BOX TREE MOTH ALERT

Box Tree Moth Caterpillar

There is a new pest in our area that is putting your boxwoods at risk!

Box Tree Moth (BTM) is an invasive species recently found in our area. BTM works quickly by eating through the foliage and eventually eating the bark which will lead to the death of the plant. While boxwoods are their main target, they are documented eating Euonymus and holly as well.

Action needs to be taken quickly for treatment to be most effective. Signs to look for are chewed leaves, green/black frass, webbing/silk threads, eggs found underneath leaves, or the presence of the caterpillars themselves. It is important to look inside of shrubs as infestation sometimes works from the inside out. The pictures on this page can help guide you, if you feel you might have a problem.

The treatment plan we offer is a foliar spray. Please contact our office if you’d like to discuss further with one of our representatives.

Box Tree Moth

Box Tree Moth eggs found on the underside of leaves

Boxwood infested with Box Tree Moth

SEASONED FIREWOOD FOR SALE

Have You Done Your Spring Inspections Yet? Don't Worry; It's Not Too Late

The spring is often the best time to inspect trees and shrubs for issues that may be detrimental in the near future. The main reason visual inspections are so effective this time of year, is the absence of foliage. Plant structure is plainly seen and problems can be addressed.

Some of the most commonly seen abnormalities are codominant leaders on young trees. A small corrective cut now may prevent a catastrophic failure when the tree matures. Inspecting plant depth, trunk flare, and mulch levels at this time is also helpful. One of the most commonly seen mistakes is planting too deep and over-mulching. A young tree's trunk flare should be visible and allowed to dry breath and dry.

Now is a great time to remove dead wood, and rectify branching defects and conflicts. Last but not least, overwintering insects and egg masses may be discovered, and a treatment plan developed. All these instances may not be apparent to the untrained eye, contact a Certified Arborist to give you a detailed inspection and analysis.

This Bur Oak would benefit from corrective pruning, to prevent future branch failure

Boxwoods have mite (speckles) and psyllid (cupping)

Magnolia scale (insect) visible on Magnolia

Trunk flare visible on Kousa Dogwood

Potential girdling root issue on Beech

Oak Wilt Alert

Oak wilt has been identified in upstate NY, in Bristol along Canandaigua Lake. This is a particularly devastating disease, especially for Red Oak varieties. The fungal pathogen is spread by insects that bore into trees. After being introduced to a healthy tree, it attacks the tree's vascular system. This process is similar to what we saw with Dutch Elm Disease many years ago. Red Oaks wilt within one season of infection, and is always fatal. White Oaks can live with the disease for several years, and can be fatal as well.

To prevent infection do not prune Oaks during the growing season. Avoid any unnecessary cuts and mechanical injury. If any wounding of live wood occurs, seal the wound if possible. Trees can also transmit from one another through root contact. Infected trees are to be removed and destroyed in cooperation with the NYSDEC forestry division. If you suspect Oak Wilt please contact your local DEC forester. 

Chemical controls are available for Oak Wilt prevention in all Oak species. Therapeutic treatments may be advised in White Oaks. Please contact our Certified Arborists for a consultation. 

Red Oak Wilt

White Oak Wilt

Crabgrass: Almost Everyone Has It; No One Wants It!

What is crabgrass?

Digitaria is a genus of plants in the grass family. It is a thin “finger-like” grass that grows in a different pattern than the rest of a lawn. The seeds germinate in late spring and early summer, overtaking the domesticated grasses.

Our ability to suppress crabgrass has been hampered by weather this season. The treatment is applied once the temperatures reach 50-55°F; if it is applied too soon it could break down and be ineffective. The first round of applications was disrupted by excessive rain and cool temperatures, followed by extreme drought conditions. The pre-emergent didn’t have a fair chance to do its job. 

During the August applications, we will apply a post-emergent crabgrass treatment that will help control the issue. The crabgrass should start to die-off and go dormant moving into September. If weather is cooperative, over seeding may be helpful.

Creating the Perfect Winter Habitat for Backyard Birds

During the cold and dark winter months, you sometimes need a splash of color and activity to brighten up the view from the comfort of your home. Creating a habitat for backyard birds can help bring a little joy and activity to a winter view that you can enjoy from the warm comfort of your own home. While I may seem as simple as putting a birdfeeder in your yard and waiting, there are a few nuances that will get birds flocking to your yard!

Feeders

To make your backyard bird habitat successful, you will need to pay attention to what feeders you select and how you maintain them. To attract birds, you will need a variety of different feeders hung at different heights and in different areas around your yard. To protect against the biggest nuisance of a backyard bird habitat, make sure to buy feeders that are squirrel proof. This will prevent them from stealing the feed you put out and scaring birds away! Make sure to keep your feeder fully stocked from the beginning to end of winter and clean it periodically with soap and water to ensure your birds won’t get sick!

Location, Location, Location

Once you’ve picked your feeders, it’s time to place them throughout your yard! There are a few tips to keep in mind when placing your feeders. If your feeders aren’t squirrel proof, make sure to place your them at least 10 feet from trees. This will prevent squirrels from jumping from branches onto feeders and raiding the contents. At the same time, try to keep the trees within a short flight of feeders so the birds will have a short flight to safety if they become scared. Even though it is winter, birds still love flowing water! It your yard has any natural or artificial water features, try setting up feeders there.

Food

However, birds don’t just love birdseed! Birds are attracted to areas with varied food sources available. On top of the standard peanuts and mixed seeds, many backyard birds are drawn to suet, fruit, even mealworms! Make sure to offer a variety of different kinds of seeds, extremely small fresh or dried fruits, or other foods that birds eat in the wild.

Inspiration: Why a Water Feature is Perfect for Your Landscape Installation

Even though the weather is getting colder and the days are getting shorter, now is the perfect time to start thinking about your landscape installation for next year! The offseason is the best time of the year to reach out to our designers and consultants to create your dream landscape installation. When thinking of what you want to include in your installation, consider a water feature! A water feature, no matter what the size or shape, can do wonders for your yard. Here are some of the reasons why a water feature can be a game changer for your yard:

Attracting Wildlife

Wildlife is a great way to bring a little more life and activity to your landscape, and one of the best ways to attract wildlife to your yard is installing a water feature. Many animals are drawn to water, as they need it for many of their needs like drinking and bathing. In particular, birds, squirrels and rabbits especially like water.

Reduction of Noise Pollution and stress

It is hard to relax and enjoy the full beauty of your landscape with noise pollution. Running water and other natural sounds are able to block out the noise of traffic, which is proven to be a major cause of stress for those who live in residential areas. If you live near a busy street or highway, a water feature may be the perfect way to get the little bit of peace and relaxation you’ve always wanted!

Beauty

Perhaps the most obvious reason, a water feature has the potential to bring great beauty to your landscape. No matter what the setting or season, a water feature can be the perfect compliment to your landscape. You don’t need a big pond or other installation either! Our designers can design for any size or cost constraints you may have. From ponds to streams to fountains, we do it all!

Tips and Tricks: Winter Tree Care

The winter is the toughest season of the year for trees. With the cold weather, brutal storms, and burrowing hibernating animals, your trees stand at a great risk to be permanently damaged. However, a little winter tree care goes a long way to protecting your valuable trees from the harms of the winter weather. Here are some of the small steps you can take to make a big difference in your trees’ health.

Mulch

During the winter, many of the problems your trees will face are connected to a lack of moisture in the tree. Because the ground is frozen, trees are unable to absorb as much water from the ground. When conditions are sunny but the ground is still frozen, a tree can begin to dry out. This phenomenon is only worsened by strong winds that are extremely common in winter. This lack of moisture puts any tree under a significant amount of stress, as without water, a tree is not able to transport nutrients it needs to survive through its tissue.  Unfortunately, there is not much you can do to fight this once the winter has begun. However, before the winter begins, make sure to lay a thick level of mulch. This will help to slow moisture loss and serve as a way to insulate the roots. If there is a thaw, water any trees, especially newly planted ones.

Cabling and Pruning

The strong winds of a winter storm can prove to be a significant threat to the structural soundness of any tree. The wind can expose the weaknesses of your trees, from deadwood to a weak deep v tree crotch. Many times, even if branches are healthy they will break, weakened from the cold temperatures. The way to prevent your trees from being damaged by cold and wind is engaging in a full tree care service from Ted Collins. With the help of our tree care professionals, you can identify deadwood that needs to be cut from your trees and identify any weak areas that can be mended by cabling, bracing, or supports. If your trees are properly maintained, they will have no problem standing up to the strongest New York storms! To request an estimate, give us a call today at (585) 381-9000 or request an estimate online.

Rodent Prevention

Although they’re small, many rodents and other woodland animals can severely damage your trees. If the winter is especially bad, many times mice and squirrels will eat tree bark to survive. Having bark stripped from it trunk, especially around the circumference of a trunk, can kill or severely damage it. To protect against these rodents, make sure to leave a significant space between the mulch and trunk. In addition, off the shelf bait and trunk treatments are available.

Tips and Tricks: Winter Indoor Gardening

For many passionate gardeners, the dark and cold Rochester winters are a nuisance. Because we do not live in a warmer climate, many think that it is impossible to nurture and enjoy plants year round. However, that is simply not the case! Growing succulents and other plants indoors is a fantastic way to keep the joy of summer going all the way through the cold and dark winter. Here are a few tips for getting your own indoor garden started!

Pick Plants

First, pick your plants! There are thousands of plants to pick from, but typically succulent desert plants or tropical plants do the best in indoor gardens. You can find succulents or tropical plants in a massive range of sizes, colors, flowering times, and degrees of difficulty to maintain. It is best to pick the plants that fit your style. To see some of our plant recommendations, click here. Many local greenhouses will carry common indoor plants, but to find more niche plants there are plenty of websites that will ship succulents and tropical plants.  Once you have purchased your plants, it is best to find an appropriate sized container or pot to hold them in.

Pick Location

Once you’ve picked your plants, it’s time to find the right locations for them around your house. Depending on the kinds of plants you’ve picked, certain locations in your house are better than others. For example, many plants naturally grow on the forest floor, meaning that they do not need as much direct sunlight as other plants. However, other plants require much more direct sunlight. Placement depends on the plant and the season, but generally it is best to place plants next to windows facing north or east. To find the best spot for your plants, it is best to thoroughly research your plants to find the best kind of lighting for them.  

Care

Once you’ve picked your plants and their location, it’s time to care for your plants. Be sure not to overwater your plants, as most indoor plants do not require as much water. When you do water, try misting your plants or simply placing ice cubes on the top of the soil. Because indoor air is generally drier than outside air, it is best to group plants tightly together and run a humidifier to increase the humidity of your home. In late winter, make sure to cut back old growth and refresh the soil.

Enjoy!

With all of these tips in mind, your plants are sure to succeed! Enjoy your slice of summer!

Vaccinium corymbosum (Northern Highbush Blueberry)

Vaccinium corymbosum, commonly known as the Northern Highbush Blueberry, is a species of blueberry found across the Eastern United States and Canada. For centuries, the highbush blueberry has been cultivated by Native Americans. The shrub grows around 6 to 12 feet tall and wide, and are often found in dense clusters.  The Highbush Blueberry performs best in sunny environments with well drained soil. The bush only grows in extremely acidic soil, as it is adapted to grow in bogs and swamps. While it is a particular plant, a successful blueberry bush is a wonderful addition to your yard. In addition to its beauty, the berries taste wonderful and can be used for a multitude of purposes.

To have the Northern Highbush Blueberrry included in your landscape installation for the spring, give us a call today at (585) 381-9000 or request an estimate online today!