• Don't Dig. Digging under the canopy of your tree may kill smaller roots. Roots, any and all, are essential for the tree ability to absorb water.
• Mulch it up. Mulch and healthy trees go together like peanut butter and jelly. Mulch around your trees helps it in so many ways. These little wood chips provide insulation, prevent water from evaporating too quickly, and they keep from pest like plants like weeds from growing and stealing your trees water energy.
• No pruning. Avoid pruning your live branches from your tree when there's a drought out. The same way your body sends energy and cells to help your skin recover after a scratch, a tree has to expend energy to recoup from losing a live part of itself. (Of course, pruning dead branches is a great way to keep the tree from constantly using water and energy to try and revive it)

The weaker a tree's health gets, the more susceptible it becomes to tree disease. Once affected, it is better to remove a diseased tree, as most diseases can spread from one plant to another. If this is the case, contact Cartwright Tree Care today for a safe, clean removal.

Kansas City has seen more than its fair share of the drought this year. Less rain, drier air means stressed trees.

Though an age old symbol for strength and stability, drought stricken trees are greatly weakened, and need more care and attention to maintain their health. This is even more imperative with cold weather approaching quickly, adding even more stress to these already deficient plants.

So, what are some ways you can care for your trees during a drought? Well, Cartwright Tree Care has put together some great tips just for you.

• Water. Needless to say, all trees need water. But many make the mistake of watering leaves and branches when the most drought stricken part is a tree's roots. Watering a plant's leaves makes it vulnerable to disease. Focus on water the soil rather than the tree itself. "Flooding" your tree's truck will actually cause more damage than good and wash away the earth's natural nutrients that are imperative. Instead, water under branches by using a drip irrigation system or a soaker hose.
• Avoid Fertilizer. Fertilizer uses the tree's energy to process itself, this pulls more water from the root and deprives the tree.

Want more tips? Stay tuned to Taking Care of Drought Stricken Trees: Part II.

Are you a tree nurturer? Cartwright Tree Service would love to know your tips and tricks on nursing your trees back to health. Let us know in our comments section below!

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.

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.

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.)

The trident maple was ranked a Preferred Tree for Kansas by the Kansas Forest Service. And for good reason--the shade tree has many features that make it perfect for Kansas City's climate.

You're not the only person who sees a tired-looking garden when they gaze through their window. The Kansas City Star gave tips in an article entitled "Is your garden dead? Here's how to try again." Here are those tips and more:

The Kansas Department of Agriculture reports that "all ash trees native to Kansas are susceptible to infestation by the emerald ash borer." Emerald ash borer are beetle larvae that bore into trees, tunneling between the bark and wood. Ash borers impede the movement of water and nutrients, eventually killing the tree.