Tag Archive | Tree
Trees Do More Than Look Nice
Everyone loves the beauty of a tree. Joyce Kilmer even articulated his love of trees in a famous poem, entitled simply Trees. Beauty is the main reason we plant trees, but nature’s giants reward us multi-fold for this gesture. We learn in school that trees provide us with the oxygen we need to breathe and […]
Celebrate Arbor Day
Banks won’t close; government offices and schools won’t close. But Friday, April 26, is a holiday. Most school children will learn about Arbor Day. Many will even bring home a seedling in a paper cup to be planted in your yard. Arbor day was first observed in 1885. In the 104 years between when Arbor […]
Spring Tree & Shrub Pruning
The calendar says spring is here and leaf buds are starting to swell. To prune or not to prune. That is the question. And, a question for which there is no pat answer. A number of factors enter into the decision of whether to prune or not. The most basic is the species of tree […]
Selecting The Perfect Tree
Winter is a good time to do a little research before the landscape season is upon us, especially if new trees or shrubs are in your plans. When spring arrives and you go to your garden center with your plant list, you’ll be better prepared. The internet is a good place to begin. The site […]
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. […]
What Insects Will We Be Fighting This Season?
Plant Health Care (PHC) professionals are our industry’s doctors. It’s their job to examine plants, diagnose any insect or disease problems and treat the plant in the most environmentally friendly way. This is a pretty tall order, and I thank them for taking on this task. Like doctors who treat humans, PHC professionals have to […]
Time For The Burlap Coat
We live in USDA Hardiness Zone 5 and have some Zone 6 pockets. This means that, although we aren’t in the coldest zone, many of our trees and shrubs need extra protection from winter’s extremes. Tender trees and shrubs, especially young trees that you just planted this year, may need a burlap coat. Wrappings are […]
Dormancy Signals Pruning Time
With their bright hues, tree leaves let us know that they will soon go dormant for the winter. That also tells us it’s a good time to have your deciduous trees and shrubs pruned. The plants have stored all the food they’ll need to sustain them trough the winter. The chlorophyll has disappeared from the […]
Protect Your Evergreens from Winter Winds
Colder weather and higher winds keep reminding us that Ol’ Man Winter is just around the corner. Winter winds can cause your evergreen leaves and needles to dry out and die. You don’t have to experience this reality every season. Make this the year that you protect your evergreens. Unlike deciduous trees and shrubs that […]
Beware Of The Enemy Above
An enemy may lurk high in your beautiful trees, undetected until it comes crashing down on you. No, it’s not a wild animal. It’s the tree itself. When people reach a certain age, health care professionals advise having a physical each year. Early detection of problems can result in more positive outcomes with less aggressive […]
Keeping Our World Green 