To Cut or Not to Cut?
Baltimore and Harford County have been hit pretty hard the last few weeks with intense storms, including winds in the 70mph range damaging trees, powerlines, homes and structures all over. A lot of you lost trees or sustained tree damage in these storms. So the question is, what do you do with a storm-damaged tree? […]
Will This Tree Hold Up in a Storm? What to look for
Summer weather means pop-up thunderstorms that move quickly, producing high winds, rain, hail, and even tornado warnings. In advance of this type of weather, it’s important to determine if there are any high-risk trees in proximity of your home or valuables that could be damaged if the tree splits or a limb breaks. Assessing whether […]
Star Magnolia: The Early Blooming Landscape Tree
In these early days of spring, you may not see many things blooming in your yard, except for daffodils and crocuses. Some of the early blooming trees include the wild plum, Taiwan cherry, eastern redbud, and star magnolia. These specimens play an important role in the ecosystem by supplying nourishment to early spring pollinators, like […]
Love is in the air! How some trees need a mate to reproduce.
When I was a kid, my mom would always note a holly tree and say – “That holly must have a partner nearby.” At that age, I was intrigued by this secret relationship that this holly had that only my mom knew about! The holly is an example of a dioecious tree. That means the […]
How Do Trees Heal from Cuts?
It’s a delicate matter, trimming trees. It’s not an activity that should be performed haphazardly, without regard to strategy, tactic, or time of year. Trimming a tree, even one branch, creates a wound that the tree must heal, and in the interim leaves internal tissue exposed to pests and disease. When a tree is cut […]
Pine, Spruce or Fir? How to Identify and Select the Best Christmas Tree
‘Tis the season! And If you haven’t gotten your tree yet, well you’re in for a treat. On this year’s tree hunt you’ll be informed on the major differences between the common choices for Christmas tree. Conifers are the evergreen trees that don’t lose their leaves (shaped as needles) over winter and they use cones […]
Why do some trees hold onto their leaves in winter?
Outside along the driveway is a massive white oak with leaves that turn golden and yellow in the fall. The maples around it turn bright shades of orange and red and drop leaves quickly in comparison. Most of the maple leaves are gone by the end of fall. This white oak does drop some leaves […]
Can this tree be saved?
Hurricane Sandy, Isabelle, Katrina, Harvey – these are some of the most memorable and devastating storms in recent history. Here in Maryland we are impacted by two hurricanes a year, on average. These hurricanes or tropical storms can bring torrential rain, flooding, and high winds that can even produce tornadoes. And conditions like these can […]
Fall Tree Pests: Bagworm and Webworms
As fall approaches, you’ll start to notice clumps of webs popping up in the branches of your trees. There are two pests that become super active in late August and early September, Bagworms and Webworms. And they leave behind the ugly, yet not super harmful, signs of their work. Let’s distinguish the two first. Bagworms […]
Will Spotted Lanternflies Damage My Trees?
In Harford and Baltimore Counties we are seeing more Spotted Lanternflies present on homeowners’ properties. They are destructive, invasive species that are harmful to fruit and produce crops, and they’re spreading like a wildfire. They are not dangerous to humans or pets (in the sense that they do not sting or bite) but they should […]