After being dormant through snowstorms, rain showers and all other elements during wintertime; trees wake up once springtime kicks into full gear. Once consistently warm temperatures arrive, trees bloom and caring for them becomes so much easier. Here are a few things to take notice of trees in springtime. This is the easiest time to spot dead or broken branches because the leaves are coming out. The dead branches will stand out obviously because there are no buds or leaves. The canopy hasn't matured so spotting a dead branch will fairly easy at this time.

When Will Trees Start Blooming?
Different parts of the country will have variations, but generally when warm temperatures start to appear consistently. You should notice your trees responding to the sunshine and increased light duration. The longer days means more sun exposure allowing for more growth. The leaves can make more chlorophyll using sunlight and carbon dioxide to create carbohydrates which provides the nutrients for growth.

How To Tell Your Tree Has Come Out Of Dormancy 
It seems pretty obvious, but you can tell how your tree has responded to temperature changes if it has started to grow new leaves or has flowers. The winter period of dormancy is designed for the tree to survive adverse conditions. So when warmer temperatures come around, the tree's enzymes and hormones kick in to promote growth. Different varieties of trees bloom at slightly different time frames.  For example, Willow trees and Birch trees may bloom early while Oak trees and Elms will bloom later in the Spring. As long as they are green on the inside, they are fine.  

What To Do To Maintain Them
Inspect your tree for any damage or diseased branches and make sure to prune them or cable them to reduce stress damage. Add mulch to conserve soil moisture and keep weeds from taking over. Apply a slow release fertilizer to replace nutrients and improve resistance from diseases insects, and the elements.

Time To Check Your Roofline
​This is also a time to check for tree limb clearance along your roofline because with the new foliage coming in, it will weigh down the branches. Over time, the constant pressure can cause a lot of damage and simple fix like pruning the branches can become something very expensive.  The shingles can be worn and cause moisture damage. Why risk a roof repair when having tree trimming professionals handle it for a fraction of the cost.

Stinging Insects Love To Nest In Palm Trees
For whatever reason, wasps, hornets, and other stinging bugs love to make their nests in dead palm fronds.  Stirring up a hornet's nest before lunch time can be a rather comical sight to watch but no one likes to be the one having to deal with them.  So the best time to trim palm trees is also in the Spring so your family and kids can be safe in the yard from any stinging insect nests.

Spring Is The Best Time To Fertilize
The best time to fertilize your trees is in the Spring since you will be boosting the natural cycle of growth. Don't wait till the summer heat stresses them, prepare them ahead of time for any potential droughts. If you wait till summer, they may not make it.

Learn more about trees and how to maintain them regardless of the season with Texas Shade Tree Service, providing all your needs to help keep your tree looking healthy and beautiful. Contact us today for a quote on tree planting, tree trimming, tree removal, or if you’re simply looking for more info on tree maintenance. ​

There are two options you have to remove stumps from your property. If you want to do it yourself, you rent a stump grinder or you can hire a local company to come out and do it for you. For most people, if they do it themselves, renting a small stump grinder will not cost that much for the day. However if you’re not a professional and you have multiple or large stumps, then it's probably best to leave it to the professionals. 
Stump Grinding Costs
Most homeowners don't want a stump sticking out of the ground after tree removal.  Not only is it ugly but it is tedious to mow around it all the time. There are a number of ways to remove a stump, but grinding it is the preferred way. Prices vary depending if you hire a professional tree service company or you do it yourself.
Should You Rent Or Buy A Tree Stump Grinder?
Your options if you do the work yourself is to rent a tree stump grinder or buy one.Your choice will make more sense depending on how often you need a grinder.  If it's a one time deal, then renting makes more economic sense while if you plan on providing a professional service, then figuring out how many jobs it takes to make it worth your while to buy a tree stump grinder. Once it’s paid for itself, then each additional job will be a net profit minus any maintenance issues that arise. Renting a grinder costs between $150-$200 per day so most homeowners choose this route.  Professionals either buy a grinder if they have enough work or sub-subcontract it when the jobs come up.
Things To Consider When Buying A Stump Grinder
If you are renting a stump grinder, you just need something that gets the job done. If you’re going to buy one however, it's important that it has all the available features you want. Things to consider when buying include:​

• Cutter Disk – The cutter disk or cutter wheel ideally should be made out of carbide. Its teeth should be extremely sharp and show no signs of wear. 
• Size – A stump grinder with a slim profile will be easier to handle, be able to reach tighter places, and you will have less fatigue. It will also take up less room for transporting and ease of loading and unloading.
  
• Horsepower – Buy a tree stump grinder with the highest horsepower that you can afford. The higher the horsepower, the faster and more efficient the grinder will be.
  
• Weight – Buy one that has a lightweight design. This will help you when transporting it from job to job.
  
• Depth – At the absolute minimum, your tree stump grinder should grind down to a depth of 20 inches below grade. Otherwise, what's the point of buying a grinder if it can't do its intended job.
  

​Hiring A Stump Grinding Service
If you decide to hire a company to grind your stumps for you, you should call around and ask questions to guage their experience. Different companies charge different rates, and you can save a lot by doing some price shopping. For example:

• Discounts – Many tree stump grinding companies offer discounts for multiple stumps or other services done at the same time.
• Extra Fees – Check if there are additional fees such as hauling away the wood chips or other debris. There might be additional cost if you are out of their area.
• Large Jobs – In the case of clearing large expanses of land, most companies charge flat hourly rates. If you need this kind of work, call around to see who has the best price.

Knowing the basics about tree trimming and pruning trees, you may be able to handle most of this work yourself. There are a variety of tips and techniques pruning cut that can help keep the trees in excellent shape. With proper knowledge and equipment, you can prune your trees as necessary to maintain their appearance and health and eliminate potentially dangerous dead branches and other common problems. There are a many techniques out there but it is best to stay with the basics. If you want to make it as easy as possible, hiring a professional is the way to go.  This article will help you make an educated decision.

Reasons To Trim/Prune A Tree: Safety, Aesthetics, Health
Safety: Dead or broken branches and limbs can fall off at any time which is a serious safety hazard. If a the tree branches obstruct your vision while driving, this is a dangerous situation if you have kids that play in the yard. They should be trimmed away immediately. Finally, tree limbs and branches occasionally grow too close to utility lines which can be a life-threatening situation.  You should contact the utility company to handle such issues since they have teams to respond to this.
Aesthetics: Pruning a tree to an unnatural shape or size can seriously damage it.  Aesthetics should be taken into account to maintain a more natural shape and appearance. This will allow the tree to maximize its growth and health.
Health: Pruning away infected branches and limbs can save a tree in the long run. Thinning the crown of a tree improves airflow, which can be very beneficial. If branches are contacting each other, they should be trimmed, or removed so that they don’t fall unexpectedly.

General Tree Trimming Tips

• The best time to trim a tree is during it's dormant season. Even though some trees such as pine trees can be pruned at any time, it is still best practice to do so when it is dormant. The only exception is when a safety/hazard issue comes up.
• The size of the branch should be taken into consideration. Removing any branches under 5 cm, there are no issues. If it is between 5-10 cm in diameter, removing it should be considered carefully. If it is more than 10 cm in diameter, you should only do so if you have a really good reason.
• Retain branches that have strong, U-shaped angles. Branches with weak, V-shaped narrow angles can be trimmed. Lateral branches should be between one-half and three-quarters the diameter of the stem at point of attachment. Otherwise, they should be removed.
• The ratio of living crown to tree height should be 2/3 when trimming is all done.
• Branches should be pruned when they are young and easy to manage. This leaves less chance of unsightly scars.
• You shouldn’t leave a large stub or remove the branch collar so don't trim a branch too close or too long.

Tree Pruning Tips
These tips will help you with pruning and tree trimming maintenance.
Crown Thinning

• Prune branches that cross other branches or run against them.
  

• Never remove more than 1/4 of the crown of a tree at one time. If you need to remove more than that, spread it out over a number of years.

• Evenly space lateral branches especially on young trees.

Crown Raising

• To make it more aesthetically pleasing as well as to provide clearance, you can raise the crown by carefully pruning the tree. Maintain live branches on at least 2/3 of a tree’s height. Removing too many branches near the bottom half can cause the tree to not be able to develop a strong stem.
  

Crown Reduction

• A good general rule is if you need to remove more than half of the foliage from a branch, just remove the whole branch.
• Prune lateral branches that are at least 1/3 of the diameter of the stem that needs to be removed. The crown should only be reduced if it's absolutely necessary.

Tree Trimming Techniques

• The branch collar grows from the stem tissue at the bottom base of the branch. The branch ridge is on the upper surface and is parallel to the branch angle at the stem.
• Avoid damaging the branch collar by cutting outside the branch ridge.  Angle your cut down and away from the stem.
• Prune dead branches and living branches using the same technique.
• Use a 3 cut technique if a stem is too long. Make a notch on the side of the stem that faces away from the branch that’s being retained; make the second cut inside the crotch of the branch and above the branch ridge; the third cut will remove the stub by cutting through the stem parallel to the branch ridge.

Keep these tips on trimming and pruning in mind and your trees will grow faster and stronger than your neighbors'.  This will enhance the beauty of your home as well as increase it's curb appeal and value.  But if you decide this is more work than you can handle, give Texas Shade Tree Service a call and our professionals can handle it all for you.  They are the premiere tree trimmers and tree services company in the Killeen, TX area.

​When it's time to make sure your trees are safely maintained around utility lines, there are many Killeen tree trimming companies that can handle that.  Overgrown trees and foliage can cause many dangers if they are overhanging near high voltage power lines.  This should never be handled by an untrained professional even though some homeowners will attempt it without understanding how extremely dangerous this is. Professional tree service companies in the Killeen area are equipped to provide the care and maintenance in a safe manner.
It is recommended to consult a tree service company to see if the city should be contacted in certain situations.  Utility companies have specialists who can be dispatched to various locations to address these issues. 
Many neighborhoods have strict guidelines and HOAs that issue daily fines for excessive trash whether it is from leaves or branches.  That's why our tree care services can alleviate this issue by keeping your property trim and orderly.  
If you have a situation where your trees are dangerously close to high-voltage power lines or near other areas that might cause a problem, always contact a tree service in Killeen. Having trained professionals that are well equipped to handle the job can give you peace of mind. Not only do they provide on-site service that is comprehensive but they will also ensure that preventative measures are taken to avoid any potential hazards. They can assess your property to see if their are weak branches that can become dangerous flying projectiles in a storm.  Ensuring your landscaping is well maintained and prepared for the bad weather can save you a lot of headaches and money in repairs down the road. Contact us today for your Killeen tree service needs and see how we can help you maintain a safe and beautiful landscaped environment.