Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Rob's Blog http://www.treesplusonline.com I found an excellent resource by the UF IFAS Extension Office! It is a detailed PDF entitled: Assessing Damage and Restoring Trees after a Hurricane. Urban Forest Hurricane Recovery Program. The link for this resource is below. It covers the following topics: Safety - staying safe and hiring the right professional Assessing damage - learn to tell the difference between trees that should be removed and those that may recover Restoration pruning - find out how to prune trees to restore them back to health after a hurricane Palms & pines - get specialized information for dealing with palms and pines Prevention - learn how to design and manage urban forests for wind resistance by selecting the right tree and designing the right location Wind resistant species - find out which tree species can survive hurricanes better      *All information was provided by the UF IFAS extension office http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/EP/EP29100.pdf http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=32 Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Trees Plus™ Owner Secures National Finalist Slot in Arbor Industry Award – the True Professionals of Arboriculture Award by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)   Navarre, FL – July 12, 2010 –Trees Plus, one of northwest Florida’s oldest and most respected full service tree care and landscaping companies, today announced owner, Rob Williamson was named as a finalist in the ISA’s True Professionals of Arboriculture award, for the second consecutive year. Mr. Williamson was one of twenty-one finalists out of more than 20,000 ISA certified arboricultural professionals from around the United States. Mr. Williamson was also named The State of Florida’s 2009 ‘Outstanding Professional’ by the Florida Urban Forestry Council earlier this year.  “It was a very difficult process to choose our finalists from so many outstanding nominees. Rob really stood out by his commitment to client service and his extensive community involvement. We hope he gets nominated again in 2011,” said Sonia Garth, ISA Public Relations Manager. The award finalists are judged on their interaction with customers, leadership of employees and their communications. It is common for nominees to come from the northeast United States and areas with high emphasis on nature and national parks, where local citizens and government are acutely aware of the need for knowledgeable Arborists. Commercial, municipal, military and residential property owners and managers in Northwest Florida can now benefit from having a nationally recognized, highly trained tree care specialist available in their own backyard.    Rob Williamson is an ISA Certified Arborist and his professional affiliations include the ISA, TCIA (The only TCIA member in Northwest Florida), Florida Urban Forestry Council, Nursery Growers and Landscape Association and the Society of Municipal Arborists. Prior to acquiring Trees Plus, Rob enjoyed success in the golf industry as a General Manger for Walt Disney World® Golf, American Golf and Meadowbrook Golf properties.  Under his management each property experienced unprecedented growth in revenue and membership.  “To be recognized by the ISA again as a finalist for the True Professionals award, lets me know we are headed in the right direction as a business. Having said that, of course I want to win it! I will continue to raise awareness for tree related issues and increase our presence in the community I call home.” More information about Trees Plus or to read Rob’s blog can be found at www.TreesPlusOnline.com. Contact Trees Plus via email at info@TreesPlusOnline.com, or by calling (850) 939-9979. Information about the ISA award program and the certification program is found on the International Society of Arboriculture website at www.ISA-Arbor.com. ### About Trees Plus Serving Okaloosa, Walton, Escambia and Santa Rosa counties since 1992. Trees Plus is a full service tree care and landscaping provider. Services include hurricane preparation, tree preservation, consulting services, expert witness, construction site planning, tree appraisal services, tree pruning, tree installations, emergency tree care, tree removal, and stump and debris removal.  About the International Society of Arboriculture The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), headquartered in Champaign, Ill., is a nonprofit organization supporting tree care research and education around the world. As part of ISA’s dedication to the care and preservation of shade and ornamental trees, it offers the only internationally-recognized certification program in the industry. For more information, contact a local ISA Certified Arborist or visit www.isa-arbor.com.         http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=27 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Please join Rob and Amie Williamson of Trees Plus for their Santa Rosa County Chamber ribbon cutting this Friday 7/9/10. Lunch will be at Nichols Seafood Restaurant in Pace at noon following the Small Business Networking Lunch! Trees Plus is a Full Service Tree Care and Landscaping Company located in Santa Rosa County, Florida. http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=26 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Amie Williamson, the Navarre Chamber's member of the month for July 2010 is currently a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and works tirelessly on the Chamber’s behalf. She is the chair of the Small Business Development Committee and has created two new programs this year to help chamber members get the most out of their membership. The first is a new 'Jumpstart Your Business' educational workshop series, and the second is Xtreme Networking, which gives chamber members a unique forum to tell other members about their businesses. This is her first year as a board member, and she has already made her mark. http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=25 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Navarre CERT to Hold Disaster Preparedness Fair: Sponsored by Trees Plus Saturday, June 26, in Conjunction with Ham Radio Field Day Navarre, FL – Listen to live music, build yourself a hot dog, and get information from area business and organizations about being prepared for (and recovering from) disasters, all while having a pleasant afternoon at Navarre Park. On Saturday, June 26, from noon until 5:00pm, the Navarre Community Emergency Response Team will hold a Disaster Preparedness Fair. In addition to providing information and entertainment to the community, this event is a fundraiser for Navarre CERT. Sponsored by Trees Plus, the event will feature booths with area businesses and organizations that provide products or services related to disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation. Starting at 1:00pm, the Navarre CERT Amateur Radio Club will be participating in the annual Amateur Radio Relay League Field Day, where hams demonstrate the emergency communications capabilities that are the foundation of amateur radio, by operating on noncommercial power and contacting other hams all over the US and beyond. Anyone (including you!) can sit in and make radio contacts under the guidance of a licensed ham. Don’t forget that Navarre Park also features a children’s playground and splash pad, as well as the Butterfly House. The Navarre CERT information booth has children’s disaster preparedness materials such as activity books, comic strips and puzzles, including a popular word search. So bring the kids along! You may have seen members of Navarre CERT assisting the Sheriff’s Office and community organizations in non-disaster situations. But the team’s real mission is to teach disaster preparedness, assist emergency services agencies in responding to disasters, and helping in the recovery from disasters. CERT is a volunteer organization under the Citizen Corps program of the Dept of Homeland Security. Navarre CERT is a non-profit corporation and needs the financial support of the community in order to serve Navarre and other areas of Santa Rosa and surrounding counties. http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=24 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000 As we look back on 2009, we see that we've experienced tremendous   growth.  Trees Plus developed many new clients, trained new employees   and added new services. Not only did the Trees Plus family experience   this growth, but my own family did as well. Our second child Robert   Hilton was born and as our grandmother says, "A baby brings his own   luck." He not only brought us luck, but inspired us to cultivate a new   mindset at Trees Plus. 'Trees Plus Outdoors' was born and we began consulting with our   clients more and serving as a "mini-property manager" for residential   clients, just as we do for our commercial and military clients.  In   2009, we grew our landscaping division with very little promotion. The   response we received from our clients was overwhelming. We added   landscaping, irrigation, hardscape installation and soil treatments,   which when coupled with our tree care division completes a basket of   outdoor services! Our clients aren't just calling us anymore to 'trim their trees.' They   call us to update and upgrade their outdoor living space with new   landscaping and irrigation. They call us to help them save their   favorite tree they planted 15 years ago when they bought their   house. Our clients know Trees Plus will provide exceptional service   and follow up not only for their tree care needs, but for all of their   outdoor needs. In 2010, we partnered with a revolutionary company to offer Water   Management Solutions. This company developed the award winning water   conservation technology that is used at the new Cowboys Stadium, the   Capitol Building and Buckingham Palace. We are the only certified   installer of this technology in the Florida Panhandle. We learned about this technology at one of the many seminars and   workshops we attended in 2009. We were also introduced to some   exciting and highly effective treatments for trees and shrubs that are   extremely beneficial to their health. Trees Plus is committed to our   continuing education and bringing cutting edge solutions to our   clients and their outdoor spaces. http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=23 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000 A Santa Rosa County businessman is being honored today for being the top in his field. Rob Williamson, owner of Trees Plus in Navarre, is the Florida Urban Forestry Council's 2009 Outstanding Professional. Williamson will receive the award at an urban forest seminar today at the Pensacola Civic Center. "It really validates what we, the team members of Trees Plus, are doing," said Williamson, 41. "A lot of work went into it. It's very rewarding." Charlie Marcus, the state Division of Forestry's representative to the council, serves on the group's awards selection committee. He praised Williamson's efforts to promote urban forestry. "He has done volunteer tree and landscape work for a number of public entities," Marcus said. "He has conducted educational programs for local communities. He serves on a local tree board (in Fort Walton Beach). He sponsors an awards program for residential properties that expeditiously use trees to enhance energy conservation, use primarily native trees, and adhere to the concept of 'right tree/right place.' " Williamson believes giving back to the community is an important part of his business. "The team members at Trees Plus donate a lot of time to preserving parks, natural areas, historic cemeteries and historic trees," he said. "I go into school and speak about preserving trees." Trees Plus has helped at Bagdad Cemetery and the Old Mill Site Park in Bagdad, and restored two historic trees at the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Fort Walton Beach. Williamson is the chairman for the Emerald Coast Science Center in Fort Walton Beach and hopes to work with Escambia County urban forester Jimmie Jarratt to help plant trees in urban areas this year. Trees Plus was established in 1992. Williams has owned it since March 2005. The business employs as many as 17 people at the height of the season, he said. It serves customers from Pensacola to Santa Rosa Beach in south Walton County. "I'm one of the few certified arborists in the area. As a certified arborist, I am able to provide consultations for new construction," Williamson said. "We do tree planting and removal. We do tree pruning and stump grinding, anything to do with trees. We also have the landscaping side of the business."   Pensacola News Journal • Louis Cooper • lcooper@pnj.com • February 10, 2010 http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=22 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Navarre, FL – January 21, 2010 –Trees Plus, one of Northwest Florida’s oldest and most respected full service tree and landscaping companies, today announced owner Rob Williamson was named The State of Florida’s 2009 ‘Outstanding Professional’ by the Florida Urban Forestry Council. (FUFC)Mr. Williamson will be recognized during the Urban Forestry Seminar held at the Pensacola Civic Center February 10, 2010. The ‘Outstanding Professional’ award was established over 10 years ago and it recognizes a professional individual for his or her contribution to urban forestry activities and arboricultural practices. Nominees included municipal foresters, private arborists, utility arborists, growers, and educators. For the first time in over a decade, the award was given to a recipient from the Florida Panhandle. “Rob had significant competition for this award from other applicants.” said Charlie Marcus of the Florida Division of Forestry. “Selection committee members were especially impressed by the extent of Rob’s community involvement and his efforts to promote professional urban forest management in Northwest Florida. He definitely goes beyond what your average arborist does.”                          ---CRM 1/14 Trees Plus is a strong supporter of the need for high quality community areas and has donated countless hours of time to local education and community restoration projects.  Mr. Williamson and the rest of the Trees Plus team are leading a charge to increase awareness of the Florida Panhandle’s tree population and importance as an aesthetic, environmental and economic force in the community. “To be recognized by the Florida Urban Forestry Council as the most outstanding professional of the year is truly an honor,” said Mr. Williamson. “I believe our trees provide a valuable economic resource to the area. Bringing this award home to Northwest Florida can only continue to raise awareness in our area and I accept this recognition on behalf of the entire Trees Plus team.” Rob Williamson serves on the City of Fort Walton Beach Beautification Committee/Tree Board and is The Chairman of the Board of Directors for The Emerald Coast Science Center.  He is an ISA Certified Arborist and his professional affiliations include the ISA, TCIA, Florida Urban Forestry Council (FUFC), Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) and the Society of Municipal Arborists. More information about Trees Plus can be found at (www.TreesPlusOnline.com <http://www.TreesPlusOnline.com/> ).It is designed to serve as an online information portal, tree resource, a medium for quick-estimates, and has a unique social media program, which features before and after YouTube videos of properties transformed by Trees Plus’ tree work and landscaping. Contact Trees Plus at info@TreesPlusOnline.comor (850) 939-9979.   ### About Trees Plus Serving Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Escambia and Walton counties since 1992. Trees Plus is a full service tree and landscaping provider. Services include landscaping, hurricane preparation, tree preservation, consulting services, expert witness, construction site planning, tree appraisal services, tree pruning, tree installations, emergency tree care, tree removal, and stump and debris removal.   About The Florida Urban Forestry Council (FUFC) The Florida Urban Forestry Council (FUFC) is a statewide, non-profit organization with a diverse membership of municipalities, arborists, utility foresters, community tree board members, tree advocates, volunteers, horticulturists, landscape professionals, and interested citizens who care about trees in their communities. Well-managed trees are a vital part of the urban environment and enhance the quality of life in our cities, towns and communities. The Florida Urban Forestry Council strives to educate the citizens of Florida on the importance of trees, including their benefits, as well as the best methods to plant, maintain, manage, preserve, and sustain the urban forest. For more information, visit: www.fufc.org <http://www.fufc.org/> http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=19 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=18 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 I last wrote about IPM and what its objective is, now if we ad BMP’s to the IPM system the result is a low input, healthy lawn. BMP’s are best management practices. In other words, what allows the grass to be the healthiest, and how to do it. There are several factors that make up the BMP’s for a yard: height of cut, fertilizer type, and watering make up the big 3. Lots of times people want to mow their yard as short as possible, this is not good for the grass and increases the chance of weeds, and disease. Lower mowing allows more sunlight to get to the soil and allows weeds to grow as they will be able to get sun. Lower mowing requires more water, and more water leads to more weeds and more disease. A higher cut allows a greater leaf surface, thus increasing the chlorophyll production making the plant healthier. Fertilizer type and frequency is key also. I hear people say “ I put out a 34-0-0, but the yard didn’t green up for long.” Using the proper fertilizer a 50-pound bag of a 21-0-0 can provide an entire summers worth of feeding as opposed to 1 day worth of feeding with a 34-0-0. The type of nitrogen is the key. Slow/controlled release fertilizer is best so that the plant actually uses all the fertilizer you put out. Water ties back to the mowing height but it is key. As stated earlier too much water leads to weeds and disease, not enough water leads to desiccation. The right amount of water at the wrong time can lead to disease, better yet the right amount of water for the plant at the right time can also lead to runoff. How is that? If your plant needs 20 minutes of water but at 10 minutes the ground has reached saturation, everything else just runs off, increasing your need for more water and increasing your water bill. So how do you know what the right amount of water is? There is a formula called the evapotransporation rate, which is how much water evaporates in a day, plus how much water a plant transpires. This rate each day can be found online, or you could get a “smart” irrigation controller installed by Trees Plus. You will eliminate water runoff, and cut your water bill significantly. Want to know more, give us a call. http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=17 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Trees Plus was a recipient for the NABOR 2009 Grand Giver Award, which recognized the contributions we made this year to the Navarre Beach Area Board of Realtors! :) http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=16 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000 Click the link below to see a brief interview conducted with Rob Williamson of Trees Plus. This was featured in the International Society of Arboriculture's E-Newsletter: Planting Seeds - Fall 2009. http://www.isa-arbor.com/members/Resources/Planting%20Seeds_Fall_2009.pdf   http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=14 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000 Rob Williamson (author and public speaker) and owner of Trees Plus  was featured in the October issue of American Painting Contractor. Click the link below to read: "The Religion of Social Networking - Strategies for Incredible Growth." http://www.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=24881 Please click on page 20 to read Rob's article. http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=15 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000 In the event we are directly impacted by Hurricane Ida, Trees Plus  is ready to help keep you and your family safe! Following the storm, as soon as it is safe to do so, Trees Plus  will mobilize crews to provide emergency tree care services, as we have done since 1992. Please call one of the numbers below if you need any assistance.  Be Safe! Thank you and stay safe! Warm Regards, The Trees Plus Team Santa Rosa 850.939.9979 Okaloosa 850.244.1680 Escambia 850.916.9992 info@treesplusonline.com www.TreesPlusOnline.com _______________________________ http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=13 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000 The Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce recently recognized Trees Plus as the Small Business of the Month for November 2009.   The business opened in 1992 with only three employees and has continued to expand, doubling their employee base to keep up with their growing business.   The owners of Trees Plus, Amie and Rob Williamson, have been involved with the Navarre Chamber since 2008, sponsoring, promoting, and actively participating in many events and committees.  In addition to membership with the Navarre Chamber, the business is an affiliate member of The Navarre Area Board of Realtors and was the headline sponsor of their Annual Homes on Tour event in 2009.  Civic contributions include donating tree work services to protect historic areas in both Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties. Most recently, Rob was named a finalist in the International Society of Arboriculture's (ISA) True Professionals of Arboriculture award.  He was one of the sixteen finalists out of more than 20,000 ISA certified arboricultural professionals from around the United States.  Additionally, Amie was recently nominated and elected to serve as a Director on the Navarre Chamber's Board of Directors, and will take office 2010. As a small business of the month recipient, Trees Plus is eligible to compete for the Annual Small Business of the Year, to be awarded at the Annual Installation and Awards Celebration, January 9, 2010. Award eligibility requirements include being a current chamber member, in business a minimum of one year, and having fewer than 50 employees.  Additional considerations include: active membership, business growth and public service or civic contributions.  For more information about the chamber and other programs affiliated with the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, call 939-3267 or log on to www.navarrechamber.com.   http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=12 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000 Each spring Florida homeowners are often alarmed by the appearance of blisters and wrinkles on the leaves of their valuable oak trees. These deformities are symptoms of a disease known as oak leaf blister, caused by the fungus Taphrina caerulescens. This disease is found throughout the United States and Europe.   In Florida it most commonly occurs on live oaks, water oaks, laurel oaks, and southern red oaks. On healthy trees the effect of oak leaf blister is usually negligible. Although severe cases of the disease can cause defoliation and loss of growth, it rarely if ever kills the host tree. Prepared by Ernest C. Ash, Biologist, and Dr. Edward Barnard, Forest Pathologist, Florida Division of Forestry.       http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=11 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000 Rob and Amie Williamson, co-owners of Trees Plus, Northwest Florida's premier full-service tree and landscaping company, have announced that Agronomist Derrick Sammons has joined the company as Director of Landscaping. This newly created position is due to Trees Plus' rapid expansion in 2009, especially in the areas of commercial, municipal and residential landscaping. In this position, he will be responsible for assisting the company in many capacities including project manager, landscape contractor, landscape design, irrigation installation, tree installation and preservation, integrated pest management and landscaping consultation. "Derrick has outstanding credentials and is a great fit for this important new position. Customers of Trees Plus Tree Care division have come to expect exceptional service and Derrick will ensure the Trees Plus Landscaping Division is no different," explained owners Rob and Amie Williamson. "As a growing business, we recognized the need for some of Derrick's caliber to help share our rapidly growing landscape division and allow us to maintain the outstanding level of service and quality our customers expect from us." "I am thrilled to Join the Trees Plus team. I am committed to their mission of providing affordable, quality tree and landscaping services to Northwest Florida," said Sammons. "I look forward to working with Trees Plus during this exciting growth period." Prior to Trees Plus, Sammons served in positions wtih some of the most respected golf courses in the area, including lake Forest Yacht and Country Club, Hidden Creek, Tiger Point, New Orleans Country Club and the Country Club of Mobile. In these positions, he was responsible for course and lawn maintenance, landscaping, pest maintenance, irrigation, and lawn installations. In addition, he has worked at events on all three golf tours: PGA, LPGA, and Champions, including the US Women's Open. "With Derrick's extensive turf management experience, Trees Plus customers will receive unparalleled service and creative landscape design elements," said Trees Plus owner Rob Williamson. Sammons earned a bachelor's degree in Agronomy with an emphasis in Golf and Sports Turf Management from Mississippi State University. He is a native of Pensacola Florida where he resides with his daughter, Erin.      Media Contact Amie Williamson, Co-Owner of Trees Plus 850-939-9979 office 850-291-1502 cell amie@treesplusonline.com   About Trees Plus Trees Plus is a full service tree and landscaping company, covering the needs of residential, commercial, municipal and military customers across Northwest Florida since 1992. Their services include Arborist consultations (land development tree preparation, construction site planning and tree appraisal services), shrub and tree pruning, tree installation, tree removal, landscaping, stump grinding, debris removal, land clearing, emergency tree care, hurricane preparation and after storm care. Their service area includes Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Pace, Mary Esther, Fort Walton Beach, Shalimar, Niceville, Crestview, Destin, Sandestin, and Miramar Beach in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton Counties.   Story Highlights Agronomist Derrick Sammons has joined Trees Plus as Director of Landscaping. This newly created position is due to Trees Plus' rapid expansion in 2009, especially in the areas of commercial, municipal and residential landscaping. Prior to Trees Plus, Sammons served in positions with some of the most respected golf courses in the area, including Lake Forest Yacht and Country Club, Hidden Creek, Tiger Point, New Orleans Country Club and the Country Club of Mobile. In addition, Sammons has worked at events on all three golf tours: PGA, LPGA, and Champions, including the US Women's Open. Sammons earned a bachelor's degree in Agronomy with an emphasis in Golf and Sports Turf Management from Mississippi State. Sammons is a native of Pensacola Florida. http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=9 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000 I was conducting a hurricane evaluation for a client recently and a question came up. How do I hurricane-proof my trees? Many clients have the same goal of tree preservation along with home protection. The truth is, most indigenous trees, if properly maintained, should perform without failure during a wind event. The key is eliminating pre-existing conditions while lead to tree failure. Following Hurricane Ike that struck the Houston area in 2008, insurance carriers commissioned a study to analyze the claims they paid. One Houston company discovered that roughly 50% of all structural losses were caused by fallen trees and tree limbs. However, his insurer went one step further and hired an arborist to inspect the trees and determine why the failure had occured. That high winds caused the tree failures was not a surprise; the surprise was 100% of the sampled trees exhibited pre-existing health and/or structural conditions which served as the catalyst to the trees' failure. Of the sampled properties, there was not a single healthy tree which failed. As a result, many arborists, me included, believe most trees losses can be avoided with proper identification and treatment of pre-existing symptoms and regularly scheduled maintenance. So now that we know tree failures can be avoided, what are the steps to take to protect trees and structures? Trees' conditions can be very difficult to diagnose. Even a hollow trunk can still support a full crown. This is when an arborist with experience in risk assessment is vital to proper diagnosis. The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), of which I am a member, provides a list of certified arborists in your area to aid in selecting a tree service provider. Take the appropriate steps to reduce or eliminate potential tree hazards prior to the next storm. Use an arborist to assist you in this risk assessment process and with all your tree service needs. Next time I will discuss how trees can save and even make us money. Originally printed in August 2009 in the Fort Walton Beach Chamber Official Publication http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=10 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:06:50 +0000 The Religion of Social Networking– Strategies for incredible growth When advertisers and marketing types are hired to launch a new product or business brand, they know the chances of success are daunting.  Only 1 out of every 50 new products survives the first year and the success/fail rate for new business is even worse.  To increase the chance of having staying power and making it through that first year and beyond takes a great product or service but it also takes notoriety and brand recognition.  Businesses are looking to make their brand “stick.”  If your brand is “sticky,” the next time a buyer is shopping for the type of service or product you provide, there is greater chance they will choose you over the competition. Ever wonder what makes Twitter a success?  How about Facebook?  Why did the Apple iPod stick and the Microsoft Zune fail? Why do people buy Coke when Pepsi wins every taste test? Most iconic brands and fads have mystical, religious-like similarities.  This is no coincidence.  I was recently reading Buyology, a book about a first of its kind neurological study analyzing the link between brain activity and consumer buying habits.  What the study found was specific regions of the brain are activated when you think of a specific product or service?  The study also found that volunteers exposed to strong un-smashable brands like Apple, Coca Cola, iPod and Harley Davidson stirred an identical reaction in the brain as when the subjects were shown religious icons. Iconic brands target or channel these religious themes to create loyalty and increase their brand recognition and strength. It got me thinking about the similarities between social networking and religious themes and how a business could make their brand “stick” by incorporating these principles into their marketing plan. Recognition of these themes and incorporating them into your advertising and marketing plan will separate you from the rest of the crowd and bring your business unprecedented growth and exposure.   Sense of belonging: What if I invited you to a party where you could meet thousands of potential new clients and keep in touch with all of your existing clients? Would you attend?  Millions of people log on to the social networking party every day.  YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, WordPress are just some of the most popular communities.  Has anyone ever asked you “Are you ‘on’ Facebook?”  If “on” a social networking site, you are part of a community of likeminded individuals looking to communicate their message and stay informed with up to the second information.  If you are not using social networking, here is a fact you should keep in mind.  The competition, your competition, is and you are now playing catch up. Consumers have a sense of belonging to the collective club when using and interacting on the various social networking sites and their guard is down.  Capitalize on this to get the story out about your brand. Keep in mind, you are what you publish. Clear vision: Consumers want information now.  In less than 2.5 seconds, most buying decisions are made. Twitter forces you to state your message in 140 characters or less.  These are the rules, no exceptions; get in, get out.  In today’s message cycle, you had better get your message out quickly and concisely or you will be ignored.  We talk faster, shop faster and even walk faster.  That’s right, we actually walk faster. The latest research shows the average pedestrian walks at 3.5 mph, twenty percent faster than a decade ago. You must have a clear vision of who your customer is, what they want to hear and, using your customer’s language, present your message in a concise, entertaining and unique format. Power over our enemies:  Many religions include stories of how an enemy was conquered and good triumphed over evil.  The same applies to the daily battle for market share on social media outlets to get your voice heard so you may triumph over the competition.  How many followers do you have on Twitter?  How many hits did your video get on YouTube?  How many friends do you have on Facebook?  How about LinkedIn connections?  This is a competition to gain power in the community of gatherers we call social networking and the power of this marketing weapon is strong and far reaching.  Ashton Kuchar just past 3 million followers and counting on Twitter.  Is your following growing or is it stagnant?  Sensory appeal: The mere mention of The Sistine Chapel can stir strong thoughts and feelings in most of us.  Think of the smell of a church and the visual stimuli of seeing the pews lay out before you as you enter a place of worship. Sensory and emotional stimulation is a big part of consumer spending and should play an integral role in the delivery of your company’s message.  Now more than ever before, social networking gives you, the small business owner an opportunity to communicate with existing and potential customers alike without spending a dime.  If you own a business in a service industry like me, then you know the days of phone book advertising are numbered. I know, people will always use the phone book. Yeah, and people will always use pay phones too.  Have you seen any pay phones recently?  By creating a compelling social network following you automatically increase the sensory appeal of your brand and thus increase the stickiness of the product or service you are trying to sell.  Print is good, video is better.  Video is good, video with great audio is better. Combine multiple sensory delivery mediums with a unique, compelling message and the results can be staggering.  For example, The “Wedding Dance” video saw over four million hits in less than a week on YouTube and the “Evolution of Dance” is at 109 million hits and counting. Can you imagine the overnight success your product or service could be with the right message at the right time? This is the new normal, people want video, pictures, print and they want it now.  Storytelling:  Many of the world’s religions have unforgettable stories intertwined with their history and message.  These stories have helped to keep the message alive for future generations and solidify their place in world culture.  Social networking gives you the opportunity to tell your story in your words to help you solidify your brand.  Are you currently publishing a blog to help separate yourself from the competition?  Do you have an electronic newsletter? This is a great way to retain the clients you currently have by staying in front of them quarterly and telling them your story.  People want to do business with folks they know.  Your business should have a clear message to enable you to hit your target market and have consumers recognize your brand as the industry leader.  What story are you telling? If you cast a wider net, you will catch more fish.  The most important two things to a small business is getting new clients and retaining the clients it has currently.  Assuming you have identified who your customer is, you must now shift your focus to getting that customer to come calling and then expand your relationship.  As we have already established, today’s consumer is searching the web prior to making their next buying decision and, once on the web, they’re making their decision quickly.  After reading this, you may be thinking, ‘ The web is just for the younger crowd, my customer’s do not use social networking.’ Really, then why is the 35-54 year old demographic the fastest growing segment on Facebook? Still don’t believe your customer is using social networking? How about the fact that 75% of all internet users use social networking. Social networking is not a fad or a “phase,” this is the new normal.  As a small business owner, take some time to see how expanding your presence in social networking could help expand your business and grow your brand.  You never know, it could be the difference between a thriving business or just being another listing in the phone book. http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=8 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:05:18 +0000 What do Peruvian fisherman, Ricky Bobby and hurricanes have in common/Part II of II? In part one; I discussed the significance, global reach and awesome power of the weather phenomenon known as El Nino.  Now we will look at what the Panhandle of Florida can expect from El Nino.  After the severe El Nino weather event of 1997/98, scientists began looking at ways to study past El Nino events and dig deeper into their effects on plants to better understand the economic and environmental impacts.  As El Nino is a global weather event, scientific studies were conducted around the world and here in our own backyard. So what does a warm water mass originating in Indonesia and moving across the Pacific have to do with my Oak tree in the front yard?  Well, more than you might think. El Nino typically provides an opposite weather pattern to what is traditionally found in our area.  If winters are typically dry, with mild temperatures and mild thunderstorms, El Nino will more likely produce a wet, cold winter with increased tornado activity.  If you like probability, there is a 70% chance Florida will be cloudier and cooler than normal this fall.  I’m hoping for snow at the beach!!!  Urban forests are disturbed stands.  This is not meant to say that urban forests are disturbed in a Sasha Baren Cohen in Bruno kind of way but instead that once intact stands of trees have now been segregated to make way for roads, buildings, development, etc.  As these “stands” become smaller with increased urban sprawl, the effects of changing weather can have a greater impact. A recent study conducted by scientists from the Netherlands showed tree mortality increased by as much as 23% during and immediately following El Nino events. I’m not very good at math but that means that as many as one out of every four trees is affected by El Nino.  How do these tricky Dutchman know all this? Tree Ring Science or paleoclimatology of course.  Paleoclimatologists can study the growth rings of trees to determine the duration, severity and effects of past El Nino’s.  Large growth rings indicate a rainy season while small growth rings would be indicative of a dry season.  Depending on where the tree is located, El Nino conditions can be seen within the growth rings of trees.  Currently, the oldest tree-ring chronology dates back 10,000 years. El Nino conditions will be a perfect storm for pests and fungi this winter and into next spring.  The recent increase in the presence of Oak leaf blister is only the beginning.  Armored scale, Magnolia white scale, wood borers, aphids and other pests that prefer the aforementioned El Nino conditions will thrive this fall.  The increased severity of winter storms will cause tree failure if trees have not been properly maintained.  The rotating winds of a tornado are much more damaging to a trees nutrient and water vascular delivery system than hurricanes straight-line winds.  The advances in the science of climatology give us more advanced warning than ever before the effects of El Nino are coming.  Let’s do our part to preserve and protect our trees now.  Remember, the best defense against pest and fungal infestation is a vigorous healthy tree.  Please be on the lookout for my next blog to discuss what specific actions you can take to improve the health of your trees.  Till next time, check me out on Twitter @Robstree. http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=7 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:54:43 +0000   Part I of II If you thought June was hotter than normal this year, that’s because it was.  How hot was it? Hotter than a stolen tamale. Hotter than Winona Rider’s sweater.  Or, to quote Ricky Bobby, “Hotter than a velvet painting of a whale and a dolphin gettin’”…ok, you get the idea. But what is causing this change in weather and what is the impact for us along the gulf coast? The answer is El Nino/Modoki. Yes, El Nino is back and it’s new and improved with a new name and some new effects for us along the emerald coast. This is not your fathers’ El Nino. This El Nino forms in the central Pacific instead of the eastern Pacific. El Nino Modoki (Japanese for “similar but different”) is easier to predict but the effects differ from the historical El Nino in that hurricane frequency, strength and landfall probability will increase.  The powerful weather phenomenon called El Nino dates back to the early 1890’s and the fishing villages of Peru from which its name derives. During the Christmas season, the locals would sometimes notice the trade winds shift and with that shift came warmer waters and less fish. As the fish were less abundant, it gave the fisherman extra time to spend with family and mend their nets. Because this weather event coincided with the Christmas season, they decided to name the event El Nino or “the Christ child.” What starts as an atmospheric event soon becomes an oceanic event and then effects global weather patterns from Indonesia to Peru. The awesome power of an El Nino is second only to the change of the seasons when it comes to global weather.  Depending on who you listen to, El Nino is either very good or very bad for the gulf coast. In the “good” camp is Florida State University professor Dr.  James O’Brien, also known as “Dr. El Nino” because of his expertise on the subject, who believes this will be a drier than normal September/October with reduced hurricane activity. And in the “bad” camp is Peter Webster, Professor at Georgia Tech’s School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Mr. Webster commented that, “normally, El Nino results in diminished hurricanes in the Atlantic, but this new type is resulting in a greater number of hurricanes with greater frequency and more potential to make landfall.” I don’t know about you, but that whole part about “greater frequency” and “landfall” kind of gives me the heebie jeebies.  If it is one thing Northwest Florida does not need, its more tropical storms. Last year was tied for fourth in terms of active named storms (16) and hurricanes (5). In terms of hurricanes, it ranks 5th since 1944, the first year hurricane hunter aircraft were deployed to monitor tropical storms. In my next post, I will explain the many impacts this weather event will have on the trees in our area and how you can better prepare for the next storm before it happens. This new El Nino should give hurricane experts advanced warning of upcoming tropical cyclones like never before but our civic responsibility remains the same. We must stay aware and prepare. http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=6 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:17:05 +0000 I was conducting a hurricane evaluation for a client recently and a question came up.  How do I hurricane-proof my trees? Many clients have the same goal of tree preservation along with home protection.  My first reaction was to commend the client for thinking proactively as opposed to reactively when it comes to their tree care.  The truth is, most indigenous trees, if properly maintained, should perform without failure during a wind event.  The key is eliminating pre-existing conditions which lead to tree failure.  Following Hurricane Ike that struck the Houston area in 2008, insurance carriers commissioned a study to analyze the claims they paid.  One Houston company discovered that roughly 50% of all structural loses were caused by fallen trees and tree limbs.  However, this insurer went one step further and hired an arborist to inspect the trees and determine why the failure had occurred. That high winds caused the tree failures was not the surprise, the surprise was 100% of the sampled trees exhibited pre-existing health and/or structural conditions which served as the catalyst to the tree’s failure.  Of the sampled properties, there was not a single healthy tree which failed.  As a result, many arborists, myself included, believe most tree losses can be avoided with proper identification and treatment of pre-existing symptoms and regularly scheduled maintenance. So now that we know tree failures can be avoided, what are the steps to take to protect trees and structures?  Tree conditions can be very difficult to diagnose. Although a hollow trunk can still support a full crown, the tree is still a hazard. This is when an arborist with experience in risk assessment is vital to proper diagnosis.  Regularly scheduled maintenance by a tree care provider with an arborist on staff, not a landscaper or lawn service, can help you head into this and future hurricane seasons with confidence your trees and home will be protected.  The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) provides a list of certified arborists in your area to aid in selecting a tree service. Take the appropriate steps to reduce or eliminate potential tree hazards prior to the next storm. Use an arborist to assist you in this risk assessment process and with all your tree service needs.   http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=5 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:16:14 +0000 While visiting existing clients and meeting new ones, I have the distinct pleasure of traveling from one end of this picturesque landscape to the other.  My time in the field lately is leaving little doubt about the impact of the current economic downturn on this area and its effect on our collective psyche.  From Pensacola to Destin and back to Niceville and Pace, many of our once bustling storefronts now stand vacant.  The countless “for sale” signs tell us we have a long way to go before noticeable economic improvement comes to the gulf coast.  If you listen to any form of media, the relentless negativity is everywhere.  Local or national tv news, radio, internet, newspaper you name it and the story is the same.  If you internalize this constant onslaught of negativity, it can get you down if you let it.  I choose not to participate in the recession or group think.  Here is a thought…What if we viewed this time in our lives as an opportunity.  An opportunity to become aware of our surroundings.  A chance to spend more time with loved ones.  An opportunity to grow, learn, improve, adapt, exercise, overcome, persevere, change direction, re-focus.  Anyone can continue to point out the problem, it takes true leadership to propose a solution.  If you find yourself in a hole, put down the shovel.  Be aware and receptive to change and a new path will be revealed to you. http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=2 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:56:35 +0000 Green technology, eco-friendly, organic, carbon footprint and global warming are terms rapidly becoming part of the American psyche.  The global importance was truly evident recently as Al Gore won a Nobel Prize for his efforts in the study of global warming.  He has been a busy guy, what with inventing the internet, serving as VP, running for President of the United States and now discovering our rising global temperature.  Where does he find the time? Seriously though, Earth day is rapidly gaining notoriety in the U.S. and in our local area.  The City of Ft. Walton Beach recently had 2,000 kids in attendance for their Earth Day celebration this year. This is an amazing success story and the local volunteers should be proud of the work done to raise awareness with the youth of the area.  The first such celebration took place in 2005 and there were 500 in attendance so the growth is tremendous. Northwest Florida is an ecological wonder and should be preserved and enhanced as our rapid growth continues.  Please ensure you are doing what is necessary to conserve where possible, reduce your carbon footprint and educate yourself on the local ordinances and codes prior to starting your next landscape project.  Oh, I almost forgot, Happy Earth Day everyone! http://www.treesplusonline.com http://www.treesplusonline.com/widgets/blog/view_story.php?id=1 Thu, 28 May 2009 19:01:01 +0000