Content by John Ball

Maple Trees Looking Thin at This Time

Many of our maple trees are looking thinner at the tips of their canopies. The foliage in the lower, interior of these trees is dense, but when you look up at the tops, the leaves appear fewer and there are noticeable gaps at the base of the new shoot.

Shearing Evergreens

Shearing is an excellent means of maintaining a compact and dense evergreen with a more formal appearance.

Planting Bare-Root Trees

Bare-root is an excellent means of planting a tree.

Spring Flowering Shrubs

Early spring flowering shrubs have a special place in our landscapes as they are the heralds of the warm weather yet to come.

Pruning Flowering Shrubs

Pruning not only benefits flowering but can also enhance bark color for shrubs with colorful canes.

Pruning Red Raspberries

Red raspberries can produce a quart of fruit or more per linear row, but high yield fruit production requires annual pruning.

Training Young Fruit Trees

Training is probably the most neglected aspect of growing fruit trees.

Reducing the Risk of Wood Stove and Fireplace Fires

While wood can be an excellent heat source, burning wood in stove and fireplaces can result in stovepipe or chimney fires. These fires are often the result of a buildup of creosote, a tar-like material that forms due to incomplete combustion.

What to Do About Ice Covered Trees?

We are experiencing periods of freezing rain across the state. This weather has left many trees covered with a 1/8 to 1/2 inch glaze of ice. The ice weight is resulting in bent and broken branches. Here are a few do’s and don’ts for dealing with ice on trees.

Leaf Blotches On Trees

I am receiving pictures and samples of basswood and linden leaves. This is a common occurrence at this time of year, and there are several possible reasons for the discoloration and premature falling of these leaves.