Maple leaf

Why Do Leaves Change Colors in the Fall?

Fall Changes If you live in an area that has four seasons, you probably love the fall. It is a time when the weather turns cooler, the days get shorter, and in Virginia, the leaves of deciduous trees turn brilliant colors in preparation for the winter. Many people speculate why leaves change color, but the […]

Is that poison ivy?

Toxicodendron radicans or better known as eastern poison ivy is a hardy fast growing poisonous plant that thrives in the summer. If you come in direct contact with the leaves and or vines, it can cause urushiol-induced contact dermatitis. The oil from the plant, urushiol oil, causes a delayed allergic reaction. Depending on how many […]

Trunk Wounds

How do trunk wounds affect my tree? We consistently get questions regarding flaws in tree trunks and their safety. Highly simplified, the bark protects the cambium layer. This layer is the tree’s vascular system and is the pathway for movement of water and other nutrients. When wounds penetrate through the bark and into the cambium, […]

The Emerald Ash Borer (agrilus planipennis)

The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is a green jewel beetle native to eastern Asia. It was first found in the United States in 2002. Since then, these beetles devastated millions of ash trees. The adult beetles are emerald green in color and about 1/2″ in length. They feed on the ash foliage […]