Organic Tree and Shrub Care Archives - Organic Plant Care LLC | Tree Service in Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset & Union Counties, NJ and Bucks County, PA

Serving Central NJ & Eastern PA

Call Us - 908-309-6611

Updated March 23, 2020

Under the Governor's "stay-at-home" order on 03/22/20, tree care and tree work can continue as long as tree care businesses follow social distancing recommendations. As an "essential service", we are working hard to make sure our customers' trees are safe and well-maintained.

We take the health and safety of our customers and employees very seriously, and have consulted with the NJ Board of Tree Experts, International Society for Arboriculture, and the Tree Care Industry Association to make sure that we are following best practices. As a result, we've enacted the following additional precautions to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus in our local communities.

On Your Property

When one of our arborists arrives to inspect your tree(s) and provide an estimate, they will call or text to let you know they've arrived (rather than ringing the doorbell). You can stay indoors and communicate by phone while our arborist is on site. If you'd prefer to come outside, we will ensure that the recommended 6-foot distance is maintained.

As always, proposals and work orders will be sent to you by email; we don't provide hand-written estimates.

You can accept a proposal directly through the link in the email, through the Customer Portal on our website, or by calling the office.

When our crews are on your property, they work independently. You do not need to be home or have any direct contact with them.

Our Crews

We are closely monitoring all employees for any signs of illness. Each team member knows that they should go home immediately if they feel unwell, or stay home if they're at all concerned. If anyone becomes ill, we will all follow the CDC's recommendations.

We've provided an abundance of alcohol wipes and latex gloves for each employee, are ensuring that they follow the recommended handwashing and disinfecting protocols, and have reinforced that they should maintain as much distance from each other as is practical while at work.

In the Office

Corey and Joy are working tirelessly to keep up with the spring demand and are continuing to schedule appointments for estimates. We're experiencing a high volume of phone calls so ask for your patience as we try to get to everyone.

Scheduling and ongoing work have so far not been affected. If it becomes necessary to reschedule, we will let you know.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

pinecones and pine needles on the ground in fall

This fall, have you noticed evergreen needles (from trees like pine, spruce, fir, yew or arborvitae) turning yellow and/or falling to the ground? What does it mean? Why is it happening? Should you be concerned? Find the answers in this Q&A.

One of the things you might want to consider doing this spring is rejuvenation pruning (basically, cutting shrubs down to the ground). Done every three to five years, this extreme method of pruning can rejuvenate an overgrown or unsightly shrub. But, to be successful, it should be done at the right time, in the right way, and to the right shrubs.

If woodpeckers are drilling holes in your trees it’s likely to indicate a much bigger problem, such as an insect infestation or dying tree. For example, it’s often the first visible sign of EAB infestation in ash trees. Find out why and how woodpeckers peck trees and what you can do about it.

The emerald ash borer (EAB) has been infesting and killing ash trees in central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania for several years, leaving behind acres of dead and dying trees. These dangerous trees should be removed ASAP. Here’s what you should know about how to do that safely, quickly and cost-effectively.

During the summer, trees sometimes suffer from heat stress. In this article, we go over what exactly it is, how you can spot it, and how you can keep your trees healthy and stress-free throughout the worst of the summer heat.