Should a Tree Stump Be Removed?

If you ask the professionals at Blue Ring Residential Services, the answer is yes.

A tree stump is what remains of a tree after it has fallen or been cut down. It’s big, thick and may be an overwhelming chore to get rid of. Many homeowners choose to keep them around for a while, but here are seven good reasons why we recommend you have them removed:

1. Aesthetics. If you are meticulous about your yard, you will probably not like how a tree stump looks in it.
2. Safety. Children can trip over them and fall, or fall, hitting the stump on the way down.
3. Lawnmower damage. Stumps create a hazardous obstacle to mow around, often causing damage to the lawnmower.
4. Disease. Similar to dead trees, stumps can spread disease and attract pests such as wasps, hornets, bees and termites, which can spread to other trees and your home.
5. Root growth. The stump’s roots grow over time and can crack or lift foundations, driveways, sidewalks and other surfaces.
6. New, unwanted growth. Tree stumps can give off new shoots, which will require constant trimming to keep them from taking over your yard.
7. It takes away from the landscaping you do want. Not only is a tree stump unattractive, but it also absorbs nutrients your other plants need.

Removing trees and stumps is time consuming, labor intensive and dangerous. Hiring a professional tree removal service is a safe and practical way to clear your yard of unwanted trees and stumps.

At Blue Ring Residential Services, we will evaluate the health of each of your trees, examine the stumps, and recommend the best course of action. Whether it’s pruning, trimming, or the complete removal of the trees and stumps, we are here to help. Call us today at 614-633-6770 to schedule an appointment!

Downspouts & Gutters: Why You Need to Keep Them Clean

Gutters and downspouts play an important part in protecting your home. They are designed to reroute water away from your home and foundation for proper drainage.

But maintaining the gutters and downspouts on your home is something that is often overlooked. Perhaps it’s because we can’t easily see the roofline from ground level, and are unaware that the gutters have become clogged with sticks and debris. We may not even know we have a problem until we notice watermarks on the house, or waterfalls pouring off the roof during a rainstorm. At that point, damage may have already been done.

Blue Ring Residential Services recommends you have your home’s gutters and downspouts professionally cleaned twice a year, in the spring and the fall. Keeping them free from debris will prevent the following problems:

• Water spilling over the side of your house, damaging paint, siding or stucco
• Long icicles in the cold temperatures
• Leaves and debris soak up rainwater and melted snow like a sponge. They become heavy, causing your gutters to break away from the roofline
• Trapped frozen water can work its way under your shingles, causing roof, fascia or soffit damage
• It can damage or ruin the foundation of your home
• Water that can’t be rerouted will find its way into your walls and ceilings
• It can destroy landscaping
• Debris can become a comfortable home to mosquitos, birds and other insects
• It’s expensive to repair falling gutters and anything they may damage on their way down

 Unnecessary damage to your home can be avoided by being proactive. For more information about cleaning gutters and downspouts, or to schedule a free estimate, contact Blue Ring Residential Services at 614-633-6770.

6 Reasons Why You Should Prune Your Trees

It’s every homeowner’s responsibility to keep their landscaping maintained and looking nice. A well-kept yard increases your home’s curb appeal and contributes to the overall look and feel of your street.

Tree pruning is an outdoor job that adds significant beauty to your home.

What is Tree Pruning?

Tree pruning is the trimming or removal of certain branches and stems in your trees. It’s an important job that is usually done in early spring while the tree is dormant, but minor pruning can be done throughout the summer if needed.

Here are six reasons why you should include tree pruning in your list of landscaping priorities:

1. Safety. Removing dead branches before they break and fall is an important precaution. Wind or the weight of snow can damage or weaken branches over time, causing falling branches to damage to your property.
2. Aesthetics. Tree pruning allows you to control the size and shape of your trees, keeping your landscaping in proper proportion.
3. Preventing cross branches. Overgrown trees sometimes cross branches, causing them to twist and rub together.
4. Promote growth. Pruning trees can encourage flower and fruit development, or growth of a certain part of your tree.
5. Avoid insect infestations. Many types of trees are susceptible to disease and insect infestations. Pruning can help control this and encourage the overall health of your tree.
6. Tree thinning. Most people appreciate the shade a tree can bring, but a thick, overgrown tree can be a canopy that blocks light. Pruning helps to thin the branches, so air and sunlight can reach your home and benefit your landscaping.

If you’d like more information about tree pruning, or a quote for tree pruning for your yard, contact Blue Ring Residential Services at 614-633-6770.

5 Benefits to Outdoor Lighting

Your plants, flowers, shrubs and trees may be the focus of your landscaping during the day, but their beauty disappears in the cover of night. You may enjoy sitting outside on your patio or deck with your family and friends, but when the sun goes down, you may gravitate inside.

Outdoor lighting adds to your home’s appearance, functionality and safety. A well-landscaped yard can look striking both during the day and at night, and carefully placed lighting allows you to use your yard long after the sun goes down.

Here are five advantages to having outdoor lighting installed in your yard and landscaping:

1. Lighting increases curb appeal. Lighting is one of the first things people notice when they are finding their way to your home. Strategically placed lighting adds a unique beauty to your yard.
2. It accents the features of your home’s architecture. Having outdoor lights installed in your yard is a great way to accent the beauty and charm of your home.
3. It highlights ponds, pools, gardens, patios and decks. Lighting can accentuate the hardscapes and other features of your home. It allows you to use your patio, pool or sitting area well into the evening hours.
4. Lighting illuminates walkways. Lighting for your driveway, pathways, sidewalks and entryways provides your guests with a clear and safe walking path to your home at night.
5. It provides an element of security. Lighting can brighten the darkest corners of your landscaping, making it difficult for burglars to go unnoticed. With timers and dim controls, outdoor lighting makes your home look occupied, even when you are not there.

Through strategically placed lamp posts, uplights, downlights, or underwater lights, outdoor lighting can help give your home or business the look and feel you want.

If you are interested in having outdoor lighting installed at your home or business, call Blue Ring Residential Services at 614-633-6770.

Photo courtesy of Outdoor lighting Perspectives of San Antonio & the HillCountry, LLC,https://www.flickr.com/photos/olp_sanantonio/2584479877/ Creative Commons