BigTreeSupply.com: The European Gypsy Moth

By Nancy Penrose

One of the most destructive tree pests in the State of Washington is the European gypsy moth. In its caterpillar form, it has destroyed millions of acres of foliage around the country.

The moth was brought to the United States in the 1860’s near Boston, Massachusetts to cross-breed with silk worms and escaped into the environment. It is now permanently established in 20 Eastern and Midwestern states.

Gypsy moth eggs are usually laid on tree trunks and branches. Egg clusters can contain up to 1000 or more eggs. The larvae (caterpillars) appear in the spring. Mature larvae are two to three inches long and have five pair of blue spots and six pair of red spots on their back. Adult male gypsy moths are a mottled brown and adult female moths are white.

The moth was first discovered in Washington in 1974. Since then, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has been aggressively eradicating gypsy moths with aerial applications of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk), a natural soil bacteria. Treatments typically begin in April or May when the caterpillars start feeding on trees and shrubs.

Each year the WSDA conducts trapping programs to locate gypsy moth occurrences. Approximately 20,000 traps are set up around the state and checked from June through September. The traps are made of cardboard and placed on private and public property. Inside the trap is a string coated with synthetic pheromone, as substance females emit to attract males during mating. The inside of the trap is also coated with a sticky substance that catches insects.

Here’s how you can help prevent the gypsy moth from becoming permanently established in the State of Washington:

• Let the WSDA place traps on your property
• If a moth infestation is found in your area, allow the WSDA to administer treatments.

You can read more about the WSDA’s treatment program at agr.wa.gov/gypsymoth. Our big tree specialists can also answer your questions about tree pests and how to protect your foliage and big trees.

Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurserys, specializing in large trees for sale and transplanting tree service. Learn more about tree preservation at http://bigtreesupply.com/tree-care-maintenance/ and for more tips on tree care or installation go to arboristblog.com. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6vVhNW1XJI and connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees-Inc/193731105108.

BigTreeSupply.com: How Trees Grow

By Nancy Penrose

All trees have a special type of plant tissue called meristem, a Greek word meaning “to divide”. The word was first used by Swiss botanist Carl Wilhem von Nageli (1817 to 1891). Trees grow when the cells within the meristem divide and produce new cells.

Meristem can be found at the tips of roots (root apical meristem) and shoots (shoot apical meristem). Root meristem creates root growth and shoot meristem produces more stem tissue, leaves and flowers. The trunk of a tree grows from another type of meristem called vascular cambium.

Trees only grow in height and width. A tree grows taller when new shoot meristem is produced at the tip of the twigs. Tree trunks and branches increase in diameter when vascular meristem cells divide beneath the bark.

A tree’s roots also grow at their tips. The root anchors the tree in the soil to keep it straight and stable. Tree roots also absorb water and nutrients from the soil, that are needed for growth.

Many trees start as a seed. The seed sprouts when there is sufficient water, light and warmth. A shoot goes up and a root goes down. There are also trees that start as shoots from the still living roots of a dead tree.

The tree continues growing by making its own food through a process called photosynthesis. It uses chlorophyll (green pigment) to capture energy from the sun. The energy is used to make sugars out of carbon dioxide from the air and water. The sugars (glucose) provide the fuel trees need to continue growing their roots, stems and leaves.

Young trees need sufficient water to maintain their growth. Mulching can help keep the soil around the tree moist and prevent weeds from growing. Use tree root stimulants for newly planted or transplanted big trees to help them recover more quickly from the stress of a move.

If you’re planning on buying a new tree, you can get more tree growing tips and advice from a big tree specialists at Big Trees Inc.


Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Seattle / Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurserys, specializing in large trees for sale and transplant tree service. Learn more about the care you can receive from our tree specialist at http://bigtreesupply.com/customers-speak/. 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

Big Trees Inc. Transplants Two Large Native Willow Trees

SNOHOMISH, WA: Big Trees Inc., (http://bigtreesupply.com/), a tree sales and transplant company, was asked by a general contractor to transplant two large, native Willow trees to a property being developed in Redmond, WA. The trees were part of a tree canopy mitigation with the City of Redmond.

Big Trees started the project a number of weeks after their first discussion with the general contractor, and began preparing to lift the 35-foot to 40-foot tall Willows. These Willows will offer a significant amount of branches and leaves to the southeast corner of the property, creating privacy and character.

The Big Trees crews spent two days digging the trees’ root systems and binding them tight with burlap, heavy rope and stretch wrap plastic. Once the root balls were ready, Big Trees applied some of their largest rigging straps to these root balls for the track hoe to connect to and lift the trees across the property to their new homes.

Todd Holmes, Operations Manager at Big Trees, mentioned: “It’s always exciting to see just how these larger trees break free from their original positions, considering how long they’ve been growing in those places before we’re asked to move them around. These big guys have to weigh around 12-15,000 pounds each, and luckily our monster 40-foot long, 24-inch wide straps are able to get them airborne and moved onto safer land!”

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., 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 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/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.

BigTreeSupply.com: Landscaping with Fir Trees

By Nancy Penrose

The fir tree is an evergreen coniferous that can be found throughout North and Central America, Europe, North Africa and Asia. The tree is a member of the Pinaceae family and Abies genus.

Firs are considered large trees, with some reaching heights of over 200 feet. They have needle-like leaves and cones. The leaves (needles) look like they have been pressed, and are attached to a twig with a base that has the appearance of a tiny suction cup. Fir cones stand up like candles instead of hanging. They are long and fall apart at maturity to release their seeds. The cones are usually green when immature, and brown at maturity.

There are over 50 different species of firs. Several are used as Christmas trees because of their scent and needle retention. Some of the more popular firs include the Nordmann fir, Frasier fir, noble fir, grand fir and Korean fir.

The Nordmann fir (Albies nordmanniana) is named after Alexander von Nordmann, a Finnish zoologist. The tree’s cones are blue-green before they mature. Nordmann firs usually grow between 40 and 80 feet tall. Nordmann firs are native to Turkey, Russia, Armenia and Georgia.

The Frasier fir (Abies fraseri), named after Scottish botanist John Frasier, is native to the Eastern United States. Frasier firs can grow up to 60 feet tall.

Noble firs (Abies procera) are the tallest firs. They can grow up to 240’ tall. The tree is native to Washington, Oregon and northwest California.

The alpine fir (Albies lasiocarpa) is native to western North America. It is a medium-sized fir that grows around 60 feet tall. As the tree matures, its grey bark changes from smooth to rough, and its resin blisters become fissured.

The grand fir (Albies grandis) is known by many names, including the Oregon fir, great silver fir, western white fir, balsam fir and great fir. The grand fir is one of the fastest growing fir trees and also extremely tall when it reaches maturity. The average height of a grand fir is 100 feet, but some trees can grow as tall as 300 feet.

Korean firs (Abies koreana) are one of the smaller fir trees. They range in height from 15 to 30 feet, and grow very slowly. Korean firs have blue or purple cones that appear in late spring.

Give us a call if you’re planning on buying a fir tree or big trees for your property. Our big tree specialist can help you pick the best fir for your growing environment.

Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurserys, specializing in large trees for sale and transplant tree service. Learn more about large trees for sale at our tree nursery http://bigtreesupply.com/sales-inventory/nursery-trees-inventory/ and for more tips on conifer trees go to nurserytrees.net. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6vVhNW1XJI and connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees-Inc/193731105108

Big Trees Inc. Ships Large Trees into Canada to Complete Significant Residential Project

SNOHOMISH, WA: Big Trees Inc., (http://bigtreesupply.com/), a tree sales and transplant company, was contacted to provide a shipment of tall, full Excelsa Cedar trees to Canada. After researching the logistics of international shipping, Big Trees received approval for the process.

Big Trees prepared 12 large Excelsa Cedars for handling and shipping in container trucks, and began the process of loading out the trucks to head to the border. The trees were 22 feet tall and weighed 4,000 to 5,000 pounds each. Once the trees crossed the border and were onsite, they were unloaded and placed with a crane into the property in strategic locations for a screening effort.

Todd Holmes, Operations Manager at Big Trees, mentioned: “Sending large trees over any distance can become problematic. From the build of a large root ball starting to sag as it bounces down the highway, to how the trees are protected from any wind exposure. There are lots of ways for things to get compromised and for the receiving team to get trees they can’t work with. Our crews have been honing many techniques for these unusual, living freight efforts, and it’s a thrill to know things all went as planned from the front office to the last tree being unloaded and planted into the landscape.

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., 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 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/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.

BigTreeSupply.com: How to Protect Trees from Construction

By Nancy Penrose

Trees are an important part of any home landscape as they provide shade in the summer and shield against the wind and snow during the winter months. The leaves clean out the dust and pollutants from the air and add shelter to wildlife. Not to mention, they add beauty and value to a community.
Unfortunately, trees are often damaged during construction and may even die shortly after construction has been completed. This causes the homeowner to remove and replace the damaged trees, which adds expense and time. It’s important to protect trees from construction as much as possible, for both the trees’ and homeowner’s sake.

Types of Construction Damage

There are a couple of types of construction damage and when trees aren’t taken care of during construction, the following can occur:

• Environmental changes, such as soil compaction or equipment driving over roots, due to the construction site.
• Physical wounds due to careless use of construction equipment. While trees can repair small injuries, they have a harder time and become stressed with larger wounds.

Protecting Trees During Construction

The very first thing one should do to protect trees during construction is to determine which trees should be saved and prioritize those trees. Trees that are undesirable or already in a state of decline can be marked for removal. But for trees that you want to keep, which will probably be the majority, protecting the roots is very critical. By putting a fence around the tree to prevent construction crews from accidentally damaging the roots or the upper part of the tree, one can ensure these trees will remain healthy. Or if necessary, a tree specialist could help with moving trees out of the construction area.

Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurserys, specializing in large trees for sale and transplant tree service. Learn more about tree preservation at http://bigtreesupply.com/tree-care-maintenance/ and for more tips on big trees care or installation 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

Big Trees Inc. Helps with a Significant Tree Screening Project

SNOHOMISH, WA: Big Trees Inc., (http://bigtreesupply.com/), a tree sales nursery and transplant company, was approached by a new client to help with a significant tree screening project, and plans have been made to help insulate their property from a large scale development.

A customer came to Big Trees in a state of disbelief that their home’s privacy would soon be compromised by a significant development that is set to break ground by the end of Summer 2017. Their property has been sheltered by a forest to the east of their backyard since they purchased their property a decade ago. The customer was given notice of the upcoming development and soon realized that their 6-foot tall fence was all that would remain between them and the noise and construction. This lead them to come to Big Trees, desperate for a solution for this calamity in their home lives. To help the customer gain back their privacy, Big Trees will be planting around nine large Excelsa Cedar trees on an elevated berm that will help to add even more height and privacy.

Nancy Penrose, owner of Big Trees, mentioned: “Anytime we get to make such a dramatic enhancement to a property, with these kind of large trees, it’s a rewarding and unbelievable process. Even our well accomplished crew members will stand back and take it in. Watching the undesirable view disappear with each new tree placement is a very, very satisfying series of events.”

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., 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 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/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.