Author: Scott Geer
-
Root Flare Exposure – Do It Yourself
The most important physiological factor in the health of a tree is the status of the Root Flare area at that base of the tree. It is very important that the root flare be free of soil, mulch, and circling roots. Tree Shepherds does this for our customers as a service and, unless you are…
-
Why are My Crape Myrtles Black?
That unappealing black coating on your tree is actually a harmless byproduct of a bug! The black substance is called sooty mold and grows on the waste product of an insect called scale. The mold itself is fairly harmless, more aesthetic than anything. It can even be washed off with a high-powered hose or wet…
-
Emerald Ash Borer and Your Ash Trees
Emerald Ash Borer in Denton County You may have heard on the news that the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is now in Denton County. Some of these reports will sound alarmist and are designed to generate fear and sell some services. While the report is true, there is no cause of for alarm and I…
-
What is a Tree Worth to Your Home?
Investing in tree care may seem like a discretionary expense that you really cannot afford. However, trees have a large economic impact on their owners and the communities in which they live: Trees on your property mean real dollars in your pocket over the long term, especially in North Texas where the lack of trees is…
-
What’s That Sticky Stuff Coming from My Trees?
Honeydew is a sticky, sugary liquid that is insect waste. Insects called aphids (and some scale species) suck on plant sap and secrete a liquid we all know as honeydew. For the most part, an infestation of these messy insects won’t seriously harm your tree. However, they can cause distortions of leaves and of fruits…
-
Bradford Pear vs. the Wind: and the Winner is…
Just a short video that one of our customers happened to capture of their Bradford Pear in a strong wind event. The tree lost. This is what happens to Bradford Pear trees in 15-20 years. They are a fast growing, and nice-looking tree, but they are not very permanent. Instead of planting an ornamental pear…
-
Why a “Y” is Not Good in a Tree
Trees have an amazing ability to keep themselves upright for years, sometimes hundreds of years. However, a structural flaw called co-dominant stems can cause a tree to prematurely fail. Co-dominant stems can create a high risk in urban areas where failure can be catastrophic. This is a Hackberry with a typical co-dominant stem that has…
-
What’s Happening to My Live Oak Trees?
This spring (2020) has seen almost every Live Oak in Denton County infected with a disease call Oak Anthracnose. This sound like a terrible disease, but it is really just a nuisance for the trees. This is a fungal disease and affects the leaves only on Live Oaks. The infected leaves turn brown and curl…
-
Topiaries Gone Wild!
Topiaries are not a maintenance free plant! I see many topiary plants in front of houses that are not maintained and after a few years, they revert to the plant’s original growth form, only not so pretty. Topiaries are woody plants that are pruned to take on a specific shape. The most common form that…
-
The End of Every Bradford Pear
The Bradford Pear is a cultivar of the Callery Pear which was collected from China in the early 1900s. They have been planted widely as yard and roadway trees in Denton County. There are actually a number of different cultivars of the Callery Pear (Aristocrat, Cleveland) but the Bradford cultivar has been the most popular. …