Plant Healthcare

4 Signs of an Unhealthy Tree

Trees can be valuable assets to your property because they provide benefits like improved air quality and reduced stormwater runoff. However, an unhealthy tree can also be a liability. It may potentially cause harm to your home, your neighbors’ properties, and the individuals living near your tree once it falls over. If you have trees nearby, you might consider checking on them regularly to prevent possible property damage and injury. To help you examine them, here are telling signs that your tree is unhealthy: An Absence of Healthy Leaves If […]

6 Reasons Why Tree Diversity Is Important

Trees provide many benefits like absorbing noise, giving us privacy, and freshening up the atmosphere. But we must be careful in choosing which species to place in one area. After all, having diverse trees can be more advantageous in the long run. To help you understand, here are reasons why tree diversity is essential: 1. It Can Support the Ecosystem Having many species of trees in your area can promote physical and mental well-being in your community. That’s because spending time around trees can improve one’s mood, reduce stress, […]

Keep Your Landscape Deer Free

Deer damage to ornamental plants is a recurring problem in many areas. Deer populations in many neighborhoods have grown due to suburban sprawl, with expanses of pavement and expensive, cultivated landscapes. In areas with heavy snowfall in the nearby woods, front and backyard plantings can serve as easy winter forage. Deer are selective feeders that eat leaves from flowers, shrubs, and ornamental trees. Damage to larger trees can extend up to 7 feet off the ground. In some areas, deer damage peaks in winter when snow cover reduces the food […]

Getting to the Root of the Problem

One of the major causes of tree failure is root damage. When a tree’s root system has been extensively damaged, the whole tree can fall to the ground – or onto your house. “Most homeowners will look at a tree’s branches (canopy), and if there is no visible problem, they will determine that the tree is healthy. Many problems in trees do show themselves in the canopy – leaf discoloration, premature leaf shedding, or even branch death. Trees may fall over when their roots can no longer anchor their weight. […]

Essential Spring Gardening Tips

Essential Spring Gardening Tips Now is the ideal time to begin reviving your garden, since spring is just around the corner. You can start implementing disease and insect control programs to protect your garden, and try structural pruning to improve the appearance of your trees. Keep reading for some more spring gardening tips to help get your garden back to looking great in time for summer. Start with an Inspection Before gardening for spring, you should first look into your garden and assess your trees, and check for any overhanging […]

Pros and Cons of Using Insecticide Formulas on Your Plants

Using Insecticides: The Pros and Cons The last thing anyone wants for their garden is to be infested with different kinds of insects or pests. The damages caused by these creatures can be catastrophic and overwhelming. That is why many homeowners and gardeners use insecticides. The effectiveness of different insecticide formulas can’t be underestimated. However, some pesticides can positively or negatively affect your plants, health, and surroundings. The use of insecticides isn’t for everyone, but there are plenty of reasons you should consider them and why you shouldn’t. Overall, it […]

Don’t Use Climbing Spikes When Pruning Trees

Is your tree care provider using spikes to climb while pruning your trees?? Climbing spikes are sharpened steel spikes attached to the climber’s leg by leather straps and padded supports. A tree worker should only use them to access trees being removed. When these spikes are used on living trees, it is traumatizing to the tree and creates unnecessary damage. Each puncture from a climbing spike produces a certain amount of tree tissue death, though this varies from tree to tree. In most cases, isolated wounds will seal, but over […]

My Neighbors Tree is overhanging on my property line

Before You Cut Your Neighbor’s Tree … It is a common occurrence: You look out your window and all you see is your neighbor’s tree dropping branches and nuts and bark all over your yard. Or, you can’t see anything at all because of that tree. Or, you are certain that large branches of that tree will eventually fall onto your garage. Before you take the chain saw into your own hands and cut off the offending limbs, you will want to know some tidbits to keep you out of […]

Why We Don’t Top Trees

Why Not To Top Trees: Starvation: Good pruning practices rarely remove more than 25 percent of the crown. Removing too much of the tree’s foliage interferes with the tree’s ability to manufacture food. Shock: When a tree’s foliage is removed the remaining bark tissue, which is not usually exposed to direct rays of the sun, can sustain scalding similar to a sunburn and can shorten the tree’s life expectancy dramatically. Insects & Disease: Large stubs left after being topped have a difficult time forming a callus. These stubs are highly […]

Benefits of Pruning Oak and Elm Trees in the Winter to Early Spring

With winter in full effect and the leaves all gone, now is the time to trim your Oaks and Elm Trees. Winter Pruning Reduces the Exposure to Pests and Diseases, Two such varieties that should only be pruned in the dormant months are Oak and Elm Trees, which are susceptible to fungal infections like Oak Wilt and Dutch Elm. Oak wilt is caused by the fungus, Bretziella fagacearum. The fungus grows through the infected tree’s water-conducting system, causing the tree to wilt and die. Oak wilt is introduced to an area […]