Month: May 2020

Getting Burned: Everything you need to know about Bacterial Leaf Scorch

Meredith Brown Education, Tree Care
Getting Burned: Everything you need to know about Bacterial Leaf Scorch

When assessing the health of our street trees, keeping an eye out for signs of trouble is key. One of the more common diseases that affect larger growing tree species is bacterial leaf scorch. Bacterial leaf scorch will eventually affect leaf growth, and can possibly be fatal. There is no cure for the disease, but being on the lookout for noticeable changes in your trees, especially oaks, and calling in experts to test for the disease, can keep your trees happy and healthy in the long term. 

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Root Girdling

Crystal Wessel Bad Landscaping, Hazardous Trees
Root Girdling

At some point, you have probably noticed trees with roots wrapping around the base of the tree. These are called girdling roots, and they can be incredibly harmful to the tree! They are mostly seen in hand-planted trees, as opposed to ones naturally growing in forests, and are more common in urban environments where space is limited, though they can occur anywhere.

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Pruning 101: How to Prune your Street Trees

Meredith Brown Good Landscaping, Tree Care
Pruning 101: How to Prune your Street Trees

Pruning is essential when we think about overall tree care and maintenance. Pruning removes branches that are less than desirable, such as those that are broken, damaged, diseased, or dead. By removing structurally unsound branches early on, we reduce the risks of tree problems or branch failure as the tree matures. With a little bit of skill and knowledge of how to properly prune, you can safely and effectively prune your street tree. 

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Cedar Apple Rust

Lisa Simms Good Landscaping, Tree Pests
Cedar Apple Rust

Tree maintenance isn’t simply about mulching, pruning and watering our trees. It is also about checking them for insects and disease. One such disease is a common fungus that affects crabapple trees and fruit-bearing apple trees – Cedar Apple Rust. So before you plant an orchard of apple or pretty crabapple trees, ask yourself this: Is there a cedar tree lurking in my yard or neighborhood?

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Trees, Sediment, and Erosion

Crystal Wessel Benefits of Trees
Trees, Sediment, and Erosion

Imagine you are in the middle of a yard project when a heavy rainstorm rolls in, washing away some of the loose soil you had laying around. You see it travel down a nearby storm drain, which you know leads straight to a local waterway. It’s just soil, which is natural, so it’s not really a problem, right? Not quite! Sediment (loose particles of soil, sand, and clay) is considered a pollutant, and is the most common pollutant in US waterways according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Sediment often comes from construction projects, including small home projects, but it is also the result of erosion. Read on to find out how erosion and sediment runoff affect streams and rivers, and how trees can help!

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