Tree Health Management

04/27/2026

Are you thinking of joining the trend of incorporating more native understory plants to your yard? This article is for you!

Are you thinking of joining the trend of incorporating more native understory plants to your yard? This article is for you. Your goal may be to reduce your lawn maintenance by removing some, or maybe you want to fill in some space that is just empty mulch. Maybe your goal is to bring more color,…

03/31/2026

What Are Girdling Roots—and Why They’re So Harmful to Trees?

Trees depend on a healthy root system just as much as a healthy canopy. While most people understand the importance of watering and pruning, one of the most common—and least understood—causes of tree decline happens underground: girdling roots. These hidden defects can slowly weaken and eventual...

03/02/2026

Landscape fabric is sold widely as a low maintenance, semi-permanent solution to weeds. Unfortunately, the marketing is more effective than the product itself. Many homeowners may be surprised to learn that landscape fabric may do more harm than good in the long-term health of their landscape and can cost a lot of money to remediate.

Landscape fabric is sold widely as a low maintenance, semi-permanent solution to weeds. Unfortunately, the marketing is more effective than the produce itself. Many homeowners may be surprised to learn that landscape fabric may do more harm than good in the long-term health of their landscape and ca...

02/24/2026

Biochar is a type of charcoal that is produced from plant matter waste, including wood, agricultural waste, paper mill waste, etc. It is burned in a closed system, creating a stable form of carbon that is used to amend soil in agricultural practices, and is thought to increase yields. In arboriculture, we use it to improve the health of soil, and thus the roots of trees.

Biochar is a type of charcoal that is produced from plant matter waste, including wood, agricultural waste, paper mill waste, etc. It is burned in a closed system, creating a stable form of carbon that is used to amend soil in agricultural practices, and is thought to increase yields. In arboricultu...

02/02/2026

Get your Spring Planting Orders in! If adding new trees and shrubs is part of your garden plan for the 2026 season, now is the time to get your order in.

As we continue to endure the bitter cold this winter, we can remind ourselves that warmer days are ahead and work on our spring garden plans. Each day growing longer reminds us that spring is coming, and we will soon be back in garden enjoying warmth, greenery, and bird song. If adding new trees and...

01/24/2026

Join Tree Health Management at the 2026 Garden & Green Living Expo! Come learn about Oak diseases at our seminar: Oaks Under Pressure, or come ask an ISA Certified Arborist your tree questions at our booth on the show floor. Save on advance registration now at wigardenexpo.com. See you Feb. 13-15, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison!

01/07/2026

Winter Tree Care Tips: Tree stress in the Madison area has been compounding over the last 3 years due to a variety of factors related to climate change. While this region of the U.S. is characterized by its seasonality, the last few years have been particularly abnormal for our region over such a short period of time. A few examples of such conditions include prolonged periods of drought in both summer and winter, excessively hot summers andwinters without consistent snowfall. While you may observe a tree dying here and there, tree stress remains hidden from view for some time before physical symptoms begin to show.

Tree stress in the Madison area has been compounding over the last 3 years due to a variety of factors related to climate change. While this region of the U.S. is characterized by its seasonality, the last few years have been particularly abnormal for our region over such a short period of time. A f...

12/29/2025

With winter once again bringing snow and ice, we are preparing for the task of clearing driveways, roads, and sidewalks. For many, this means the use of de-icing salts to ensure a safety for cars and people. Unfortunately, many of our trees and shrubs are susceptible to injury from salt usage in the landscape.

With winter once again bringing snow and ice, we are preparing for the task of clearing driveways, roads, and sidewalks. For many, this means the use of de-icing salts to ensure a safety for cars and people. Unfortunately, many of our trees and shrubs are susceptible to injury from salt usage in the...

11/10/2025

As the gardening season winds down and fall colors set in, a sense of relief may set in that the time for constant yard work is ending for the season. In the past, winter is time for people to rest and recharge between busy gardening seasons, but changing winter climate may disrupt this rest period. Winters are supposed to recharge the land. Snowpack insulates the root systems of trees and shrubs, winter precipitation builds soil moisture, and frozen ground helps preserve moisture until spring. But lately, southern Wisconsin has been seeing winters that are, in many places, significantly drier than what locals expect.

As the gardening season winds down and fall colors set in, a sense of relief may set in that the time for constant yard work is ending for the season. In the past, winter is time for people to rest and recharge between busy gardening seasons, but changing winter climate may disrupt this rest period....

11/03/2025

In summer of 2024, we received a call from a client in the Bay Creek neighborhood asking if we could do anything to help their old Oak. It was a 51” diameter Bur Oak that is estimated to be over 250 years old. The tree had undergone some root damage when the city re-did the street and the sidewalk under the tree 7 years prior. Since then, the tree had been slowly declining. When we came out for the first time, about half of the tree’s canopy had died, with the dead portions concentrated on the side of the tree facing the street.

In summer of 2024, we received a call from a client in the Bay Creek neighborhood asking if we could do anything to help their old Oak. It was a 51” diameter Bur Oak that is estimated to be over 25 years old. The tree had undergone some root damage when the city re-did the…

10/01/2025

Home inspectors play a key role in helping buyers understand the condition of a home before it’s sold. While home inspections can reveal unseen costs before a buyer commits to buying the property, too often properties are sold that have significant tree issues that remain unseen by the buyer. If you've had tree work done, then you know that it is highly specialized labor that isn't always cheap. Learn what to look for when shopping for your new home when it comes to your (potential) new trees.

The home buying process can be stressful, especially in cities like Madison where housing availability is competitive and buyers need to act fast. Home inspectors play a key role in helping buyers understand the condition of a home before it’s sold. Home inspections often reveal unseen costs befor...