Blog Archives - Page 2 of 14 - Arborwell Professional Arborists and Tree Care

Summer Invasive Tree Pests in Seattle

Written by Jerry White on July 17, 2021.

Are you doing your part to protect your landscaping investment and minimize the impact of summer invasive tree pests in Seattle? All it takes is a simple, 10-minute tree inspection by yourself or a Seattle tree pest services expert to protect the state’s green spaces. August is the ideal time to ID invasive insects, when the summer heat sends pests out into the open. What pests should you be on the lookout for?

Asian Giant Hornets, Emerald Ash Borers, Long-Horned Beetles, pests, seattle trees

Arbor-Wellness: Conifer Needle Disease

Written by Cindy Kirkman on June 23, 2021.

A number of different fungi cause diseases on conifer needles. Some will cause a browning and dieback (blight) of needles and others premature needle drop (cast). These fungi are typically not aggressive and cause problems when trees are not healthy. This can come from stress due to not enough water or too much water or even other pests attacking the tree.

conifer, needle disease

How Much Water Does My Tree Need?

Written by Jerry White on June 1, 2021.

This year our normal summer watering needs become even more critical since our trees have been at a water deficient most of the spring. So, the obvious question is – How much and how often should I water? This depends on the location, tree type and how mature it is – among other factors.

If the leaves are brown on the edges and are drooping or wilted, your tree isn’t getting enough water. Long term water stress usually leads to twig dieback, very little new growth and more susceptibility to insects and diseases.

drought, tree health, tree management, water conservation

Wooly Aphids are a Pesky Problem

Written by Jerry White on May 25, 2021.

The most common insect in the landscape are aphids. Most plants get attacked at one time or another by one of the many species of aphids that arrive every spring. But a lesser know and sometimes misidentified relative is the woolly aphid.

Much like other types of aphids, these plant juice-sucking insect pests are fairly small. However, woolly aphids, which are green or blue, also appear fuzzy due to the white, waxy material that covers their body. These pests generally use two hosts: one for overwintering and laying eggs in spring, and one for feeding in summer. There are many types of woolly aphids, but the two most common we see are the Hackberry woolly aphid and the Woolly apple aphid. The hackberry woolly aphid is typically found mostly on Hackberry trees and by the end of the summer, their sticky mess below a large hackberry is impossible to miss.

aphids, hackberry wooly aphid, wooly aphid, wooly apple aphid

Why Test Your Soil Before Planting Trees?

Written by Jerry White on May 20, 2021.

It’s easy to get caught up in the beauty of trees, purchasing your favorite species to grace your grounds with little thought beyond their lovely looks. Despite your best intentions, your trees could quickly end up suffering, dragging down the appearance of your property. Planning is essential to tree wellness and ensures a lush, healthy landscape that enhances curb appeal and value. The most overlooked and crucial step in this process is a simple soil test. Why test your soil before planting trees?

soil test, tree planting, tree selection

Beneficial Insect Release

Written by Jerry White on May 18, 2021.

Another solution to pest management that has become more popular in recent years is the release of beneficial insects. These are essentially good guy insects that attack the eggs or larva of the harmful insects. In the natural, their population in a given area varies a lot depending on the sources of food they have.

Beneficial insects are a valuable asset to the ecosystem, besides preying on harmful pests, they are good pollinators too. An example of a beneficial insect is green lacewing. They have a wide array of insect targets including aphids, psyllids, and Tussock moth and other caterpillars. Beneficial insect releases can be incorporated into plant health care programs, especially as a multi-year plan to combat ongoing pest infestations. Incorporating beneficial insects to your landscape help restore a healthy and natural balance to the environment.

Beneficial Insects, ecofriendly landscape, green lacewing, pest management

Preparing Trees for a Drought – Part 1

Written by Jerry White on May 11, 2021.

The dry winter and spring in the west have brought us to another year where drought stress potentially becomes our most prevailing discussion and priority during the upcoming summer and fall. The lack of winter rain and quickly melting snow pack has already impacted the health of trees throughout our region and beyond. Combined with the prior year drought issues over the past seven to ten years, we anticipate not only will trees struggle much more this year and will take much longer to recover than normal.

drought, tree health, tree management, water conservation

Do Your Trees Have Pests or Health Problems?

Written by Jerry White on April 25, 2021.

How can you tell if your trees have pests or diseases? These problems can be challenging to recognize due to the sheer number of possible issues, and the fact that they may occur far above your head where they are difficult to spot! For this reason, pest infestation and tree diseases often go overlooked for years, then appear to progress quickly because they have gone unnoticed. Fortunately, there are common signs of poor tree health that can help you identify these problems early so you can get help from a professional arborist before you lose valuable trees. Find out if your trees have pests or health problems now with this handy list.

preventative tree care, tree diseases, tree health, tree pests

Arbor-Blog

Blog

Summer Invasive Tree Pests in Seattle

Arbor-Wellness: Conifer Needle Disease

How Much Water Does My Tree Need?

Wooly Aphids are a Pesky Problem

Why Test Your Soil Before Planting Trees?

Beneficial Insect Release

Preparing Trees for a Drought – Part 1

Do Your Trees Have Pests or Health Problems?

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