Newsletter

License # 819914

Warrecker Brothers Vista Tree Service, Inc. Santa Barbara, CA Ph: (805) 964-1653

Newsletter Winter 2009

Contents:

Preparing your Trees for Winter Storms

Oak Vs. Eucalyptus Firewood

Five Benefits of Wood-Chip Mulch

Preparing your Trees for Winter Storms

Although we live in a relatively mild climate, Vista Tree still receives calls every winter for emergency tree service. Trees are made to withstand most of what mother nature dishes out; however, there are always exceptions. High winds and rain can lead to broken branches and fallen trees, posing danger to structures, vehicles, and most importantly, people. This year is predicted to be an El Nino year which means we can expect more rainfall and, unfortunately, more up-rooted trees. The good news is that you can take precautions to reduce the likelihood of a tree hazard on your property.

Preventative Maintenance

You can't always prevent a branch from snapping or a tree from falling, but regular pruning can identify and eliminate structural defects.

Prune your trees when they are young and keep them on an annual pruning schedule. Trees are an asset to homeowners and routine maintenance is a necessity. Skipping a pruning often ends up costing more in the long run!

Have Your Trees Evaluated for Hazards

a free property walk-through is the best way to identify potential risks. When I meet with clients on their property, I am looking for dead wood, cracks, decay, root problems and bad tree composition. These can all be signs of a hazardous tree situation that often goes unnoticed by the un-trained eye.

Avoid 'Topping' Your Trees

It's unfortunate that some local homeowners are unaware of the damage that topping does to their trees. Other than being an 'eyesore' in our beautiful community, 'topping' is a detriment to the health of a tree and results in growth that is hazardous down the road. 'Topping' creates unbalanced weight and increases the likelyhood of a tree falling over. A view CAN be enhanced without topping your trees. Call me to discuss alternatives.

What to do in the case of a fallen branch or tree

Avoid the area completely: fallen trees and large branches are dangerous at all times! There may be damaged power lines nearby or the tree may be unstable.

Call for Emergency Service. Vista Tree Service takes emergency calls seven days a week. You can reach Tony directly by calling

(805) 964-1653.

Oak Vs. Eucalyptus Firewood

The first rains of the season always bring a flurry of phone calls about firewood. As you may already know, Vista Tree Service sells Oak and Eucalyptus firewood from our yard at 128 Anacapa Street. Many of our customers want to know the differences between Oak and Eucalyptus in order to choose the best firewood for their needs. Here is a breakdown of how the two woods compare:

Five Benefits of Wood Chip Mulch

I have a running list of clients who already know what wood chips can do for their properties - and they keep me very busy with deliveries. Wood chips are like vitamins for your soil and the best part is that they are completely FREE! To see how fast wood chip mulch can change a landscape, look at the field behind Taco Bell (intersection of Cliff and Carrillo) the next time you are on the Mesa. My wife and I (along with other volunteers) planted fruit trees and dumped and spread two loads of woodchips over the ground, which was previously the dryest, most uninhabitable plot of land in Santa Barbara. Okay, so maybe that's an exhaggeration, but it was pretty bad. Just a few months later, the trees are thriving, the weeds are gone, and grass is growing!

Here are the top five reasons you should consider using wood chip mulch in your landscaping:

1. It's Economical. Despite their value to homeowners, wood chips are absolutely free. Vista Tree Service delivers wood chips directly to your house, ready to be spread.

2. It supports a diverse and healthy plant population. Wood chip mulch not only consists of wood; it contains leaves, bark and other organic tree matter that provides a diverse blend of nutrients for your soil. This enhanced soil is more resistant to environmental disturbances and supports a healthy plant population.

3. It acts like time-released vitamins for your soil, plants and trees. Wood chip mulch releases nutrients slowly into the soil, providing long term nutritional benefits. In addition, it retains water, helping your plants to keep a healthy moisture balance. Mulch is especially beneficial when spread around the base of newly planted trees and struggling native plants.

4. Weed Control. Wood chip mulch has been shown to help with weed abatement by reducing light, hindering germination and reducing nitrogen levels in the soil.

5. It's local. Why pay money for a product that was trucked in from who-knows-where when you can get the best mulch from your local tree service for free? Call Tony at (805) 964-1653 and get added to our wood-chip delivery list today!

FAMILY TREE

2009 brought many changes for Vista Tree Service and our family. Here are the highlights:

Wes Warrecker left the tree business to open Bodie's Bar & Grill. Located at 413 State Street (formerly Lettuce B. Frank), Bodie's serves the best sliders in town! Congratulations Wes!

Tony's wife, Rea, joined the company as Co-owner of Vista Tree Service. Rea now manages the bookkeeping and marketing affairs.

Tony and Rea are proud to annouce the birth of their second daughter, Sedona Elaine, Born March 1, 2009

Vista goes green! You may have seen Tony around town in his new Smart Car. It's a great way to reduce our impact on the environment and save money on gas, too! We've also launched several community projects this year to improve our local schools and neighborhoods. Visit our about us page to read more.

OAK FIREWOOD

Pros:

Longer burning

Produces more heat

Once fire is going, it takes less to maintain.

Great for cooking

Cons:

Heavy/dense

Harder to start a fire

Smaller flame, smokier

EUCALYPTUS FIREWOOD

Pros: