Talking Trees with Davey Tree

Latest Episodes:

What's Growing On My Tree? - Black Knot, Galls & Other Growths Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

Brian Sieber, district manager of Davey's Cincinnati office, talks about different growths that could be harming your trees, such as black knot and galls.

In this episode we cover:

Black knot (1:02)
- Pruning infected trees (3:08)
- How to avoid black knot (4:08)
- Are healthy trees resistant to pathogens and pests? (5:09)
- Does cutting out black knot save the tree? (5:47)
- Black knot in the fall (6:39)
- How has the weather affected Cincinnati's season? (7:09)
Galls (8:56)
- How to know of galls are harming your tree (10:26)
- Send pictures of your tree to your arborist (11:28)
- Pay close attention to your tree (12:55)
Cool native species for forested areas (14:58)
- Hackberry tree (15:00)
- Kentucky coffee tree (16:05)
- Catalpa tree (17:25)
  - Catalpa worms (19:12)

To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code.

To read our blogs to learn about the different kinds of growths that can harm your trees, click here - Tree Care Tips, News & Checklists | Davey Tree Service Blog

Connect with Davey Tree on social media:
Twitter: @DaveyTree
Facebook: @DaveyTree
Instagram: @daveytree
YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company
LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company

Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com.

Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you!

Have feedback, questions or a topic you want covered? Click here to send Talking Trees a message OR email podcasts@davey.com.

Summer Pests Bugging Your Trees & Plants Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

Ryan Kasak, sales arborist at Davey's Wickes/arborists, a Davey company, office, talks about a variety of summertime pests, as well as how homeowners can spot and get rid of them.

In this episode we cover:

Bagworms (00:48)
Aphids (3:33)
Crape myrtle trees in Rockland County, NY (5:24)
Japanese beetles (6:06)
Is a healthy tree not as prone to pests? (7:12)
How do pests act when it's hot and dry? (8:13)
Spider mites (8:46)
Spotted lanternfly (11:07)
How did Ryan become a sales arborist? (13:06)
What can homeowners do to get rid of pests? (13:36)
Lace bugs (14:53)
Treatment application for large plants (15:57)
How do arborists stay informed about pests and disease? (16:28)

To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code.

To read our insect and disease blogs to stay informed on the different pests that pose a threat to your landscape and garden, click here - Insect & Disease Issues Blogs.

Connect with Davey Tree on social media:
Twitter: @DaveyTree
Facebook: @DaveyTree
Instagram: @daveytree
YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company
LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company

Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com.

Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you!

Have feedback, questions or a topic you want covered? Click here to send Talking Trees a message OR email podcasts@davey.com.

Wetlands 101: Why These Habitats Matter Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

Ana Burns, senior area manager at Davey Resource Group (DRG), talks all about wetlands, their ecological importance and the work that DRG is doing to preserve these natural habitats.

In this episode we cover:

What is Davey Resource Group (DRG)? (00:41)
Ana's role at DRG (1:15)
How is a wetland defined? (1:49)
How are wetlands important to the environment? (2:54)
How does DRG work with wetlands? (3:29)
Sustainability and constructing around them (5:49)
Cool plants that only grow in wetlands (6:50)
Wetlands in the spring (8:20)
The meaning behind preserving these natural areas (9:53)
What does a DRG team do at a wetland? (10:52)
Davey's SEED Campus wetland habitats (13:23)
SEED Campus bog research (14:06)
How did Ana choose this career path? (14:49)

To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code.

To learn more about DRG's wetland work, visit our Wetland and Stream Services site.

Connect with Davey Tree on social media:
Twitter: @DaveyTree
Facebook: @DaveyTree
Instagram: @daveytree
YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company
LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company

Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com.

Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you!

Have feedback, questions or a topic you want covered? Click here to send Talking Trees a message OR email podcasts@davey.com.

Drought-Stressed Trees: Infections, Defenses and How to Help Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

Jess Divin, district manager of Davey's East San Antonio office, talks about how Texas' long-term drought is impacting trees, as well as the infections that can result from drought stress and the natural defenses trees use to survive.

In this episode we cover:

Oak wilt fungal infection (00:42)
How can homeowners take care of oak wilt? (3:40)
Years-long Texas drought is highly affecting trees (7:37)
Tree defense mechanisms during drought stress (8:20)
Tree watering during a drought (11:28)
Biscogniauxia fungal infection (14:13)
Invest in your trees to ensure prolonged health (18:47)
Root systems under drought stress (20:07)
How did Jess become an arborist? (21:00)

To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code.

To read our blogs about how droughts affect trees and how to spot the signs of stress, visit our drought blogs at Blog.Davey.com by clicking here - Davey blogs about drought.

Connect with Davey Tree on social media:
Twitter: @DaveyTree
Facebook: @DaveyTree
Instagram: @daveytree
YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company
LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company

Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com.

Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you!

Have feedback, questions or a topic you want covered? Click here to send Talking Trees a message OR email podcasts@davey.com.

Tulip Poplar: The Beautiful, Fast Growing, Popular Maryland Tree Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

Lou Meyer, reginal business developer in Davey's Mid-Atlantic region, talks about the beautiful tulip poplar tree, including its height, classification and uses for its wood.

In this episode we cover:

Description of the tulip poplar (00:42)
Where and how do they grow? (2:18)
Weak wood vs. mid wood trees (5:02)
Colonizer trees (6:03)
Tulip poplar leaves (7:43)
Tulip poplar flowers (8:52)
Tulip poplar fruit (9:57)
They grow to extremely tall heights (10:24)
How are trees like these measured? (12:03)
How do climbers face their fear of heights? (14:28)
Uses for the tulip poplar's wood (16:34)
Tulip poplar pests and diseases (17:14)

To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code.

To read our tree blogs to learn all about the different flowering trees in the magnolia genus, visit Blog.Davey.com by clicking here - Tree Care Tips, News & Checklists

Connect with Davey Tree on social media:
Twitter: @DaveyTree
Facebook: @DaveyTree
Instagram: @daveytree
YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company
LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company

Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com.

Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you!

Have feedback, questions or a topic you want covered? Click here to send Talking Trees a message OR email podcasts@davey.com.

Emerald Ash Borer: The Difference 1 Year Can Make Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

Scott Gardner, district manager of Davey's Burnaby office, talks about the devastating emerald ash borer infestation among the surrounding Vancouver area and how different it is one year later, as well as the predictions and precautions being taken to tackle the situation.

In this episode we cover:

Emerald ash borer spread in the metro Vancouver area (00:45)
How serious is the infestation? (2:52)
EAB in the eastern U.S. (5:30)
What's the plan to stop the spread in the metro Vancouver area? (6:01)
- Injections (6:05)
- Tree removal (7:05)
Neonicotinoid insecticides ban? (7:44)
EAB infestation in the lower mainland (9:45)
How does the climate affect ash trees' longevity? (11:03)
Physical damage from EAB (12:49)
What will happen over the next 12 months? (13:24)
- Containment (13:32)
- Removal (14:00)
How does EAB treatment work? (15:26)
Percentage of trees being treated (16:21)
Removal is cheaper while the tree can still be climbed (17:40)
EAB media coverage (18:13) (20:04)
What can be done to mitigate damage? (19:32)
What good news can we expect this time next year? (21:15)
What's the hope for stopping the infestation? (23:50)

To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code.

To hear Scott's EAB podcast episode from one year ago, listen here, How Emerald Ash Borer is Making its Way Out West.

To read our emerald ash borer blogs to stay updated on their patterns and signs of damage, visit Blog.Davey.com by clicking here, EAB Davey Tree blogs.

Connect with Davey Tree on social media:
Twitter: @DaveyTree
Facebook: @DaveyTree
Instagram: @daveytree
YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company
LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company

Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com.

Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you!

Have feedback, questions or a topic you want covered? Click here to send Talking Trees a message OR email podcasts@davey.com.

Eastern Hemlock: Pests, Benefits and the Pennsylvania State Tree Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

Lou Meyer, regional business developer in Davey's mid-Atlantic region, talks about the Pennsylvania state tree, the Eastern hemlock, as well as its beauty, benefits and threats it faces from the hemlock woolly adelgid.

In this episode we cover:

History of the Eastern hemlock (1:03)
Horticultural oil for pest control (2:18) (5:56)
What are other treatment options for these trees? (4:04)
Signs of hemlock woolly adelgid (6:47)
Does fertilization help Eastern hemlocks? (8:07)
How weather and temperature affect these pests (8:31)
Can these pests kill hemlocks? (10:08)
Hemlock woolly adelgid damage treatment (10:48)
The wonder and beauty of Eastern hemlocks (11:41)
Are they easy to grow? (13:32) (14:06)
Shade-tolerant evergreen (13:40)
Physical description and genus of the tree (14:52)
These trees need room to grow (16:20)
Eastern hemlock cultivars (17:03)
Are all hemlock cultivars susceptible to hemlock woolly adelgid? (18:33)
Can deer damage these cultivars? (18:56)
Other uses for the Eastern hemlock (19:16)

To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code.

To read our Eastern hemlock blogs to know how to identify and care for the tree, visit Blog.Davey.com by clicking here - Tree Care Tips, News & Checklists.

Connect with Davey Tree on social media:
Twitter: @DaveyTree
Facebook: @DaveyTree
Instagram: @daveytree
YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company
LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company

Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com.

Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you!

Have feedback, questions or a topic you want covered? Click here to send Talking Trees a message OR email podcasts@davey.com.

All Things Soil: Types, Testing and Why it Matters Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

Jason Parker, district manager of Davey's Warminster office, talks about why soil is so vital for a healthy landscape, as well as which plants are best for certain types of soil and how to keep soil healthy.

In this episode we cover:

Most common types of soil in Philadelphia (1:27)
Topsoil from new developments (1:58)
Soil testing (3:14)
How to properly plant trees in soil (5:20)
Older neighborhoods usually have better soil (7:07)
Should you do a soil test in a wooded area? (8:02)
Different trees need different soil pH levels to grow (9:42)
Based on your soil, choose your trees and plants wisely (11:04)
Best species for low quality soil (13:16)
Swamp white oak vs white oak (16:44)
Leaving fallen leaves on the ground is great for soil (18:24)
Best soil care processes (19:40)

To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code.

To read our soil blogs to ensure your soil is happy and healthy, visit Blog.Davey.com by clicking here - Tree Care Tips, News & Checklists

Connect with Davey Tree on social media:
Twitter: @DaveyTree
Facebook: @DaveyTree
Instagram: @daveytree
YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company
LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company

Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com.

Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you!

Have feedback, questions or a topic you want covered? Click here to send Talking Trees a message OR email podcasts@davey.com.

How to Prepare Trees for Summer Storms Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

Kyle Mack, district manager of Davey's Arborguard, a Davey company, Atlanta office, shares how to spot storm risks in your trees, as well as best practices to prevent summer storm damage.

In this episode we cover:

What to look for on a property when summer storms are coming (0:41)
Fungal bodies at the bottom of your tree (2:05)
Storm season in Atlanta (2:32)
Get a tree checkup every six months (3:05)
What arborists do to inspect a property (4:45)
Don't over elevate your trees (7:33)
Dead branch tips and broken limbs (9:49)
Construction nearby can damage roots (10:50)
How soon do people call for help on their trees? (11:54)
Which trees are more prone to storm damage? (12:45)
How do arborists prepare when a storm is coming? (14:05)
How Kyle came into his horticulture and arboriculture career (16:24)

To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code.

To read our summer storm blogs to prevent storm damage to your trees, visit Blog.Davey.com by clicking here - Tree Care Tips, News & Checklists

Connect with Davey Tree on social media:
Twitter: @DaveyTree
Facebook: @DaveyTree
Instagram: @daveytree
YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company
LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company

Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com.

Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you!

Have feedback, questions or a topic you want covered? Click here to send Talking Trees a message OR email podcasts@davey.com.

Declining Trees: Why Does it Happen and How Do We Spot it? Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

Chelsi Abbott, technical advisor within the Davey Institute, shares what the signs of tree decline are, along with what homeowners can do to spot and prevent it.

In this episode we cover:

Why do trees decline? (1:37)
Water supply is the root issue (2:44)
What are the signs of tree decline? (4:02)
What can we do to intervene? (6:00)
The timeline of tree decline (8:02)
What it's like to be a technical advisor at Davey (10:12)
Fungal issues (12:37)
What to do if you spot a fungal issue (14:23)
Best advice for homeowners on how to avoid decline (15:52)

To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code.

To read our Insect and Disease Issues blogs to learn the best ways to spot and prevent tree decline, visit Blog.Davey.com by clicking here - Insect and Disease Issues.

Connect with Davey Tree on social media:
Twitter: @DaveyTree
Facebook: @DaveyTree
Instagram: @daveytree
YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company
LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company

Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com.

Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you!

Have feedback, questions or a topic you want covered? Click here to send Talking Trees a message OR email podcasts@davey.com.

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