The weather is getting cooler and snow and ice are on the way. Unfortunately, no matter how carefully you’ve planned for those winter emergencies, things happen and that when it’s good to know that Cartwright Tree Service and their 24 hour Emergency Response team is only a phone call away.

Our professional arbor technicians can promptly assess any storm damage to your trees and quickly remove the damaged limbs and debris. We specialize in storm damage cleanup, always putting the customer and their needs first. Cartwright Tree Care has personnel both in the office and in the field to deal with insurance companies across the United States.

We are licensed, insured and since our Emergency Response Team has been working together for over 10 years, we have the expertise to handle all disaster situations in a professional and courtesy manner.

Cartwright Tree Service pays close attention to the local weather forecasts and stands ready when inclement weather is expected. We make sure that your home and yard are safe and work to insure you have the most cost efficient treatment options for tree and storm damage removal.

Take a minute right now to program 816-965-6758 in your phone so this winter when you need Cartwright Tree Service, we are there.

Bonsai trees are a popular hobby for many people and not as difficult to grow and maintain as originally thought. Here are some handy tips in case you are considering adding one to your home.

• Do your homework first before selecting a bonsai tree. There are many different species and varieties, some easier to care for than others.
• As with any other live tree or plant a Bonsai needs the basics of watering, fertilizing and the correct location with the proper amount of sun and shade.
• Don’t water your tree every day but keep it moist. The soil should stay slightly damp and never completely dry out.
• Small pot Bonsai trees require regular doses of fertilizer due to the smaller amount of soil surrounding it. It’s important to continually replenish nutrients to the tree so it will continue to grow and be healthy.
• Thoroughly research location before purchasing your Bonsai. They must be kept in a warm environment with at least some daily direct sunlight.
• Before you start trimming your tree make sure you take time to consider the shape, size and direction you want it to grow. Education yourself on wire training as this is an important step in maintaining your Bonsai.

Are you a Bonsai hobbyist? Cartwright Tree Service would love to know how you became interested, what you do to keep them healthy and if you have any award winning Bonsais. Let us know in our comments section below!

Photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Redwood_bonsai.JPG

Recent climate fluctuations, including drought in south-central Kansas, is having a devastating affect on the tree population in Wichita, according to the Kansas Forest Service. More than 6,000 trees are slated to be cut before year's end. The trees have been negatively impacted by root loss that began in 2008. And record-setting temperature swings and last winter's mild weather have unnerved the city's trees.

Turns out trees are our friends, and maybe even a way to increase our home's market value. CNN Money and Money Magazine recently reported that trees can increase the value of our real estate by as much as 10 percent. The Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers notes that the trees must be well-cared for to provide such benefits.

The Kansas City Star reported that The Missouri Department of Transportation will purchase 250,000 seedlings to replace trees eliminated during highway construction projects.

As nature tends to wind down in the fall season, most people are probably not thinking about their gardens. However, the fall season happens to be one of the best times of the year to prepare your garden for a spring full of gorgeous blooms. Tulips are a great flower to plant in the fall as the following months will allow plenty of time for the bulbs to establish themselves in your garden prior to the arrival of spring. Listed below are 3 important things to take into consideration when planting fall tulips courtesy of The Daily Green:

The Bur Oak is such a great Missouri shade tree that the University of Missouri used a photograph of it in an article entitled: "Selecting Landscape Plants: Shade Trees".

The graceful tree grows well in neighboring Kansas, where Kansas State University named it "Tree of the Year". Here are the features that make the Bur Oak a beautiful tree to walk beneath, lie under, or gaze at on a warm sunny day.

• Adaptable to most soils.
• String limbs that are relatively resistant to storms.
• Tolerates urban conditions well.
• The Kansas Forest Service notes that the Bur Oak is robust and resists diseases.
• The Quercus marcocarpa has a sizable height and crown.
• The Bur Oak is native to Missouri, and is so common that there is a nature center named after it -- Burr Oak Woods. (The tree can be spelled Bur or Burr.)