Hello this is Green Goddess owner Matt Filla. As a general rule of thumb, late winter is the best season for pruning trees and shrubs. Main reasons for optimal pruning timing often occurring in February and early March are:

1. Extremely low to zero chance for plant pathogens to spread. Diseases prevented with winter pruning include Oak Wilt, Locust Cankers, and Apple Fireblight.

2. Tree surgeries waste less energy during winter dormant season. Less energy is distributed in the limbs plus there is no wasted foliage with deciduous tree limb removal. Spring trimming is usually the most stressful timing as trees with lower energy reserves after winter have pushed limited energy resources into the first flush of foliage.

3. Although early winter can be solid pruning timing, late winter is usually better as open limb cut wounds are less frequently damaged from winter cold snaps. This is because late winter is close to…

Are you tired of watering trees constantly? It's incredible just how much water is recommended for a thirsty tree every day during drought. A large 40" diameter tree would benefit from 40 gallons of slow trickle irrigation on a dry hot day! Installing a mulch ring is one of the best ways to dramatically increase soil moisture moderation and consequently tree drought resistance.

Homeowners commonly overestimate the power of fertilizer. Fertilizers like miracle-gro cause explosive growth in tomatoes and scots allows turfgrass to thrive. Surprisingly, trees in compacted city soils often suffer when high nitrogen synthetic fertilizers are applied; burns to roots can occur while enhanced growth rates for stressed plants increases vulnerability to a myriad of ailments. Trees in the urban environment are weakened from a lack of organic material seen in the forest setting. Decades of leaves, sticks, and logs decomposing into the soil creates that soft, porous…

Hello Tree Talk Community,

This is arborist and commercial pesticide applicator Matt Filla. This thread helps homeowners determine the best outdoor treatment solutions.

So you’re comparing treatment options for your outdoor problem. For example, let’s say you have Emerald Ash Borer. You hire a company who tells you they use excellent insecticide products with a long track record of success. They describe a soil injection method that lasts a full year. You sign the contract and become a perennial customer. Your mistakes?

 1. ALWAYS ask the applicator to disclose which chemical they will be using for the treatment. Specifically, ask which active ingredient is in their treatment. The budget applicators you’re hiring for Emerald Ash Borer are using an inferior imidacloprid product for your treatments.

2. Research the active ingredient and call a treatment specialist such as Goddess for a second professional opinion. For Ash, trunk injection Emamectin Benzoate has extensive…

It’s time to call out predatory tree services. Do not waste thousands of dollars/kill trees with subpar tree services!

Telltale signs of predatory tree treatment companies:

1. No treatment price warranty for the life of the treatment. Fly by night companies will use cheaper products and inferior application methods to save money and move quickly. They have no financial stake in your tree’s future. 

2. Urging the necessity of treatments on most/all of your trees…or they will surely perish. 

3. Never discussing whether certain heavily damaged trees are removal candidates…only treatments are recommended. Dealing in absolutes noting that treatments are the only option never removals or alternatives to treatment. 

4. No insurance/history of quality work. 

Your magnolia has been declining for quite sometime possibly years. An ashy black soot covers all of the leaves and it appears a swarm of sweat bees, wasps, etc. has taken up residence in your declining tree.

These are classic magnolia scale symptoms you may have encountered last year.

Go look at your tree now…you may see white/orange blotches over all of the branch tips that resemble mold patches…these are actually an insect pest called magnolia scale. Arguably the most effective method to control these pests is dormant/horticultural oil application in early spring (now) and again in late fall after leaves drop. Dormant oil smothers scale…and can harm the plant if applied during growing season.

Call a professional at Green Goddess LLC to help you save your prized flowering magnolia!

The MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

As winter recedes, anticipation builds for spring strolls in the woods, gardening endeavors, and preparation for summer fun on the lakes. Gatherings around campfires spark conversations about anything and everything to do with the great outdoors. A classic topic is the timeless debate about what is the most dangerous animal that lurks outside the cabin. Unfortunately, someone very close to me has had a life changing interaction with what I would argue is the most dangerous animal by a wide margin.

Inevitably, an inordinate amount of time is spent discussing the intimidating predators of the landscape. How to respond to a bear encounter, how to fend for yourself with a pack of wily wolves on your trail, and of course your weapon of choice to deter a prowling mountain lion. Most of us have heard these predators are a surprisingly miniscule threat…

CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE PLANTING:

A. Select Your Species:

Make sure your soil conditions and environment are appropriate for your tree species of choice. University of Minnesota Extension has many great resources such as this article:

https://extension.umn.edu/.../replacements-ash-trees...

Look at nearby tree species thriving in your area planted in similar locations....this is a quick snapshot compared to using more advanced tools such as soil testing.

B. Planting Timing:

This public forum is a place to discuss all topics, including tree care, plant health, pest management, and property maintenance. Use it to ask questions, share experiences, and get helpful insights from our team and the community. Please keep discussions respectful and on topic so everyone can benefit.