Why do we always want it all? We want lots of shopping options, great urban housing like lofts and townhomes, but then we also demand nearby green spaces filled with towering trees. While often these trees are lush and full, it can be a challenge for them to survive in many of our smog, noisy, and crowded urban environments.

You water your flowerbeds, your vegetable gardens, and your lawn, but do you ever think to water your trees? Generally, larger, more mature trees have deeper, stronger root systems which can withstand many environmental stresses, but eventually a lack of water will cause a tree to die.

Trees, just like human beings, can experience stress through a variety of causes. In fact, over time trees can become so stressed they end up dying. Proper tree healthcare is vital to tree longevity. so it's important to recognize any signs of duress as soon as possible. Otherwise, your tree health could suffer.

It seems natural to assume since trees reemerge from their dormancy due to the warmer spring weather, they would continue to thrive during the heat of summer. But that isn't always true especially when it comes to birch trees. While fast-growing birch trees are quite popular because of their gorgeous fall colors, birches suffering from summer heat can have their health severely affected.

Nothing is more appealing than a carefully crafted circular bench surrounding a gorgeous full tree. It's the perfect place for enjoying a good book while the kids play nearby. Or if you do a great deal of outdoor entertaining, tree benches easily provide additional seating.

How cool would it be when you need a couple apples for the kid's lunchbox to just head out the back door and pick them fresh off the tree? While fruit trees aren't completely maintenance free, the pay-off is the convenience of being able to get fresh fruit in your yard with a healthy mini orchard.

One of the joys of spring in the city is the explosion of greenery provided by the surrounding trees awakening from their long winter sleep. In Kansas City where concrete, glass and steel seem to take center stage during the colder months, the urban parks and tree-lined streets are definitely one of the best perks of big city living once the weather turns warm.

As our overall population continues to grow, more housing, manufacturing, and retail space becomes necessary. This results towering skyscrapers, acres of paved infrastructure, and the deforestation of trees and other beneficial greenery. Yet many people wonder, can trees remove pollution from cities and urban centers?

Generally the first thing homeowners do after a major storm is head outside and access the damage to surrounding trees and shrubs. By familiarizing yourself with different types of storm damage, you'll be able to determine if you can repair the tree yourself or if an expert tree care specialist needs to be called in.

After a particularly devastating spring storm tree damage is not unusual. Many times the visual damage is so severe it is difficult to determine if the damaged tree can survive without calling in a tree care professional. Fortunately, most trees are extremely resilient and can take a great deal of abuse.