Category: Tree Planting

Congratulations to Josiah Macauley for passing the rigorous ISA Arborist Certification!

Josiah graduated in March, 2010 from the University of Washington, Bothell, with a degree in business administration, and began working as a salesperson for a telephone technology company. Six months later, he returned to Blooma Tree Experts, LLC, where he has worked off and on since his senior year in high school. Within a few months, he was studying for the ISA exam.

This certification verifies Josiah's superb knowledge of proper tree pruning, tree health, tree species identification, proper removal techniques, safety requirements, and tree health assessment.

We are proud of Josiah's accomplishment and dedication to the tree care industry.

Plant a Hawthorn Tree for Fall Beauty

I see a lot of Hawthorn trees in Seattle--they are usually planted along the streets, and they are usually quite ugly. I have never liked them at all. But today, I changed my mind.

While walking in Edmonds, WA, I spied a row of beautiful young Hawthorn trees bursting with clusters of red berries. They were a welcome, cheerful site on this cold autumn day.

The habit of these Hawthorns was quite lovely, with a pleasing, oval shape. The leaves are green and glossy, and the berries pop in contrast.

Copied straight from Wikipedia: Crataegus ( /krəˈtiːɡəs/),^[1] commonly called hawthorn or thornapple,^[2] is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the rose family, Rosaceae,

You can see the similarities to the rose family in the thorns, of course (it is called hawthorn), and the berries remind me of the large round bulbs of the Rosa Rugosa plant.

Maybe the typical Seattle street Hawthorn tree is unattractive because it has been neglected, standing unpruned for decades. Or maybe the Hawthorn just looks better when it's young (hmmm, I feel the same way!). In any case, these specimens clearly show that this is a great tree to plant for lovely fall color.

And one more look at those gorgeous berries:

If you live in the City of Shoreline and need a tree professional, call Blooma Tree Experts! We are now on the City of Shoreline's Qualified Professional list for tree removals.

What does this means?

Martin Macauley is now listed "as a qualified professional arborist for the City of Shoreline, property owners or their authorized agents may contract with [us] to  prepare reports related to tree removal and rentention."

In order to qualify for this list, we had to submit proof of Martin's qualifications, including proof he is a Certified Arborist and Tree Risk Assessor; proof of insurance, bond, and license; and examples of tree evaluations already performed.

Here is the link:

City of Shoreline Qualified Professionals List: Arborists

When we see the front yards, we always notice the trees. Sometimes the trees are just right--they are shaped nicely, they're healthy, and they're the right size for the house and yard. In this case, the tree is an asset.

Sometimes, though, the trees really detract from the house, really bringing down the curb appeal. Trees that are unhealthy, or badly pruned, or too big or too small, or just plain ugly are not an asset to a home. They are an eyesore.

I offer you my first photos of Seattle area houses. Are the trees an asset? Or are they an eyesore?

The following photos were taken in the same Mukilteo cul-de-sac.

House #1

Beautifully landscaped yard with a lovely variety of trees and bushes . . . except for . . .

this cherry tree by the front door. What an unattractive pruning job!

House #2

This house is quite beautiful and large. But what is the centerpiece of the yard?

What is that? An umbrella tree? I don't know, but it's far too small for the house. Plus it in unnatural, misshapen, and unhealthy. Time to remove this sad little tree and re-plant.

House #3

What do you think of these three trees? Asset? or Eyesore?

Many of our customers find themselves scratching their heads to figure out the best tree to plant in their yard. Often, they have a huge Douglas Fir or Cedar that must be removed because it has outgrown its urban setting, and they want to replace the too-large tree with one that is the right size for their yard.

Our recommendation? A Japanese Maple!

The Japanese Maples grow beautifully in the Seattle area, and there is sure to be one (or more!) that fits your garden and color scheme. Take a look at just a few of the many varieties available to us:

The 'Crimson Queen' laceleaf maple is very popular in the Seattle area. This is a slow-growing cultivar that, in 30 to 50 years, may reach 6'. Most we see around here are around 4' tall. This cultivar holds its color well into the hot weather, with burgundy most of the year and crimson in the fall. There are other cultivars that look similar but grow faster, such as the 'Tamukeyama' and 'Garnet.'

This cultivar grows to about 5' to 8' and is excellent for container growing. Leaves tend to hang down, giving a cascadiing look. Red, yellow, and gold in the fall, this is a sun-tolerant plant.

The Emperor grows to about 25' tall, at a rate of one foot per year. The stem is nearly black, with a translucent red leaf that is small and delicate, giving the tree an open, airy appearance. This beauty can tolerate hot sun and wind without wilting.

The Katsura has year-round color and good vigor. There are two different varieties: one is a dwarf shrub that grows to 5; - 6', and the other is a full-grown tree or about 25'. New growth is orange in the spring, then it becomes a golden yellow, then a rich green with lighter tones in summer, and finally a fine yellow with orange tones in the fall.

This is known as the weeping willow of Japanese maples. This tree may reach 15' - 25' in many years, and the crown may be nearly as wide. In summer, it is bright green, and in the fall it is a beautiful gold and crimson mix. The photo shows a young example; a mature tree's branches "weep" to form a curtain around the tree.

Another group of cultivars offer variegated leaves. This beni shishihenge is a smallish shrub that grows to 6' - 12'. It's not as vigorous as some others, but it is a real eyecatcher. This tree is still fairly rare, and it has various spellings. Some other, more common variegated cultivars are readily available at our local nurseries.

The Seiryu is a vigorous, vase-shaped, often multi-trunked, green laceleaf. It's a relatively fast grower, and it will reach 10' to 15' in ten years. The new growth is a light, bright, gold-green; the medium-green summer foliage is lacy and delicate; and the red and gold fall color is dramatic.

All Japanese maple photos and information come from the following website:  www.worldplants.com/mapleintro.htm