'Chip' your tree instead of chucking it, recyclers suggest

Monster Tree's Jim Parsons was recently featured in a segment on KSL titled, "'Chip' your tree instead of chucking it, recyclers suggest". The segment discusses the benefits from recycling your Christmas trees into mulch which in turns gives you the provides you a healthier environment for your other plants. Click here to view the segment or watch below.

Tim Parson from Monster Tree Service on KUTV

Our very own Tim Parsons from our Salt Lake City Monster Tree Service was recently featured in a great segment on KUTV discussing the proper care and treatment of Christmas trees. Check out the segment by clicking the image below.

How to Care for Your Living Christmas Tree

Now that Thanksgiving is over, all eyes are now focused on Christmas. We have found a great article on HGTV titled, "How to Care for Your Living Christmas Tree". The article describes in detail various hints and tips on how to keep your living Christmas tree alive and well. Click here to read the article or begin below.

"How to Care for Your Living Christmas Tree"

By HGTV

The best strategy for keeping your living Christmas tree alive and well is to keep it cool and well-watered and to limit the amount of time it spends indoors. Here's how to help ensure your Christmas tree will be around next year. 

Do your research

Select a tree that's right for your climate, soil and light conditions. If you plan on keeping it in a pot outdoors for more than a season, be sure to select a variety that's hardy to two zones colder than your climate.

Buy early

Most nurseries will tag and hold trees until you're ready to bring them home. 

Put the tree in a transition zone

Two weeks before Christmas, put the tree in a garage for about a week to allow for acclimation to an indoor environment. Keep it watered, but don't overdo it. 

Click here to read the entire article.

Monster Tree want to give away 50 MegaMillions tickets.

Have you checked out our Facebook page recently? If so you may have noticed, that since this morning we want to give away 50 MegaMillions tickets to our fans! All you have to do is comment and share the post for your chance to get a ticket! Check out our Facebook page here:

Preparing Your Garden for Winter

Winter is coming and preparation for the cold weather is key. We found a great article on Better Homes and Gardens titled, "Preparing Your Garden for Winter" which offers up some expert advice on how to protect your gardens' plants, how to winterize your roses and making leaf mold. Click here to read the entire article or begin below.

"Preparing Your Garden for Winter"
By Better Homes and Gardens.

Putting the garden to bed for the winter is mostly a matter of cleaning up and covering up. As fall progresses and temperatures drop, those planes that aren't killed outright by frost prepare for dormancy. Clear out the blackened stems and foliage of annual flowers and vegetables to prevent the possibility of their harboring disease pathogens and insect eggs over the winter. The cool weather is good time to make a cold frame, dig and box raised beds, and make general repairs.

While it appears as if all activity in the garden has stopped, there's a lot going on under the soil until it freezes. Newly transplanted trees and shrubs, division of perennials, and hardy bulbs are all growing roots, drawing on soil nutrients and moisture around them. Earthworms and various microbes in the soil are still processing the organic material they're finding. Most likely, the organic mulch you spread to protect the soil during the summer months has substantially decomposed. It's important to spread new mulch now -- a thicker winter layer -- to protect plants and soil over the winter months. 

Click here to read the entire article.

"Fall Clean-Up: What to Do When Autumn Leaves Start to Fall "

Monster Tree Services was featured on HGTV Gardens. The article offers suggestions for easy and efficient leaf clean-up. It also discusses multiple ways to recycle leaves. Begin the article below or read full piece here.

"Fall Clean-Up: What to Do When Autumn Leaves Start to Fall "

By: Jeff Stafford

You know autumn is here when the evenings grow cooler and the leaves began to change from green to a dazzling array of colors. Then they begin to fall. That's when you reach for the rake. But there are other alternatives if you don't relish that task. Consider these other options instead along with some suggestions on ways to recycle leaves from ISA certified arborist Max Burton of Monster Tree Service.

LEAF REMOVAL TIPS

Mow Them

Use a lawn mower with a bag attachment to handle leaf debris on your yard. Disposal becomes a simple matter once the ground-up leaves are collected in the bag.

Vacuum Them

With a leaf vacuum, you can suck up all of the fallen leaves, twigs, acorns, pine cones and other debris into a bag and then grind them up for mulch or compost.

Read full article here. 

Brace Your Trees For The Winter

Like it or not the cold and snow of winter is quickly approaching. Just like you must wear a winter jacket and gloves, trees need a few necessities too in order to stay healthy too. The folks at How Stuff Works have provided us with some great tips about how to prepare our trees for the winter and keep them safe. See full article here or begin below.

"Preparing Evergreens and Shade Trees for Winter"

By: C. Colston Burrell





Wrap the trunk of thin-barked trees, most notably fruit trees, in winter to help keep the bark from splitting. Tree wraps and firmer plastic tree guards can also discourage rabbits and rodents from chewing on the bark and can prevent accidental damage from mowers.

Remove the tree wrap in the spring so it won't get too tight on the swelling trunk or provide a hiding place for pests.

Read full article here.

Preparing Trees for the Cold Months

Our own Tim A was featured on KUTV. Find out what you need to do now to in order get you trees ready for the harsh winter season, along with efficient and easy fall cleanup tips, and money saving advice! Watch segment here.

Capturing The Essence of Fall

Now that Fall is in full force, we found some great ways to use those leaves before packing them up and sending them off to the curb. Thanks to the folks at Better Homes & Gardens they have given us some great DIY ideas this Fall season in the article titled, "Fall Crafts with Leaves." Click here to read the entire article or begin below.

"Fall Crafts with Leaves."
By BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS

Leaf Frames and Art

Mix and match leaves for a mantel full of fall crafts. An old cigar box showcases a multihue leaf display. On the wall, leafy greens seemingly grow out of a pair of birch photo frames. 

Leaf Labels
Fun for labels, trace the outline of a leaf onto cardstock and cut out. Host a wine-tasting party and use these festive labels to help guests identify their favorite. 

Read full article here.

Why the Owner of Monster Tree Decided to Sell Franchises

This is the follow-up to the article to the one that was published last week featured on The New York Time’s “You’re the Boss” blog. 

The blog post is about Josh deciding to franchise and where the current locations are. Josh elaborates that he felt franchising would help him grow at a faster pace with higher revenues. He elaborates that franchising is like a partnership to help the business grow. Josh also discusses employees and systems differences within franchise systems. He mentions that Monster is set up as an executive model and that all locations are on track to make $1 million in annual sales for their first year. Josh positions Monster as the national provider of tree service. Click here to read full article or begin below. 

"Why the Owner of Monster Tree Decided to Sell Franchises"

By JOHN GROSSMAN

Last week, we published a case study about the founder of a suburban Philadelphia tree-trimming and -removal business. Having built his five-year-old company, Monster Tree Service, to 15 employees and more than $2 million in annual revenue, Josh Skolnick, 29, debated how best to expand: With corporate-owned locations or with franchises?

The experts we assembled and most readers offered pretty much the same advice — that he forgo or postpone franchising at least until he opens a second  company-owned location. In a conversation that has been condensed and edited, Mr. Skolnick explains why he decided to franchise Monster Tree Service, which is based in Fort Washington, Pa., and how that decision is working out. The first franchise opened in May, near Salt Lake City. Eight more have opened since then, all in Pennsylvania.

Click to read full article. 

A Fast-Growing Tree Service Considers Selling Franchises

Check out our article featured in The New York Times.  Click here to go straight to article or preview below. 

"A Fast-Growing Tree Service Considers Selling Franchises"
By: JOHN GROSSMANN

Monster Tree Service is a five-year-old tree pruning and removal business based in Fort Washington, Pa., north of Philadelphia. It is owned by Josh Skolnick, 29, an entrepreneur since boyhood, whose outdoor businesses have evolved from lawn mowing to mulching to his current company, which has 15 employees and annual revenue of more than $2 million. Mr. Skolnick, who manages the business, takes pride in the fact that he has “never pulled the cord on a chain saw.”

THE CHALLENGE Having established himself in a profitable niche, Mr. Skolnick wants to add more locations, but he is not sure whether he wants to own the locations or franchise them.

THE BACKGROUND Like many boys growing up in the suburbs, Mr. Skolnick mowed lawns in the neighborhood. At first he did it to earn spending money, but by the time he graduated from high school, he had three employees and 110 clients. He bought his first house (for $167,000) when he was 18. His friends had headed off to college, and Mr. Skolnick realized, “I didn’t want to be cutting grass for the rest of my life.” He took landscaping courses at a vocational school and started offering additional services, like putting in patios, walkways and ponds with waterfalls. He acquired other landscaping businesses, paying much of the purchase price out of future earnings, and folded them into Josh Skolnick Landscaping.

Click here to read entire article.

Choosing The Right Tree For You

Thanks to the folks at The DIY Network we can provide you with some great tips as to how to choose the right tree for you and the proper way to care for a it. Since picking the right tree can take time and money we want you to be able to do it right!  Click here to read the article or begin below.

"How to Care for a New Tree"
By DIY Network

Learn the mature size of the tree before you get started planting. It's one of the most common mistakes gardeners make, and the result is a tree that runs into power lines or that grows too big for its space and needs to be pruned every year. Too much pruning leads to stubs and stubs lead to rot and the rot leads to the death of some vertical limbs. Make sure you know the conditions your tree needs to grow so it can thrive. For example, a tree that needs a lot of moisture will not do well in a dry climate. Determine what you want the tree to do for your landscape. Different trees offer different things from the wow factor of cool bark to the shade from a standard maple. Choose between deciduous and evergreen. This is especially important if you are planting for privacy. You don't want to be surprised when your tree selection turns barren each winter. Different is good! Don't plant the same tree that everybody else in the neighborhood has. Not only is planting the same tree boring but it can also lead to trouble. For example, Dutch Elm Disease has wiped out trees in neighborhood after neighborhood over the last 50 years. When one tree gets sick they all get sick.

Click here to read the entire article...

Prepping the Garden for Fall

With Fall approaching, sooner than we'd like it, we thought it would be a great time to look at some tips to prepare your garden for the fall months. We found this fantastic article on www.thriftyfun.com titled, "Prepping the Garden for Fall". The article provides numerous tips for prepping your garden throughout the months of fall. Click here to read the article or begin below.

"Prepping the Garden for Fall"
By Ellen Brown

As summer turns to autumn, it's time to take stock of this year's growing season and start shifting our focus to prepping the garden for fall. here is a to-do list of seasonal chores for the lawn and garden:

Keep Up With Watering

As temperatures begin to cool and grass growth starts to slow, it's easy to back off on watering the garden. Sending your plants, trees and shrubs into the winter season thoroughly hydrated, however, helps to protect them over winter and will give them a good start to next year's growing season.

Clean Up & Compost

Compost fallen leaves and remove and compost annuals that have gone past season. Wait a few weeks to cut back perennials. Dried stalks give gardens visual interest and seeds may provide foot for migrating birds. Remove dead foliage and leaf litter now to eliminate potential winter hiding spots for hibernating insects. Make sure to throw diseased plants in the trash, not the compost pile.

Aerate the Lawn

Plentiful rains make early fall a great time to aerate the lawn and over-seed any problem sports discovered during the summer. In the fall, grass plants focus their energy into root growth. If necessary, apply a slow release fertilizer now to increase the likelihood that nutrients will be used for root growth. Good strong roots are the best way to stimulate and support vigorous leaf growth in the spring.

Click here to read the entire article.

Preventing Tree Disasters and Spring Maintenance for Your Yard

Monster Tree Service was recently featured on About.com in a Q&A titled "Preventing Tree Disasters and Spring Maintenance for Your Yard." The article was based off an interview with editor Vanessa Richins Myers and Max Wahrhaftig, Monster Tree Service ISA Certified Arborist. The Q&A goes in-depth to decipher a variety of important issues that may arise with your tree (e.g. if your tree is dead, what trees are most susceptible to storm damage, how close you should plant a tree near your house, how you can tell if the root system is compromised). Read an excerpt from the article below: 

1)How can I know if my tree is dead and not just dormant? What changes and signs can you look for in your tree?

There are several ways to tell if a tree has died. First, in North America, all trees should have leaves on their branches by the end of May. If it's June and your tree has no leaves, it has died. Second, check the buds. Are there buds at the tips of the branches? Are they soft and moist, or dry and crumbly? If the buds are dead or absent, your tree has died. Third, use a fingernail or a knife to scratch off a small area of bark on a small stem. If you can't find any green tissue underneath, or at least moist and bright white wood, it's time to say goodbye. If your tree is rapidly losing its crown year over year, has a profusion of new shoots along the stems, or very early leaf drop, then you are seeing signs of late decline, and the tree is dead or nearly so. When in doubt, have an Arborist check your tree.

2)Which trees are the most susceptible to storm damage?

In general, Bradford Pears and White Pines break very easily under wind or slow loads compared with other trees. Norway Spruces uproot much more easily than other trees. Specifically, your tree may have certain risk factors present that make it a hazard. Aside from being one of the aforementioned species, there are other warning signs to look for, including cracks, poor branch attachments (included bark), fungal fruiting bodies on the stems ("mushrooms"), irregular trunk diameter (bulges), and flat sections of the trunk flare. Again, when in doubt, ask an Arborist to have a look.

3)How close should you plant a tree to your house?

How close a tree should be planted depends on many things, most importantly the species of tree you've selected. Contrary to popular opinion, there is little risk that a tree will grow roots which will punch through your foundation or otherwise damage your house from below (aside from getting into pipes). However, a tree can become a problem in other ways by pushing up driveways and walkways, by casting dense shade to kill grass, by blocking windows, and by growing onto and over your roof. When selecting a tree to plant near your house, consider the species and its mature size, and how long it will take to get that large. For example, an American Dogwood (Cornus florida) will have a sparse crown 20-30 feet tall and 15-25 feet wide at maturity and might be acceptable planted 8 feet from a house, while a Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) may exceed 80 feet in height with a medium to dense crown spreading 60 feet, which might be a problem any closer than 30 feet from the home.

4) How can you tell if the root system is compromised, or if the soil is so loosened by rain that the tree might go over in a storm?

There are several warning signs you can look for which might indicate a tree is especially likely to uproot. A flattened or died-back section of the trunk flare, the part of the trunk which meets the ground, may indicate that part of the root mass has died. Also, construction, including the digging of foundations, the installation of pavement or sidewalks, or "trenching" for the installation of utilities, can all result in roots being cut. Movement of trucks or construction equipment under the canopy of trees can compact the soil structure, starving the roots of the oxygen they need to survive, causing dieback and a possible hazard. Finally, if you see the ground moving, or "heaving," as the tree is rocked by wind, the tree is probably going to fall down very soon and any nearby buildings should be evacuated until the tree is taken down.

5) My tree is covered in snow and/or ice. Should I remove it?

If you can, removing snow and ice from small trees and shrubs can help them weather storms well. Simply tapping Arborvitaes with a rake, for example, can knock off snow and help keep the stems from bending over. Most trees will survive snow and ice just fine, but if they appear to be bending under load and you can safely remove the weight, it won't hurt to do so.

Read the entire article here. 

How to maintain your trees in Summer

We have found this great instructional video on about.com offering tips on how to maintain your trees during the hot Summer months. Michael Landers from Tagawa Gardens in Centennial, Colorado guides us through some very valuable tips to maintain your trees during the Summer months. Click here to view the video on the about website or view below.

Heat wave or no, Monster Tree Service is making cool millions

Monster Tree Service were recently featured in a great article on the Upstart Business Journal titled, "Heat wave or no, Monster Tree Service is making cool millions". The article features our CEO Josh Skolnick and Reporter Teresa Novellino discussing the importance of keeping employees cool during a heat wave. It also provides us with a recap of Josh's entire success story and how he started Monster Tree Service. The article also provides us with advice on running a profitable business and franchising plans for the brand. Click here to read the article or begin below.


"Heat wave or no, Monster Tree Service is making cool millions"
By Teresa Novellino



For the founder of Monster Tree Service, keeping his team cool in the heat is nothing. He turned a job known for shirtless teens and pickup trucks into a big money franchise.

For outdoor workers, the heat wave that is stretching from the East Coast into the Midwest sending temperatures into three digits is not something you duck into your office job to escape: it's inescapable. So what's an entrepreneurial company that specializes in outdoor work to do? A good person to ask is Josh Skolnick, founder of Monster Tree Service, a multimillion dollar tree removal business that he launched in 2008 and turned into a national franchise last year.

"We advise them to start earlier than usual, get out before the temperatures get really high," Skolnick says. "There should be a 5-gallon iced water jug on every crew and they should try to limit the manual labor work and schedule work that's more machine orientated (and thus less physically challenging in the heat)."

Click here to read the entire article. 

Caring for your storm-damaged trees

We found a fantastic article on echopress.com titled, "Caring for your storm-damaged trees" which offers advice on how to treat your trees after storm conditions. With the Summer in full swing, the great weather is here but along with the heat and humidity can come stormy weather. The article recognizes this and offers tips on how to deal with your trees in the aftermath of stormy conditions. Click here to read the article or begin below.

"Caring for your storm-damaged trees"
By Jessa Kokett





Enjoying the warm weather is one of they many perks of summer. These glory days bring many great opportunities to the people of Minnesota, such as spending time at the lakes, camping and gardening.

Unfortunately, heat and humidity often lead the way to severe weather. Summer storms have proved to be just as damaging as some of the blizzards we experience.

After a storm, you may find "old oaky" to have lost branches or even the whole tree to be completely uprooted. This sight may be very stressful for some.

Here are some instructions as to what to do next.

Click here to read the entire article...

Monster Tree Service launch 'Monster Hunt' Facebook contest

Monster Tree Service recently launched a Facebook contest called, Monster Hunt. Spot a Monster Tree crew in action or one of our trucks and submit a photo via our Facebook application to be entered for your chance to win a $250 Visa Gift Card. The contest will run quarterly, with it's 1st iteration running from July 1 - September 30. One lucky fan will be selected at random to win!

 

 

Click here to visit the application and/or enter your submission for your chance to win a $250 Visa Gift Card.

Monster Tree Service branching out into Chesco

Monster Tree's second franchisee, Mr. Steve Young was recently featured in a great article in the Pottstown Mercury alongside our CEO Josh Skolnick titled, "Monster Tree Service branching out into Chesco". The article discusses Steve’s decision to leave corporate America to become the second franchisee for Monster Tree Service. Steve notes that he felt very supported by franchise system Josh Skolnick has launched and that he excited to begin working in Chester County. The article also discusses Josh’s background and how he turned Monster Tree Service into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. Click here to read the article or begin below:

"Monster Tree Service branching out into Chesco"

By Brent Glasgow

After more than two decades in the corporate world, a drawn-out restructuring process at his company in Boston left Steve Young looking for a new source of income.

“What was going to be left for me, there wasn’t really something I wanted to do,” Young said. “In all fairness, the corporate world has been good to me, but for many years, I’ve wanted to get out and do something on my own. It just was never the right time. Now it is.”

Young considered starting a business from scratch, but didn’t like the profit projections any of his ideas produced. Then, after four months of researching possible franchise opportunities, he decided to become the second franchisee of Monster Tree Service, a tree restoration, pruning and removal business started five years ago by Fort Washington native Josh Skolnick.

Young’s Monster Tree franchise, which launched last week, will primarily service Chester County. Hailing from Reading, having worked in Montgomeryville and with three daughters living in the area, it was the perfect situation for Young.

Click here to read the entire article.

Monster Tree Service featured in Lawn & Landscape

Monster Tree were recently featured in Lawn & Landscape in an article discussing Monster Tree Service's CEO Josh Skolnick career path, specifically how he became the founder and owner of Monster Tree Service. Josh also discusses the systems and processes of the company and how he has been so successful at such a young age. The article also discusses franchise investment information as well as quick tips about tree services. Click here to read the article or begin below.

"Designed playbook - Formulas for Success"
By Kristen Hampshire

Thinking about adding on to your landscape business? Why not explore a ready-made system?
The secret's in the system. And that's exactly why entrepreneurs invest in a franchise. They're buying a business that can enhance an existing offering or thrive as a stand-alone operation. In the landscape world, there is a range of complementary services that can attract new customers, round out a service mix, separate a firm from its competitors and rake in more revenue.

Of course, the bonus of a franchise is that the plays are already in the book. You can leap over any learning curve because of vast support networks (depending on the franchise you choose.) This month, Lawn & Landscape spoke to a few franchisors about their add-on opportunities.


Click here to read the entire article.

5 Ways How Tree Services Beautify and Protect Your Landscaping

We've found a great article on landscaping.answers.com titled, "5 Ways How Tree Service Beautify and Protect Your Landscaping". The article provides some great insight on how to properly maintain and care for the trees on your property. It shows us 5 great tips on how to ensure your trees remain healthy and suggests hiring tree services to maintain to the health of your trees. Click here to read the article or being below.

"5 Ways How Tree Service Beautify and Protect Your Landscaping"
By landscaping.answers.com

Trees not only beautify and frame your landscaping, but they add monetary value to your property, too. That is why it is important to properly maintain and care for the trees in your yard. Homeowners who hire tree services to attend to the health of their trees can look forward to years of enjoyment and shade from their trees. However, there are other reasons to consider hiring a tree service that go beyond aesthetics.

Protect Your Property
Trees or limbs that have begun to tor pose a danger to you and the members of your household. All it can take is a spring storm to send that dead branch crashing down onto your roof. You can prevent damage to your home by taking care of dead branches as soon as possible. Homeowners may be afraid that the entire tree may need to come down, but many times just removing the branch can stop the damage from spreading. Of course, you won't know until you have an expert inspect your tree.

Click here to read the entire article. 

Planting a tree will significantly reduce summer energy bills and improve environment, study finds

We have found a fascinating article on phys.org titled, "Planting a tree will significantly reduce summer energy bills and improve environment, study finds". The article focuses on a new study led by Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada and discusses the benefits of planting a tree close to your home, including reduced utility bills and more environmental benefits. Click here to read the article or begin below.

"Planting a tree will significantly reduce summer energy bills and improve environment, study finds."
By Phys.org

Now that spring is in full swing, many people are sprucing up their yards with perennials, annuals and shrubs. However a new study led by Ryerson University may convince residents to plant a tree close to their home, not only because trees can lead to reducing utility bills, but they have environmental benefits as well.

"Our urban environment" has many structures made of concrete and asphalt, which absorb a great deal of the sun's energy, creating a 'heat-island' effect," says Andrew Millward, co-author of the study and a geography professor at Ryerson University. "To mitigate the rise in city temperatures during the summer, we need to protect and expand urban vegetation cover, such as large trees, which provides shade and cooling in the areas that we live and work."

Click here to read the entire article.

Water Your Trees This Summer

We have found a great article on www.growingearth.com titled, "Water Your Trees This Summer". The article reminds us that our trees also need water and offers some tips on how to provide water in the correct manner depending on tree size. You can check out the article here or begin reading below.

"Water Your Trees This Summer"
By, Growingearth.com

 How long would you last without water? Do you think you could go for a few days or maybe a week? Although we tend to not think about it much, trees also need water. In fact, they need it every bit as much as you do. A host of tree health problems are initially due to lack of water.

Every living cell within a tree must have water in order for it to function, just like we do. Cells that lack water soon die. Additionally, the vascular system in trees user water to transport nutrients and perform other vital operations.

Click here to read the entire article.

How to Care for Trees in Summer

We found an interested video on about.com titled, "How to Care for Trees in Summer". The video offers tips and guidance on how to care for your trees throughout the Summer months. The video also offers up suggestions for harvesting fruit and nuts during Summer Months along with what types of trees should be planted in Early Summer. Click on the image below to view the video.

Monster Tree Service in Burlington County Times

Monster Tree were recently featured in an article in the Burlington County Times, titled "Helping New Trees Take Root". The article explains how many trees were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy and how the state is trying to revitalize the area by encouraging residents to plant trees to replace those lost. The article discusses the damage caused by the storm's rain and wind. You can read the article here or begin below.

"Helping New Trees Take Root"
By Peg Quann

Deep roots. Shallow roots. It didn't matter. As Super-storm Sandy plundered her way up the East Coast last October, she treated huge trees as if they were twigs. Her winds snapped some in half. Others fell over. The damage is visible in parks and along roadsides throughout New Jersey. And to mark Arbor Day, April 26, the New Jersey Forestry Services urges residents to "Plant on it!" as a way to help revitalize the state's population of trees. It sold packets of seedlings to organizations that will help in the effort. 

Click here to read the entire article.

Earth Day - April 22nd - Likes For Trees

Earth day is here meaning Monster Tree's Likes For Trees campaign has finished, and it did so in a strong and successful manner. Monster Tree began their Likes For Trees campaign on April 9th and for the following 13 days counting down to April 22nd posted share-able images for Facebook fans to Like and Share. For Every 10 likes one of these images received, Monster Tree would plant a tree.

The first image posted on April 9th was shared by our friends over at National Home Gardening Club which resulted in the image being shared over 800 times around Facebook and sparking an influx of reach on our Facebook page. From then on, people were aware of the Likes For Trees campaign and what message we were trying to promote. We have had an extremely positive response throughout with our images everyday been successfully liked and shared by our fans. So we want to take this opportunity to thank one and all for participating in our Likes For Trees campaign and for making it a success.

Check on our Facebook page to keep up to date with our progress and to see the trees we plant once we're finished tallying up your likes.

Monster Tree launches Likes for Trees Campaign

Monster Tree recently started a new campaign on Facebook in honor of Earth Day on the 22nd of April. Every day, counting down to Earth Day, we are posting images to our Facebook page encouraging our fans to Like and Share the images. For every 10 likes these images receive, Monster Tree will plant one tree.

 

It's currently Day 3 of our initiative and the response has been overwhelming. Thanks to the guys over at National Home Gardening Club, our first image has received over 800 shares!  If you want to get involved (which we highly recommend you do :) ), head on over to our Facebook Page here and get Liking and Sharing, after all it is for a great cause! We also want to take this time to thank all of our fans for their continuing and growing support.

What Happens to Trees in the Spring?

Now that Spring is blossoming, we found a great article on ehow.com titled, "What Happens to Trees in the Spring" that showcases the multiple effects spring time has on trees. The article discusses how the various elements associated with spring have different effects on trees throughout the season and highlights the positive impressions spring has to offer for the trees. Click here to read the article or begin below.

"What Happens to Trees in the Spring"
By Anise Hunter

In the spring, the days grow longer, animals return to feed and pollinate local plants and people begin to work in the garden again. Spring is a busy time for trees. Deciduous trees sprout leaves again, while coniferous trees create new growth. All trees grow taller. Spring is the time when sap flows, flowers bloom and trees begin to grow and reproduce.

Click here to read the entire article.

Cherry Blossom Festivals Greet Spring

We here at Monster Tree are ready for Spring and we've found a great article to get us in the mood for when Spring really sets in. The article was found on smartertravel.com titled, "Cherry Blossom Festivals Greet Spring". The article looks cherry blossoms; trees typically associated with being early adopters and how they mark the beginning of Spring. The article also lists three cherry blossom festivals around the US for people to visit. Click here to read the article of check it out below.

"Cherry Blossom Festivals Greet Spring"
By Christine Sarkis

 
Nothing says Spring quite like cherry blossoms. They're bold early adopters, ready to stride out into the still-chilly days and proclaim the change of season with a fantastic display of blooms. We appreciate that, and so in the spirit of the season, we've rounded up three great cherry blossom festivals in the U.S...

Click here to read the entire article.

How to Grow Oxalis Shamrock Plant

In honor of the upcoming St. Patricks Day we have found a great article on ehow.com titled, "How to Grow Oxalis Shamrock Plant". The article looks at the Oxalis plant itself who has been given the nickname of a Shamrock plant because of it's distinguishable features and takes us through the process of how to prepare and grow our very own Oxalis shamrock plant. Click here to check out the article or begin reading below.

"How to Grow Oxalis Shamrock Plant"



Oxalis is often called a Shamrock Plant because it has three leaves like a shamrock. There are many different species of a plant, and the green plant with white or pink flowers grows well in Zone 8 or Central Texas.
Oxalis is reasonably easy to grow and multiplies on its own for care-free propagation of this great perennial flowering plant. If you like gardening or growing perennial flowers, Oxalis is a good choice in most climates.

Click here to read the entire article.

Study Finds How Trees Adapt to Climate Change

We have found a great article on Greenoptimistic.com titled, "Study Finds How Trees Adapt to Climate Change". The article looks into the adaptation of forest trees to our constantly changing climates and locates areas where trees are most or least likely to adapt in the future. Read the article below or click here.

"Study Finds How Trees Adapt to Climate Change."
By Mila Luleva

Raising temperatures influence growth and health of all plant species on the planet. This has already been observed as warming has been taking place since the last Ice Age. However, recent changes have caused rapid warming and it is still unknown whether species will be able to adapt.

A new study, funded by National Science Foundation and conducted by a team of scientists from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's Appalachian Laboratory, will look into adaptation of forest trees....

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Nature Adapts to Shifting Seasons.

We found a great article on MNN.com (Mother Nature Network) titled, "Nature adapts to Shifting Seasons". The article discusses how scientists are using nature to determine the arrival of Spring. Read the article below or click here.

"Nature adapts to Shifting Seasons."

By Tim Radford

LONDON - Appalachian spring - and springtime in the Rockies, and mountain greenery too - will tune up a little earlier: up to a month earlier, according to new studies from the United States. 

Scientists report in the journal Geophysical Research Letters that careful analysis of observations of budburst - that promising moment near the end of winter when green shoots begin to appear on trees - show that spring could arrive dramatically earlier by the end of this centure.

Click here to read the entire article.

How to (humanely) get rid of groundhogs

Monster Tree Service's Director of Franchising Mark Elson was recently featured in an article titled, "How to (humanely) get rid of groundhogs" on courierpostonline.com. The article talks about the nuisance that groundhogs can cause gardeners and homeowners when they pop up around this time of year. Mark explains that groundhogs need to eat, and a home garden looks delicious to the little buggers. The article gives some tips on how to deal with groundhogs, and Mark brings up the ability to ward off groundhogs with smell repellent. He also explains how he lures groundhogs from his garden using treats, specifically cucumber. You can check out the full article here.

How to (humanely) get rid of groundhogs
By Steve Wood

 Only the filmmakers know why Punxsutawney's annual event became the running focus of the existential comedy "Groundhog Day" 20 years ago.

It's also unclear how the groundhog came to be held up as something more than a giant rodent. Gardeners, however, see through the groundhog's furry, buck-toothed front knowing it is more interested in their plans than its shadow. 

"They need about a pound of food (a day)", says Mark Elson, director of franchising at Monster Tree Service. "The easiest place for them to do that is your budding garden. And they'll do that in a second."

Click here to read the full article.

Free trees in January

We found this great article on dailyherald.com about Illinois residents receiving free flowering trees by joining the Arbor Day Foundation. Read the full story below or click here.

"Free Trees In January"
By Daily Herald Report

Illinois residents can receive 10 free flowering trees by joining the Arbor Day Foundation during January. New members of the nonprofit foundation will receive two white flowering dogwoods, two flowering crabapples, two Washington hawthorns, two American redbuds and two goldenraintrees.
It is part of the foundation's Trees for America campaign. The trees will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting between Feb. 1 and May 31, with enclosed planting instructions. The 6- to 12-inch tall trees are guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced for free. Members also receive a subscription to the foundation's bimonthly publication, "Arbor Day" and "The Tree Book," which includes information about tree planting and care. 

To become a member and to receive the free trees, send a $10 contribution to TEN FREE FLOWERING TREES, Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, Neb 68410 by Jan. 31. Illinois residents can also join online at arborday.org/january.

Read the full article here

Building a Monster business

Monster Tree were recently featured in an article on phillyBurbs.com titled, "Building a Monster business". The article discusses Josh Skolnick's career path along with his previous ventures which led him on his path to starting Monster Tree Service. Josh also discusses the growth plans for Monster Tree Service and the franchising plans of the concept. Click here to read the entire article.

Building a Monster business.
By Crissa Shoemaker DaBree

Josh Skolnick's business makes millions of dollars every year removing dead trees and caring for living ones for hundreds of customers throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.

Yet Skolnick himself has never cut down a tree.

Instead, he said, it's his business savvy — learned over years of being in business for himself, since he began his landscaping business as a teenager — that has made Monster Tree Service a success in just four years.

Now, Skolnick, 29, wants to share that success and grow his business by franchising Monster Tree Service. "The bare bones of it is the fundamentals of business," Skolnick said of his business success. "We set out to build a brand and a professional image that people will buy from."

Click here to read the entire article

Local Entrepreneur has never cut down a tree - Monster Trees branch out, grow to millions of dollars

Monster Tree were recently featured in an article in the Chestnut Local titled, "Local Entrepreneur has never cut down a tree - Monster Trees branch out, grow to millions of dollars". The article discusses the history behind Monster Tree Service. It discusses Josh Skolnick as an entrepreneur, his background, and the future of the company. Click here to read the article or begin below.

Local Entrepreneur has never cut down a tree - Monster Trees branch out, grow to millions of dollars.
By Grant Moser

Monster Tree Service is just another success in a string of businesses for Josh Skolnick, 29. When the Fort Washington native started the company, he had never cut down a tree in his life. “Everyone doubted me. There wasn't one person, even my accountant, that thought this was going to work,” said Skolnick. “Now I’m making millions of dollars.”
In middle school, Josh began push-mowing neighborhood lawns. He was soon busy enough that he had to hire help. Every afternoon when school finished, he would head straight to work and wouldn't stop until the sun went down. By the time he got to high school, he had invested in some commercial lawn mowers, and by the time he graduated from Upper Dublin High School in 2002, he had 80 residential accounts.
His business was so profitable that he worked out an arrangement with the school that let him leave school at 10 a.m. every day to run his business while earning school credit. Shortly after he graduated, he acquired several other landscape companies and had close to 400 full-service lawn care accounts.

Click Here to read the entire article.

Top Entrepreneurs Follow Inspiration With Execution

Monster Tree Service has an article featured in Investor’s Business Daily titled, "Investor’s Business Daily." The article discusses how Josh began Monster Tree Service, what spurred the idea, and why he is franchising. Click here to read the full story. 

Top Entrepreneurs Follow Inspiration With Execution
By: By Sonja Carberry

A mix of the creative and the sensible builds strong businesses. How entrepreneurs put sturdy legs under cool ideas:

• Show spirit. Wine should be a feel-good product. That was the vision Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey had for Barefoot Cellars.

In "The Barefoot Spirit," the pair write about the distance they traveled between launching from a laundry room in 1986 and being purchased by E.&J. Gallo Winery nine years later.

Charitable organizations gave the grape smashers an early lift. Barefoot's founders donated bottles to nonprofits they believed in, worked at their events and talked about the causes — and their wine.

Supporters became patrons.

"One of the reasons we wrote the book is to show American businesses that worthy cause marketing really works and can actually be more effective than advertising," Houlihan told IBD.

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