Winter is here

Fall has come to a close and winter is setting in. It looks like it’s going to be a cold one. If you have a wood burning stove, you’ll know how important it is to get quality firewood to keep your home toasty for the winter season. You’ll also know how pricey firewood can be if you’re not smart about what you buy and who you buy it from.

If you’re not an expert on firewood, you’re probably wondering what the best type of wood is to use. That’s why we’re here. As experts on all things wood, we prompt you to use kiln dried logs. Kiln dried logs are great for use inside the home whether it’s for your fireplace or pizza oven.

Kiln Dried vs. Seasoned Logs

You might be thinking, is there really a difference? Absolutely. What we find is that most of our customers are astonished by the heat payback from the kiln dried logs and rarely returned to just seasoned wood. When logs are force dried in Kilns their moisture percentage is lowered to around 20% which creates the perfect balance of heat and sustainability. Opposed to regular firewood, kiln dried logs tend to create a lot less soot while burning for longer with less cracking and sizzling. Regularly seasoned logs will still get the job done, but you will find yourself going through a lot more of it and not being as pleased with the level of heat.

Kiln dried logs are not the cheapest on the market, however, they are easily the best value for money. A well seasoned piece of kiln dried wood is going to burn for longer than your average alternative with noticeably better heat payoff.

At Butlers, our kiln dried logs are offered in packages varying in quantity and price. We also offer alternative season logs that have not been kiln fired. Once you have your wood for the season, it can be a massive pain having to stack the logs in a way where the pile doesn’t tumble every time you remove a log. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In addition to our many different log packages, we also offer a wood stacking service.

So, you’ve had some new trees planted and your garden is looking great. Now you’re wondering what you need to know in order to keep those new trees happy and healthy. Don’t worry, we’re here to help. Keep reading for tips to keep your new trees looking their best.

Monitoring  

This may seem self-explanatory, but many people assume once a new tree is planted, it’ll automatically grow and settle in perfectly. However, this is not the case. For the first few weeks especially, you need to keep an eye on your tree and make sure it progressing correctly. Things to look out for include:

• Brown and yellowing leaves
• Roots not taking to the soil
• Loose or deteriorating bark

If you notice any of the above happening to you tree, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Give an arborist a call, and they’ll be able to give you helpful recommendations to save your tree.

Watering

Watering is the first thing that comes to mind when talking about trees and plants. Giving newly planted trees the correct amount of water is crucial to their growth and longevity. If the tree you’ve just planted is a sapling, it is recommended that you water them thoroughly everyday for the first two weeks. After those two weeks, move to watering only once a week for the next year.

Fertilizing and Mulching

Fertilizing is not necessary but is recommended. Think of it as a vitamin for your trees. They’re not going to die without them, but it will help give them nutrients that may not be naturally present in your soil.

Mulching is another way that you can increase your new trees chances of quickly adapting to its new environment. This helps trap in much needed moisture and is especially helpful if you live in a very dry climate.

Other Tips

• Don’t use pesticides too close to the base of the tree
• Don’t plant flowers or plants near the base of the tree – this will affect the way the trees ground their roots
• Avoid using string trimmers or lawn mowers on grass around new trees as this risks damaging the bark at the base of the tree

If you have any questions about a tree you’ve recently planted, give us a call! We’re always happy to help.

Timing

Timing is crucial when it comes to the annual pruning of your trees. If you prune to early or too late, your trees are likely to suffer the consequences. Keep reading for more information on when is the best time to have your trees pruned

Type of Tree

When figuring out when is best to start pruning, you need to see whether your trees are deciduous or not. Deciduous trees are those that drop their leaves for part of the year and tend to reside in temperate and tropical climates all over the world.

Deciduous trees benefit the most from being pruned when they are considered ‘dormant’, which occurs in late autumn or winter. A dormant tree is one that’s growth has been temporarily stopped. Due to the colder temperatures, tree’s lay dormant to conserve energy which results in their lack of growt

h. If you prune deciduous trees in early spring or summer it is likely that they will bleed sap.

Non-deciduous trees are those such as: Walnut, Cherry, Birch, Horse Chestnut, and Maple; and require pruning at a different time of year. These trees all bleed heavily when they are pruned, so it is best to do so closer to the end of their dormant season. This allows for all new growth to mature prior to pruning.

While minor pruning can be done yourself, we strongly recommend seeking the help of an trained arborist. Especially if you are unsure of the proper technique required to prune your trees. Call Butlers today for a free, non-obligatory quote. We’re always happy to help.

This summer has had record breaking heat which has no doubt caused you and your trees some stress. It can be difficult to know the best way to care for your trees in such extreme heat. But don’t worry, that’s what we’re here for. Keep reading to learn some tips on how to keep your trees thriving and looking their best during the hot summer months.

Watering

This goes without saying, make sure your trees are getting enough water. While there are a few natural rain showers that will give your garden some love, that’s nowhere near enough water to sustain your trees. Especially, saplings or those which have recently been planted. The best option to ensure your trees aren’t losing all of their precious water on these hot days, is to invest in an irrigation system. There are many types of irrigation systems to choose from and are excellent for monitoring the amount of water getting to your trees. By doing this, you will be kept from falling victim to overwatering.

Not only is the amount of water your tree is getting crucial, so is the timing of it. It’s recommended to water your trees in either the early morning or evening. It is best to water your trees when there is limited sunlight available which will evaporate a lot of the water before it has time to properly soak in.

Quick Tips

Cover the base of your trees with a thick layer of mulch. Doing this will help keep the soil around the trees roots moist and will help prevent evaporation. This will also reduce the temperature of the ground which will cause the tree less stress.

More frequently check your tree for infections, infestations and broken or cracked limbs. If you feel you cannot do a thorough job or don’t know what to look for, give us a call.

At Butlers, we understand that our customers may have trouble deciding exactly what equipment they need for a job. We offer a wide range of equipment that vary in size, price and ability. Hopefully this blog post will clear up any questions you have regarding our equipment available for hire. However, if you still have more questions, feel free to give us a call. We’re always happy to help.

Timberwolf Wood Chipper      

 The first range of machinery that we offer is the Timberwolf Series. We offer a towable version which can be easily attached to the vehicle of your choice as well as two different sizes of tracked machines. These are operated manually and will allow you to easily manoeuvre the machine around the work site. These are a great aid to any project as they turn branches and tree limbs into wood chippings in a matter of seconds. Therefore, allowing cleanup on any tree work to be done quickly and efficiently, which will make your life much easier.

For the prices and specs of these three pieces of equipment, click here.

Rayco Mini Workforce

The Rayco Mini Workforce is a stump grinder/ cutter. It is great, manually operated tool for getting rid of any unwanted stumps in your yard or work site. It has an access width of 660mm which is the perfect size for pretty much any stump.

For more information about this equipment, check out our hire page.

Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP) Lorries        

Nearly all tree work will require a MEWP or mobile elevated work platforms. These typically are attached to the back of a lorry for ease of transportation. At Butlers we offer four different sizes of MEWP Lorry. The ‘Bronto’ and ‘Simons’ Lorry Mounts, the larger of the four lorries are only available for hire with an Operator. These lorries are great for working on hard to reach branches and tree segments.

To find out the full details and rental prices of these machines, please visit our hire page.

Octopussy Tracked Machinery

This type of machinery is a type of MEWP (mobile elevated work platform), however; they are not mounted to a lorry. Instead, they have their own track and stabilisers. These are great for more uneven terrain or for getting closer to the base of the tree.

For more information on these machines, check out the hire page.

You may ask us why we prefer not to be affiliated to or be members of any trade associations or special clubs. The answer is simple… our customers always come first. We want to spend as much time as we can making sure our customers are happy. 

Fees & Expenses

While they have their perks, being an affiliate or part of an association always comes at a cost. The money G A Butler & Sons save on fees can be passed on as savings to our customers. We don’t think that the rewards we would gain from affiliations and associations are worth the cost. Therefore, we don’t take part.

Time

If we are spending time at their events or spending time on producing paperwork for their schemes, it means less time for our clients. G A Butler & Sons value the relationships built up with our customers. Prioritising our customers is one of the many ways we strive to deliver the best service possible to all of our clients.

Socialising

When at their events/seminars we would spend more time eating nibbles and on small talk than actually doing the job that G A Butler & Sons are best at… Tree Work. Although it might be nice to attend theses functions, it takes away from our time making sure all of our operations are running as smoothly as possible.

Pressures

The opinions of a committee are always changing, and members are often forced into accepting policies that they don’t agree with. At G A Butler & Sons we prefer to concentrate on what our customers need without the unnecessary influence of others.

In short…

More adhocracy (creative, flexible, quick to respond, new ideas)

Less bureaucracy (excessively complicated administrative procedure)

Call us today for a proper job. You can find a full list of our services here.

As the weather turns nicer and nicer, you may notice some new garden visitors. Sometimes it may be difficult to decide whether an animal is hurting or helping the plants, flowers and trees in your garden. Keep reading to learn about the common visitors you may find in your garden!

Deer – While it is always nice to look out your window and see a group of deer enjoying some grass, grass isn’t the only thing they will be munching on. Deer will eat pretty much anything leafy and green or flowery growing in your garden. Maybe consider installing fences to keep them out. See our fencing services here.

Squirrels/ Rabbits – Similar to squirrels and rabbits are delicate-looking, but can wreak havoc in your garden, especially during the harsh winter months. When squirrels run out of their primary food sources, they will eat any vegetables, fruit and flowering plants in your garden.

Bats – While bats are often given a negative reputation, they are actually very beneficial. They eat primarily insects and can eat upwards of 3,000 per night which can be very helpful in the control and maintenance of pesky bugs in your garden. In addition, allowing bats to thrive in or near your garden will also help build their population up which unfortunately is on the decline.

Birds – There are many species of birds you may find flying about and nesting in your garden. Most birds do not pose a threat to your flowers, plants or trees; therefore, they are a great addition to the garden aesthetic. They primarily eat worms, insects and slugs which are important to keep at a good ratio in your yard

Lizards, Toads and Snakes – While lizards, toads and snakes are not favoured by most, they are actually very beneficial to have in your garden. They do not eat any shrubbery or flowers, but will maintain a good balance of insects and rodents

Hopefully, this post has been informative and given you some insight into the animals you may see wandering about in your garden this summer. While as arborists our main focus is trees, we still like to keep a look out for the little creatures that might be running around in your garden!

Do you need any help with your trees? If so, give us a call, we’re always happy to help.