Independence Day Celebrations on Long Island!

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Are you still looking for plans for the rapidly approaching 4^th of July Holiday? If you’re looking for ways to keep the family busy next Wednesday here are some events happening on Long Island that are festive and fun for all ages!

Fireworks:
Long Island Ducks Fireworks presented by Atlantic Honda
Location: Bethpage Ballpark, Central Islip


Montauk's Independence Day Celebration
Location: Umbrella Beach, Montauk


Star Spangled Blast at Bald Hill
Location: Brookhaven Amphitheater, Farmingville

Parades, Concerts and Celebrations:

Southampton: The Southampton Village Fourth of July Parade will begin at 10 a.m., leaving from the Southampton railroad station and continuing down North Main Street, Main Street and Jobs Lane, and ending at Agawam Park.


Port Jefferson: A parade down Main Street, sponsored by the Port Jefferson Fire Department, begins at 10 a.m.


The National Park Service and the Friends of Sagamore Hill invite you to celebrate Independence Day at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site. Independence Day was an important holiday for Theodore Roosevelt. After speaking at the festivities in Oyster Bay, TR would gather his extended family and friends at Sagamore Hill for a day of patriotic celebration. This year's celebration will feature a variety of exciting programs beginning at 11 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m., all of which are free and open to the public.

The Blues Brotherhood, a tribute to the Blues Brothers, covers the best material from the original "Blues Brothers" as well as other classic blues, funk, and soul tunes in a show at Ammann Riverfront Park in Riverhead. So hold on to your hats (and shades, for that matter) as the boys capture the sound, energy and persona that propelled the original "Blues Brothers" into the phenomenon that still thrills audiences around the world. Show starts at 7 p.m.

Do you know of any other 4th of July events happening on Long Island? Let us know on our Facebook page linked HERE! 

Pictures From Our Most Recent Jobs!

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Take a look at some pictures from some of our most recent jobs! 

Do Your Trees Have Any Hazardous Defects?

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It is important to recognize hazardous defects that there may be in your trees.  Trees surrounding your home in your back and front yard should be checked annually and especially after severe storms. Trees can split, crack, fall or break to the point of defect. They also can be extremely hazardous in the sense when they can fall and damage and destroy its surroundings.

Safety should be your main priority when assessing your trees and checking for defects or any potential hazards. Some potential defects or hazards include: 

-Broken or loose branches

-Trunks or branches with missing bark

-Leaning trees and other root problems

-Weak branch connections

-Cracks and splits

-Dead wood

-Evidence of significant decay

Have you had any issues with your trees? Have you recognized any potential hazards? Remember if you need help removing a tree call AAA Tree Service to have your every need fulfilled! Also, be sure to visit our Facebook page linked HERE! 

1.8 Million Americans Have Tree Nut Allergies! Are You One of Them?

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Did you know that about 1.8 million Americans are allergicto tree nuts? Tree nuts include walnuts, almond, hazelnut, coconut, cashew, pistachio, Brazil nuts and more! Allergic reactions to tree nuts are also among one of the leading causes of fatal and near fatal food reactions.

 If you are someone who has an allergy to tree nuts, it’s very important to read labels carefully. Tree nuts often show up in unexpected places! Also, The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network advised individuals who are diagnosed with a tree nut allergy must stay away from them for life.

Some foods that contain tree nuts ingredients that you may not suspect are salads and salad dressings, barbeque sauce, breadcrumbs, pancakes, meat-free burgers, pasta, fish dishes, pie crusts and honey.

Do you have a tree nut allergy? Let us know on our Facebook page linked HERE! 

Can Your Tree Be Saved After A Major Storm? Read Here And Find Out!

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Often times, the aftermath of a big storm can leave a huge mess that needs to be cleaned up. Usually, homeowners want to get everything cleaned up as soon as possible. However, hasty decisions can result in removing trees that could’ve been saved!

The steps you take directly after a major storm can make the difference between giving your trees a good chance to survive verse losing them unnecessarily.

Here are a few steps to follow, courtesy of The Arbor Day Foundation:

Don't try to do it all yourself: If large limbs are broken or hanging, or if high climbing or overhead chainsaw work is needed, it's a job for a professional arborist.

Take safety precautions: Look up and look down. Be on the alert for downed power lines and dangerous hanging branches that look like they're ready to fall.

Remove any broken branches still attached to the tree: Removing the jagged remains of smaller sized broken limbs is one common repair that property owners can make after a storm. If done properly, it will minimize the risk of decay agents entering the wound.

Repair torn bark: To improve the tree's appearance and eliminate hiding places for insects, carefully use a chisel or sharp knife to smooth the ragged edges of wounds where bark has been torn away.

Resist the urge to over-prune: Don't worry if the tree's appearance isn't perfect. With branches gone, your trees may look unbalanced or naked. You'll be surprised at how fast they will heal and regrow.

Don't top your trees: Untrained individuals may urge you to cut back all of the branches, on the mistaken assumption that reducing the length of branches will help avoid breakage in future storms. While storm damage may not always allow for ideal pruning cuts, professional arborists say that "topping," cutting main branches back to stubs, is one of the worst things you can do for your trees.

Have you ever acted too quickly and removed a tree that could’ve been saved? Let us know about your experience on our Facebook page linked HERE! 

Whats Really In Your Topsoil?

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When purchasing topsoil, there are often some common misconceptions. Many think that the topsoil purchased should be dark, fertile, friable loam capable of serving all landscaping needs. However, there are NO legal standards for topsoil!  Topsoil, as the name infers, is the uppermost layer of soil. The surface soil usually is darker in color than the subsoil below it because of the accumulation of organic matter.

On the other hand, loam, is a textural classification. Texture refers to the relative amount of sand, silt and clay in a soil. A loam is technically a soil with between 7% and 27% clay, 28% to 50% silt and less than 52% sand. 

When buying topsoil, it’s a good idea to visually inspect the soil. Make sure it is free of trash and other debris. Screened topsoil should be free of rock fragments and greater than 3 inches in diameter.

Soil texture greatly affects the suitability of topsoil. Sands should be avoided because they almost always have a low water and nutrient holding capacity. Clays, sandy clays, silty clays and silts should be avoided because they tend to be difficult to cultivate and insufficiently permeable to water and air. Soil textures that may be suitable for topsoil include loamy sands, sandy loams, loams, silt loams, silty clay loams, clay loams and sandy clay loams. Because they tend to resist compaction, loamy sands may be preferred in areas subject to traffic or other conditions that may result in soil compaction.

Have you ever been dissatisfied with your topsoil? Let us know on our Facebook page linked HERE! 

Is Your Dad A Handyman? Here Are Some Father's Day Gift Ideas!

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Is your dad a handyman? Is he the type you can always find puttering around the garage and constantly looking for a project to do? If you’re looking for the perfect Father’s Day gift for your handyman dad here are some great creative ideas he will definitely love!

Griffin Survivor Case: If your dad likes to crank up the tunes on his iPhone while he works in the garage, the Griffin Survivor case ($50) will ensure his expensive smartphone stays safe. Griffin’s cases are designed to meet U.S. and U.K. military standards for toughness. Once locked down in one of these cases, the phone or tablet is drop-proof up to 6 feet, and resistant to water and dust. So whether your dad is refinishing furniture, hosing down the car or just a little bit clumsy, the Survivor case will ensure that he doesn’t have to stop the music to get the job done.

Craftsman Bottle Opener: Sears’ Craftsman tools are well known for their rock solid construction and unlimited lifetime warranty. Now that company offers a bottle opener ($7) with the same distinctive handle that you’ll find on Craftsman screwdrivers. It’s the perfect fit for your dad’s tool box. After all, your dad deserves to kick back and crack open a cold one after a long day of fixing things.

Ryobi One+: Ryobi’s line of One+ tools allows you to purchase a single lithium-ion battery to power a whole family of power tools, including a drill, hedge trimmer, reciprocating saw and dozens more. Battery-powered tools have really improved in recent years, offering far more power and a longer life than ever before. However, carrying around a separate battery for each task and tool is cumbersome. Ryobi solves that by making a single, interchangeable battery that works in every tool, making your toolbox a lot lighter and less crowded. It’s the perfect gift for the handyman dad that likes to fix things on the go.

Will you be purchasing any of these suggested gifts? Do you have any other ideas? Let us know on our Facebook page linked HERE!

When Is a good Idea To Prune

AAA TREE SERVICE

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Many people are unsure of when the right time to prune is. Pruning is the cutting or removing branches or parts of trees or for improving the shape or growth of trees. This is the number one most common tree maintenance procedure.  

Pruning during the winter months or dormancy is the most common practice. It results in a vigorous burst of new growth in the spring and should be used if that is the effect you’re looking for. For best results, it’s better to wait until the coldest part of the winter has passed.

You also have the option of summer pruning. To direct the growth by slowing the branches you don’t want to slow down or “dwarf” the development of a tree branch. Pruning should be done soon after seasonal growth is complete. Summer is also a good time for pruning for corrective purposes. Defective limbs can be seen more easily, or limbs that hang down too far under the weight of the leaves.

If you’re pruning flowering trees to enhance flowering, here are two steps you should be sure to follow:

1. For trees that bloom in spring, prune when their flowers fade.
2. Trees and shrubs that flower in mid- to late summer should be pruned in winter or early spring.

The only time of year you should avoid pruning altogether is in the fall! At this time, decay fungi spread their spores profusely in the fall and healing of wounds seems to be slower in the fall. 

When do you prune? Let us know your procedure on our Facebook page linked HERE! 

Tree House Being Chopped Down By The Feds!

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An Idaho man’s $14,000 tree house is being chopped down by the feds. Tremain Albright has spent much time and money renovating his tree house along the Kootenai River in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

The city is demanding that the tree house be chopped down because the city could lose more than $128,000 in federal funding. Engineers that investigated the tree house reported that the house is too close to a water levy in the river and could damage the levy if the tree were to ever collapse.

Albright is extremely saddened by having to knock down his tree house. He converted the tree house into a guesthouse and in 2007, he received a special variance exemption that he believed was permanent.

What are your thoughts about tree houses? Let us know on AAA Tree Services Facebook page linked HERE! 

Old Westbury Garden Voted Best Public Garden In Long Island!

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The votes are in! Long Islanders voted Old Westbury Gardens in Old Westbury the best public garden on Long Island!

There may not be anything that could make Old Westbury Gardens anymore beautiful. The Charles II-style mansion is surrounded by 200 acres of formal gardens, landscaped grounds, woodlands, ponds and lakes. There are also many events held on the property including guided tours, classic car shows, indoor and outdoor concerts, book signings, horticultural demonstrations and workshops, Scottish games, botanical gardens and 

gardening classes.

Coming in at second place is Planting Field Arboretum in Oyster Bay and in third place was Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Oakdale!

Have you even been to Old Westbury Gardens? Let us know about your experience on AAA Tree Services Facebook page linked HERE!  

Proper Steps To Plant A Tree!

AAA TREE SERVICE

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Planting a tree may not be as simple as you think! The process is a little more complex than tossing some dirt in a hold and throwing a tree down into it. 

If you’re considering planting a tree, here are the proper steps to do so:

Select the right time of year for planting the tree. Do not plant in late spring or summer because the heat will stress the plant and may cause it to die. The best time of year to plant a tree is in the fall or early spring. 

Check to see if there are any local requirements concerning digging deep holes, especially if you need to dig near telephone and other cables.

Choose a suitable tree for the region, climate, and space.

Prepare the hole. Take a suitable shovel and dig a hole that is 2-3 times the width of the root ball, just enough so it will fit. This lets the roots ease in more easily and begin to grow outwards into the soil. It also allows you to cut off the wire root basket if there is one.

Prepare the tree for planting. The process is slightly different for a small tree and a large tree. If it is a small tree, then you can turn it upside down gently to get it out of the pot. You could also cut some plastic containers to remove them. If the tree is larger one and has a net or a hessian or rope bag, you might need to use large scissors or a sharp knife to cut through the packaging. Avoid handling the tree with the burlap off. Put it in the hole, then cut as much of the wire basket and burlap as you can from around it.

Place the tree down into the hole gently. Be sure the hole isn't too deep or too shallow. The ground level of the plant in the pot should match up with the ground level after you fill the hole in. Do not bury over the crown or leave any roots exposed.

Use some compost or composted manure if needed. If the soil that you currently have is not rich, has clay-like qualities or if it has the consistency of dust or sand, the addition of manure or compost will give the tree a great start in life.

Resist the temptation to use a commercial fertilizer. A great benefit to new trees, however, is an organic mixture that includes micorrhizae, beneficial fungi that enhance a tree's uptake of soil nutrients.

Give fruit and nut trees extra attention!

Water the newly planted tree. Allow settling, backfill the remaining soil, and water again. This will eliminate air pockets. Water one gallon (3.7 liters) for every six inches (15 cm) of tree height.

Mulch,mulch, mulch! Cover the planting hole with 1-3 inches (2.5 cm - 7.6 cm) of shredded hardwood or leaf mulch. Keep the mulch 2-3" away from the trunk or the trunk will rot. Don't over-mulch the tree, either. A few inches are enough to keep water in and most weeds out. Mulch a circle out to the drip line, about the same width as the tree's leaves.

Stake the tree if necessary, for about the first year. Make sure that whatever stakes you use are tied loosely to the trunk and do not dig into the bark or tighten around the tree. Remove the stakes once the roots have a chance to become established, after about the first year. Staking protects the tree against blowing over in the wind, and it can also help to remind people moving around the tree not to run into it.

Keep watering your tree for the first few years as it gets established. Depending on the climate and your area, it will need weekly watering until the roots are established. 

Enjoy it!

Have you ever planted a tree? If so, let us know on AAA Tree Services Facebook page linked here! 

Top 10 Most Terrific Treehouses in the World!

AAA TREE SERVICE

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Here are the top 10 most Terrific Treehouses in the world, according to TheCoolist.com. What do you  think? Let us know your favorite on the AAA Tree Service NY Facebook Wall, linked HERE. 

The Yellow Treehouse Restaurant in Auckland, New Zealand.

Sustainability Treehouse in Minneapolis, built with a metal frame, plywood floor and canvas shell.

4Treehouse, featuring slatted wood privacy shutters and cascading lighting effects.

Peter Frazier's Treetop Office, a man who got fed up with the habits of the urban working world.

Baumraum Treehouses, the most respected designer of modern treehouses.

Harad's Reflective Tree Hotel provides the privacy you need plus the greatest canopy-level views the woods can offer.

Growing Tree Architecture, over time this home will become stronger and stronger.

Free Spirit Spheres Treehouses, among the lists most unique.

Alnwick Gardens Treehouse, may be the worlds largest treehouse ever created!

Joel Sherman Steel Tree House, using high elevation architecture without the use of trees.