SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

Companion Crops

Although it may seem counterintuitive for gardeners and farmers to attract insects, the trend of planting companion crops for attracting beneficial insects and repelling undesirable ones is gaining ground. Under guidance from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Florida A&M University (FAMU) a few smaller growers in the Tallahassee area are undertaking this option…

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SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

Goldspotted Oak Borer Burden-Tree Pests

The goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus auroguttatus, (GSOB) is an invasive pest found currently contributing to oak mortality in San Diego County, CA. This flatheaded borer is newly introduced to California yet poses a significant risk to its oak tree population. The pest is actually naturally occurring in southeastern Arizona, and a related species can be found…

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SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

Benefits Beyond the Bird Count-Tree Pests

During this year’s Christmas Bird Count (http://birds.audubon.org/get-involved-christmas-bird-count-find-count-near-you), put on annually by the Audubon Society running 12/14/2014-1/15/2015, scientists at the Nature Conservancy ask citizen scientists for help identifying signs of damage from invasive tree pests such as the emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle, among others. Invasive insects are often preyed upon by woodpeckers which…

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SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

Karner Blue Butterfly Bulwark

In a dramatic, but satisfying, twist of fate, the Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) has almost recovered from the brink of extinction. Named for its initial location of discovery and beautiful coloration the Karner blue butterfly relies on unique inland wetland pine barrens found east of Minnesota and along the eastern seaboard. Historically the blue’s range was a…

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SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

Wonderful Wood

The future of building has arrived and apparently the new, exciting, desirable, sustainable product is wood. Contractors and architects are going back to basics by returning to the renewable, durable, multi-purpose material after years where it was fashionable to design and build with steel and concrete. Nowhere was this message clearer than at this year’s Wood Solutions fair…

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SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

Cover Computation

In a world moving towards sustainability, improving urban tree cover can provide numerous benefits both environmental and social. Tree canopy in an urban environment will reduce summer peak temperatures, increase efficiency of heating and cooling buildings, improve water quality and curtail erosion. Additionally, lush urban tree cover increases aesthetic appeal and value; all of these factors…

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SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

Avian Audit

Beginning on December 14th 2014 and running through January 5th 2015 the Audubon’s Annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the longest running citizen science survey in the world. Thousands of volunteers across the country will contribute critical data on winter bird population trends. This data is entered into the database and is vital to the…

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