Our trees need care to prepare for colder months. “While your trees seem to be in a state of hibernation in the winter, exposure to the tough conditions can cause them major stress,” says Jim Skiera, Executive Director of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). “Minimize stress by helping your trees through the cold months, a…
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Japanese Beetles In Minnesota, Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) are primarily found in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan area, and in some areas in southeast Minnesota. Japanese beetles have an exceptionally large host range, feeding on the leaves of over 300 species of plants, including apples, grapes, blueberries, raspberries, roses and plums. Identification Japanese beetles are 3/8…
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Winter is the best time to remove trees. Dead and decaying trees and branches can be extraordinarily hazardous to your property, especially during the winter time. When snow and ice piles on top of branches it adds a significant amount of weight, which can result in falling branches or trees toppling over. Old brittle wood…
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Winter is the best time to thin trees to keep them healthy and protect them from disease, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “Pruning trees when they are dormant is a way to protect them from diseases such as oak wilt or Dutch elm disease that are active during the growing season,” said Jennifer…
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Introduction The spruce spider mite is considered one of the most destructive spider mites in the United States. It injures the foliage of spruce, arborvitae, juniper, hemlock, pine, Douglas-fir, and occasionally other conifers. Damage This species damages host plants by sucking plant fluid from needles as they feed. Infested trees at first have a…
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What is Oak Wilt? Oak wilt is a vascular disease of oak caused by a nonnative fungus. It is one of the most serious diseases of oak in the eastern United States, killing thousands of trees each year. Where site conditions favor disease, the fungus can spread from tree to tree, killing most if not…
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