It’s another windy day in Las Vegas. Ever wonder why we call our plant health customers to reschedule their service on windy days? Licensed applicators are mandated by the Nevada Department of Agriculture to strictly follow label instructions without exception on many of the chemicals used for plant health.  Most restricted use chemicals have wind guidelines to negate drifting or unwanted contamination outside the service site.

Other reasons we adhere to wind guidelines is due to the nature of the chemical. Whether it’s a fertilizer or pre-emergent application that is tinted and can stain or leave unwanted residue on homes, vehicles or outdoor furniture; or another treatment application that could put spray techs at risk, it’s best to always consider best practices on whether to spray plant health applications during wind events.

Although rescheduling applications due to wind at times inconveniences our customers, First Choice Tree Service always takes care to follow label instructions, adhere to state mandated guidelines, and do what’s best for our customers and the safety of our spray techs.

Pre or Post? Know the Difference for Weeds in Your Yard

Did you know you can prevent weeds from emerging in your lawn and rockscapes? Apply a pre-emergent herbicide. Pre-emergent herbicides work by creating a protective seal around the seeds to prevent germination of weeds and eliminates any chance of growth.

Do you already have unsightly weeds as pictured above? An application of a post-emergent herbicide will do the trick. Post-emergent weed killers travel down the stalk of the plant and into the root system, killing weeds after they’ve already started growth above the ground.

First Choice Tree Service offers a variety of plant health care services, including pre and post-emergent applications to keep your lawn and rockscapes free of unattractive weeds. Call us today to schedule your service.

We love our trees. We love their beauty and the value they add to our homes. However, we receive many calls from tree owners concerned there is something wrong with their tree. Everything from a tree branch has died, the leaves are dropping from the tree when they are not supposed to, to their tree just looks sick or just doesn’t look well. Many times the cause could be something minor but it’s important to get to the root of what the issue could be before it’s too late.

Maladies in trees can have many different causes. It could be your tree is lacking in much needed nutrients, or is suffering from a pest infestation, or could have a disease causing its decline.  The best course of action is to contact a plant health specialist who can help you identify the issue and offer recommendations and treatments to bring your trees back to their full beauty and health. But mostly, it’s important to not wait until your tree presents a serious condition. It’s best to maintain your tree’s health with regular fertilization, and insect and disease control applications. Call our office today to learn more or to schedule a plant heath assessment for your trees and shrubs.

One of the effects of the extended drought experienced in the Southwest region, including Nevada, is the introduction of the Mediterranean Bark Beetle to our area. The bark beetle attacks mostly coniferous trees, such as pines trees weakened by years of drought. One of the first signs of infestation is the fading or browning of the trees foliage. Upon closer inspection, you can actually see pitch tubes caused from boring in the bark by this pest.

The pictures above show the destruction the bark beetle caused in a 10 year span. Las Vegas has a large pine population and has felt the presence of this pest. Many of the valley’s pine trees are in declined or have died due to bark beetle infestation. The good news is your pine trees can be treated for this pest. Call to schedule an appointment with one of our certified arborists if you suspect you pine trees might be infested.