Deblen The Tree Doctor

08/28/2026

Is your maple or any other trees turning early this summer?

In some cases this could mean a tough winter is ahead, but this year it is most likely because of the extended dry stretches and high heat we have had in Minnesota.

This stress will cause trees to shut down early to conserve valuable energy so they can get to the important work of fall root-building.

Hose-watering to get water deep into the roots is vital, so make sure to hydrate your trees!

07/27/2026

Agreed!!!

🌳 YOUR MULCH IS KILLING YOUR TREES.
You see it everywhere. The "Mulch Volcano." Beautifully manicured, perfectly piled, and absolutely deadly.
If you are piling mulch against your tree trunk, you are creating a recipe for disaster.
THE DANGERS OF VOLCANO MULCHING: ▸ Moisture trapped against bark leads to soft rot ▸ It creates a perfect hotel for insects and rodents ▸ It promotes adventitious roots (roots that grow into the mulch instead of the soil) ▸ It encourages fungal diseases that can kill a mature tree
THE REAL SOLUTION — THE DONUT METHOD: ✓ Clear the mulch away from the trunk (6 inches of bare soil) ✓ Create a "Donut," not a pile ✓ Keep depth to 2–3 inches max ✓ Extend the mulch to the tree’s drip line (where the branches end) ✓ Ensure the trunk flare (where the tree widens at the ground) is visible
WHY IT WORKS: ▸ Airflow: Prevents trunk rot and insect damage ▸ Thermal Regulation: Keeps roots cool in the July heat without stressing the bark ▸ Moisture Retention: Holds water where the root system actually needs it
JULY CHECKLIST: ▸ Go outside. Check your trees. ▸ If the mulch is touching the bark, move it. ▸ The flare of the tree should be visible. ▸ If you can't see the flare, you've buried it too deep.
A healthy tree is a cool tree. Stop the volcano today.
HASHTAGS:

07/25/2026

You don’t need pruning sealer after trimming.

You can still buy wound sealer at every garden center, which is strange considering the science buried it forty years ago.

Trees don't repair damage the way animals do. Instead of healing, they compartmentalize. Dr. Alex Shigo dissected more than 15,000 trees at the U.S. Forest Service and gave the process an acronym: CODIT, Compartmentalization of Decay in Trees. The tree produces tannins and resins that form a chemical wall around the wound, sealing off decay rather than regenerating tissue.

Slathering paint, tar, or sealer over a cut disrupts that wall. It traps moisture, limits oxygen, and holds warmth, creating the exact environment fungi thrive in. Research through the 1970s and 1980s confirmed that painted cuts decayed at the same rate or faster than bare ones. That evidence is why ISA standards now say explicitly to leave pruning wounds open.

What actually protects the tree is a proper cut. Prune just outside the branch collar, that slight swelling where the branch joins the trunk, and keep the collar intact. That tissue holds the chemical defense the tree needs to compartmentalize the wound on its own.

There is a narrow exception: oak wilt zones during active vector season, or areas with elm bark beetle pressure. A thin coat of paint in those situations is meant to deter insects, not promote healing. For every other pruning cut, bare and dry is the only finish your tree needs.⠀[P6QNQ]

07/25/2026

It’s Dry! Your trees are thirsty!

Benefits of Low-Pressure Deep Watering Trees at the Base of Trunk

Hose-watering trees at the base of the trunk at low pressure/trickle offers several significant advantages that contribute to their overall health and stability. Keep the pressure very low to avoid runoff and wasted water. The longer you soak the better, especially in well drained soil for larger trees.

Encourages Deeper Root Growth

Drought Resistance: By delivering water directly to the root zone, deep watering encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil. This makes trees more resilient during dry periods, as deeper roots can access moisture that is not available to shallow-rooted trees.

Stability: A deeper root system provides better anchorage for the tree, making it less susceptible to being uprooted by strong winds or storms.
Reduces Water Loss

Minimizes Evaporation: Water applied directly to the root zone reduces the amount lost to evaporation, especially during hot weather. This ensures that more moisture is available for the tree's uptake.

Prevents Surface Runoff: Deep watering techniques help to avoid runoff, ensuring that water penetrates the soil rather than flowing away, which is common with surface watering methods.

Enhances Nutrient Absorption

Access to Nutrients: Deeper watering allows trees to access nutrients that are located further down in the soil profile, promoting healthier growth and vitality.

Improves Soil Health

Reduces Soil Compaction: Deep watering can help alleviate soil compaction, which can suffocate roots and limit their ability to absorb water and nutrients.

Deep watering is a crucial practice for maintaining the health and longevity of trees, especially in challenging environmental conditions.

07/09/2026

Are you losing your Norway Red Pines? Insects are more than likely the culprit. Years of drought and an over abundance of weakened trees and predatory insects have created a major problem for Minnesota’s state Tree. If your Norway Red Pine trees are looking sick or you simply want to make sure that they do not have an insect infestation Call or text us today. We can help preserve your valuable pine trees. 

06/03/2026

Little bit of light off-road driving with the Deblen focus in the “back 40” of a pristine Minnesota property. Beautiful old pines left over from logging over a century ago in this untouched spot.

Finding some ailments on these giants that need our attention. We are ready to help!

Blister rust on this particular one is killing the top slowly. Woodpeckers are after beetles on a Norway pine in another photo. Seeing lots of this everywhere up north.

05/29/2026

🌳 YOUR LANDSCAPER IS KILLING YOUR TREES. AND BILLING YOU FOR IT.

Late May. Mulch delivery season.
Landscapers across America are building mulch volcanoes RIGHT NOW.

And trees are dying. Slowly. Expensively.

THE MULCH VOLCANO DEATH SENTENCE:
▸ Mulch piled against trunk → traps moisture → bark rots
▸ Rotting bark → fungal infection → tree decline
▸ Roots grow INTO the mulch pile → circle the trunk → girdling roots
▸ Girdling roots STRANGLE the tree from the outside
▸ Timeline: 5-15 years from healthy tree to dead tree
▸ By the time you notice, it's too late

THE CORRECT METHOD (takes 30 seconds):
✓ Mulch in a DONUT shape — 2-4 inches deep
✓ Keep mulch 4-6 inches AWAY from the trunk
✓ The root flare (where trunk widens into ground) must be VISIBLE
✓ Extend mulch to the drip line if possible
✓ Never exceed 4 inches total depth

THE FINANCIAL DAMAGE:
▸ Mature tree removal: $1,500-5,000
▸ Mature tree replacement: impossible in your lifetime
▸ Property value loss from one dead mature tree: $10,000-30,000
▸ Cost to fix mulch right now: $0 (just pull it back)

WHY LANDSCAPERS DO IT WRONG:
▸ Mulch volcanoes are FASTER to install
▸ They use more mulch (bigger sale)
▸ They "look" like more work was done
▸ Most landscapers have ZERO arborist training
▸ They won't be there when the tree dies

LATE MAY ACTION:
Walk outside right now.
Look at your tree trunks.
Can you see where the trunk meets the ground?

No? Pull the mulch back. Today.

3 inches of space = 30 more years of tree.
3 inches of mulch against bark = a $5,000 funeral.

Tell your landscaper. Show them this post.
If they argue — fire them.

05/17/2026

Hoping everyone is safe and sound during the wildfires. Wishing the first responders success and that they all get home ok.

05/07/2026

Here’s a pineapple aphid husk from last summer on a spruce tree. See how it looks kind of like a pineapple? These little buggers will hijack your trees spring candles and use the sap for nutrients until they are ready to emerge. Very resourceful little insects!

05/07/2026

Getting trees ready for another lakes area summer!