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...

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...

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. ...

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...

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...

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...