Tree Care

correct PPE

Be a Pesticide-Compliance Superhero!

What is a pesticide-compliance superhero? A pesticide-compliance superhero has impeccably clean and organized storage areas, no outdated pesticides, stellar PPE and a knack for avoiding spray drift and unintentional exposure to non-target plants, humans and natural resources. They pass inspections with flying colors and are viewed as exemplary. In the PHC industry, this is pretty […]

The long tassels of the holly demonstrating pruning

American Holly Pruning

Pruning should always be a very specific process. The intent: What are you trying to accomplish? The timing: What time of year is best to accomplish your intent? The amount or dose: How much foliage can you remove without hurting the plant? How often will you need to prune this plant to achieve your goal? […]

Midwest pin oaks are dense

Pruning Pin Oaks Like a Boss

Back in November 2023, I caught up with Thomas Paine, CTSP, co-owner of Rooted Arbor Care in Warrenton, Missouri, on a job site in Missouri. He was tasked with inspecting a picturesque, healthy pin oak (Quercus palustrus) tree and performing a cleaning and pruning of it. It was a beautiful fall day just prior to […]

hundreds of spotted lanternfly adults

Catching Up With a Fast-Moving Pest: Spotted Lanternfly (SLF)

Basic biology and human assists collude for the rapid spread of SLF First detected in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014, near the town of Pikeville, this phloem-feeding sap sucker, the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), now has breeding populations in more than 17 states. These include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New […]

Applying a basil drench

Nurturing Urban Trees: A Journey Into Plant Health Care

Plant health care (PHC) is a comprehensive program aimed at managing the health, structure and appearance of plants within the landscape. It encompasses everything related to plant care, excluding removals and stump grinding. However, when we talk about PHC in practice, we typically refer to services that go beyond the realm of traditional tree work. […]

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