Poison Hemlock
Among Northeastern Illinois’ weed list is a very dangerous plant called ‘Poison Hemlock’ (Conium maculatum) and should be removed very carefully from your landscaping promptly! (Image from www.illinoiswildflowers.org.) On this plant of the carrot family, you will notice that the flowers have 5 petals on each set. The typical cluster is roughly 2-2.5″ across distinguishing it from Queen Anne’s Lace. Also, Queen Anne’s lace has one red floret in the center of its flower cluster, poison hemlock does not (as seen above.) (Image from phytophactor.fieldofscience.com.) You will notice that the leaves of the Poison Hemlock plant look similar to the carrot. The smooth stem is stout, has a ridged appearance and […]
The Things We Encounter!
Today was supposed to be a routine tree removal for us. Unfortunately, during the course of the removal we came upon a raccoon’s nest that had babies in it! YIKES! Can you say Angry Mother Raccoon? So what do we do when we encounter a tree with a Squirrel’s Nest or Raccoon’s Nest in it? We do the ethical thing: we safely remove the nest to a box with the mother in sight so that she knows where the babies are and can transport them to a new nest once the coast is clear. We also call Animal Control promptly so that they are aware of the situation, and if […]
Why do I need Plant Health Care?
Why do I need Plant Health Care? Most homeowners don’t think about their trees until it’s too late. At this time, they call us out to give them an estimate on removing their tree. This could have been avoided if action was taken prior to the tree dying or becoming so hazardous that it needs to come down. A Plant Health Care program is for trees similar to a Health Care Program for people. It is a program that is set up between you and your Arborist to help keep your trees healthy or treating them for a particular problem. The goal is to enhance their functionality and beauty in […]
Illinois’ Big Tree Registry
Do you or someone you know (in Illinois) have a very large old tree? We recently came across a 58″ diameter Burr Oak at one of our customer’s homes in Spring Grove! When we contacted the Illinois Conservancy we found out that it is actually one of the largest Oaks in McHenry County! Needless to say we are helping them to ensure the care and survival of this majestic Oak tree. If you have a large tree that you would like to get registered, contact us, or follow the link below to go directly to Illinois Big Tree Registry’s website to fill out the forms. Illinois Big Tree Registry
Tree Owner’s Manual
The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, & Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry have put together a tree owner’s manual for homeowners. Originally published in 2008, it details how a tree functions, how to properly maintain your tree, as well as planting and pruning your tree(s). To download your manual, simply click the link below to open the pdf file. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, contact us. TREE OWNER’S MANUAL
