Fall Webworm (Hyphantria cunea)
Last year there was a large infestation of ‘Fall webworm’ in the Comox Valley and across many parts of Vancouver Island. You may have noticed the large ‘tent’ webs on red-alder trees along the roads and highways starting in July and August, and perhaps in your gardens too. While the caterpillars and their webs may…
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“Is it possible that we don’t own our trees?”
As property owners, we are often excited to have our own space to customize and make our own, from the details of the home to the landscape. In short, we enjoy the feeling of ownership. However, in general, we are usually still part of a community. We may have to share the cost of repairing…
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“Can we top this tree? Should we top this tree?”
Topping involves making (often radical) reductions in height that disrupt the natural growth pattern of the tree. Firstly, if we can agree that nature generally has a reason to its design, then we likely don’t want to disrupt the natural form and growth patterns of the trees we care for. Secondly, we must recognize that…
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“Does this tree need to be pruned?”
Our philosophy is that a naturally grown tree that has had no human interference living outside of a man-made environment does not need to be pruned. But the truth is that in the urban environment, humans and trees coexist, and we often have desires and objectives that require altering the tree in some way. A…
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“Is this tree healthy?”
To answer this question, we have to ask ourselves, “what is tree health?” From an arboriculture standpoint, tree health is separate from structural integrity. Tree health means that the tree is free of pests and disease, is vibrant and vigorous, showing appropriate new growth for its species each year, and has adequate bright foliage and…
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“This tree is too big”
Actually, the tree is just the size it was genetically predisposed to be. It may be that: This is why we love the opportunity to advise people before they make their planting selections. In the case where you’ve inherited a problem, there are some ways to address a tree’s size that can ensure both…
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