Tree Care Information from Experienced Certified Arborists

Wachtel’s newsletter, The Plant Doctor’s Seasonal Report, brings you the most important and up to date seasonal tree care information throughout the year. This is where our Certified Arborists share their experience and passion for all aspects of the tree care industry. From preventative plant health care topics like the Emerald Ash Borer epidemic to daily happenings at the Wachtel office, The Plant Doctor’s Seasonal Report keeps you informed.

Read below to see the most up to date tree care information from our Wachtel staff of Certified Arborists and tree care specialists. For even more information on important tree care, take a look at the various tree care resources available in our digital resource center.

Ash Alternatives

Spring 2023

When a tree must be removed and the chips have settled, deciding what to replace it with often comes next. Emotions and practicality aside, there are several questions that can help make that decision. What is the primary objective of a new tree? What will best match the site and thrive? Do you want a shade tree to leave as a legacy? Do you want something novel that adds interest to your property?

The EAB Time Machine — Revisited

Spring 2023

Ten years ago, I wrote an article for this newsletter about the state of emerald ash borer (EAB) and what the future of ash trees looked like then. If you have kept past newsletters, you will find the full article in the winter 2013 issue. At that time, EAB was relatively new in our area and most ash were not yet affected by this destructive insect. Fast forward to today, we have progressed upward on the mortality curve. Thankfully, death does not overrun the current story for all ash trees.

Bark Beetles– Tiny Adversaries that Cannot Be Ignored

Spring 2023

Instead of concentrating only on the most important Ips bark beetle, I thought it might be useful to consider all the major types to see how they work, why they are a concern, and how we can deal with them.

Disease Management Through Proper Pruning

Winter 2023

Pruning is a beneficial management tool and often overlooked when it comes to suppressing diseases. Learn more.

Arborist Sleuth: Paint Flecks or Damaging Insect?

Winter 2023

Guess Which Insect? A sloppy painter might finish up the ceiling work and call it day. Cleaning off the brushes with some water and flinging the excess moisture and leftover paint onto the shrubbery. Once this dries you might find tiny white flecks on the needles of your Mugo Pine (or other evergreen host). Maybe it’s a stretch, but this does come around to a tree care topic. These white paint flecks mimic the look of a tiny insect that can damage your trees or shrubs if left alone.

Invasive Pests on the Horizon

Winter 2023

We are all too familiar with the destruction that a single pest or pathogen can bring to our trees. Two of the most evident examples from the recent past would be Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and Dutch Elm Disease...

Carnac Predictions for 2023

Winter 2023

Although I don’t claim to be a “seer,” like Johnny Carson’s Carnac (remember him from late night television years ago?), it is always fun to contemplate the dynamics of all the variables that affect the various insect, disease, and environmental responses that the plants in our landscapes will show throughout the 2023 growing season.