Bark Beetles are an important type of wood-boring insect that have been increasing the last few years. It is prudent to consider all the major types to see how they work, why they are a concern, and what can be done about them. All Bark Beetles are small as adults –...
You’ve built or bought a new home; the land has been developed, and you want your trees and shrubs to live long, healthy lives. Where should you begin? The easy answer: call Wachtel Tree Science! Of course we’d say that, but here’s why: Soil health is the key to plant...
Having a young tree in your yard can be very exciting. Whether it was planted by you, a contractor, or previous owner, watching a tree grow from a small sapling into a mature specimen is a fulfilling experience. With any young member of the family—pet, child, or your...
The two-lined chestnut borer was once a principal pest of American chestnut trees. Now that most American chestnuts have died due to chestnut blight, it has become a common secondary pest of oaks. It is likely one of the most important insect causes of oak mortality....
Trees rarely make headline news. When they finally do, it can inspire action and lead to positive outcomes. In October 2025, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Oak wilt had been confirmed in Whitnall Park. The story struck a nerve across Southeastern Wisconsin....
Learn from our Certified Arborists how to give your new trees the best start possible! In this video, we walk you through: Proper watering techniques for container-grown and B&B trees. Step-by-step tree planting demonstrated by our team of ISA Certified Arborists....
That time after summer and before winter might just be my favorite season of the year. The cooler days and nights after the heat of summer, the memories of picking apples from an orchard with family, and the disappearance of mosquitos are especially welcome this time...
This spring, winter damage manifested in an abundance of ways: Western arborvitaes, ‘Green Giant’ hybrid arborvitaes, some juniper varieties, Scots pines, limber pines, Austrian pines, and other needle evergreens showed brown patches or dead branches. Broadleaf...
If you’ve hired Wachtel Tree Science to prune your tree(s) in the past, you’ve likely noticed how much more beautiful they look afterward. But is aesthetics the main reason we prune your trees? Not necessarily. The primary objective of most pruning or crown cleaning...
Plants naturally resist infections through a process called Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR). This is similar to our own immune system. The understanding of this phenomenon is quite complicated, involving numerous hormones, proteins and other compounds inside and...
As we navigate the shifting landscapes of our environment, it becomes increasingly vital to address the challenges our trees face. One more pressing concern is the impact of drought on our green companions. Drought, characterized by prolonged periods of insufficient...
Homeowners often want to know, “What is a low maintenance, fast-growing shade tree for my yard?”. An honest arborist would respond with a few ideas, but there would be hesitation regarding the “low maintenance” part of the initial question. The hesitation is that with...
The big snowstorm in January and its after math certainly dominates the big picture and has laid down a few hair-pin turns as we navigate a new year’s tree and landscape season. While snow totals were heaviest in the western parts of the metropolitan area, and tree...
It’s very common for a homeowner to wait for an issue to develop before taking action. Unfortunately, waiting until a problem becomes visible can wind up being very costly and destructive. A perfect example of this might be the roof of your house. Waiting for a leak...
