Monster Tree Featured in Philadelphia Business Journal

The headline says it all! Monster Tree has been featured in the Philadelphia Business Journal. You can read the article here.

Trees need chopping and pruning so he created a Monster
By John George

Don’t tell Josh Skolnick money doesn’t grow on trees.

The 28-year-old entrepreneur’s business, Monster Tree Service, has grown into a multimillion-dollar enterprise providing tree-maintenance services to thousands of Philadelphia-area customers.

Now, Skolnick is offering Monster Tree Service franchises.

Not bad for somebody who never actually pruned or chopped down a tree himself. While a student at Upper Dublin High School, Skolnick started his own lawn-care service.

“I grew up in a neighborhood with a lot of elderly people,” Skolnick said. “They all had lawn services.”

(Read More)

What’s really killing Texas trees?

In an article for AgriLife Today, Dr. Eric Taylor, Texas AgriLife Extension Service forestry specialist, says that there are many factors that have been killing trees in Texas lately, beyond drought. Read more to see how preventative maintenance can stop many of these problems!

What's Really Killing Texas Trees?
By Robert Burns

Although drought is often the cause, trees can die for other reasons besides lack of soil moisture, said Dr. Eric Taylor, Texas AgriLife Extension Service forestry specialist, Overton.

“Drought is the primary contributor to tree kill, but it may not be exactly the way you might be thinking,” Taylor said. “You may find this hard to believe, but relatively few trees likely died directly from dehydration in 2011. Instead, the 2011 drought severely weakened mature trees, making them susceptible to opportunistic pathogens like hypoxylon canker and insects like pine bark engraver beetles.”

He said that in most instances, the trees that died in 2011 were already stressed from a number of pre-existing environmental factors such as overcrowding, growing on the wrong site, age, soil compaction, trenching or inappropriate use of herbicides. If not for these factors, a large proportion of the trees that died might have recovered from the drought.

“This is an important concept to remember because our best defense against drought is to promote a tree’s health and vigor through proper care and management,” Taylor said.

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Monster Tree Featured in Bensalem Patch

Monster Tree Service was featured this week in the Bensalem Patch. The article shares some helpful tips and tricks for maintaining tree health especially during summer thunderstorms. Click here to read the entire article.

Trees Need Constant Care, Especially During Summer
With the summer storm season in full swing, many people are prepping their homes to prevent any potential damage that could happen from a particularly nasty weather event. And while making sure the roof is in good order and that your doors and windows have proper sealing, many people don’t even think to make sure their trees are ready for summer weather too.

Yes, there are steps every homeowner can (and should) take to make sure the beloved trees on their property have the best chance of surviving a summer that has so far seen an increase in heat, fire and thunderstorms. Josh Skolnick, founder of Monster Tree Service, a professional tree service that services Montgomery and Bucks Counties, shared some of his expert insights on the topic.

(Read More)

Thousands Still Without Power After Powerful East Coast Storms

The storms that rocked the east coast last weekend and downed many trees, leading to damaged power lines, homes and roads, are a powerful reminder that even the simplest of preventative tree maintenance could come in handy as the U.S. prepares to experience more powerful storms throughout the summer. Read more from the Huffington Post.

East Coast Storms: Residents Struggling As Power Outages Continue

By Matthew Barakat, Associated Press

Across the eastern U.S., people are struggling through a third day of sweltering heat with no electricity. Their groceries are long gone, either used up in weekend cookouts or left to spoil in useless refrigerators. The usual frozen treats people turn to on a hot summer day have melted away.

The basics of daily life are difficult: Washing machines won't work without electricity, leading to some creative wardrobes. Bottled water has gone from luxury to necessity for people whose underground wells aren't pumping.

Storms that swept across the area late Friday left 22 people dead, and nearly 1.8 million people remained without power Monday evening. Utility companies say it could be days before the lights are on again.

(Read More)