Blog - Organic Plant Care LLC

An ichneumon wasp rests on a potted plant.

Parasitic Wasps: The Natural Pest Control You Want to Have In Your Garden

Parasitic wasps are one of the many beneficial insects you may want to invite to your garden. Learn why you’ll love having them as garden pest control.

OPC Receives NJSBDC 2020 Annual Small Business Growth Client Award

Learn why we received the 2020 Small Business Growth Client Award from NJSBDC for our overall business achievements in 2020.

Will Ivy Harm My Trees?

Answers to all of your questions about what happens when ivy grows up a tree, whether to remove ivy on trees, how to remove ivy, ivy control methods, how to prevent it from climbing trees, and more!

Chinese Chestnut (Castanea mollissima)

This blight-resistant alternative to the American Chestnut has tasty edible nuts and casts a beautiful dense shade. Learn all about its preferred growing conditions, appearance, pest and disease issues, and maintenance requirements.

Tree Root Problems

Tree root problems can cause extensive damage, especially if you have trees growing near structures like foundations, underground pipes, or sidewalks. However, there are things you can do to prevent tree roots from becoming a major problem.

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

Valued for its dappled shade and mottled, exfoliating bark, the American Sycamore is a large specimen tree that needs plenty of room to grow. Learn all about its preferred growing conditions, appearance, pest and disease issues, and maintenance requirements.

Healthy Soil = Healthy Plants

What is “healthy soil”? Does fertilizer improve soil health? Learn what you can (and cannot) do with your soil to help grow healthy plants.

Copper Beech (Fagus sylvatica purpurea)

Known for its beautiful burgundy foliage that turns a lovely shade of copper in fall, the copper beech is a wonderful specimen tree for larger spaces. Learn all about its preferred growing conditions, appearance, pest and disease issues, and maintenance requirements.

Bacterial leaf scorch symptoms on elm leaves

Bacterial Leaf Scorch: FAQs

Brown, dying or scorched-looking tree leaves, especially on oaks, could be due to bacterial leaf scorch, which is fatal. Learn how to identify, control, and prevent it.

Beneficial Insects – Praying Mantis

Learn how to attract praying mantises to your New Jersey yard, which ones to buy (as an egg case), when and where they appear, what they eat, and more

a birdhouse hangs from a tree branch in the summer, green leaves from the tree are in the foreground

Summer Tree Care Checklist

What to do (and not do!) during the hot, dry summer months to ensure that your trees are healthy and beautiful throughout the entire year.

Are Beneficial Insects REALLY Good For Your Yard?

We answer all of your questions about beneficial insects in your garden, including what they do, the different types, how to attract them, their many benefits, and what not to do if you want to get these incredible insects to come over to your house.

Why Grow Native Plants in Your NJ Yard?

Native plants have many benefits for both you (e.g., lower maintenance costs) and the local wildlife and there are many beautiful plants to choose from.

Close-up of two eastern tent caterpillars, destructive pests in New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Controlling Eastern Tent Caterpillars in Your NJ Landscape

If your trees have “tents” in the branches and are losing leaves, it’s probably the Eastern tent caterpillar. Learn how to identify and control this pest.

Shrubs with green, yellow, and red foliage covered in a light snow

Best Trees & Shrubs For Winter Interest

While you can’t change the weather, you can make sure your winter landscape still catches your eye. How? By planting these shrubs and trees with striking bark and branches, winter fruit, early flowers, and attractive deciduous forms!

yellow tape with the word "caution" in front of grass and trees

Is Your Tree Dangerous? How to Identify Potential Safety Hazards

Often, a tree’s internal damage can’t be fully evaluated from the outside, and the behavior of a declining tree can’t be predicted. Learn to identify signs of serious damage to help prevent your trees from becoming a hazard.

bark stripped off of a tree in the Central New Jersey area

What is Stripping the Bark Off My Trees in Winter?

We share details on the rodents and other critters that eat or tear bark off trees in winter (some also eat tree roots), which trees they prefer, and how to prevent winter tree damage from these pesky varmints.

What is a Burl?

We cover what a burl is, what it’s made out of, how it’s formed, which trees are more likely to grow burls, and what you should (and shouldn’t!) do if you find a burl in one of your trees.

Witches’ Broom in Trees: What, Why & What To Do

What is a witches’ broom, what causes it, and what should you do if there’s one in your tree? Learn about these abnormal clusters of twigs and if they’re harmful for your tree’s health.

Best Shrubs & Trees To Use For Privacy Hedges & Screening

Although there are many choices, there are some shrubs and trees that work better than others as a hedge, windbreak or privacy screen. Here are our top recommendations for homeowners in central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.

OPC Blog - Organic Care For Trees, Lawn & Landscapes