Employee Story: Rachel Nelson
Meet our Plant Health Care Assistant Manager, Rachel Nelson! Get to know Rachel's role at Wachtel Tree Science and why she loves working here.Continue Reading
Top 10 Ash Tree Replacements for your Property
Explore the top 10 expert-recommended ash tree replacement alternatives to combat the emerald ash borer’s impact in Wisconsin. Learn more.Continue Reading
Woodchip Mulch: How it Nourishes and Protects Your Soil
Did you know that mulching the root zone of your trees is one of the best ways to improve their health? Properly applied mulch offers numerous benefits, including weed suppression, moisture retention, temperature regulation, and nutrient addition...Continue Reading
Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right
This is an adage I have heard many times growing up and it may help to frame the discussion I wish to present. I have documented the tree stresses that have resulted from the last several years in previous issues of this newsletter: record wet weather years alternating with years of drought. In 2024 both extremes happened in the same year.Continue Reading
On TRAQ: Detecting the Hidden Hazards in Trees
To fully understand and appreciate trees, we as humans must slow down and attune to ‘tree time.’ It’s easy to forget the old majestic Oak once began as a small sapling, slowly adapting to environmental challenges throughout its life. High winds, drought, site changes, and pest issues all influence the way trees grow and thrive in their unique environment...Continue Reading
Induced Resistance – Enhancing a Trees Immune System
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 outside of the plant...Continue Reading
Got Bark?
Wachtel Tree Science is committed to innovation in keeping your tree(s) healthy and happy. This year we are celebrating 90 years of doing so! Employee education through industry-related conferences keeps us up to date with research and opinions on tree care that may be outside our normal professional circles. It was at just such a conference that I was introduced to the research of Professor Dirk Dujesiefken, and how we may assist a tree’s response to surface level wounding.Continue Reading
Diagnostic Forecast
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..Continue Reading
Preventive Vs. Reactive Tree Care
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...Continue Reading
Is It Time for Reduction Pruning?
One of the more concerning symptoms is tip dieback, where the tree struggles to push growth at its outermost branch ends, or even starts to defoliate from those ends during the growing season...Continue Reading