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...
The last few seasons have shown a combination of above-normal heat and droughty conditions, and we are beginning to see the impacts unfold in our trees. One of the more concerning symptoms is tip dieback, where the tree struggles to push growth at its outermost branch...
As a Certified Arborist, I love diving into the stories of trees and their connection to your property. Recently, I had the opportunity to review two 100-year-old white oaks on the south side of Pewaukee Lake whose tale unfolded in a fascinating way. They exhibited...
Water from snow melt, excess seasonal rainfall, and overland drainage settling into the lowest area(s) of a property can cause a common spring experience—temporarily wet areas in the yard. They might cause actual wet feet for homeowners, but these wet spots also cause...
Planting a new tree is exciting, and taking care of your newly planted trees can be easy once you’re familiar with the basics. This aftercare can be broken into two time frames: initial care in the first year, and then the longer-term care that comes in the years that...
Wachtel Tree Science characterizes greatness as, “to be as good as we can be and better than we have been.” Continuing education and training are foundational to this and we congratulate those employees who have earned their ISA Certification so far this year. The...
At its core, science is about asking testable questions and exploring potential answers. As an ISA Certified Arborist, I find this approach invaluable in our quest to understand and care for trees more effectively. Because we love the science that helps us care for...
Situational awareness is a term often used in the military or security forces. It describes the need to be aware of hidden or potential dangers when entering a location, to know all possible entrances and exits that an enemy may come from, and to plan for exit...
Job Title: Office Manager Education: Attended UW-Milwaukee to pursue an English and Film Studies degree. Additional Roles in the company: I have spent time in many roles within the administrative side of Wachtel Tree Science and I continue to help in those roles to...
Although it may sound easy (and Wachtel Tree Science crews may make it look easy), pruning a tree to the ANSI A300 standards can be more complex than you may think. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is an organization that writes standards by which...
Job Title: Diagnostic Arborist Industry Certifications: Certified Arborist, WI-0678A Education: Bachelor of Science with dual major in Urban Forestry and Forest Recreation Areas of Expertise/ Specialties: Evaluating trees for health, insects, and diseases How Did You...
Driving may not be something you picture when thinking about an arborist’s routine, but operating vehicles to transport crew members and equipment is a vital component of our work. Doing so safely is imperative to the efficiency of the day, our well-being, and the...
Trees display their health through a variety of indicators seen above ground. Observations such as leaf shape/color, bark wounds, twig growth, and insect activity can all give clues to a tree’s health and possible issues. Our Certified Arborists interpret these...
Spotted lanternfly is a type of leafhopper. Although it has wings, it is a weak flier. Unfortunately, this doesn’t make capturing them any easier because of their strong legs. They are incredibly good jumpers, avoiding predators by gliding to other trees. As a nymph,...
Cambistat is a product that specializes in reducing tree canopy growth. Its active ingredient Paclobutrazol causes a hormonal change in trees which slows the growth of the canopy. It does this by interacting with two of the hormones that lead to canopy growth in...
