Photo 1: Mountain laurel growing in the understory thrive in shade. All photos courtesy of Rob Gorden. I’ve previously written about the need to systematically diagnose problems with trees. Yet, the art of developing good diagnostic skills is honed over [...]

Photo 1: Leaf chlorosis is a symptom of an underlying problem. Photos courtesy of Mauget. The core principle of ethics in medicine relating to the treatment and medication of a patient is to “do no harm,” part of the Hippocratic [...]

Do not cut directly above the head. Instead, try to hold the saw at about a 60-degree angle, so the branch does not fall directly on the worker. Photo courtesy of John Ball, Ph.D., CTSP. Handsaws and pole saws – [...]

Shrub Pruning –Expand Your Diversity A job might at first appear overwhelming. Try to compartmentalize your goals and take one step at a time. Photos courtesy of Howard Gaffin. “Arboriculture: The cultivation of trees and shrubs especially for ornamental purposes.” [...]

Aeration tubes have no proven efficacy at improving soil oxygen content. These amount to landscape pollution. All photos courtesy of the author. Shade trees contract many kinds of diseases, some of which can kill or greatly disfigure a tree, predispose [...]