My Christmas tree is dead already, isn’t it? Technically: No.

Christmas trees are a symbol of Christmas – ushering in tradition and joy for millions around the world. For those who choose to set up real trees – caring for them properly will ensure a positive experience for you and your family during the holiday.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: They’re a plant.

Granted, Christmas trees are harvested from a farm or plantation. As soon as they are cut, they begin to die. So caring for them sooner vs. later is critical. As an aside, when I was 7 years old, I took our Christmas tree out to our front yard and jammed it in the ground and cared for it with the hopes of preserving it forever. Now, some 40 years later, that Christmas tree from 1973 is about 40 feet high. For those not looking for a permanent monument to your childhood, there are steps you can take to care for your cut Christmas tree:

A tree stand should have a water basin that provides 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. So for most Christmas trees, the stand should hold at least 1 gallon of water. A cut tree will absorb a surprising amount of water, particularly during the first week, so replenish the water daily.

Make sure the stand fits your tree. For tree stands that have circular ring at the top, the ring should be large enough for the trunk to go through the hole. Do your tree a favor and avoid whittling down the sides of the trunk to fit the stand. The outer layers of the tree are the most efficient in absorbing water and shouldn’t be removed.

If your tree has been cut within the past 12 hours, it isn’t necessary to re-cut the trunk prior to displaying inside. If it’s been longer than 12 hours since harvesting, the trunk should be re-cut to improve water absorption.

Cutting off a section of wood about ¼" thick from the trunk base is all that’s necessary before placing the tree in the stand. The cut should be perpendicular to the stem axis and not at an angle, or into a v-shape, which makes it more difficult to hold the tree steady in the stand and reduces the amount of water available to the tree.

Keep trees away from heat sources like fireplaces, heaters, heat vents or direct sunlight. Lowering the room temperature will also slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day.

Check the water level each day to ensure it doesn’t dip below the base of the tree.

Don’t use any additives in the water like floral preservatives, commercial tree preservatives, molasses, sugar, bleach, soft drinks, aspirin, honey or any other concoctions. Clean water is all that is needed to maintain freshness.

Keep an eye on your tree for dryness. To determine if your tree is too dry or brittle, run your fingers across the needles. If the needles break easily or fall off in your hand, the tree is too dry and it’s time to remove it from the house.

Like any plant, caring for your cut Christmas tree is an important task. Doing it right will prolong the look and beauty of the holiday. A well-cared-for tree should normally remain fresh at least three to four weeks though the memories should last a lifetime.

Happy holidays!

All About The White Oak – Maryland’s State Tree

In 1941, Maryland named the white oak as its official state tree. Common throughout Maryland, white oak trees are large, long-living, and slow-growing, with some of them even reaching 60 to 150 feet in height. White oaks are a beautiful display of glossy, bright green leaves that have rounded lobes - five to seven per leaf. The tree is named after its white-toned bark and grey twigs.

Some white oak trees are known to have lived for more than 600 years. Native to eastern North America, white oaks are known to produce up to 10,000 acorns annually. The acorns, which have a naturally sweet flavor to them, are a dietary staple for over 80 types of birds and mammals throughout Maryland. Hundreds of years ago, Native Americans would use the acorns as a source for food by grinding it into flour. White oaks also are known to produce beautiful, durable hardwood lumber.

The most famous white oak in the state of Maryland was the Wye Oak tree in Wye Mills, Maryland. Although the tree fell during a major thunderstorm in June 2002, the site where the famous tree stood for more than 400 years in Talbot County is still preserved.

The Wye Oak was approximately 460 years old at the time of its destruction. It measured 31 feet 10 inches in trunk circumference, and 96 feet tall. The tree gained public attention in 1909 when Maryland State forest ranger Fred Besley made the first official measurements of the tree. Ten years later, the Wye Oak was featured in American Forestry magazine as the first tree in the association “Tree Hall of Fame”.

Need help preparing your trees for the upcoming season? UnLIMBited is central Maryland’s professional tree maintenance team that provides free estimates, tree removal and takedowns, trimming and pruning, stump removal and grinding, storm damage clean-up, lot clearing, insurance work, Bobcat service, premium firewood and more. Give them a call at (443) 517-6881.

Glass, paper, plastic…tree? Ways to recycle that tree you just removed out back

Each January the last step of the Christmas tree lifecycle is on display – trees lining the streets waiting for their final trip to the mulch piles at the village reclamation facility. However, there are other ways to recycle or upcycle trees that may come down throughout the year – some are obvious but others not.

Firewood: Provided the wood isn’t diseased, keeping the wood to use throughout the year to burn either inside or out is the most obvious choice for that recycled tree.

Mulch: Coming in second place is mulch. Good for retaining moisture and blocking weed growth, mulch is a natural and attractive option. Once again, make sure the mulch doesn’t contain insect infestation or mold/disease.

Furniture: For those on the handy side, upcycled wood can be used to fashion stools, benches, tables and chairs.

Pathways: Spend 5 minutes on Pinterest and you’ll see hundreds of examples of how to use log ‘slices’ as decorative paths or even flooring for a rustic look and feel.

Decoration: Take the pathway and put it on the wall! Using cross-cuts of logs can be arranged, hung, painted and/or stained in any pattern or size.

Clocks: Found at every art fair is the famous ‘wood clock’. Using different colors, sizes and hardware, convert those cross-cut logs into attractive one-of-a kind clock!

Art: Picture frames, mobiles, hooks, stands – endless possibilities.

Vessel: Hollow out a section of log and use it for a planter, candle, container on the patio or in the sunroom.

Garden: Use thick branches to divide your garden into sections; use thin branches to mark vegetables, note dates or personalize however you see fit.

Fences: Full or partial fences made from repurposed wood either ripped from the trunk of the tree or using thicker branches create a natural boundary for your home.

Sculpture: Attention artists – using tree sections or even the remaining stumps, compelling sculptures can be created for a unique welcome to your home.

So whether it’s January and you’re ready to toss that tree out to the curb or its July and you just had a professional service take down that 130-year old Maple, there are plenty of ways to recycle other than mulch. Hopefully this list will help give you get some fun ideas to get started!

Do NOT try this at home! Tree Removal takes a professional!

Do NOT try this at home!  Tree Removal takes a professional!

Perhaps considered a cottage industry, tree removal and tree care companies are big business and especially qualified to provide a vital service. While caring for your trees by planting, pruning and maintenance may seem like a DIY activity – that’s not always the case. As trees grow, caring for them becomes riskier and can be hazardous when calculating the tree’s physics, biology, using power tools, cutting techniques and more. Individuals who attempt to lumberjack their way to caring for their trees may become injured by falling limbs, malfunctioning tools or by the tree itself. In fact, tree removal is considered one of the most dangerous property maintenance tasks anyone could perform. According to the U.S. Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, there were 1,285 tree maintenance worker deaths between 1992 and 2007 – and these were licensed professionals.

Know the risks

While not obvious at first, some common tree removal risks include:

• Power lines – it should be obvious that working near any power lines is dangerous and you should always assume power lines are live and extreme caution should be taken when working nearby. Whether you or your tools hit the power line, you could not only knock out the power to your neighborhood – at best. At worst, you could be electrocuted.
• Equipment – OSHA requires tree service professionals to use proper equipment and protective gear. Technicians are also trained to use specialized equipment that include chain saws, ropes, cranes to service and maintain trees.
• Decay – dead or dying trees are weak. From the outside, the tree may appear whole – but upon further inspection, trees can be completely hollow – a shell of its former glory. If you think a tree is decaying, it’s worth calling a professional to help determine the best treatment or care plan.
• Gravity – you won’t win against gravity. Once a tree starts to weaken and ultimately fall, you have no control over where it lands. Get it wrong and you may be sorry!

Do your homework

Like anything else, it’s important to educate yourself going into any project. When it comes to tree care or tree service, make sure you know who you’re dealing with:

• Are they certified?
• Are they insured?
• Can they provide you with references?
• How long will the work take?
• Can they give you a detailed estimate?
• What kinds of equipment will they be using?
• How safe with their technicians be?

Don’t be a hero

Property owners shouldn’t attempt to go it alone when removing a tree – there are too many serious risks involved and increases the chance for more serious problems. If you have a tree that requires removal, unLIMBited Tree Service can help. We’re available 24/7 for all of your servicing needs. Protect yourself and your property and hire a professional!

When it rains – it pours. And when it pours – Annapolis floods!

When it rains – it pours. 

And when it pours – Annapolis floods!

Trees and Roads Flooding in Annapolis  -  Source: Capital Gazette

While it’s no exaggeration, Annapolis, Maryland is especially susceptible to ‘nuisance’ floods and flash floods given its low-lying coastal location at the mouth of the Severn River, Annapolis Harbor and Spa Creek. This spawns issues with roadways, fallen trees, structural issues and shoreline erosion.  Flooding in Annapolis isn’t new. In fact, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notes that Annapolis, as well as some other key coastal cities, can expect 30 days of flooding every year due to rising sea levels.

By the numbers

Annapolis averaged 3.8 days a year with nuisance flooding between 1957 and 1963. Between 2007 and 2013, Annapolis averaged 39.3 of those days a year – a sobering increase of more than 900 percent. Additionally, the NOAA compared data from 2007-2013 with 1957-1963 and showed that the mean sea level had risen about 3.6 millimeters in Annapolis each year, compared to just 3.25 millimeters in Baltimore. Other cities that saw increases in sea levels were Atlantic City and Sandy Hook (NJ), Philadelphia (PA), Port Isabel (TX), Charleston (SC), Washington D.C., San Francisco (CA, and Norfolk (VA).

The 2013 report went so far as to make recommendations from scientists to urge Maryland to plan for sea level rise of up to 2 feet in the next 40 years which prompted city officials to urge coastal communities to adjust building codes and zoning laws. Part of the battle is underway as the city committed $7.5 million to build a new bulkhead around Ego Alley but plenty of more work will be needed coming out of the 2016, $100,000 study. Remedies will include back-flow preventers in the pipes that carry storm water away from the area, providing the biggest benefits to local business that suffer during heavy flooding, as well as the historic buildings that are central to Annapolis’ character and charm.  This doesn't include the costs from emergency tree removal services the city bares from companies that are continually on call.

End game

While Annapolis isn't projected to experience the nation's highest sea level rise in the next 30 years – it will see water rise by 5.5 inches by 2030 and 12 inches by 2045, according to the 2014 report by the Union of Concerned Scientists. Through the careful collaboration between the U.S. Naval Academy, NOAA, cooperating local and national officials and scientists, the nuisance will continue but hopefully be better managed.  It will be a process of watching the landscape of Annapolis change and working with engineers, arborists and county officials to ensure that the wide range of issues, such as falling trees, shoreline erosion, and building foundations are watch closely.