Eastern Redbud Trees in the Chicago Area
Our series on the native trees of the Chicago area is back this month with a closer look at the eastern redbud tree. Eastern redbud trees (Cercis canadensis) are small trees mostly found in the eastern half of the United States from southern Michigan and northern Illinois down to Florida and from Virginia and North Carolina west to Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. These trees are mostly planted for ornamental purposes as their smaller size and showy purplish-pink flowers make them easy to work into a landscape design. The eastern redbud tree,...
read moreVerticillium Wilt: Identification, Symptoms, and Control
We are back with our series on the common tree diseases and insect pests in Illinois with a closer look at a dangerous fungal disease, verticillium wilt. Verticillium wilt is known to affect more than 350 species of flowering plants including shrubs, trees, fruits, and vegetables. This disease affects the xylem, or tissue responsible for the movement of water within the tree, which makes it difficult for water to get to the branches. As a result, branches, leaves, and flowers, fruit, and vegetables will begin to wilt and die. In many...
read moreTips to Effectively Water Your Trees
Just about every living thing on Earth from animals to plants needs water to survive. When it comes to plants, the water they receive typically comes from rain and humidity. However, mother nature does not always provide enough water for plants and trees as droughts can leave areas dry for weeks or even months. If your area does not receive enough rain, especially during the hot months of the summer, you will need to water your plants and trees to keep them in good health. People always remember to water houseplants, flowers, and vegetable...
read moreJapanese Beetles: Identification, Control, and Prevention
Today we continue with our series on the common tree diseases and insect pests in the Chicago area to discuss an invasive pest, the Japanese beetle. Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) are native to Japan but considered an invasive species in the U.S. as they are known to feed on the leaves of more than 300 species of plants including bushes and trees. Adult Japanese beetles skeletonize leaves, destroying the foliage of affected plants and leaving them in a weakened state. The Japanese beetle grubs are also a problem as they feed on grass...
read moreHow to Make my Chicagoland Backyard a Staycation Oasis
This summer in the Chicago area is going to be different than previous summers. Sure, Illinois is in Phase 4 of the re-opening plan, but the threat of COVID-19 is not gone. This will likely motivate people to continue to stay at home and ride out the pandemic safely. As you spend more time at home this summer, you can transform your yard into an oasis that makes your time at home more enjoyable. A great place to start is in your own backyard. Your backyard is your slice of the outdoors that you can landscape and decorate anyway you want. ...
read moreGypsy Moth: Identification and Prevention
We return this week with our series on the common tree diseases and insect pests in the Chicago area with a closer look at a pest responsible for widespread defoliation, the gypsy moth. The gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar), also known as the European gypsy moth, is an invasive species from Europe. It is known to devour the foliage of hundreds of species of trees and shrubs and can destroy millions of acres of trees in a single season. Trees attacked by the gypsy moths are not usually killed unless they are already weakened, but...
read moreMurder Hornets: What & Where Are They and What Effect will They Have in Illinois?
You may have noticed that a terrifying insect has been trending and showing up in headlines lately, referred to as the murder hornet. The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), also known as the Japanese giant hornet and murder hornet, is the largest hornet in the world. As its name suggests, these hornets are native to many areas in Asia, but they have recently been discovered in the U.S. for the first time ever. The Asian giant hornet is a menacing insect at 1.5 to 2 inches long with a stinger that injects a potent venom that can cause...
read moreWhich Fruit Trees Grow Best in Illinois and How to Care for Them
The spring season has arrived in the Chicago area which means it is time to start getting back outside and giving your trees and shrubs the care and attention they need to grow healthy and strong in the growing season. This is also the time of year to consider planting new trees and shrubs on your property to help fill in the landscape and add natural beauty. At Hendricksen Tree Care, we are aware that this is not a normal Chicago spring given the COVID-19 situation. However, caring for and planting new trees on your property is still a...
read moreHow to Identify Anthracnose: Symptoms and Treatment
This week, we return with our series on the common tree diseases and insect pests in Illinois with a discussion of a fungal diseases that can affect many different trees and shrubs; anthracnose. Anthracnose is a term used to describe a variety of similar fungal diseases that cause lesions to appear on the leaves, branches, and fruit of affected trees. These lesions typically appear as wet, dark spots on leaves and twigs and they can cause defoliation and eventually branch dieback. Affected trees may also develop cankers, or sunken areas of...
read moreBark Beetles: Identification and Prevention
We are back with a new edition of our series on the common tree diseases and insect pests in the Chicago area as we discuss a group of pests that causes problems throughout the U.S.; bark beetles. There are around 6,000 species of bark beetles worldwide under the subfamily Scolytinae and there are 600 that are found in the U.S. and Canada. Many invasive species of bark beetles have been found in the U.S. and in some areas, like California, they have killed trees over millions of acres. Bark beetles are seen as beneficial to an ecosystem...
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