Monster Tree Service in Franchise Times' April Edition

Monster Tree Service were recently featured in an article in the April edition of Franchise Times titled, "Silver Lining: For service brands 'worst nightmare' is a dream for business". The article was written by Franchise Times Reporter Jeff McKinney and features Monster Tree Service Founder & CEO Josh Skolnick. The article begins with information about the spike in sales that Monster Tree Service saw in December, January, and February due to the polar vortex. Click here to read the entire article or begin below.

"Silver Lining: For service brands 'worst nightmare' is a dream for business"
By Jeff McKinney




The weather's been horrible for most this winter, but a handful of service brands might say 'bring it on.' That's because tree removal, car repair, airplane de-icing and more are going gangbusters as the polar vortex reigns.

The heavy snowfall that hammered the Northeast this winter has been an unexpected bonanza for franchisor Josh Skolnick.

CEO and founder Skolnick figures Monster Tree Service in December, January and February rose $500,000 from the same time a year ago. The Fort Washington, Pennsylvania-based company has been swamped removing large tree sections off fences, houses, sheds and garages that collapsed from severe loads of snow and ice.

"Everybody's worst nightmare has been our best dream," Skolnick says.

Click here to read the entire article

From the ground up: Harsh winter damages trees

We found this great article on thegazette.com that looks at the effect winter will have on your trees and garden. Click here to read or begin below.


"From the ground up: Harsh winter damages trees"
By Lisa Slattery

Winter isn't giving up easily this year, but we know spring will come --eventually-- and with it may come signs of damaged trees and shrubs. Temperature drops to minus 20 degrees is cold enough to leave behind some fruit tree species that may have adverse effects from this winter's extreme cold are peach and sweet cherry trees. Iowa gardeners should expect poor cops on peaches and sweet cherries this summer. Peach trees are not reliable cold hardy in much of Iowa and temps below minus 18 will destroy flower buds on peach trees, while temps of minus 25 or below may destroy the peach trees themselves.

Click here to read the entire article.

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.

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.