Big Trees Inc. Saves Large Trees at Local Golf Club

SNOHOMISH, WA: Big Trees Inc., (http://bigtreesupply.com/), a tree transplant and tree nursery company in the Seattle area, has been asked to help save several large specimen trees from a construction zone at a local golf club, and to replant them at the club house once the new renovations have been completed. The project will benefit aesthetically from the larger trees being replanted around the new construction, and saving the trees from the original landscape will please many people associated with the club.

There are two approximately 25-year old 20-foot tall Dogwoods and a large Japanese Maple that were chosen to be saved from the former landscape. Each of the trees weighs around 2,500 pounds, for a total weight of nearly four tons. For reference, that’s roughly the weight of a small African Elephant.

The trees were prepared for the move by being given treatments to slow their transpiration and movement of hydration (transpiration is the movement of water to the leaves where it evaporates), and then the trees were dug in expertly carved root balls that are proportionate to the size and scale of each tree. The trees were then loaded onto Big Trees’ flatbed trucks with a large material handler forklift and brought back out to their nursery to be stored until the project is ready to reaccept the trees. The trees appear to be reacting to the summer handling very well up to this point. They have been put into storage conditions and are on a drip irrigation system.

Nancy Penrose, owner of Big Trees had this to say about the project; “This process has gone quite well and we expect the trees to be a vibrant part of the new renovations in time. It’s a pleasure to know that our handiwork plays a role in the continuation of a garden, from one era to the next.”

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), located in Snohomish, WA, in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only can deliver young trees but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including large trees. Their blog can be seen at http://www.bigtreesupply.com/blog/

BigTreeSupply.com: Root Rot in the Pacific Northwest

by Nancy Penrose

Root rot is a serious tree disease caused by fungi. It is usually found in mature trees or younger trees that have damaged roots.

Root rot can stunt the height and diameter of a tree. It can also cause dieback (the tree begins to die from the tip of its leaves or roots backwards), leaf discoloration and leaf loss. Indicators of root rot include yellow crown, a red-brown stain on the tree’s core and thinning leaves. When a tree has root rot, its overall health will begin to deteriorate. Eventually the tree will die.

There are many different types of root rot. In the Pacific Northwest, laminated, annosus and armillaria root rot are especially common.

Laminated root rot, also called yellow ring rot, is the most serious type of rot. It can infect fir, hemlock, larch, spruce and western red cedar trees. Most pines can tolerate or resist infection.

Healthy trees acquire laminated root rot by coming into contact with an infected tree. The rot destroys the tree’s roots, which can cause it to topple over during windy weather. The damaged roots can also make it difficult for the tree to absorb water and nutrients. Older trees can live with laminated root rot for many years, while younger trees will succumb quickly to the disease.

Annosus rot is a fungus disease that can reduce tree growth. It can also kill a tree. The rot can affect some pine tree species, as well as hemlocks and firs. The infection starts off as a red-brown stain inside the butts and roots. When the disease gets worse, brown lines will streak across the wood, and white lines will show up on the inner bark.

Armillaria root rot is another type of fungal infection. A tree with armillaria root rot will usually have mushrooms at its base. The fungi enters the tree through a wound and then grows into the roots. Trees can have the rot for up to six years without showing any signs of infection.

Give us a call if you are planning on purchasing a big tree for your landscape. We can give you tree care tips and show you how to prevent root rot and many other types of diseases that can affect trees.


Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurserys (see Big Trees planting services page at http://bigtreesupply.com/planting-service/), specializing in large trees for sale and transplant tree service. For more tips on tree installation or care go to arboristblog.com. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEP1vudflm0 and connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees-Inc/193731105108

BigTreeSupply.com: Types of Tree Nutrients

By Nancy Penrose

Trees, like all living things, need nutrients to survive and grow. Trees get their nutrients from the air and soil.
There are 16 elements a tree needs to maintain its health. Three – carbon, oxygen and hydrogen - come from the air. The remaining nutrients - nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium sulfur, iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper, molybdenum and chlorine – are absorbed from the soil.

When there is not enough nitrogen in the soil, the photosynthesis process speeds up and turns leaves yellow. A nitrogen deficiency can also result in a more pronounced color during the fall, stunted growth, small leaves and leaf drop.

An iron deficiency can cause yellow leaves as well. The color change however, is not consistent. For example, only a single branch may have yellow leaves.

A manganese deficiency will not only turn leaves yellow, but also make them appear limp.

If there is not enough phosphorus in the soil, the tree will grow slowly. When a tree doesn’t have enough potassium, it is more likely to become diseased or damaged.

A calcium deficiency will impact the tree’s growth and cause unhealthy, thin foliage. If there is not enough magnesium in the soil, the tree’s older leaves will start turning yellow between the veins and around the edges. Other colors can also start appearing, such as red, brown or purple.

If you see any signs of nutrient deficiencies, get your soil tested by an experienced and knowledgeable tree nursery that can find the source of the problem and recommend the proper treatment and tree care. For example, nitrogen issues can be handled with proper fertilization. An iron deficiency can be corrected with sprays, root injections and surface applications.

Are you planning on purchasing any big trees? We can help you chose the right tree for your project based on soil conditions and other environmental factors. We’ll also make sure your tree gets the nutrients it need to maintain its health.


Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurserys (see Big Trees Customer Testimonials page at http://bigtreesupply.com/customers-speak/), specializing in large trees for sale and transplant tree service. For more tips on tree installation or care go to nurserytrees.net. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qYmha94OvQ and connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees-Inc/193731105108

Big Trees Inc. To Beautify WA State Convention Center

SEATTLE, WA: Big Trees Inc., (http://bigtreesupply.com/), a tree transplant and tree nursery company in the Seattle area, is currently involved in a project to enhance the exterior of the Washington State Convention Center entrances on Pike Street in downtown Seattle. There will be large sequoia trees getting installed into artistic planters at two of the main entrances.

This project is still developing on some fronts, but there will be 6 large Coast Redwoods, a type of Sequoia and “the world’s tallest tree,” being delivered from out of state and weighing in the 5-6,000 pound range per tree. Big Trees is being asked to unload and handle the large Sequoia trees, moving them to their new planter locations from the large trucks that they will be arriving on. The trees will likely be around 20’ tall and packed in large wooden root ball boxes, and they will be using a large material handler forklift to unload and place the trees.

There are some challenges with this installation, in that the downtown location can be quite busy, day and night. Big Trees will be operating and handling the trees in the night time to minimize their disruption to the area, and so they can take advantage of having as much space as possible to work with. Big Trees is anticipating that the people and night life will be cooperative while they work over two consecutive evenings to accomplish the tree installations.

Nancy Penrose, owner of Big Trees says, “There is a lot of planning and preparation going into making this project successful over the brief timeframe available to us. It’s going to be two busy evenings in a row, and while working overnight is a challenge from a sleep shift for the crews, there is something exciting about having a normally busy environment all calmed down and to yourself for planting some large trees!”

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), located in Snohomish, WA, in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only can deliver young trees but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including large trees. Their blog can be seen at http://www.bigtreesupply.com/blog/