We got a new worker recently. A new machine to help us load and haul heavy logs. I’ve been a long time hater of equipment. It’s just more to take care of. But, one of my friends up in Ft. Worth, Jimmy Pritchard of Integrity Tree Care, has been telling me for a long time that it has revolutionized his business. So, I’ve decided to give it a try. The machine is pretty low cost compared to most equipment and it is small so we can take it into back yards and many other places that large equipment won’t go. We’ve only done one job with the mini so far, but it is definitely earning its keep. The logs in this video are from a palm tree. This wood is difficult to cut with chainsaws and the wood is very heavy. With the mini skid steer we didn’t have to cut into small pieces or pick them up at all!
As you can tell, we’re going to have to get used to driving it, but this machine is going to save us a lot of back breaking labor!
The Mexican sycamore has been a popular planting choice for about 10 years. Like the moneterey oak, it seems to be emerging as a great tree for the area, but it has yet to stand the test of time.
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The Treaty Oak is a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) located in Treaty Oak Park on Baylor St. between 5th and 6th downtown. This historic tree is said to be over 500 years old. In 1927, our green piece of history was inducted into the American Forestry hall of fame. They said it to be the “most perfect specimen” of a tree in north America. The Treaty Oak is the last tree standing from a group of trees known as the Council Oaks. The grove was 14 trees strong at one time.
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Monterrey oaks (also known as Mexican white oak) started getting popular as a planting choice about 10 years ago. 
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There are a few scattered specimens around town that are older than this, but not many. So far, this tree is proving to be a hardy tree to the area and it is oak wilt resistant. I expect to see more and more of the Monterrey oak as the years go by. But, for now, the jury is still out on this tree in my opinion. We’ll need to see a number of these trees live into maturity before I give them a full-blown thumbs up.
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Racoons, squirrels, rats, you name it. If it can climb, it wants in your house. I frequently get called out to bid a tree trimming jobs where the only goal is to cut the tree back far enough so that wild life can’t use it to get on the roof. Take my recommendation and don’t butcher up your trees in an overzealous attempt to keep everything away from your roof.
For starters, call a wildlife / rodent control service and consult with them. Arborists or tree trimmers are not the best people to talk to about controlling wildlife. I like to refer people to Austin Wildlife Pro.
To keep Raccoons out of your attic you only need a small amount of clearance. Raccoons are somewhat fat and clumsy; you won’t catch them doing many acrobatic tricks. I’ve watched a squirrel with my own two eyes scale a brick wall, so no amount of tree pruning is really going to solve that problem.
Live Oaks are semi-evergreen; so, why am I writing about fall color on a live oak? Sometimes live oaks will produce fall color. But, usually not in the fall. When it happens it’s in the winter. I was somewhere between Hamilton Pool and Johnson City driving between jobs when I ran across these shining examples.
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Back in October we did a 4 day company training event. Jose Mercado of Mercado Horticultural Training Service came down from California as our instructor. Jose is an ISA Certified Arborist and Certified Tree Worker, and he is bilingual.
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Arizona ash is referred to as “Arizona trash” by many people. Personally, I don’t really agree with this attitude. Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t perfect trees, but ash can grow into large trees quickly and provide significant shade from the hot summer sun that is much needed in Texas.
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I'm Keith Brown, owner of Austin Tree Experts. This is my repository of tree knowledge. I hope you find what you are looking for.
