Redbud Trees in the Landscape

Growing a redbud tree is a great way to add brilliant color to just about any landscape. In addition, the care of redbud trees is easy.

Cercis canadensis (redbud) is a member of the bean family and is known as a Judas tree. This tree is an attractive ornamental tree that is native to the eastern part of the United States. It grows well in zones 4-8.

Mauve-pink blossoms greet the spring, lasting for 2-4 weeks. Leaves are heart-shaped with long stems. Redbuds are not a large tree, with an average height of 15-20ft and a mature width of about 15-18ft (on average).

How to Take Care of A Redbud Tree

Rebbuds require minimal care. When possible perform any deadwood pruning, thinning or shaping in late summer or fall. Keep the soil a little moist but not saturated. It likes a little drink now and then but doesn’t do well in a heavy, clay-saturated environment.

Some Pest To Be Aware Of

Occasionally redbuds suffer from canker problems or battle with tree borers. Other key pest include oleander scale, greedy scale, terrapin scale and leaf folders. The good news is, if you apply the right treatment at the right time, you should be able to reduce any pest damage rather quickly. Be sure to obtain a proper diagnosis before applying any treatment. If in doubt contact a professional and certified arborist for help.

Fertilizing Redbud Trees

Fertilize your redbud tree in the spring when ever possible. Apply a slow release formula using a balanced NPK such as 10-10-10 granular.

Location is key for redbuds to grow healthy and to produce their wonderful spring colors. Redbuds grow best in partial shade. However they produce more blossoms when exposed to more sunlight. Six to eight hours of sun per day is just about right to get the biggest and best show piece from your redbud tree.

Common Sense Care

A light water during those hot dry days, a little mulch around the bottom, cut out the deadwood, watch for pest, sprinkle a littler fertilizer and sit back and enjoy the colors of nature at its finest.

Want to plant a redbud tree or need help caring for your current one? Call the professionals at Branch Tree Service. We’re always just a phone call away!

Looking for a Tree Doctor?

When you have a sick tree and need help, the go to source should be your local “tree doctor.” Sometimes called arborists and at other times called tree consultants, these are a professional group of people who specialize in the examination, care and preservation of ailing trees and or shrubs. If you’re looking to save your tree and not just cut it down, a tree doctor will provide the expertise you need.

Why DIY Tree Diagnosis Often Goes Wrong

Sometimes an extension service (agriculture) can look at the pictures you have or the leaves or needles in your possession and come to some conclusion of what may be wrong with your tree. You can google and perhaps find the cause of your trees sickness. Other sources of help may come from your landscaper, the local garden center, or even a neighbor. The information you retrieve and how you treat your tree may be helpful. However, in more cases than not, passionate tree lovers receive the wrong advice, treat with the wrong products and end up setting your sick tree back further instead of helping it to recover.

What Makes a Qualified Tree Doctor

A tree care professional, often called a tree doctor, is the right person or persons to call upon when getting correct information about caring for your trees and shrubs. A certified arborist or a master gardener may be a good source to start your search with. Please note, a certified arborist or a master gardener doesn’t mean you’re dealing with a true tree care professional. These certifications mean such people have completed a few hours of lab work and passed a written test. The greater qualifier is calling upon someone who has performed hands on examinations for years. This person most likely has years of experience and is usually more able to identify the problem and offer correct recommendations.

You’ll know more about whether you’re hiring the right “tree doctor” or not by asking them the following questions:

Do they come to your location and make an onsite examination? If the answer is no, then move on. There is no true way to examine a tree or shrub ailment without looking both at the plant and it’s surroundings.
How many years have they been performing tree exams? If less than 2 you might be better off calling around for other options. Years of past experience will help you the most.
Is the company or person insured? When it comes to trees, liability is always a concern.
Can we schedule an appointment? A good doctor will insist on it. You want to be there to ask your questions about your tree. You don’t just want them to leave you a piece of paper left at the front door with recommendations.
Make sure to ask how soon they can come and the sooner the better. Sick trees are often times like sick people. We’re sick so we need urgent care, not when it’s too late.
Does the tree doctor have the expertise, treatment methods, and support team needed to service your tree or trees if needed?

Tree care professionals are usually very passionate people who care about plants as well as our planet. Most tree doctors are honest once completing their exam, expressing as to whether there is reasonable hope for the tree to be treated and recover or if the tree decline is beyond reversal and the tree should be removed.

Tree doctors usually also have the expertise to preform hazardous tree risk assessments and some even have experience in the area of expert witness when and where called upon.

Branch Tree Service, Inc. currently has qualified tree doctors with over 50 years of combined examination and consulting experience.

Would you go to just any doctor? Then why should your trees and shrubs? Want to save a tree? Call the tree doctors at Branch Tree Service for help with your sick tree today!

Does My Tree Need Surgery?

Surgery – the branch (pun intended) of medical practice that treats injuries, diseases and deformities by the physical removal, repair or readjustment of organs and tissues, often cutting into the body.

Tree Surgery – the practice of taking care of trees which treats injuries, diseases, and deformities by way of physical removal, adjustments, separations or cutting treatments making sure they are healthy and safe.

Certainly this article is not to suggest that tree surgery rises to the level of human surgery. However, the definitions of both show a clear parallel of the mission and goals whether they be for the body or for a tree and gives a clear understanding of what and why your tree might just need surgery at some time in its life.

What might a tree require surgery for? Here are the most common reasons:

Bark Tracing Surgery:

Wounds that will not heal due to decay, mechanical injury, insect damage, and or open infection often times need surgery to remove dead tissue cells, promote compartmentalism, encourage outer bark growth and reduce further decay, disease and even sun scale.

Girdling Root Surgery:

For various reasons (discussed in other tree tip articles) trees, (both deciduous and evergreen and of any age or size) battle with deformities called “girdling roots”. If left undetected or un-removed these girdling roots will wrap themselves around vital root arteries cutting off life giving water and food sources. The longer root surgery is delayed the greater the threat of the tree failing and declining until total death.

Limb (Branch) Surgery:

Think of a broken arm, a separated shoulder, a fractured ankle; without care these breaks will lead to serious life impacting changes. This same standard is true for trees when they have broken or decayed limbs still attached to the trees main body. Broken limbs lead to decay. Decay leads to insect and disease infections. Insect and disease invasions leads to declining trees which are unsafe for people and to traffic around.

Surface Root Surgery:

See all those roots growing at or just above the grade destroying the beauty of your lawn or creating a trip hazard? Surface roots are unsightly and many tree owners desire to remove them but are not sure if it can be done without killing the tree in question. In many cases those unwelcome roots can be removed without ever disturbing the tree’s health and certainly enhancing the safety and beauty of the lawn or landscape.

Other sorts of Tree surgery are used to combat disease and or insect infestations or to treat for malnutrition. When your trees are looking ill, wilting, discolored or simply unhealthy, it could be that your tree needs to be scheduled for tree surgery. Branch Tree Service has been performing tree surgery for over 40 years now. Our expertise in tree care sets us apart from your everyday tree cutter, we’re your local tree doctors better known as arborists.

If your tree appears to be “under the weather” be sure to call your local professional arborist as soon as possible. And for those in our area we welcome you to call for an appointment with one of our expert “Tree Doctors”.

How To Identify Drought Damage on Trees

In 2010 and again in 2012, lower southeast Michigan trees suffered from drought weather conditions creating tree decline and death. At the time of this article in August of 2022 once again southeast lower Michigan is dealing with tree, shrub and crop decline caused by heat and drought weather conditions.

Even with the best of irrigation systems in place nothing soothes the watering needs of trees (for the rest of this article “trees” will also includes other types of shrubs and plants) like a cool slow long drink from mother nature. And as far as we know, there are no umbrellas large enough to shade an entire landscape.

Heat stress and drought can and will be a primary cause for tree mortality. If your trees are important and valuable to you then care should be taken sooner than later to ensure their continual health and survival.

Symptoms of drought stress:

Leaf scorch (leaves look burnt around the outer edges)
Yellowing of the leaves (which normally look dark green)
Leaf drop
Premature fall leaf color
Wilting foliage
Other signs of drought stress include, small twig growth and deformed buds

Perhaps an equal or greater threat is the invasion of borer and beetle pests which are drawn to drought-stressed trees the following 1-3 years. While the tree is currently suffering from lack of moisture and depleted nutrients, wood boring and bark feeding beetles can smell the tree’s stress and are drawn to it and they aggressively attack the tree. It is very important to follow up the following years after the tree suffers from drought and heat stress by way of inspection and treatment to ward off unwanted deadly insect and disease invasions.

What You Can Do For Drought Stressed Trees:

Most active roots are within 12 inches of the grade. Soaking the area around the tree 2-3 times per week or as needed will help. Slow watering every 4-5 days using a soil injectable probe. Mulch under the tree starting from the flare and working your way out to the branch drip line. The bigger the mulch area underneath the tree the better. Also, for drought protection, apply mulch 3-4 inches deep but avoid mulch applied around the trunk flare.

Professional Care for Drought Stressed Trees:

Schedule invasive insect treatment protection (such as for shot hole borer, Pine bark beetles and for many other damaging wood feeding pests). Sub-soil, root zone, fracture drip edge and injection with water carrier root enhancement mixture. Inject Hydretain and CytoGro to help restore root growth and vigor. Treat root flare with a plant growth regulator.

Professional Arborists understand what your tree’s roots need during or after drought damage and how to best care for the overall health and preservation of your tree.

You may not be able to save every tree in the woods from a heat stroke but you can certainly help to save those valuable trees and plants located in your own landscape.

At Branch Tree Service we have the experience, skills and knowledge to help you help your drought stressed trees. Don’t wait until it’s too late, call our tree doctors for help today.

Trees: The Best Air Filtration System

Covid-19 brought on a wave of new and or improved air filtration systems for both residential and commercial applications. The Covid-19 virus has stimulated a new awareness of just how important it is to keep our air as pure and clean as possible.

On top of that, the world continues to escalate its concern about carbon and how it is quickly depleting our clean air and oxygen. Currently many are convinced the use of EV’s will save us from our doom. Many may argue about the danger of going to EV’s so quickly and if EV’s will really be able to save mankind for the long term or not?

Although intentions are good as to how best save our planet for generations to come, little has been publicly expounded upon about the impact of trees. Both planting and growing new ones as well as preserving those we already have play a key role in providing clean air to breath and in reducing the carbon footprint we all fear.

Want to really help “save the planet?” Here’s why we need to plant and take care of our trees:

Excess carbon dioxide (CO2) is building up in our atmosphere contributing to climate change.Trees absorb CO2, removing and storing the carbon while releasing oxygen back into the air.
In one year an acre of trees absorbs the same amount of carbon dioxide produced when you drive a car 26,000 miles.
One birch tree can absorb enough CO2 and produce enough oxygen for 1 year for 4 adult people.
Trees absorb odors and pollutant gases such as harmful nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and filter particles out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark.
In one year an acre of mature trees can provide enough oxygen for up to 18 people.
Trees cool the cities and towns we live in. The average temperature in Los Angeles has risen 6 degrees Fahrenheit on average in the past 50 years while tree removal and tree loss has increased during the same time period. This has largely been the result of road construction, population growth and commercial and housing development. Trees cool our cities by up to 10 degrees year after year by shading our homes and streets and releasing water vapor into the air through their leaves.
Three trees placed strategically around a single family home can cut air conditioning use by up to 50% annually.
When mulched, trees act like a sponge that filters water naturally and uses it to recharge groundwater supplies.
Finally: trees are cost effective solutions to combat the adverse effects of climate change such as extreme heat, droughts and floods. Trees are the only piece of infrastructure that gains value over time.

How to Care for Your Trees

Want to really enjoy a safe and filtered life? Care for your trees and consider planting a new one!

Quick tip on the best way to care for trees: Prune correctly, water as needed, feed often, treat for diseases and insects and learn all you can about keeping our trees with us for the next generation to enjoy.

Need help taking care of your trees? Call the skilled and certified arborist at Branch Tree Service today, we’re all about caring for our earth!

Stinkbugs Really Stink

Where Stinkbugs Came From

Stinkbugs are not native to the USA. They arrived by way of shipping containers and were found in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1998. The bug originates from somewhere in Asia such as Korea, China, or Japan. This pest is a particular threat to the agricultural industry as it preys on fruits, vegetables, and crops.

Are Stinkbugs Harmful?

Stinkbugs are not hazardous to people but their menacing look can be deceiving. They are not known to bite, nor have they shown any potential for disease spread. Their offensive odor protects them from birds, spiders, and other prey. Stinkbugs produce an extra strong odor when they are killed or smashed, thus the name Stinkbug.

While mainly an outdoor bug, Stinkbugs do look for warmth anywhere they can find it including the indoors of homes, work places and more. It is better to control this bug from the outside whenever possible.

Outdoor Stinkbug Control

Outdoor Stinkbug control can be obtained by spraying the lawn, under shrubs, and around the perimeter of the house or building with an approved pesticide. Stinkbug infestations always begin outdoors, especially in gardens and under shrubs. Stinkbugs are active throughout most of the year as they overwinter inside warm homes and buildings and begin feeding outside once the temperature is 40 degrees or higher.

If you’re dealing with Stinkbugs invading your home or office we suggest you contact your local arborist for inspection and recommendations on how best to combat this pest from the outside so you don’t have to apply pesticide products on the inside or keep the vacuum out.

For further help with your Stinkbug invasion call the pest control experts at Branch Tree Service, Inc. Call 586-756-7737 or submit a request at Branchtree.com.

Health Department Warns About Ticks and Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria and is spread through the bite of Blacklegged ticks, more commonly known as Deer Ticks. The spread of deer ticks is growing in Michigan. In fact, based on 2021 data, 77 of Michigan’s 83 counties have a known risk for Lyme disease. In addition, data and surveillance from various health departments indicate deer tick pressure continues to rise.

Finding and Removing Ticks

Ticks can attach to any part of the human body but are often found in the hard-to-see areas such as the groin, armpits and scalp. In most cases the ticks must be attached 36 hours or more before Lyme disease can be transmitted. Doing a full body check after spending time outside is important. Using tweezers to pull them off the skin is perhaps the quickest and best way to remove ticks.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

If someone is bitten by a tick they should call their health provider for further medical care. Symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, headache and fatigue. Some people will get a characteristic bullseye skin rash.

Where Deer Ticks Live

Deer ticks can be commonly found in leaf litter, tall grassy areas, and low lying shrubs. When walking or working in these types of surroundings wear long sleeved shirts, boots or shoes and socks. Avoid wearing open shoes such as sandals.

Tick Control for Your Yard

If your area is surrounded with deer you may want to consider 2 types of treatment control. The first is to use a deer repellent to help keep deer away from your landscape all together. The second treatment is to have your yard treated throughout the year for eradication/managed control of the ticks themselves.

While treatments may be available to the consumer, for health and safety we suggest you call a licensed professional who can visit your property and offer the correct services which will be most effective for you with your safety in mind first.

Tick check before coming into the house:

Check your clothing.
Put clothing in the dryer as heat will kill any ticks.
Examine pets.
Shower within 2 hours of being out of doors.

For further services or help keeping you safe from Ticks and Lyme Disease call the professionals at Branch Tree Service, Inc., Your Health is Important!

Boxwood Shrub Pest Alert

Photos courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

A newly identified and devastating pest is currently making its way into our landscapes. The insect is called, “Box Tree Moth” and it is a deadly threat to all species of boxwood shrubs.

Box Tree Moth in Michigan

Currently this insect has been found in 12 Michigan counties and will certainly continue to spread. In fact the outbreak is so serious that buying and planting new boxwood shrubs is under quarantine in 12 counties.

How Box Tree Moth Kills Boxwood Shrubs

Box Tree Moth does not simply feed on boxwood shrubs, they kill the entire shrub.

The insect can have as many as 5 life cycles in a single year and are a threat of killing any boxwood from mid April through September and depending on weather even into early October. The insect not only feeds on the leaves but also on the stems until the shrub is girdled and thus dies.

Recommended Box Tree Moth Treatment

The latest recommendation is to spray all boxwood shrubs in July (though at the time of this blog post, we’ve already missed the July treatment recommendation) and September of 2023 with follow up care moving forward into 2024.

Since MSU Extension and MDARD just updated their quarantine and recommended treatment information it is vital that if you have boxwood shrubs as part of your landscape you should contact our office to schedule the September treatment as suggested by MSU Extension.

Since we will not have the time to go and visit every property and since Box Tree Moth is so deadly to boxwood shrubs we have already put in place a treatment option and cost, (offering everyone a 1 time rate) so when you call we can make sure your boxwood shrubs are treated in a timely manner.

Box Tree Moth is aggressive, can fly up to 5 miles, and feeds by the hundreds if not thousands as it continues killing boxwood shrubs.

More information will be posted on our website under tree tips as they become available. You can also see further information on the MSU website.

Invasive Mountain Pine Beetle Alert

Photo credit: Invasive Species Centre of Canada

Michigan’s invasive species watchlist has been updated to include a devastating insect threat called Mountain Pine Beetle. This insect is a deadly threat to pine trees and is characterized as the most aggressive and destructive beetle to pine trees.

Why Mountain Pine Beetle Is a Threat to Michigan

Because it attacks most species of pine, the beetle could have widespread effects in the State of Michigan. Mountain Pine Beetle is currently and aggressively spreading across the western U.S. and Canada and is projected to either already be in Michigan or soon to be.

Hot dry summers and mild winters have led to the beetle’s unprecedented population growth and expansion, moving it ever closer into our Michigan landscapes and forest.

If Mountain Pine Beetle invades Michigan it will cause severe loss which will include the timber industry, landscapes, the nursery growers and even tourism.

Everyone can HELP!

The public is encouraged to look at

their pine trees and report potential infestations to your local arborist, MSU Extension or MDARD. The most obvious signs are pop-corn like lumps called pitch tubes on pine tree trunks. Pitch tubes can be brown, pink, or white as the tree attempts to push out an entering beetle. Fine sawdust can also be seen in bark crevices around the base of an infected tree.

Concerned about this insect or other deadly pest invading your pine trees? Call the professionalsat Branch Tree Service for further help with any and all of your tree and shrub care needs.

Phomopsis Canker Infects Spruce Trees in Michigan

Colorado, White, and Norway Spruce continue to struggle with infection from Phomopsis Canker. This disease is also labeled as Spruce Tree Decline and Phomopsis Tip Blight. While this was strictly a nursery and tree farm problem for many years, eventually in the 1980’s it made its way into the local landscape.

Symptoms of Phomopsis Canker

Some of the key symptoms include defoliation, branch death, and in some cases total tree loss. Phomopsis establishes cankers on older branches, usually in the lower half of the tree. Phomopsis can often be mistaken for needle cast and requires trained arborists to correctly identify whether the tree is dealing with Phomopsis or needle cast disease. There is not much outward appearance to the canker infection, one must skin the bark to identify the disease.

How Phomopsis Damages Spruce Trees

Phomopsis occuring on a spruce will have tiny sunken cankers, fungal infections that expand around the branch, girdling the current year’s sap-conducting vessels or phloem. As the fungus grows deeper into the resinous branch, the branch loses connection with the main stem and thus needles begin to drop and limb die-back occurs.

As Colorado, Norway, and White spruce are such an important part of our landscapes, it is important to inspect these trees for possible infection. The spores move slowly but if left untreated will lead to massive branch loss or total tree death. Phomopsis can spread from tree to tree (spruce and other evergreens) which can lead to a greater negative impact in any landscape.

Treating Phomopsis Canker

Pruning to remove infected limbs is extremely important in stopping the spread of this canker disease. Root fertilizing in the fall time to improve tree vigor is also helpful. And there are time sensitive targeted spray treatments as well as certain micro trunk injection formulas that are effective in minimizing fungal movement.

Phomopsis spruce decline causes branch die-back, green tip wilting, and terminal bud death. It appears Phomopsis is a greater threat and concern to more mature spruce trees.

If your spruce tree looks pale in color, has small limb die-back or large limb death, the problem may be Phomopsis Canker Disease. To ensure a correct diagnosis and a correct plan for treatment we encourage you to contact your local professional arborist.

Concerned about the health of your spruce trees? Contact the Tree Doctors at Branch Tree Service and schedule an appointment today.

Healthy Trees saves Lives!