News and Information

Knowledge and education are the founding principles that took root in our company in 1998. Founder Sam Hill is a respected educator and resource in the tree care community and has guided Sam Hill Tree Care to become synonymous with strong, healthy, beautiful trees.

Mr. Hill’s teaching and public speaking credits are numerous. He has presented for the Dallas Trees and Parks Foundation, the Texas Nurserymen and Landscape Association and Richland College. He has also lectured at several area homeowner’s association meetings and garden clubs. For more information on availability please contact us. On the right are a variety of white papers about tree care including information about soil conditions, pesticides, turf, irrigation, weed management and more. Please feel free to print out these files and use them for reference. We ask that if you distribute this information, please credit Sam Hill Tree Care as your resource.

Arborist
Arborists are tree care professionals trained and certified in all aspects of woody plant health and care, including diagnosis and treatment of diseases, insect infestations and environmental problems. Arborists can help in the selection, maintenance, care and removal of trees and shrubs in residential, commercial and public landscapes. They can recommend watering, fertilizing, pesticide applications and other cultural programs to help maintain the long-term health and beauty of landscapes.

To see more of Sam Hill's vocabulary please download file.

Why periodic pruning?
Pruning is necessary for safety reasons. Weak branches and those that interfere with structures, lighting, utility lines, pedestrians and vehicle traffic need to be removed. Pruning is also an invigorating process. By removing dead, dying, diseased and crossing branches energy reserves are directed toward growth in the remaining branches. Periodic pruning should maintain a desirable, natural shape while enhancing the beauty and health of your landscape.

For more pruning answers, please download pdf file.

Several species of insects feed on the leaves of trees and shrubs in the landscape. This is usually a great concern for many tree owners. However, in the North Texas area, few cause significant injury to the tree or shrub. There are exceptions, though. Most defoliation of woody plants in the landscape is the result of feeding by the larva of moths (i.e. caterpillars). The time and severity of the defoliation are a few of the considerations when assessing the impact upon tree health. Early season (spring) defoliation is much more injurious to the tree than mid- and late season defoliation. This is due to the large amount of energy and reserves the tree has invested in the new foliage. Defoliation at this time reduces the capacity of a tree to make food and puts additional demands on the tree to make new leaves. Extensive defoliation or defoliation that occurs two or more years in a row can weaken the tree and make it more susceptible to secondary agents.

Normally, natural factors keep caterpillars in check. Sometimes, however, the environment becomes favorable for one of these pests, and an outbreak occurs. It is important to know a little about the lifecycle of these pests so that the most appropriate action may be taken. A few of the ore common caterpillar defoliators are described on the following pages.

DALLAS, April 3, 2006 – When there is so much clean up and debris on the ground and around you, it’s sometimes daunting to realize there’s dangerous debris lingering abouve you. The residents and city of Covington, LA just across Lake Pontchartrain, noticed that several broken, heavy limbs were caught in the canopies of their trees. In this rural town, there wasn’t anyone physically and financially able to concentrate on this part of the recovery and rebuilding efforts.

DALLAS, August 9, 2007 – For the past several years, Sam Hill Tree Care has provided donated tree care services to Bryan’s House to protect its residents from potential hazards. Safety and care are just what Bryan’s House is all about. It provides a safe and loving environment for families coping with HIV/AIDS and other serious medical issues when they have nowhere else to turn. “We think it’s important to give back to the community, so we try to offer our servies to a non-profit organization that could use our expertise.” Owner and Arborist Sam Hill said.

DALLAS, May 10, 2007 – Effective since March 2007, Sam Hill Tree Care employees earned the Line Clearance Arborist (LCA) certification to increase the safety of its tree care professionals and customers. “So many Dallas-area landscapers and tree services do not have this certification because training can be an expensive investment,” Owner and Arborist Sam Hill said. “Our profession can be very hazardous when working around power lines, and I wanted to make sure my employees had the industry skills they needed. Plus, all of us should be more aware of safety concerns while working at hazardous heights and with chain saws around electrical power lines.”