​As I walk thru landscapes all over the St Louis area I am still impressed with what I consider to be one of the best shrubs in the landscape. The shrub rose has everything a Gardner could want. It is versatile for every landscape, it offers a continued beauty with flowers that are continuous throughout the season, and they grow in conditions that traditional roses will not tolerate. Shrub roses require little maintenance including minimal watering in drought like conditions. And they grow well in a hedge while compatible with other plants in the landscape. However like many low maintenance plants the shrub rose is not void of maintenance. Which leads me to the point of this blog topic.

 
Sometimes the maintenance of your shrub roses can be a little thorny. I know but a little landscape humor is always a good thing but need I digress. The need to perform winter maintenance on your shrub roses is necessary to the shrub rose vigor and long life of your shrub roses, and will ultimately promote the proliferation of flowering as opposed to merely vegetative growth. The bottom line is that the more mature a shrub rose becomes the more vegetative it becomes. Long spindles of branches that lack true vigor and a diminished flowering of the plant begins to take over. Every shrub rose goes thru a natural vegetative cycle followed by a flowering state followed by decline and death. Proper pruning of the shrub rose must be done when the plant is in a dormant state completely void of leaves and flowering vegetation. In this state you can truly see the structure of the plant and make the proper pruning necessary to allow for the long term health and vigor of the plant. Let’s discuss the proper winter pruning maintenance of your shrub roses.

 
First of all you are going to need a sturdy pair of gloves. Remember I told you that pruning shrub roses can be a thorny situation. Small thorns that are more annoying than harmful can be voided with a sturdy pair of gloves. Secondly you will need a set of hand pruners and 2 inch loppers. Making sure that they are sharpened so that fresh cuts can be made and not merely tear the wood membranes. A trash can or small tarp will be helpful for collecting clippings for proper disposal upon completion. Once you have assembled your tools you will be ready to attack the job ahead.

 
Shrub Roses that have not been pruned in multiple years or never pruned at all will present a challenge of tangled branches. Understanding the steps necessary to follow will be helpful to the success of your winter Shrub Rose Pruning.

 
The first step is to remove all excessive growth from the plant and return the plant to a size and shape that is shrub rose acceptable. Over time the vigorous growth of the plant can become unruly and even outgrow the space that it was planted. A properly plated shrub that has outgrown its space can become unsightly and detrimental to other plants in the landscape. As well as a once well-spaced landscape can become aesthetically crowded and unsightly.

The second step is to remove dead wood throughout the plant. Dead wood can be identified as Stems that are grey in nature and brittle and break easily. Recently dead wood will be black in color and brittle and break easily as well. Some branches may have dead or decaying wood on a live and living branch. It is important to remove this wood from the plant.

 
And finally remove all branches that tangled or lack maturity and vigor. By removing these branches that are intertwined you eliminate the potential for wounds to occur that ultimately promote disease to the plant. Removing branches that are growing inward as well. Eliminating these inward growing branches promotes the exchange of oxygen within the plant and promotes flowering as opposed to just creating a vegetative plant.

 
It is important to remember some basic pruning tips that include cuts should be at a 45 degree angle as to allow water to rub off the plant and to allow for proper growth in the future. Furthermore cuts should be made as close to a shrub rose joint or a bud is possible. Cuts made above a joint or a bud will cause the wood to die back to the nearest joint or bud.
Once completed your winter Shrub Rose pruning should prepare your plant for a healthy and prosperous season ahead. The goal of this is to create a plant that is healthy and proliferated with abundant blooms.

​Living in Medford, MA the Seasons are quickly changing from Fall to Winter. Gone is the heat of summer and soon the leaves will be gone from the trees. Unfortunately as the seasons change the mess that Mother Nature leaves behind must be cleaned up. There are 3 main reasons to remove the accumulation of leaves and debris. They Include Aesthetics, Safety and functionally for the survival of your lawn and landscape.

Aesthetically an accumulation of fall debris including leaves and other fall debris can be unsightly. Accumulated is places  you don’t want to see and deal will. Besides being unsightly can be drug into the home and create a trail of debris throughout. Keeping your leaves cleaned up can keep your property looking good into the winter months ahead.

From a Safety perspective keeping walking surfaces clear of debris can keep drives and walkways clear for travel. As winter months approach leaves can become a place for water to accumulate. As temperatures begin to freeze laves can become frozen and an additional hazard for walking surfaces and drives. Another safety concern is in the downspouts and drains. As the leaves and debris accumulate in the drains and downspouts become clogged and snow water and ice cannot function as intended. Since water always flows in the path of least resistance you may find water traveling into places you don’t want. Recently we visited a client who was getting water in their basement. Come to find out the leaves had clogged the gutter and downspout causing the rain to overrun the gutters and run down the side of the house. This was the source of the water that was entering the residence.

And finally a Functional reason to remove the leaves is for the health and vitality of the turf and landscape. A large accumulation of leaves act as a large blanket that covers your lawn and landscape. This blanket of leaves restrict the sunlight, air and water that these turf and plants need to survive. Extended periods of coverage can lead to damage and disease that will effect the long term health and vitality of your turf and plants.

​So why hire a Professional for your Leaf Removal?

First of all leaf removal can be a very physically demanding job. Depending on your physical condition leaf removal can be physically taxing or prohibitive to you.

Secondly besides the physical demands the time commitment can be exhausting. Usually in a typical situation leaf removal will be completed over multiple trips. Unfortunately the fall leaf drop seems to occur over several intervals of the fall season.

Finally the shear volume of the leaf removal leaves an unanswered question and that is what do you do with this accumulation of leaves? If you are not fortunate to have a curb side leaf removal service from your city or township then these leaves must be packaged for pick up. This leads to another burden as to what is your plan to get rid of the leaves? Trash Services or other pick up services ensures that you must handle the leaves multiple times in order to have them disposed.


So maybe you have a similar situation that pushes many home owners to hire professional lawn and landscape companies for this service. Using the most efficient system for leaf removal can save you time and money in the long run. Equipped with truck mounted vacuum systems and with the use of commercial blowers leaf removal can be handled with efficiency and  cost effectiveness. If you find your self in this situation CLICK HERE  for additional information and a no obligation quote to have your leaves removed.

The American Elm is the state tree for Massachusetts.  In 1941 The American Elm  was chosen as the states tree.  

A North American tree that is native to eastern states.  Unfortunately Most American Elm trees have died off due to Dutch Elm Disease.   Some can still be seen in Boston at the Boston Public Gardens.

The Mystic River Watershed Association is working to increase tree canopy in South Medford.  Funding was granted to The City of Medford, Medford Tree Advocacy Group and Mystic River Watershed Association.

To learn more visit the Mystic River Watershed Association website

​​There are many variables in determining the cost of Tree Removal in Massachusetts.  Depending on the difficulty of the job, the size of the tree and the condition and location of the tree on your property will determine the price.  Your price could be as little as $200 for removal of a smaller tree that has easy access for the tree removal crew.

Height of Tree – One of the biggest cost factors is total height of the tree.

Condition of the Tree – A dying or dead tree may be less work to cut down and may be less costly to remove.  On the other hand, a strong healthy tree may require more work to remove and may cost more for its removal.

Tree Diameter – The diameter of the tree being removed plays another factor in pricing pout a job.  The same applies for grinding out a stump.  The bigger the stump the bigger the cost.

Location of the Tree – If the tree is near a house or in a congested neighborhood the removal process could be more tedious and may even require a crane to assist in removal.  If this is the case, then expect to pay even more.

So in summary the total cost of tree removal depends on any additional tree removal services that can increase the total cost of cutting a tree down.  Items such as stump removal, limb climbing, crane service, brush removal. 

Call Evergreen Tree & Landscaping Co
​for a FREE estimate 
Office: (781) 393-9808