Tree Care News from Experienced Certified Arborists

We are excited to announce that we now offer email invoicing and online payment.

Our own Dave Scharfenberger has received the “Outstanding Alumnus Award” from UW-Stevens Points College of Natural Resources!

At times, things you cannot see can be a problem. Certainly, tree root issues fall into this category. Stem girdling roots (SGR’s) and circling roots are not always visible and are a type of root issue that can cause big troubles for a tree.

It has been nearly 30 years since a polar vortex of this magnitude hit our area. Back then, that cold snap had actual temperatures of minus 28 and minus 30 degrees over 2 consecutive days that were critical. The polar vortex from this winter reached minus 26 degrees for at least 2 days. Both events did considerable damage to susceptible trees, shrubs and perennials.

The Fourth of July holiday is a day that we often spend enjoying beautiful summer weather outside with family and friends. You may have spent the holiday weekend sitting on the patio, and soaking in sunshine. While the Fourth of July is a day to celebrate our freedoms, it is also closely correlated with the emergence of a frustrating landscape pest. Japanese Beetles.

The Fall Season is probably my favorite time of year. The blessing of the change in temperature and humidity, baseball playoffs, Packers season starting, and the changes in leaf color are all part of what makes fall special in Wisconsin.

Despite the name, arsonists are not responsible for this condition! Fireblight is a bacterial disease that only infects members of the Rose family (Apples, Crabapples, Pears, Mountain ash, Hawthorn, Serviceberry, and some others are the most commonly affected, but the host list is quite long).

Ash trees were an important street and shade tree for many years. They were tough native trees that stood up to a variety of conditions with relatively few problems. Unfortunately, the introduction of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) from China about 20 years ago changed all that.

You have just purchased your dream lot dominated by a mix of mature and semi-mature diverse tree species. You have chosen your architect and builder, but before you go any further, one critical team member needs to be included; your ISA Certified Arborist!

Safety at Wachtel Tree Science is in everything we do. From starting each meeting with a safety topic to the intensive training program our production team goes through. From the first time you punch the clock here at Wachtel you know that safety is at the core of each and every team member.

One of the most common ailments for our evergreens is a class of diseases generally referred to as “needle cast”. There are several species of needle cast fungi that can infect pines, spruces, or fir trees. These fungi cause the inner needles to fall off prematurely resulting in trees that appear thin and/or “sick”.

If you are a client of Wachtel Tree Science, you likely receive an Annual Tree Care Prescription letter from your Certified Arborist. You may notice a new recommendation in your tree care prescription. This new service is called “Root Biostimulant with Biological Fungicide”.