Spring 2021 Tree News
It is early March right now and people seem generally optimistic about better times ahead. Due to the pandemic, this is the first winter in over 40 years that I have not traveled to some distant corner of the world. I sense optimism by the number of calls I have fielded throughout the winter from customers planning exterior masonry and planting projects.
This will be the beginning of our third year with two great masons on staff. Landscape masonry or hardscape—as we refer to it—really sets the foundation for a beautiful landscape. The form and function of every landscape evolves around hardscape features such as walkways, patios, and walls where grade changes are involved. There is a wide selection of hardscape materials available on the market today, from manufactured to natural stone, and implementing a design vision is as rewarding for us as it is for the customer.
I have gone into many customer’s homes to look at the view outside from the window at the kitchen sink. Most people would rather look at foliage than the neighbor’s unsightly shed, fence, car in the driveway, and the list goes on and on. During this time of working at home, I also find myself sharing views from home offices. Regardless of the view that you are trying to obscure, privacy screens and natural borders continue to be our most requested planting jobs. Well-planned border plantings are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they also add to the harmony of neighborly coexistence. We can help with natural borders that will increase the privacy and enjoyment of your property.
I am seeing a fair amount of winter burn on broadleaf evergreens from this good old-fashioned New England winter. Spring is a great time to make assessments about pruning and or removing winter-damaged trees and shrubs. It is never too late to make hazard tree evaluations given the amount of windstorms that have produced tree damage over the past year.
We see too many trees and shrubs destroyed by poor pruning techniques. Our philosophy is that we prune to enhance the natural shape of a tree or shrub and not try to change that shape. It is important to know the natural shape of the many plants that grow in New England prior to pruning and this knowledge can only be attained through years of experience. If you are trying to create a shape by pruning, there is likely a tree or shrub that naturally has that shape. Proper plant selection can help save on annual pruning maintenance.
Shaping and or shearing trees and shrubs are also acceptable methods, particularly in more formal landscapes, but plant owners must understand that pruning promotes and does not retard growth. Shearing should occur annually to maintain plant form, and proper timing is crucial, particularly on flowering plants, to ensure that next year’s flower buds are not removed.
There are many popular misconceptions regarding pruning, and it is always best to consult a Massachusetts Certified Arborist for guidance.
Arbor Day is typically the last Saturday in April; this is the day that Americans celebrate the planting of trees and the greening of our planet. Foti Landscape will be working in conjunction with The Trustees of Reservation donating trees this Arbor Day at the Ames Estate in Easton, MA. We will also like to donate trees within the Town of Lexington. If you know of a nonprofit public place in Lexington that will benefit from a tree we will happily consider donating and planting for Arbor Day. The only criteria that we ask is for the recipient to provide aftercare; simply call our office, and we will consider your request.
Matthew R. Foti is the owner of Foti Landscape and Tree Service. Matt is a 1977 graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and holds degrees in social science and general business. Matt became a Massachusetts Certified Arborist in 1979 and served as president of the Massachusetts Arborists Association from 1993 to 1995. Matt currently employs six Massachusetts Certified Arborists.
Foti Landscape and Tree Service 30 Fairbanks Rd.
Lexington, Ma 02421, Ph: 781.861.0505,
E-mail: mrftree@aol.com