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,...

We are back this week with our series on the common tree diseases and insect pests in Illinois with a close look at a serious disease that threatens all types of oak trees; oak wilt.  Oak wilt is a dangerous vascular wilt disease caused by the fungus Bretziella fagacearum that oak trees can contract over land or through their roots.  The main symptoms of oak wilt include discoloration and wilting of the leaves and defoliation, and it can kill...

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...

At Hendricksen Tree Care, we have helped you get to know the trees in the Chicago area, and possibly the trees on your own property, through our blog series on the native trees of the Chicago area.  While we certainly believe it is important to know about and appreciate the trees in our area for their natural beauty, it is also important to understand the threats to our trees.  There are many tree diseases and pests that can cause serious...