Over the course of 12 weeks from late-May to mid-August of 2019, I was a full-time video production intern at Russell Tree Experts. During my time as an intern, I created service videos summarizing many of the various services that Russell Tree Experts offers such as pruning, stump grinding, and insect and disease management. I also created “video shorts” highlighting a specific job site or aspect of tree care.
How to Beat the Winter Blues
I look out the window gazing upon the barren winter landscape. I miss the vibrant green leaves on my fragrant viburnums. I miss the beautiful red flowers on my roses. I even miss watching the bees in search of nectar dancing from one pesky dandelion to the next. Most of all I miss the sun and spending my evenings cultivating a new season’s garden. I feel safe to say I have succumbed to the winter blues…
Planting Trees is Easy... Right?
Bend So You Don’t Break
Last summer, I had the opportunity to introduce our field staff to the practice of yoga. In heavy work boots and on a hard concrete floor, we made our way through Triangle Pose, Downward Facing Dog, and even a few Sun Salutations. Practicing yoga for 20 years and teaching it for the last 10, I’ve learned that the stretches and postures of yoga can help keep the joints and soft tissues of our body, like muscles and tendons, healthy and functional.
Growing Degree Days
This semester I am enrolled in a class called Integrated Pest Management, taught by Dr. Luis Cañas at The Ohio State University. One of the first lectures we had was centered around the effects that the environment has on insect populations. As we explored this theme we soon came across the concept of “growing degree days”, and I was reminded of how useful this idea is to increase awareness of what is happening in the natural world around us and to be aware of when potentially damaging insect pests are about to emerge.
Oak pruning, fascinating tree facts, and other thoughts
Here we are, fresh out of the holiday season, and the end of January is in sight! I wanted to reach out to you with some timely advice concerning trees, some reminders of why trees are so essential to life as we know it, and perhaps some other thoughts that might sneak out through my fingers as I type.
DID YOU KNOW? Tree Care In the Winter
"Can you recommend a tree that is not messy?"
“Can you recommend a tree that is not messy? One that will not drop fruit, or twigs, or stuff all over the place.” This is perhaps the request I run into the most when someone wants advice on what trees to plant. The first time I heard this one I had to fight the urge to smile and reply that yes, there are trees like that which also happen to be disease-free, not attacked by any pest, grow quickly (instantly, in fact) to the desired size, shape, and color you want them to be and never need to be pruned…
Identifying & Managing Rhizosphaera Needle Cast
Drought Stress!
The passing of time seems so fast that it can skew our perception of the present. In central Ohio, most non-farmers are still thinking about the record amount of rain fall we experienced this spring, so much so that we didn’t really pay attention when the wet spring turned into a dry, dry, summer and fall. I drive around large parts of town, regularly covering over 100 miles of road per day, and trees are what I notice…
10 Trees with Amazing Fall Color... and One You Should Avoid!
I was recently pruning trees in a newer neighborhood on the east side of Columbus where every house had two red maple in the front yard. Although Red maple is a native tree to Ohio, this subdivision was planted with a cultivated variety of the species called ‘Red Sunset.’ ‘Red Sunset’ red maple was selected and well marketed for its compact habit, good branching structure and most notably for its showy and reliable orange to red fall color.
"Stop and Notice Me" said the Pawpaw Tree
Last weekend I was in southern Ohio, working on a personal building project that needs to reach a certain stage of completion while the dry summer weather persists. Usually a time of relaxation, my weekend visits to this site have become slightly stressful due to time constraints. As I moved about the building frame, I kept dodging low branches from several Pawpaw trees growing about the place.
Humid Air: Tough for Plants and People
New Video: Our Family-Owned Company
Welcome to Russell Tree Experts. We are a family-owned business located in Westerville, Ohio. We opened our doors in 2005, and our goal - every single day - is to provide the best tree care and arboriculture resources to you. Our office representatives are kind, caring, and eager to answer your questions; Our arborists are highly educated, industry trained, and have years of experience; Our business leaders are always focused on education, safety, and quality of work. Simply put, we believe our employees are the finest in the industry and they are what make our company special.
New ISA Certified Arborists®
Congratulations to Russell Tree Experts employees Jacob Nau, Mike Wilson, and Jay Bevard for passing the ISA Certified Arborist® exam! This exam is challenging, extensive, and a true test of arboriculture knowledge. Jacob, Mike, and Jay put the extra time in the classroom and in the field to prepare themselves for this difficult exam! This is a big deal so comment below to give these gentlemen KUDOS!
The Mighty Bur Oak
Few species of trees have such a universally recognized name as the Oak. Worldwide, there are some 600 species of Oaks, and in Ohio alone we have over a dozen. Here in Columbus, they tower over the homes of Clintonville, line the streets of Upper Arlington, and bathe the yards of Bexley with their shade. Oaks in Ohio can be divided into two groups - Red Oaks and White Oaks. Many of the large Oaks we see throughout the city in urban landscapes are of the Red Oak group. Less commonly planted are Oaks in the White Oak group, of which the Bur Oak belongs. Let’s take a closer look at this under-utilized tree that is native to most parts of our state.
Soil Compaction = Not Good for Trees
Soil compaction is a big no-no for trees. When soil is compacted (above left graphic), water and oxygen cannot get to the vital root system of the tree. Water will collect on the surface and evaporate since it is unable to penetrate the soil. Seeing as trees need water and oxygen to live, compacted soil can quickly and severely impact the health of a tree.
Tree ID Quizzes
We’re always looking for fun and exciting ways to educate our employees and customers. Below are two quizzes we initially made for our crews to improve their tree identification skills — now we’re making them available to you! Don’t worry if you get a question wrong, you’ll be informed of the correct answer right after each question! The quizzes feature over 40 common trees to central Ohio so you’ll be able to walk outside and quickly apply what you’ve learned.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side (no, really!)
When people in Japan coined the term ‘shinrin-yoku’ in 1982, they likely weren’t inspired by Lou Reed’s now classic 1972 hit. But shinrin-yoku, which translates in english to ‘forest bathing’, is a practice that takes us back to our wild side, back to experiencing the calming and healing qualities of the forest and all of the plants and animals that reside there.
A New Favorite: Blackhaw Viburnum
My palette of favorite trees is always changing. This spring, while I was hiking in Noble county’s Wolf Run State park another woody plant found its way onto my list: Blackhaw viburnum, Viburnum prunifolium. I have admired this plant for years for being native, for its adaptability, ease of establishment, its ability to easily naturalize into new areas, and because it provides forage for birds, bees and butterflies. I have observed Blackhaw viburnum in arboreta, gardens, and native area across the state but this past weekend it really stood out to me in the woods amongst the redbuds, dogwoods and other spring flowering plants.