Birch pests

Question birch damage can you tell me who does this? AnswerThis is caused by a wood pecker called a sap sucker. They make the holes in the bark and insects come to feed on the sap and the bird returns to eat the i

tree growth

Questionhomework question...Why do trees never grow above a certain height?? AnswerI assume you mean height as in tall not altitude as on the top of a mountain. It is a combination of many things--soil type, the cl

Variety of weeping cherry

QuestionI am trying to identify a snow fountain cherry tree I recently purchased and was hoping you could tell me the differances between Prunus x yeodensis(snow fountain) ,Prunus x Snofozam(snow fountain) and Autum

Weeping Willow has black spots on

QuestionI have plated 3 Willow trees 2 of them are doing great the third has black spots.What can I use to treat my Willow spots on it. Please help AnswerIt sounds like leaf spots but this late in the year I would

Deer damage

QuestionDeer have stripped the bark from our very young maple trees and broken some branches. What should we do to fix the bark and keep the deer at bay? AnswerThe rubbing can kill the tree if the bark is rubbed of

beetles on mimosa trees

Questionwe have a mimosa tree that has some kind of beetles that eat a perfect circle around the branches,and cut them off. what are they,and what can we do about them? AnswerThere are two insects that cut off twig

Blue Spruce with scale insects

QuestionI have a 50-60 ft Blue Spruce with scale on the lower branches. I believe that the scale came in a load of wood chips used for mulch. How can I treat this without using chemical pesticides? Every organic opt

enormous seed pod

QuestionI found some huge seed pods in Central Park (NYC) over the weekend, similar in look to that of a sycamore, but the size of a grapefruit or large orange. They were green, with an uneven surface, slightly stic

Twig Girdler

QuestionLimbs look like they have been cut off by a beaver. What do I do to get rid of this pest? Thanks AnswerThey lay their eggs in the part of the limb cut off and on the ground. The way to red

Live Oak Dying?

QuestionMy wife and I recently purchased a new home in Fernandina Beach Florida in October. The house came with a Live Oak that was planted in September. Since then I have noticed the leaves turning from

tree buying and planting

QuestionI would like to buy a deciduous tree for screening my neighbors house in CT. What is the most economical size to buy a large tree and which kind grows rapidly? AnswerWithout knowing the space and site you a

Mulching Evergreen trees

QuestionHello, I live in Central Wisconsin and have planted approximately 300 evergreens, blue spruce etc over the last 3-4 years. I have been putting grass clippings and leaves around the trees as mulch. My questio

Oak tree Fungus - NE OK

Question Oak tree fungus JIm- We chatted last week. Here is a picture of the fungus. You may recall the tree incurred a split in the main V which extended 30 down the trunk. It opened to approx 1/8. I sprayed the cr

Topping trees

QuestionI have a magnolia tree that is about 16 feet tall and 6 feet around. I would like to top it by cutting off about 4 feet from its main branch. I prefer it to grow bushy rather than tall. Can

sycamore tree removal

Questionhow feasible do you think it is to remove a 50 year old sycamore tree from the street side of our sidewalk? This tree is approximately 80ft tall and is 30ft from the front of our home built in 1948. We are t

Kill Willows

QuestionFrom your answer on this subject I assume you use undiluted Roundup. If not what dilution is recomended AnswerFor the stump treatment you use the undiluted Roundup right from the container --make sure the c

Redwood Tree and Patio Pavers

QuestionWe have a 40 year old Coastal Redwood in our yard about 3 in diameter. We have installed small stone pavers around it leaving a couple of feet around the trunk and extending out about 12 but short of t

holly tree with damaged bark

QuestionI have a large 100+ year old holly tree that was severely pruned and the area around it burned. The bark did not get blackened. The tree is still alive. Now the bark at the bottom is peeling. The tree is in

moving live oak

QuestionI have a live oak that has grown very rapidly and is about 25 feet tall, has a base circumference of 28 inches and is planted 7 feet away from the foundation of my house. Can it be transplanted or is i

Crape Mertle

QuestionI have a beautifully shaped crape myrtle in my front yard that has the type of fungi/moss, the type that attaches itself to all the limbs of the tree. Its a grey/greenish color (kind of looks like ocean cora