Recent Articles
Beware the Emerald Ash Borer…
Nature works hard to protect itself. Trees have natural defense systems to protect themselves from disease or insect damage. Sometimes though, a species of insects is
Preparing for Winter
As fall draws near, make sure you are preparing your landscape for the winter! Below is a list of what you should do to get
Dog Days of Summer
The Dog Days of Summer stretch from about July 3 to August 11. These days were named in early times by observers in countries bordering the Mediterranean, and the period lasted during
It’s Mulch Time!
Laying mulch is one of the best practices to preserve the look and health of your trees. It provides a beautiful, neat ground cover and
Dogwoods Beware!
Have you noticed spots and blotches of varying shapes and sizes appearing on your Dogwoods? If so, your Dogwoods could be infected by Anthracnose. Anthracnose
“The Tree Just Died Over Night…”
This is the comment we typically get after insects bore into the trunk of a mature tree or even a newly planted tree. Ambrosia Beetle
An Underground World…
There is a world beneath our feet, budding with life we rarely even think about or consider. For our plants, this underground world is as
What’s Hanging In Your Tree??
Now that Japanese Beetles are on the way out, Bagworms are already in! A Bagworm is just as it sounds; a worm inside a bag.
Planting Depth
One of the most common mistakes inexperienced gardeners make is failing to recognize the importance of proper planting depth. They usually err on the side
Sapsuckers
The yellow-bellied sapsucker is a type of woodpecker that primarily feeds on sap but also eats the insects attracted to sap. Sapsuckers attack live trees,
Cold Hardy Palms
Can I plant a palm tree here? Yes, you can! There are several palms that will survive and thrive in upstate South Carolina. Sabal palmetto
Palms
Palms belong to the monocot family, along with grasses, orchids, and bromeliads. Palms are not capable of secondary growth and thus, do not have annual
Mistletoe
Description: Mistletoe is a PARASITIC plant that grows as a hanging bush on the branches of trees. It will grow on most deciduous trees but prefers
Mower Injury
Description: Injuries incurred by lawn mowers and string trimmers can seriously threaten a tree’s health. Nicks or cuts to the base of the tree disrupt the
Nutrient Deficiency
Description: Not all plant problems are caused by insects or diseases. Plants require nutrients to stay healthy and those aren’t always readily available. The first sign
Poor Drainage
Description: Poor drainage is a common landscape problem and is considered by many to be one of the biggest killers of landscape plants. In areas with
Water Deficiency
Description: Tree health and growth depend upon an adequate supply of water. Normally, rainfall supplies enough to sustain healthy trees. Even moderate dry periods can be
Lightning
Description: Trees, because they are normally the tallest point around, are natural lightning rods. When a tree is struck by lightning the liquids inside the trunk
Girdling Root
Description: Girdling root is defined as “a root that grows around the trunk of a tree, thus tending to strangle the tree”. Normal movement of water
Construction Damage
The construction process can be devastating to surrounding trees when there is no protection plan in place. Broken branches are commonplace but damage done underground
Black Knot
Description: Black knot is a serious disease of plum and cherry trees caused by the fungus Apiosporina morbosa. It is referred to as black knot because
Cedar-Apple Rust
Description: Cedar-apple rust can be very harmful to the health of apple trees. If severe infections of cedar-apple rust continue for several seasons, apple tree death
Fire Blight
Description: Fire blight gets its name from the burnt appearance it leaves on affected blossoms and twigs. It is one of the most devastating and difficult-to-control
Hypoxlon Canker
Description: The following is a description of hypoxylon canker in oak, taken from the Texas Plant Disease Handbook: “Hypoxylon Canker (fungus – Hypoxylon atropunctatum and other Hypoxylon
