Blog
Time for a Checkup: The ins and outs of Tree Inspection
When your tree reaches middle age, it may be time to consider an inspection, usually at least every three years, or more often if recommended...
Risk and Harm: When Tree Removal Becomes Necessary
No one likes the idea of tree removal. After all, this is probably something you have invested both time and money into. Often, people will...
Mulch Better: How and When to Mulch Your Tree
Mulching your tree is one of the most important ways to keep them healthy. As they grow, the soil around them can become depleted of...
Managing Your Soil for Healthier Trees and Plants
When we think of our lawns, gardens and trees we often think of a number of tasks, but many of them fall under the soil...
Why limbs fall in your yard
Travel around a neighborhood after a storm and you will see tree limbs, large and small, scattered about the ground. Why do some limbs fall...
Storms Approaching… Will Your Landscape Survive?
Winter is the season in California for some of nature’s most severe weather. Storms in all shapes and forms create havoc and one of the...
Hey! Don’t Just Walk Away, Post-Planting Care for Trees
Congratulations! You did your research, bought the right tree for the right location, and planted it properly. Too often, however, homeowners forget about their new...
Tree Planting Tips – Please Don’t Bury Me
Planting a tree? A hole dug too deep is a sure way to kill a tree Winter and Spring seasons are prime planting season in...
Ozone Danger to Trees
Humans aren’t the only ones to be affected by ozone alerts in various parts of the country. Many of the most commonly planted trees in...
Nature’s Air Conditioners
If you have ever escaped from blazing hot sun in a shady spot under a tree, you know how these natural air conditioners can make...
Dormant Spraying of Fruit Trees in the Garden
The authors are John E. Dibble, Entomologist Emeritus, U.C. Kearny Agricultural Center, and Richard L Coviello, Farm Advisor, Fresno County Dormant sprays allow: a wide...
How to Keep Your Landscape Deer Free
Deer damage to ornamental plants and trees is progressively a suburban area problem. Deer populations in suburban neighborhoods have grown significantly due to uninhibited farms, tighter...
Mature Tree Care
Learn procedures specific to a routine maintenance program for mature tree care, including tree inspection, mulching, fertilization, pruning, and tree removal. Think of tree care...
Winter Stresses on Trees & Shrubs
Winter’s heavy snow and ice, as well as frozen soil conditions, can damage cherished trees and shrubs in suburban landscapes. Even areas without major snowfall...
Did a Storm Damage Your Tree?
Winter storms cause tremendous stress and severe damage to trees in the urban forest. Obviously, a snapped or downed tree should be removed. What about...
Bleeding from Branches of Pruned Trees
Exudation of liquid (“bleeding”) from injured trees is caused by pressures within trees that may be localized in different organs depending on species. Most bleeding...
Dormant Spraying of Fruit Trees in the Garden
Dormant sprays allow: a wide period of time for application; a broad range of useable materials; maximum unobstructed spray coverage; multiple pest targets; and because...
Don’t Fuel the Fire
Nearly every state has experienced fires that rage out of control in the landscape. While the largest and most devastating burn in the West, fires...
Benefits of Trees
The benefits that trees provide from social, communal, environmental, and economic perspectives. Most trees and shrubs in cities or communities are planted to provide beauty...
A safer landscape is a phone call away
Hazardous trees pose a danger to people and property. When storms or high winds hit, limbs —and often whole trees — fall to the ground....
BLUE GUM PSYLLID
The blue gum psyllid, Ctenarytaina eucalypti, was first discovered in Monterey County, California in January 1991. Since the original find the psyllid has spread in...
Decay Can Cause Hazardous Defects in Trees
Tree failure is a major cause of residential property damage, as well as the leading cause of power outages nationwide. An ice storm can overload...
CHOOSING THE BEST SACRAMENTO TREE CARE SERVICE
Whether it’s building contractors, plumbers or roofers, stories of unscrupulous tradesmen abound, and the Sacramento tree care service world is, unfortunately, no different. That makes...
ACORN EXPANDS ITS SACRAMENTO TREE CARE SERVICES
Acorn Arboricultural Services is expanding its Sacramento tree care business to better serve the Capitol region. For five years Acorn has served South Placer and...
Where are the roots of my tree?
Many people envision a large, branching taproot growing deep into the soil. Actually, taproots are very uncommon in mature trees. If taproots do develop, they...
Type of Pruning Depends on Age of Tree
Pruning is the single best investment a property owner or community can make to ensure the survival and lengthen the life span of their trees....
Select the right tree for each location
Selection of trees depends on the desired effect and the purpose trees will satisfy in the landscape. Will the attract birds to the area? Shade...
When a tree is planted should it be staked?
Although it is sometimes necessary to stake trees to keep them upright and allow establishment, there are some adverse effects of staking. Allowing a small...
Hackberry Woolly Aphid Infestation
A hackberry woolly aphid, sometimes called Asian woolly hackberry aphid, was discovered in California in 2002. It infests hackberry, especially Chinese Hackberry, throughout the state....
Treating Tree Diseases
Trees, shrubs and other ornamental plantings represent a sizable investment and asset to most homeowners. Keeping trees, shrubs and other woody plants healthy is the...
How to Protect Yourself When Hiring a Tree Care Company
Hiring a company that says it does tree work has never been a problem for homeowners. Simply do a quick online search, make a few calls,...
Stop Topping Trees
The practice known as “topping” – the lopping off of large parts of a tree – is the equivalent to amputation. Tree topping was considered...
Trees suffering from drought stress
As this summer progresses, I am seeing more and more trees suffering from drought stress. This is largely due to our irrigating less to save...
Broadleaf Mistletoe in Landscape Trees
Broadleaf mistletoe (Phoradendron flavescens var. macrophyllum) is an evergreen parasitic plant that grows on a number of landscape tree species in California. Hosts of the...
Broadleaf mistletoe infestation problems and information
Broadleaf mistletoe is an evergreen parasitic plant that grows on a number of landscape tree species in California. Some of the species include ash, alder,...
What is an arborist?
In general, an arborist is a person who specializes in the care of individual trees. Most often the term arborist is used to refer specifically...