Be careful who you hire to prune your valuable landscape trees. Unlike our neighbor Maryland, there are no state laws in Virginia protecting consumers from unqualified tree services. If a tree service allows its workers to wear sharp steel spikes while climbing your tree, inevitable permanent damage will follow. Unfortunately the majority of tree services in Hampton […]
Rubber Mulch, Should You Use It?
Imagine the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain during the spring of 1607. With sails billowing, the Susan Constant, piloted by Christopher Newport, cruised toward the future Jamestown. The surrounding forest understory was covered with native ferns, waxmyrtles, and winterberries. Flowering dogwoods, native redbuds and serviceberries were erupting with color, the luxuriant leaf litter was thick and abundant, […]
Our Crapemyrtles – Elegant and Mistreated
Crapemyrtles are one of our loveliest non-native species. They produce a summer of showy flowers, an autumn of bright fall colors, and a winter of eye-pleasing intricate bark patterns. The tree’s unusual natural architecture adds visual diversity to our local landscapes. Unfortunately, many crapemyrtles in Hampton Roads never display that superior and beautiful form. The […]
Free Wood Chips, the Easiest, Cheapest, Environmentally-Friendly Mulch
Mulching wide around your trees (and other plants) with 2 – 4 inches of organic mulch will always be preferable to a carpet of grass or weeds surrounding your trees. Scientific research has shown that mulch conserves soil moisture and reduces competition with weed and turf roots. If you want healthy trees, you need healthy […]
Root Zone Invigoration
Root zone invigoration can revive declining trees and restore their health and beauty. Healthy trees need healthy, fertile, well-aerated soils. Compacted Soils Restrict Root Growth Optimum conditions for plant growth require soil that is relatively pliable and permeable, with plenty of large pore spaces. Unfortunately, many of our suburban landscapes trees grow in soils lacking sufficient […]
The Tragedy of Tree Topping
When a home owner fears that a tree is too large and may fall on their home, often they hire a tree service to reduce the tree’s height by topping it. However topping destroys a tree’s natural architecture, reduces it’s food-making capacity, and creates large wounds that are vulnerable to insect invaders and severe fungal decay. The […]
Nutrient Management Basics for Trees
The trees in your landscape are not growing in ideal conditions. When new properties are developed, often the topsoil is removed. What remains is low in organic matter and often deficient in essential elements for tree growth. Furthermore, the repeated removal of leaf litter and grass clippings interrupts the natural recycling of nutrients back into the urban soil. […]
Soils and Tree Health, Part I
Most people have never given any thought to the dirt that they walk on. But soil is a critical component of our landscapes. It’s a complex mixture of weathered minerals, organic matter, microorganisms, water, and soil air. The majority of tree health problems in Hampton Roads are not caused by insects or disease, they are caused […]
Tree Roots and Pavement
Whether sidewalks and driveways are installed too close to trees or trees are planted too close to hardscaping, the results can be less than optimal for both. Trees can be stressed, roots can be damaged and pavement can be cracked and lifted. The best solution is to plan ahead. Implementing good design and planting practices […]
Preventing Mistletoe Infestations
Mistletoe on your mantle makes a lovely holiday decoration, but the mistletoe in your tree is a parasite. Your landscape trees will be healthier without it. Prevent mistletoe infestations by inspecting and pruning your trees as necessary. What’s The Problem? Mistletoe has root-like structures that invade twigs and stems, sapping moisture and nutrients from your tree to support its […]