Tree Care Tips

Picture this: a beautiful 80-foot red oak that survived Civil War cannon fire, two hurricanes, and decades of kids swinging from its branches… gone in 18 months. The cause? A well-meaning homeowner with a chainsaw and a YouTube tutorial who decided to “open it up” in April. Within weeks, the fresh wounds attracted Nitidulid beetles […]

By Emma Greenfield, ISA-Certified Arborist & Orchard Consultant with 17 years of hands-on experience growing sweet and sour cherries in zones 4–8 Last updated: November 2025 One single wrong cut on your cherry tree can wipe out next year’s entire harvest… or even kill a young tree overnight. I’ve seen it happen more times than

Imagine stepping into your yard on a crisp late-winter morning and being completely surrounded by a living waterfall of pure golden trumpets. That’s the magic of a well-grown gold trumpet tree (Handroanthus chrysotrichus, formerly Tabebuia chrysotricha). Few trees can stop traffic the way this Brazilian beauty does when it explodes into bloom — often while

Imagine planting a tiny sapling today and watching it tower 50–60 feet above your house before your kids graduate high school. Most people think that’s impossible with oaks. They’re wrong. For decades, the phrase “mighty oak” came with a painful catch: you’d be lucky to see decent shade in your own lifetime. Traditional red oaks

Picture this: it’s a warm October morning in Central Florida, Houston, or even Phoenix. You walk into your backyard, reach up, and pick a golden-yellow apple that’s still warm from the sun. Crunch. Sweet, crisp, juicy — better than anything from the supermarket. Most people will tell you that’s impossible without cold winters. They’re wrong

Imagine stepping into your backyard on a warm July morning and being completely enveloped by a 20-foot-tall cloud of the richest, most vibrant purple flowers you’ve ever seen. That’s the magic of a well-grown crepe myrtle tree purple in full summer glory. Whether you’re dreaming of the deep violet blooms of ‘Twilight’, the compact lavender

Imagine stepping outside on a crisp October morning, coffee in hand, and being completely enveloped by a canopy of the richest wine-red and purple you’ve ever seen on a tree. Your neighbors slow their cars. Passers-by pull out phones. That jaw-dropping display isn’t a rare native sugar maple in the mountains — it’s your own

Imagine walking into your living room and being greeted by the soft, silvery-green glow of a gorgeous Mediterranean olive tree — its gnarled trunk twisting elegantly toward the ceiling, delicate leaves fluttering in the breeze from your AC, and tiny faux olives peeking out like they were just picked from Tuscany. Now imagine never watering

Imagine stepping into your garden and being enveloped by living curtains of shimmering emerald foliage that sweep the ground like a fairytale waterfall. That’s the magic of a mature weeping European beech tree (Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula’) in full glory — one of the most breathtaking specimen trees you can own 🌳💚. With its dramatically pendulous

Imagine harvesting a quirky, fiery pepper that’s as much a conversation starter as it is a culinary delight! The Peter Pepper chilli plant (Capsicum annuum var. annuum) is a unique variety that captivates gardeners with its vibrant colors, moderate heat, and, yes, its peculiar shape. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or a curious beginner, this