We are currently looking to hire an ISA certified arborist for a sales position. Come join our team of knowledgeable tree workers and help keep Austin Green! (keep reading…)
March 14, 2011
February 19, 2011
Tree Pruning &Oak Wilt Prevention: TFS/ISAT Official Recommendation
Guidelines and recommendations for pruning practices pertaining to oak wilt prevention have changed several times since the early ’80′s. The original suggestion was (keep reading…)
February 12, 2011
Google Earth Fun
This post really isn’t all that useful from a tree point of view. But, this blog is my playground, and so here is the most recent thing I’ve been playing with: Google Earth API. I got my hands on a file that shows all the “potential”oak wilt sites in Texas based on some questionable aerial imagery diagnosis. (keep reading…)
February 5, 2011
Leaf Roller Aphids on Live Oaks
Also known as cigar rollers, leaf roller aphids cause a very peculiar symptom on Oaks. The leaves look as if they have been converted into a poorly rolled cigarette (with only exoskeletons inside instead of tobacco 
). Typically the damage is done in early spring when the leaves are emerging and the tissue is soft and new. This makes the aphids difficult to diagnose early since most lay people feel everything is normal when the leaves are small in the spring. However, 2 months later, when the leave never (keep reading…)
November 7, 2010
City of Westlake Hills Tree Ordinance Information
On February 10, 2010 the City of Westlake Hills adopted a new tree ordinance. You can read the document in its entirety here. But, I’d like to offer you these important items in the ordinance.
- You must have a permit for any tree pruning if you hire a service. If you do the pruning yourself, there are some allowance, but you should contact Christy to keep yourself out of trouble.
- Trees up to 6″diameter can be removed without permit.
- Trees 6″and larger can be (keep reading…)
November 1, 2010
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-11-01
- Bot canker on arborvitae. Been seeing a lot of bot this summer. http://yfrog.com/evz7qij http://yfrog.com/f1p85hj #
- Hard to see in pics, but this is fruiting body causing stress fractures. http://yfrog.com/5kwbloj http://yfrog.com/3v77cttj #
- Hard to see in pics, but this is fruiting body causing stress fractures. http://yfrog.com/159jnjj http://yfrog.com/507m6gj #
October 11, 2010
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-10-11
- Mystery live oak problem shedding leaves http://yfrog.com/nacnkmj http://yfrog.com/5lqjyj http://yfrog.com/m9t7obj http://yfrog.com/6rzmhj #
- At the annual ISAT Texas Tree Conference in College Station: Trees Mean Business. http://yfrog.com/5pptacj http://yfrog.com/j7mi4kj #
- City of Pflugerville citizen Pforester class. Micah and Keith are teaching pruning and soil/fertilizer. http://yfrog.com/5ypbwhj #
- We removed a dying cottonwood for the Austin Symphony and they had this awesome carving done on the remaining stump http://yfrog.com/ca6t8cj #
- Micah manning the booth at the Austin apparently association expo @ parmer event center http://yfrog.com/b9tmjij #
- Parks n Rec stakeholder meeting to discuss private profitable use of public land. Mostly about trainers http://yfrog.com/mh6d1cj #
- Typical fate of a 12 year old Bradford pear. http://yfrog.com/3tnp4dj http://yfrog.com/ncud7tj #
September 24, 2010
Ganoderma applanatum –Artist’s Conk
Ganoderma applanatum is called the artists conk because it has a very good surface for painting and carving. This is the end of the list of good qualities for this fungi. For trees, this disease is devastating. (keep reading…)
September 19, 2010
No Tree Left Behind
Trees are the original green. I’m talking about the green movement. Almost every community across the country has some kind of tree ordinance these days. We know trees make a big contribution to the health and beauty of our living space, but what is the best way to ensure trees get what they need to sustain. After all, we’re insisting the trees remain, but they’re only beneficial to us as healthy, lush canopies. Unhealthy trees fall down. That’s just how it works. That’s what old trees do as they die. All too often the tall green objects we covet aren’t allowed the conditions they need to thrive. The solutions is that every tree needs to be addressed as an individual…”No Tree Left Behind.”
(keep reading…)
August 22, 2010
Our New Employee –the Mini Skid Steer
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!
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.
