Tree Care Blog

Data-driven articles from certified arborists. Storm damage rankings, species deep-dives, pruning science, and practical advice backed by real data from 3780+ US cities.

Your Soil Is the Problem: What 3,778 Cities Taught Us About Tree Health

Your Soil Is the Problem: What 3,778 Cities Taught Us About Tree Health

USDA soil data from 3,778 cities shows how soil texture drives tree problems. Clay, sand, rock, and loam each create different failure modes.

Doug Winters 路 Plant Health Care Specialist 路 2026-03-24
soil health tree health data
Where Drought Is Quietly Killing America's Urban Trees

Where Drought Is Quietly Killing America's Urban Trees

Analysis of 958 drought-stressed cities reveals where urban trees are silently declining from water stress.

Doug Winters 路 Plant Health Care Specialist 路 2026-03-19
drought tree health climate data
What Your Tree Service Doesn't Want You to Know About Topping

What Your Tree Service Doesn't Want You to Know About Topping

Why topping is the most destructive common practice in tree care, how to spot it, and what proper crown reduction actually looks like.

Sam Reeves 路 Pruning and Safety Specialist 路 2026-03-15
pruning topping malpractice
Stop Planting Bradford Pears

Stop Planting Bradford Pears

Why Pyrus calleryana is structurally doomed, ecologically harmful, and still being sold at every nursery in zones 5-9.

Maria Chen 路 Urban Forestry Consultant 路 2026-03-11
species selection bradford pear invasive
The Real Cost of Ignoring That Dead Branch

The Real Cost of Ignoring That Dead Branch

The math on preventive pruning vs emergency removal, property damage, and liability. A $300 problem becomes a $15,000 problem fast.

Jake Hollis 路 Arborist 路 2026-03-07
cost risk liability pruning
How to Tell If Your Tree Is Dying: A Field Guide

How to Tell If Your Tree Is Dying: A Field Guide

Systematic guide to diagnosing tree decline: what to look for in the crown, trunk, base, and roots, and when each symptom means trouble.

Doug Winters 路 Plant Health Care Specialist 路 2026-03-03
tree health diagnosis guide
Hail, Wind, and Ice: The Storm Damage Map for Every Tree Owner

Hail, Wind, and Ice: The Storm Damage Map for Every Tree Owner

Regional breakdown of hail, wind, and ice storm frequency across 3,789 US cities and what each storm type does to your trees.

Jake Hollis 路 Arborist 路 2026-02-26
storm damage hail wind ice data
The 25 US Cities Where Trees Are Most Likely to Damage Your Home

The 25 US Cities Where Trees Are Most Likely to Damage Your Home

Data analysis of 3,789 affluent US cities reveals where storm frequency and tree maturity create the highest risk of tree-related property damage.

Jake Hollis 路 Arborist 路 2026-02-19
storm damage risk assessment data
Choosing the Right Tree for Your Climate Zone: A Data-Backed Guide

Choosing the Right Tree for Your Climate Zone: A Data-Backed Guide

How to match tree species to your USDA hardiness zone and local conditions. Top 5 recommended trees for each major zone.

Maria Chen 路 Urban Forestry Consultant 路 2026-02-11
species selection hardiness zone climate guide
America's Oldest Urban Trees: 30 Cities Where Your Landscaping Is Older Than You

America's Oldest Urban Trees: 30 Cities Where Your Landscaping Is Older Than You

Analysis of housing data across 3,789 US cities identifies where original landscaping trees are now 60-90 years old and what that means for homeowners.

Maria Chen 路 Urban Forestry Consultant 路 2026-02-04
urban forestry tree age data