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Zack Shier

  • Soil Testing for Tree Health
    February 1, 2025

    Foliar and Soil Testing for Tree Health: How to Get Started

    By ZACH SHIER, BCMA

    Soil and foliar sampling are not exactly a new science, nor are they new ideas in the world of arboriculture. However, it is my opinion that they are still underutilized or underemphasized in the field. As practicing arborists, we [...]

    read more
  • Soil Testing for Tree Health
    January 28, 2025

    Foliar and Soil Nutrient Testing

    By ZACH SHIER, BCMA

    Soil and foliar sampling are not exactly a new science, nor are they new ideas in the world of arboriculture. However, it is my opinion that they are still underutilized or underemphasized at the base level. As practicing arborists, [...]

    read more
  • Staff at Joseph Tree Service LLC used an air excavation tool to decompact the soil around this red oak and lower the grade by 4 inches to establish proper root flare. They then added organic soil amendments. Photo courtesy of the author.
    February 1, 2023

    Modern Organic Amendments: A Practical Approach to Urban Soil Health

    By ZACH SHIER, BCMA

    In my December 2022 article in TCI Magazine, “The Plight of Urban Soils,” a majority of the content focused on the issues with urban soils and how they are notably different from natural forest and prairie soils. There is mention [...]

    read more
  • December 1, 2022

    The Plight of Urban Soils: A Combination of Stress Factors

    By ZACH SHIER, BCMA

    What is soil? One of the most important characteristics of soil that is often overlooked is the fact that soil is alive. It’s not just alive in the sense that living things are some byproducts of soil or are simply [...]

    read more
  • February 1, 2022

    Organic vs. N-P-K Fertilizers: Balanced vs. Specific

    By ZACH SHIER, BCMA

    A PHC technician with Joseph Tree Service delivers a liquid organic fertilizer containing mixed humates and biochar. Unless otherwise noted, photos courtesy of Zack Shier. If you go to a local landscape supply store and look on the fertilizer shelves, [...]

    read more
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