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 […]
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 (erwinia amylovora) 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 […]
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 and treat each in the event of […]
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 […]
Minnesota winters are harsh, characterized by below-freezing temperatures and feet of snow. Despite the harsh conditions, tree pruning and removal can be a better time. 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 […]
Despite our abundance of lakes, Minnesota summers have been dry. A dry summer is stressful for people, trees, and plants. Although droughts are regular, dry weather during crucial growth periods can cause irreversible damage. The term “drought” refers to a period of time without precipitation. As the water content declines, trees can no longer extract […]
The process of hiring our team to work on your trees is simple:
Winter is an excellent time to prune trees. After leaves fall branch structure is more obvious and pruning can be more effective. Although in some winters with heavy snow cover it's difficult to get a good clean-up job.
Many signals of branch health are apparent in the fall and winter months. Branches lacking any bark are the most obviously dead. Branches with loose bark can be dead or perhaps dying. Branches without the small twigs on the end can be dead, or the branch may be a live stub in which case it should probably be removed. Branches without buds on the ends of the twigs are dead. The least obvious sign of a dead branch is a branch with buds that are dead, dry or under developed. Dead buds on some tree varieties in the Midwest, such as locust, are even frustrating for experienced arborists to determine. To further complicate matters branches with leaves on in the winter (such as Norway Maples) can be newly dead.
