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

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.

Did you know that pruning trees in winter has many benefits? In some cases, it’s the only time of year to prune safely. Here are the details …

Fall is a great time of year for many trees, especially those with gorgeous fall color. We share our favorite trees with the best fall colors that do well in the eastern Pennsylvania and central New Jersey areas.