1. SPRING HOURS
2. EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
3. FIDS AND FIBERS
4. TREE PLANTING
5. CHOCOLATE RAFFLE
6. ELM COORDINATOR UPDATE
Woodpecker Tree Care Spring 2023 Newsletter
Tag: arborist
Open Call for New Crew Members
Note: At this time, we are not taking any more applications.
Have you ever imagined yourself working on a tree crew? If not, then why? There are a lot of reasons folks doubt their ability to do tree work, but to work with us you only need three things: curiosity, a valid drivers’ licence, and hunger to try. Come join us and find out what it’s like to be a Woodpecker!
Common Tree Planting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Tree care starts from the very beginning. When trees are young, everything from the shape of the nursery pot to the hole it’s planted in is extremely important. The conditions in which a sapling is kept and planted inform how the tree will grow throughout its whole life. Much like raising a child, it is easier to influence a tree’s “behaviour” when it’s young rather than wait until a problem arises decades down the line. That’s why it pays to consult an expert when choosing and planting young trees. It can reduce the chances of future issues, such as tree failure, which can in turn save you from heartbreak and unanticipated expenses.
Beech Leaf-Mining Weevil
Kevin was tasked with a scientific and creative project this past year, and the fruits of that labour have been published by the Acadian Entomological Society. Working together with zoologist John Klymko, Kevin collected specimens of the beech leaf-mining weevil for John’s studies. John wanted to determine the habits of the weevil in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as this invasive pest is spreading quickly and doing quite a bit of damage to our beloved beech tree population.
Power Dynamics: How We Handle High Voltage
The first rule of Woodpecker Tree Care is that safety is always the number one priority. This applies to everything we do, from loading gear to felling 60 foot spruces. Something that can be a hazard for a climbing arborist is high voltage lines, which trees can interfere with. Here is how we handle power lines while on the job, and the steps you may encounter if your tree is near high voltage lines.
Over 50 Elms Inoculated This Spring
Everything seems to be blooming early this year, including lilacs (did anyone else’s rhubarb bolt before they managed to harvest?). It was a delightful surprise to stroll down the street with their floral scent wafting through the late-May breeze, but for Woodpecker Tree Care that meant it was time to spring into action. When the lilacs are blooming, it’s time for us to cruise around the countryside and inoculate valuable Maritime elm trees.
We Incorporated!
After months of hard desk work and organization, Woodpecker Tree Care has made the exciting transformation into Woodpecker Tree Care Ltd. We are officially an incorporated business, which is very exciting news at HQ. It has been a wonderful 20 years in the arboricultural business, and this next step is a big one for a small operation like ours.
A Side-by-Side Adventure in to the Smith Lakes
A cracked and rotting spruce jam-packed between several structures (and other trees) at a property outside of Amherst, NS needed to come down as soon as possible. With two experienced climbers (Beck and Rory) on deck, it could be done in the afternoon if all went smoothly. What turned this lakeside spruce into an all-day adventure was its location: situated by a remote cabin only reachable by 2.5km of back-road terrain or by boat.
Spring Season Approaches
Can you believe that spring is just around the corner? After shoveling ourselves out on a nearly weekly basis, it’s hard to imagine leaves on the trees again.
Woodpecker Tree Care is gearing up for the spring season, which begins on March 1st for us. It will be lovely to return to outdoor work among the branches in just a matter of weeks, and we are offering an “early bird” spring deal.
Disease-resistant “Accolade” elm finds new home in Wood Point
John optimistically purchased this Ulmus “Morton” elm hybrid, more commonly known as an “Accolade” elm, from Charlie the Tree Guy this fall. The Accolade cultivar was originally planted in 1924 at the famous Morton Arboretum (Lisle, Illinois). In 2005, the Accolade was studied alongside several cultivars in the US National Elm Trial, which determined the survival rate among elms. At the time, elm trees were dying off by tens of millions due to Dutch Elm Disease (DED) and other pests. Accolade came out as one of the top hybrid cultivars, with a 92.5% survival rate.
