Ornamental Trees
Big white splotch on pine bark
Q: Can you help me identify what might be going on with my tree? It isn’t a mushroom; the white splotches are up about five feet on the trunk. It also has a large hole/crack nearby. A: The white stuff...
Caring for tree after machinery damage
Q: I had my front yard dug up due to a collapsed sewer line. The backhoe damaged a six inch square of bark on one side of my mature dogwood tree. Is there anything I should do to ensure better...
Poorly planted tree in decline
Q: I have a tree in my front yard that is already changing leaf color in early September and has some black ooze coming out of spots on the trunk. A: The root system is in decline, either from poor...
Chinese Elm (Lacebark Elm) Varieties
Q: I had to take down a big oak and I want to replace it. A friend mentioned Chinese elm. What are your thoughts? A: Chinese elm, Ulmus parvifolia, also known as lacebark elm, is an excellent tree. The bark...
Tree Pruning
Pruning a tree sometimes invokes more worry than it should. You wonder if removing a tree limb is analogous to cutting off your leg (does it hurt? will I kill it?). Fortunately, if you take your time, pruning can be easily done,...
A Banana Enthusiast’s Notes on Banana Feeding
Nick C. grows all sorts of bananas in Gwinnett County, northwest of Atlanta. see Banana Care He has specific tips on fertilizing bananas. “I like to start slow with the chemical fertilizer in the spring about 1-2 weeks after planting...
Banana – An Enthusiast’s Notes on Care
Some people are into plants…but a select few are REALLY INTO PLANTS! In this case, it’s bananas. Nick C. grows all sorts of bananas in Gwinnett County, northwest of Atlanta. I want to share with you his enthusiasm and growing...
Tree – Straightening When Blown Over
Summer or winter storms often blow over otherwise healthy trees. Here is a review of the basics of righting small trees that lean or have partially fallen. I would ONLY attempt this on trees less than 15 feet tall….nothing bigger....
Bradford Pear – Substitutes and Alternatives
Homeowners often complain about their ‘Bradford’ pear problems. “The flowers stink!”, “The branches fall apart!”. If you have such a tree and want to replace it, there are lots of alternatives. My absolute top choice would be a tree-type crapemyrtle....
Bradford Pear – Severely Pruned
When I spotted these poor ‘Bradford’ pears, I was horrified! Surely a knowledgeable arborist hadn’t done this! But I’m not a professional arborist so I asked someone who is: Art Morris, ISA certified arborist at Bartlett Tree Experts. My question...
Leyland Cypress – Limited Lifespan/Drought Damage
Nothing lives forever. Whether plant or animal, living things seem to have typical life spans: some measured in centuries and some in days. Leyland cypress is enormously popular in Southern landscapes. It’s been planted by the millions. Even so, it...
Crapemyrtle – Fragrant
When Patricia C. saw my web page stating that crapemyrtles are not fragrant, she sent a note saying that her plant certainly does have a distinct perfume. I didn’t believe her…but she sent pictures. Now I’m going to have to...
Assessing Tree Health – The Doctor is IN!
A neighbor had an old post oak in their back yard that was precipitously leaning toward the house. I asked Chris Hastings, owner of Arbormedics, to evaluate the tree’s health. Chris has an amazing computer-driven system that allows him to “see” inside...
Loblolly Pine – Origin of the Name
My friend Dan C. contributes this: Having grown up in Florida, I had certainly heard of a loblolly pine, but never thought about the name. Here’s some interesting/informative information. I was reading a novel (set in the early 19th century)...
MANY TREES IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
“It sounded like a bunch of popcorn popping in my yard” said my friend Maureen. “I looked out the back window and could see nothing but limbs and leaves!” Her fifty foot tall oak tree fell without warning one afternoon,...
TO DIAGNOSE PLANT PROBLEMS, CONSIDER ALL THE ANGLES
I should have been a detective. As an adolescent, I devoured books about the Hardy Boys and their crime solving adventures. My friends Marcia White and Kathy Graves loaned me their copies of Nancy Drew. I read every Sherlock Holmes...
Serviceberry (Juneberry, Shadbush) – Identification
Sometimes I’m asked for my favorite plant. While I have several, one of my favorites is serviceberry. I remember ten years ago that I needed a small tree to put next to my mailbox. I wanted something with more than...
Yaupon Holly – Make Tea from Leaves
Yaupon holly is a native holly often used in urban landscapes. Native Americans also found it useful….but not for making their homes more attractive! The following is for information only! Yaupon Tea posted by Geoff This afternoon I made a...
