Why should you perform a soil analysis for tree health? Unhealthy soil causes a staggering 80% of tree wellness issues. Soil characteristics vary from site to site. A custom soil analysis can quickly uncover valuable information on pH, organic matter, and nutrient levels on your grounds, identifying the root cause of issues impacting your tree’s health.
amendments, fertilizer, ph, soil analysis, soil test, soild health
Have seemingly endless water restrictions left you thirsty for another solution to your irrigation shortfalls? Proactive tree care in our drought can cut down on water use. Keep your irrigation needs in check with these tips for responsible water management.
The best defense against tree pests and diseases starts with plant nutrition management for the fall. Like the foods you put in your body support your health, the right fertilizer is essential to beautiful, thriving trees. Fall is the ideal time for fertilizer application, giving trees the nutrients they need to make it through the winter months. What nutrients are missing or depleted in the soil on your Seattle, San Francisco, or San Jose grounds?
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
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.
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
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?
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
