Story and Article Archive

A collection of past featured stories from RainbowTreecare.com

 

Prepare Your Trees and Shrubs for Winter

Sub-zero winter temperatures and drying winds can be hard on our urban trees.  Here are some tips to help them weather the cold.

The Science Behind Pruning Trees

When people see arborists in trees with ropes and chainsaws, they may not realize that there is "science" to their work. Just like every other procedure that Rainbow Treecare employs, our pruning procedures are based on the most current research.

Winter Tree Pruning

It's cold and tough work but the majority of pruning that Rainbow Treecare does occurs during the winter. Winter pruning is important because it is the best time to care for the structural needs of trees. The Certified Arborists at Rainbow Treecare are trained in the scientific forms of pruning and are experts at determining the pruning needs of trees.

Soil treatment research project taking root in Minneapolis’ urban forest

A landmark research project to examine technologies in soil fertility in relation to tree nutrition is literally taking root in three Minneapolis parks. The Tree Health Research Initiative is designed to address the long-term planting and maintenance needs of trees.

How to Evaluate Qualifications When Comparing One Tree Service Company To Another

Making the right decision when selecting a tree care company can be confusing. A request for pruning a mature oak tree can mean something different to each company you talk to. What you think of as a simple estimate comes back as proposals of work that vary by hundreds of dollars and recommend different things.  How can there be such a wide range of estimates for tree work?  Which one is the smart choice and how do you know what you are getting when you hire a Minnesota tree care company?

Decreasing The Potential For Infestation

When trees die due to disease or insect infestation it is imperative that the infected materials be removed from the site or destroyed. Infested trunk and branch tissues can harbor the disease pathogens, bark beetles, and other boring insects that can infest other trees in the neighborhood and continue the pattern of decline throughout the region.

Drought Stressed Trees Need Watering

Four years of significant summer drought conditions will weaken even the hardiest of trees. Without enough water, trees are unable to create new growth. When this happens, root development is reduced and wound formation restricted. As trees reach this stage, they start to shut down and become targets for diseases and insects that can kill them.

Preventing Dutch Elm Disease and Oak Wilt: Vaccines for Trees

As the summer warms over the next several weeks, elms infected with Dutch elm disease and oaks infected with oak wilt will start to flag. Flagging is when the leaves at the ends of the branches turn light brown and begin to droop.

2008 Festival Of Trees and MSA Tree Climbing Championship

This year the 2008 MSA Tree Climbing Championship and the Festival of Trees took place on Saturday, May 17th and Sunday, 18th at 1497 Central Parkway, Central Park, Eagan, Minnesota. It is held by the Minnesota Society of Arboriculture to promote proper and innovative arboricultural climbing techniques and equipment through friendly competition and fun educational activities.

Why hire Rainbow Treecare?

Its a good question. We offer many of the same services as do our competitors, such as pruning and tree removal. Occasionally our prices are higher for the same amount of work. So what does Rainbow offer that other tree care services cant? Knowledge and expertise!

Winter Update

Every so often we send out an update for people who are interested in how seasonal conditions may affect their trees. It is important to note that the winter of 2007-2008 holds good news and bad news for trees in the upcoming growing season.

Vibratory Plow

Rainbow Treecares vibratory plow is designed to create a 3.5 to 5 foot deep trench with minimal impact on surrounding soils. The plow takes less than 1/3 the time that is required with a traditional trencher and has the ability to circumvent obstructions such as rocks due to the vibrations of the blade.

Braving the Winter Cold - Our Passion for Pruning

Winter is on the way to the Twin Cities, which means some of us are holed up inside, protected from the elements. Although the landscape maintenance season is considered at a close, your trees can still use some attention. Winter in Minnesota is a great time to prune trees!

Tree Conditions in the Twin Cities

In 2007, so far, we have had up to 50% less precipitation than in an average year. What do these statistics mean to the trees shading our homes and what can we do to minimize the effects this drought may have on our trees?

Foliar Diseases

To prevent infection we need to catch the pathogen before it has a chance to infect the leaf. We apply fungicides to prevent the pathogen from getting into the leaf. It is just like washing your hands to prevent yourself from getting the cold.

Fall and Winter Pruning

Late fall and winter is a great time to prune. With leaves gone, it is easier for field arborists to see the structure of the tree and determine where corrective pruning is needed. The trees themselves are the greatest beneficiaries of fall and winter pruning. During the dormant season, insect and disease problems are much less likely to infect pruning wounds.

Dutch Elm Disease

Cities such as Minneapolis, Edina, Richfield, Minnetonka, St. Louis Park and Bloomington are still home to large inventories of American elm trees. In fact, the Twin Cities boasts one of the largest American elm populations in the country.

Third Annual Festival of Trees

Rainbow Treecare again played a major role in sponsoring and supporting the third annual Minnesota Festival of Trees Celebration at Como Park on May 20, 2006.  It was a beautiful spring day, interrupted only by a brief bout of showers during the noon hour.

Rainbow People Care - in Many Ways

Ask the folks here at Rainbow Treecare Companies why they give blood, serve a meal at the Ronald McDonald House, or donate used clothing to those in need -- and you'll get variations of the same answer: "Because it's the right thing to do."

Another ‘Day of Service’ Memorable

Rainbow and other companies from the Minneapolis/St Paul area returned to pick up where they had left off the previous year -- removing deadwood and raising the canopies of Fort Snelling National Cemetery's trees. The goal was (and is) to improve the health and beauty of the cemetery's landscape, while also making the area safer and less obstructing for visitors.

2005 Festival of Trees Event Bigger and Better

On May 7 the second annual Minnesota Festival of Trees celebration was rolled out at beautiful Como Park on the near north side of St. Paul. Sponsored by your MSA and the St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department, the event was a tremendous success. Rainbow Treecare participated as a key partner in developing and supporting the event.

Rainbow Treecare receives National TCIA Accreditation

Rainbow Treecare has developed a comprehensive portfolio of science-driven products and services, promoting the highest st andards in the care of trees, shrubs, lawns, and gardens within the Twin Cities urban forest. Only 11 companies are currently TCIA accredited throughout the United States.

Fort Snelling National Cemetery Service Project

Our company joined with other professional tree care companies across the Twin Cities metro area, on November 10, 2004 (the day prior to Veterans Day) in saluting our service men and women.

Dutch Elm Disease

Twin Cities residents should be aware that Dutch elm disease has come back with a vengeance this summer. Actually, it had never really gone away.

Rainbow Leads in "St. Paul 's Festival of Trees" Celebration

Como Park was the site of the first ever St. Paul's Festival of Trees celebration. The event built upon Minnesota 's observance of Arbor Day, with Mayor Randy Kelly on hand proclaiming April 24, 2004 as St. Paul 's official Arbor Day.

Tree Growth Retardants

Use of scientifically advanced Tree Growth Regulators produce many beneficial results in trees, shrubs and evergreens. Among these are size control, enhanced root growth, and reduced water stress - with protection from fungal diseases as a secondary benefit.