Tag Archive | Arborist

Start The New Year With Nicely Pruned Trees

Weather conditions control tree growth. They react to temperature and light, and cold temperatures, short days, as well as winter dormancy provide ideal pruning conditions. You could say, if fall is for planting then winter is for pruning. That doesn’t mean going out with your chainsaw and starting to cut just because it’s winter. It […]

Tree Risks: Real or Fake?

Owning trees can be compared to owning pets. They are both enjoyable to have and life wouldn’t be the same without them. But with the pleasure they provide comes risks and responsibilities. We’re all familiar with pet risks like dog bites and cat scratches but do you know the risks trees present? The most obvious […]

Keeping Evergreens Green

We’ve been having a classic Great Lakes/Finger Lakes winter so far. Fluctuating temperatures, frequent freeze/thaw cycles, days with plowable snow and days with bare ground are typical of a Great Lakes winter. They’re also the perfect combination of conditions that cause winter burn on evergreens. I hope you had us spray your evergreens with antidesiccant. […]

Why Fertilize In Fall?

This is a question I get asked quite often. Fertilizing in spring seems logical. After all, plants need energy to flower, leaf out and sustain themselves all through the summer. In the fall, however, they are getting ready for winter dormancy. So, why do they need energy if they’re “going to sleep”? Confusion may have […]

Winter Pruning Is Good For Trees

While the cold and snow mean more time inside for many of us, our arborists are hard at work outside because winter is the best time to prune trees. Here’s why: • While we add layers of warm clothes to go outside, deciduous trees shed their leaves and spend the winter standing outside naked. This […]

Good Time To Prune Evergreens

June is the best month to prune your evergreen trees and shrubs, especially the conifers. Most have completed their new growth by now so it’s unlikely that you’ll have to repeat the process when more new growth appears. New growth is lighter green than the normal color. The needles are much softer, even on plants […]

Is That Big Tree An Asset Or A Risk?

As Fall continues to envelope us, it’s obvious that winter is not going to pass us by this year. It’s just taking its own sweet time and giving us an opportunity to extend our outdoor season. If you’ve done all of the winter preparations I’ve shared over the past few weeks, everything should be secured […]

Congratulations To Jorge Obando

I am pleased to announce that Certified Arborist Jorge Obando is the top tree climber in New York State. On June 18, Jorge was crowned New York State Tree Climbing Champion by the New York State Arborists, ISA Chapter. This is Jorge’s fourth win and the twelfth for a Birchcrest arborist. Jorge didn’t actually receive […]

How Did Your Trees Fare The Winter?

The winter of 2014-15 was far from benign, but trees fared quite well. That’s because we didn’t have any really heavy wind or ice storms, which can wreak havoc with trees. Also, we didn’t have constant temperature fluctuations. Rather it got cold and stayed that way, which is good for trees. Contrary to popular belief, […]

February Time To Have Your PHC Strategy In Place

If you’re taking a wait and see attitude about Plant Health Care, the results could be very costly. We recommend that you have a professional Plant Health Care strategy in place before your plants show symptoms of any insect infestations or diseases this spring. Waiting gives pests an opportunity to gain a foothold. Active planning […]