Cut-Rite Tree and Spray, Inc.

We haven’t seen a large ant population the last 3 years in a row. This year there may be a boom in the carpenter ant population with all the extra moisture. Also, there are several different species of mosquitoes that live in the basin. All the extra moisture can lead to a bad mosquito season. We have ways to control spring and early summer mosquito problems!

Sun has been out the past few days and the snow is melting! Are you ready for summer?

Another one of those winters!

Our stump grinder can go just about anywhere, 4x4!

Be prepared! Call us today and set up a Spring Spray for your home! Stop the carpenter ants before they become a problem! Have stumps in your yard? Did you know that stumps create perfect homes for carpenter ants? ... Consider getting a *free* Stump Grinding estimate! Call us today! 530-525-7704

These are some cool bees!

A lot of dead fir trees the last two years. Yes we are seeing some beetle mortality but most have succumbed to root fungus. A couple different types of root fungus really proliferated during the 5 year drought. This tree look fine, green and healthy in April but dried up and died by July. No beetle present, you can clearly see the fungus invading in from the roots. The fungus cuts of the trees ability to take up water and the tree dies.

Many old stumps are just infested with carpenter ant nests. When then nests grows, many individuals go out and start new satellite nests often in your home. Get rid of the old stumps.

Treating 5+ acres of trees with Splatverb, a beetle anti pheromone. Basically emits a scent that tells bark beetles to stay away. The product has been out for a while but recent USFS studies have confirmed its effectiveness. This is a great way to treat large properties to keep bark beetles at bay. A few key limitations: 1. Only works for mountain pine beetle on trees such as lodgepole pines, ponderosa pines and Jeffrey pine. Most likely sugar pine and weste...rn white as well. 2. Must be applied before beetles take their first flight of the season. Tricky to pin point around here but before late May generally. 3. Only a preventative treatment, will have limited effectiveness on over crowded stands, stress or diseased trees and trees already infested with beetle. For large properties this may be a great protective measure. It will also be great for areas and customers who are adverse to standard tree staying treatments. Call us for pricing and if you have more questions.

Stump grinding season again! Let Cut-Rite make quick work out of those old stumps.

Yearly inspections are key. Prevention and treatment of foliar fungus and needle blights are important in our area.

Get rid of pest habitat, grind those stumps.

Trap queens early to prevent a bee problem later in the summer.

This is just getting ridiculous!

This years snow pack ( the first four pics) and last years ( the last 3). I thought last year was deep! Maybe this will bring down the rodent and yellow jacket population this summer?

We have most of these diseases around Truckee/Tahoe. We see them all frequently. In larger native trees it usually won't get bad enough to warrant treatments. However, in smaller immature native pines and most planted (ornamental ) pines many of these diseases will cause severe dieback or tree death and need to be treated.

While this treatment looks promising it is still very unproven. Still the standard is to selectively and preventatively spray high value trees on a property.

It's a war out there, taking a few wounds but wining most of the battles.

Trying to save some sick Sugar Pines, see the difference in color?

Call us to have a look a see what we can do, even if your sugar pine looks healthy.

Happy Fourth of July! The bark beetles are exploding now! Remove dead and infested trees immediately and spray all the rest to protect them!

Interesting graph

A quick by-the-numbers view from the U.S. Forest Service - Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit for the end of 2015: 28 million: Number of trees dead or dying in Ca...lifornia 93,167: Number of trees dead or dying within Tahoe National Forest 35,038: Number of trees dead or dying within Lake Tahoe Basin Read the full story about why the drought and bark beetles are killing our trees and what #Tahoe and #Truckee fire districts are saying can help: Truckee Fire Protection District, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District

Great time to start thinking about grinding those old stumps!

http://reno.craigslist.org/ofc/5525117917.html

Some more photos of carpenter ants. Also, the difference between ants and termites.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/gard/insects//carpenter-ants/ Seeing some carpenter ant activity during this warm spell. Here is some great reference.

A little bit of snow at the yard ! Spring is not too far away.

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/snow_flea.htm I have been noticing a lot of these lately. They are a type of springtail. They are not a pest to humans or pets or structures. They are actually a decomposer and eat dead plant material. They are around all the time but they are easy to see on the snow.

This is what a bark beetle infestation looks like on a pine tree. The sap like substance coming out is frass. The white frass ( where the beetle is dead)was ...an unsuccessful attack. The reddish/purple frass is a sign of a successful attack. This tree, while green on top, is not able to be saved. There seems to be a mass bark beetle infestation in Tahoe Donner. See more

Some pests can damage your home, potentially decreasing its value. Mike Merchant at Texas A&M just released his list of the top ten pests to do so. If you find ...any of these pests in your home, contact your local extension service (http://npic.orst.edu/pest/countyext.htm) for tips on managing them, or call us at 1-800-858-7378 (8am - noon PT, M-F) for more resources. See more

What can you do to keep de-icing salt from harming your trees? These are great tips from our Crown Partner, Tree Care Industry Association - please share!

To past and present servicemen and women - thank you!

After 40 years(?) the "yard" for Cut-Rite and recently Alpine Arborists is no more. Hundreds of great, dedicated and passionate tree guys have passed through ...these doors. Lots of good memories for hundred of people. Originally, The Meadows Resort a summer place only. I've encountered many people who have stopped by and have fond memories from staying at the resort in the 50's and 60's. I even had a lady stop by and said her family lived in this building for several years back then. Not too sure what is to become of the property but the buildings will be demolished and the land will be rehabilitated. Probably for the best, I would like to see nature take back over... My one question is what is at the bottom of "the pool"? As things come full circle, we have moved to 7062 West Lake Blvd, better known as Cit-Rite Power Center. Along with Cut-Rite we are still the most complete tree service in the area. "Save a tree" See more

Rotten stumps are just pest condos. Notice the carpenter ant galley in the first pic. No stumps are too big for Cut-Rite!

http://www.fs.usda.gov/In/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5384837.pdf

It's that time of year already. We will have firewood rounds for sale and loads of free wood chips available for delivery. Spreading a 3"-4" layer of woo...d chips around the drip lines of your ornamental and native trees is a great way to make your irrigation more efficient. This will help you reach the 25% mandatory water cut backs. It keeps the ground moist, slows evaporation, keeps the soil cool and adds beneficial microbes. See more

I know some people who are still owed money

I delayed posting this. I (we ALL) keep hoping we'll see some snow. We turned on the irrigation for several hours this week while the temps were near 60 and t...he lows in the mid 20's. There is still some moisture in the soil but if temps drop again it may be problematic to irrigate for a variety of practical and physical reasons. It is better to maintain the moisture we have for the roots (which are actively growing in the warming soils). See more

Did you know, trees control noise pollution. Trees muffle noise almost as effectively as stone walls. Trees, planted at strategic points in a neighborhood or around your house, can abate major noises from freeways and airports.

Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.

http://foresthealth.fs.usda.gov/fhas/CreateAdvisory/2/498 Great information here

Vole, mole or gopher? There has been a huge boom in population of all rodents the last few years because of the short, dry winters.

Get rid of those ugly stumps...they're only pest condos..

Look out for these guys, they've been very active lately...

Bark beetles are out and active for the season! I was working on our chipper today and bark beetles kept landing in the dust and sap that had accumulated on the engine case. Fir and pine beetles! Thin out and spray your trees to protect them, now is the time!

A lot of ornamental tree pruning this time of year. It's also a great time to fertilize and start your insect control.

Also, make sure they have the correct workers' comp as well...

Also, trim branches and brush so they are not touching your house.

Going to be an epidemic bark beetle year if we don't get some major rain or snow..

Hopefully the west shore doens't lose another one of it's institutions..

http://www.codyenterprise.com//article_5bf08a72-7ca0-11e3-

http://www.kcra.com//129693/23979744/-/tulbfw/-/index.html Have your drought stressed trees sprayed early to protect them from a bark beetle infestation! Also, aphids, mites and scales will be at epidemic levels if this warm, dry weather continues.

Happy Holidays from Cut-Rite! Let's hope for an end to this drought!

The giant tree is dying. Maria and Tyler visited it today and found every tree disease known to men on it plus 2/3 of the crown was dead. This is the largest pine by volume known, we measured 10.25 ft diameter at breast height.