Planting & Watering Practices For Your New Tree
Spring is a time of year when tree planting comes to the forefront of many people’s minds. Arbor Day is April 28th and with that and other events in the Spring, come tree giveaways or discounted trees. If you are reading this before May 20th, 2023, come find our booth at Blooming Fest in West […]
Say NO To Volca-NO Mulching
Mulch is an excellent addition to any tree or garden bed when used appropriately. Unfortunately, it is all too common in our urban environment to see mulch excessively piled up against the trunk of the tree, commonly referred to as volcano mulching. This practice is detrimental to the tree and in all cases, will lead […]
Leaves A Critical Component of Our Urban Forest
The natural process of seasonal leaf fall is a critical component to the ecological cycle in our urban forests. The trees go dormant in the colder season and conserve energy, resulting in this process called senescence. Leaves are a critical building block for many other areas of the ecosystem while providing essential benefits. Those benefits […]
Mulch – Best Management Practices
Mulch – Best Management Practices When done correctly, top dressing tree rings and planting beds with mulch is one of the highest benefiting practices homeowners can do for the health of their trees and woody ornamentals. However, when mulch is applied incorrectly, it can adversely affect plants. Mulch that is too deep, piled against the […]
Spring Tree Care Tips
Spring is the perfect time to review your trees and get them prepared for the season of growth. This quick list will provide you with guidance and tips to set your trees up for a successful growing season. Cleaning – “spring cleaning” is not just for the interior of your home. This is a very […]
Fall Mulch Application – Benefits of Natural Wood and Leaf Mulch
Mulch is a cyclic treatment for our urban trees and landscapes. It breaks down naturally over time providing biological benefits and recycling back into our urban forest. Prior to breaking down it also provides aesthetic benefits for the beauty of our urban landscapes. Applying mulch is often associated with the spring season, but fall is […]
Why Should I Use Mulch? – Mulch Benefits to Your Trees and Landscape
The trees in our urban environment are stressed due to a variety of reasons, one of which including mowed and meticulously manicured lawns resulting in a lack of natural organic matter cycling through the soil. This lack of organic matter depletes the structure and nutrient availability of the soil. To combat this and improve the […]
Arbor-Culture: Balancing Act, part 1:
Balance is something every organization needs in order to be successful, whether that organization is a private tree care company, professional sports team or manufacturing corporation. A strong offense is useless without a strong defense. Quality products are weak unless they have strong sales and marketing to support them. Staff of any organization will not […]
Tip of the Week – TLC for your Trees
Chicago area trees are slowly starting to wake up from their winter dormancy. Spring rains seem to bring “instant green” overnight. The beautiful spring colors also a great indicator that it’s time for landscape rejuvenation and care. Trees in urban and suburban settings benefit from special attention to keep them healthy and happy. Do your […]
Tip of the Week – Leaf Recycling
Most people know the importance of paper and plastic recycling, but what about leaves? The advantages of leaf material in the landscape are numerous. Keep these benefits in mind when raking this fall: Leaves are an excellent source of organic matter that will promote microbial activity in the soil, which in turn helps plant growth. […]