Summertime Watering: Minnesota Trees
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 […]
How Pruning Can Stop Storm Damage
This winter reminded us that the hazards of storm seasons aren’t only summer headaches. Minnesotans understand that responding to and preparing for storms is necessary all year long. As arborists, we can mitigate storm risks with strategic pruning methods. Specifically, we use a technique we call reduction pruning to prepare for storms. What is reduction […]
Fire Blight: What It Is and How to Prevent It
Fire blight is a destructive plant disease that results in wilting and death of plant parts. Severe fire blight can kill an entire tree. In Minnesota, it’s most commonly found in Crabapple and Apple, Hawthorn, Serviceberry, and Mountain Ash trees. How does it occur? Bacteria is transmitted by insects and moist air currents to young […]
Spring Fungal Diseases
Have you seen these on your trees? Tree diseases are rampant in the springtime as the weather becomes rainy and new growth appears. Diplodia shoot blight, Dothistroma needle blight, and Rhizosphaera needle cast are all fungal diseases that spread in the spring. This post will cover these spring fungal diseases and how to prevent, identify, […]
How to Spot and Prevent Spring Infections
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 […]
Why Do I Need to Prune Oaks During Winter?
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 […]
Why is There Paint on My Tree?
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 […]
Managing Large Tree Inventories
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 initial […]
So You Hate Your Neighbor’s Tree
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 […]
Winter Tree Pruning and Removal
Minnesota winters are harsh, characterized by below-freezing temperatures and feet of snow. Despite the harsh conditions, tree pruning and removal is still an option. Can tree care be done during the winter? It’s a common misconception that tree maintenance stops during the winter months. However, there are many benefits to performing tree pruning and tree […]