Tree Care Tips from Arbor Masters

Arbor Masters is with you even after we’ve left your property. Get expert tree care tips from our blog to keep up your trees' beauty and value.

Left: an oak tree and and airspade tool during an excavation. Right: A healthy looking root flare after an excavation has been done.
How Buried Root Flares Impact the Health of Northland’s Oaks
Your oak might not be dying of old age — a buried root flare could be the real problem. Know the warning signs and find out what a Certified Arborist can do.
Lightning bolts striking during a severe thunderstorm over a tree line at night.
How to Prepare Mature Trees for Severe Weather in Lee’s Summit
Your mature trees survived decades of storms — but hidden vulnerabilities compound with age. Here's how to prepare mature trees for severe weather this spring.
Gloved hand collecting a soil sample with a test tube from dark topsoil in a residential lawn for spring soil testing.
Do Trees Need Soil Testing Before Fertilization in Spring?
Still paying for tree fertilization with nothing to show for it? Spring soil testing shows why — and what Johnson County's alkaline clay soil actually needs.
Close-up on a branch of a magnolia tree with white scale insects and leaving some black waxy material
How to Spot and Treat Magnolia Scale in the Cedar Rapids Area
In Iowa, magnolia scale is one of the most common and damaging insect pests on ornamental magnolias. It’s also one of the most misidentified, as homeowners often mistake the sticky residue and black-coated leaves for sap or disease before realizing thousands of small insects are feeding on their tree. Without proper magnolia scale treatment, the…
A single spindle-shaped bagworm case covered in bits of leaf and twig hangs from a thin green branch surrounded by small deciduous leaves, with a blurred field and stone wall in the background.
Bagworms on Oaks and Elms — Why Your Deciduous Trees Are at Risk in Broken Arrow and Jenks
Bagworms don't just target evergreens. Learn why your oaks, elms, and maples in Broken Arrow and Jenks are at risk — and what happens if you ignore them.
A metallic emerald green adult emerald ash borer beetle resting on a pale gray tree branch.
Emerald Ash Borer in Dallas: What to Do Right Now If You Have an Ash Tree
Emerald ash borer is killing Dallas ash trees right now. If you have an ash on your property, what you do this spring determines whether it survives.
Gloved hands pouring blue granular fertilizer onto soil at the base of a young tree.
Tree Fertilization in Polk County, IA That Actually Works
Polk County’s alkaline clay soil locks out the nutrients your trees need. Find out how professional fertilization is different, and why the timing matters.
A mature tree with an extensive network of exposed roots spreading outward from the trunk at soil level.
Why Trees in Bettendorf and North Scott County Need Deep Root Fertilization
Bettendorf and North Scott County soils vary greatly, from glacial till ridges to river corridor. Learn why deep root fertilization must match your soil.
A close-up view of a pale green leaf covered with clusters of small, reddish-brown oval-shaped soft scale insects attached along the leaf veins.
How to Identify and Treat Soft Scale Insects on Oklahoma City Trees
Sticky residue on your tree or surfaces below? It could be soft scale insects. Learn how to spot the signs and when to treat in Oklahoma City.
A grove of mature pecan trees stands bare against a sunrise sky over an open grassy field.
Pecan Trees in Fort Worth: Problems, Care & What to Watch For
Protect your Fort Worth pecan tree. Learn how local conditions impact its health, what proper care looks like, and when expert help is needed.
A lush spring garden featuring tall arborvitae and juniper evergreens lining a stone path filled with blooming pink and red roses.
Bagworms in Wichita: How to Protect Your Evergreens
Bagworms in Wichita move fast, and the treatment window is narrow. Here's what the timing looks like in Sedgwick County and why it matters for your evergreens.
An aerial view shows a Dallas neighborhood filled with mature trees in the foreground, with the downtown skyline visible in the distance under a bright blue sky.
10 Most Common Trees in North Texas and What to Watch For
Different trees need different care, and getting it wrong can cost you. Learn to identify the 10 most common trees in North Texas and what to watch for.