Folks in the northeastern U.S. Should make preparations to avoid a deer tick bite when heading outside this spring due to the stifling effects of lyme disease. Ecologists at the Cary Institute of Ecology Studies in N. Y envision this will be a record year for Lyme illness transmission, thanks to a surplus of bloodthirsty deer tick nymphs that will be active in May and June. The fender crop of ticks has nothing to do with the mild weather though. It's all about the acorns!

In 2010, oak trees throughout the northeast produced a huge number of acorns. Where there are acorns, there will surely be rodents. In 2011, populations of white-footed mice and eastern chipmunks increased due to the selection of acorns. So last year, we had a......

"Topping trees" is a term used in arboriculture--it means cutting older trees down almost to the top of their trunk. Topping trees is sometimes used as a less expensive alternative to their full removal, and for large trees, this process can be quite costly. Usually tree topping is done because the homeowner is in a pinch, and it's not always best because it causes serious tree damage. 

There are some types of trees that die as a result of tree topping, and it comes at little expense to the owner who did not want the tree in the first place. This is why it is vital to know the types of trees in your yard and make careful decisions based on the tree's health instead of what looks nice for landscaping.

The ...

Damage to trees can happen in the winter due to a number of cold-weather related Problems. The tree damage doesn't necessarily happen thanks to the cold itself, but more so from the intense temperature fluctuations and when the cold weather conditions arrives during the trees ' asleep or growing periods. Other tree damages include the following: frost check, sunscaid, chemical injury from deicing salt, late spring freezes, and frozen roots. Fortunately, there are many ways to deal with these winter tree quandaries.

Frost injury occurs when the tree continues to grow when the winter arrives early in the fall or stays late in the spring. The frost can kill the tree tissue and presumably constrict tree expansion for good. Be ...