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...

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,...

It may be hard to believe but we are already within a few weeks of Christmas.  The weather throughout the Chicago area is getting colder, people are doing their Christmas shopping, and Christmas light displays are appearing in parks, downtown areas, and people’s private property. When people think of Christmas trees and other holiday decorations, holly trees and pines are typically the first that come to mind.  The dark green leaves and bright...

This week, we are returning with our series covering the common tree diseases and insect pests in the Chicago area to take a closer look at an especially destructive pest; the emerald ash borer.  The emerald ash borer is one of the most feared tree pests because they can kill formerly healthy trees in just one to two years after infestation.  Once an ash tree is infested with the emerald ash borer, there is often little that can be done to save...