Red, white, and bur oaks are some of our most-loved trees in Minnesota, and they face a mortal threat: oak wilt. Red oaks form the backbone of the red oak-sugar maple-basswood forests of the west metro. White and red oaks intermix through the Anoka sand plain and the southeast metro. Bur oaks line the uplands […]
Life in the urban environment causes conflicts between humans and the natural environment. But this does not mean people and trees cannot coexist in the same space. Quite the opposite is true. With planning, we can build homes under the canopies of large trees with minimal impact. A “tree preservation plan” protects before, during, and […]
Oaks are some of our most iconic shade trees, playing a central role in many ecosystems. Soils, drainage, and fire created the red oak-sugar maple-basswood forest around Lake Minnetonka to the bur and pin oak savannas that once flanked the Mississippi. Bur oaks still line the bluffs, preserved in city parks and boulevards. They also […]
Dutch Elm Disease is a fungal infection spread via beetles and roots. The fungus produces pheromones that attract the Elm Bark Beetle. These beetles feed on small twigs and areas where branches meet, called unions. Dutch Elm Disease can kill a tree in three to six weeks. This is why treatment and removal are so […]
Taking care of any plant life in Minnesota is hard. After a long winter, we have a few months of sun before plunging into negative temperatures again. The average summer temperature in Minnesota hovers around 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. For the average homeowner, it’s hard to know how and when to water. Not only […]
Apple scab and cedar-quince rust are both diseases that can affect your trees in the spring. The cool, damp conditions are a breeding ground for fungal growth. Both infections begin as yellow coloring on leaves. Maybe you’ve seen this on your trees in the past. As a homeowner, here’s what you need to know, how […]
As the days get longer, spring starts to feel like it might be around the corner. Seasonal birds return, the sun’s warmth comes back, and snowbanks recede. After the long slumber of winter, trees will be hectic soon. After the thaw, insects will be too. Trees and insects have a long and complicated relationship that […]
Ask anyone around before the arrival of Dutch elm disease in the 1960s, and they’ll regale you with descriptions of majestic elms arching over streets from both sides. Although most old elms are long gone, you can still find them in isolated locations. That isolation protected them from Dutch elm disease; now they stand as relics […]
Caring for one tree includes routine pruning, monitoring, and diagnosing issues. Every additional tree on a property or in an inventory compounds this. Our ISA-certified and Board Certified Master Arborists take a holistic approach to managing inventories. We listen to and prioritize our client’s concerns when developing a tree maintenance plan. Development consists of an […]
Trees provide us with a lot of benefits, from reducing runoff and erosion to providing shade and fresh air. They can cause problems, from dropping seeds, leaves, and fruit to roots invading foundations and plumbing. These issues can be particularly frustrating when caused by your neighbor’s tree. Residents in every state have some legal ability […]
