In Idaho and several other western states the iconic stands of aspen trees are disappearing. They also happen to be the most widespread tree in North America, you can still see the unmistakable groves, especially in the fall, only now some conifer species are moving in. Normally this wouldn’t be cause for alarm, it would…
Soil pH is an indication of the level of acidity or alkalinity present in soil measured in pH units. Technically defined soil pH is the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration. The pH scale goes from 0 to 14 where 7 is considered neutral pH, below 7 (7-0) the soil is becoming more acidic and…
During the recent boxwood blight scare the Plant Diagnostics Lab at Rutgers University was flooded with samples of possibly infected boxwood awaiting their final word, but along with those specimens came bits of diseased pachysandra. The fear, they supposed, was that homeowners and arborists thought the pachysandra were suffering from some disease that could possibly…
Beech bark disease has been causing mortality of American and European beech (Fagus grandifolia and Fagus sylvatica, respectively) trees since its discovery prior to 1849 in Europe, although until 1914 beech scale was solely being blamed. We now know that the cause is a combination of scale damage and fungal infection. Beech bark disease is caused when…
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has been receiving a lot of press due to its potential to wreak environmental and economic havoc in this country and around the world. This is the phenomenon that has resulted in dramatic reduction of honeybees worldwide threatening agriculture and ecosystems to be left without pollination. Honeybees pollinate approximately one-third of…
The majority of mainstream ecologists feel that some form of disturbance, whether it be natural; fire, beavers or storms or man-made, such as logging, is necessary for health and proper functioning of an ecosystem. Some forest management practices which may seem radical are employed in regions of the country to achieve desired forest health goals. Clearcutting,…
Forests are fundamental to life, they provide water and air quality mitigation, recreational opportunities, employment, tourism, saleable products and much more. In the U.S. forests represent a part of our national identity and preserving them as a legacy for future generations is a responsibility that we should not take lightly; “conservation is not a luxury,…
It is amazing what you can learn from simply listening to the customer and asking the right questions. The other day I met with a potential client to look over a very large Red Oak tree that he perceived is having a problem. He said that two other tree care companies had looked it over…
The USDA Forest Service manages a division tasked with monitoring forest health via aerial survey. The Forest Health Protection (FHP) staff is responsible for pest detection, reporting and forest management on federal, state and private lands. The FHP aviation program surveys forested land for insects and pests, performs aerial photography and conducts aerial applications, when…
Ground and surface water lost during the extended drought in the southwest are having unexpected and unusual impacts. The 18 month-long drought in southern California has resulted in land upheaval of slightly more than half of an inch, recorded in the mountains. Apparently the estimated 63 billion gallons of water lost has had an effect on…
