating bills by blocking cold winter winds. When wind raises air pressure on one side of a building, cold air is forced inside through small openings. For further reading about windbreaks, go to http://goo.gl/NESzNF.

Our arborists will be glad to consult with you on strategic tree and shrub placement. Call us at (717) 393-7602 or (610) 436-0161, or click the Ask the Arborists button on our home page.

Caring for your part of the world for 23 years

Arborist Enterprises started out on June 1, 1991 with one red truck, three people, and much hope and determination. Thanks to you, we're still here today-- with many more good people working alongside. Our heartfelt thanks go out to all the customers who entrusted their part of the world to us, and to every
member of our hard-working staff , past and present.
We would not be here without you!

How to spot lawn grubs

The term "grub" can refer to food, an uncouth person, the act of digging, or the white, C-shaped larva of various types of beetles. Naturally, we at Arborist Enterprises are most interested in the fourth definition. That's especially true this year because, according to John Brewer, our chief lawn expert, 2013 was a pretty bad year for grubs in turf.

In mid to late summer, says John, "Lawns get drought stress, grubs are eating the roots, and the grass can't take up moisture and transpire and do what it needs to do to keep alive."

How can you spot a grub infestation? Look for brown patches in your lawn. If you grab a brown patch of turf and roll it up like a carpet, you should be able to spot them easily.

A few grubs are nothing to worry about (nature is rarely perfect), but more than ten per square foot indicates a problem that should be treated. The best time for treatment is June and July when larvae are small.

Questions? Ask our lawn care experts at (717) 393-7602 or (610) 436-0161.