SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

Mutation Illustration

Most people are familiar with the genetic mutation, albinism, where an organism produces no pigment and appears very pale or even white. However, this mutation is most commonly associate with animals, when plants can display a variation as well. The most well-known of these plants is the albino redwood. Though rare, several specimens of redwood…

SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

Mulch Measures

Warmer weather gets us back out into our gardens, but being overenthusiastic can lead to some gardening “don’ts”, often this applies when putting out fresh mulch. It is always useful to review the “Do’s and Don’ts” of mulch usage at the beginning of the season. The 2 major rules of thumb when it comes to applying mulch…

SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

Beneficial Bugs

The slow transition to spring has affected pest insects and their predators, but a discussion of beneficial insects is always relevant. Solitary bees are not often the subject of scrutiny or even interest, the concern over the health and decline of pollinator population seems to be solely focused on hive bees while those solitary species in…

SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

Elm Entanglements-Tree Disease

The American elm was once dominant on the landscape, an iconic symbol of the nation’s landscape, but has unfortunately succumbed to a fungal disease introduced from Europe in the 1900s. The graceful, large elm trees widely planted in the suburban landscape for its shade, tolerance of poor soil conditions and fast growth. However, in the…

SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

Wasp Worries

The Asian wasp, Trissolcus japonicus, has been identified in the wild at a study site in Beltsville, MD. This wasp originates from the same region as the brown marmorated stinkbug (BMSB) and preys on the eggs of those insects along with other stinkbugs. While this wasp isn’t known to sting or hurt humans in any way,…

SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

Spring Clean Up

Spring cleaning for our landscapes can be a tricky undertaking. We want to dive in a trim everything up, dig it out from under mulch and leaves and start planting, but some restraint may need to be shown so that ornamentals don’t sustain damage in the process. There is a rule of thumb that goes…

SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

Urban Canopy Casualty

Louisville, KY recently conducted a study of its urban canopy and the results, which were just made public, are distressing to say the least. The city has been losing approximately 54,000 trees per year for the past several years, that amounts to the mortality of about 150 trees per day! Katy Schneider, co-chair of the Louisville Metro…