Barts Tree Service Blog

Many poor tree care practices are still commonly seen in the Danbury, CT area. Tree topping, mulch volcanoes and improper planting can all kill your trees.

After Tuesday's violent storm and tornadoes, trees and power lines are down across a large part of Connecticut. We're seeing devastating damage in Brookfield and surrounding areas. This is extremely dangerous work and should not be done by anyone other than a licensed tree care professional (preferably a Certified Arborist).

What should you do if your tree has been damaged by a winter storm in the Danbury, CT area? First, assess the damage and make sure everyone's safe. Stay away from downed power lines! Then call Barts Tree Service to evaluate the tree, clean up, and safely remove it if necessary.

What are those scrape marks on my tree?! Deer damage to trees is the result of bucks rubbing and scraping their antlers against trees which causes significant damage to the tree’s vascular system. Deer do this to remove the velvet from their antlers and it usually occurs from early fall into winter. Deer also rub trees […]

Every autumn we revel in the beauty of the fall colors. The mixture of red, purple, orange and yellow is the result of chemical processes that take place in the tree as the seasons change from summer to winter. During the spring and summer the leaves have served as factories where most of the foods […]

Swimming pool water contains chemicals, especially chlorine, that can harm your trees and landscape plants when water drains and floods the area.

Matt Bartelme was featured on this episode of Discover Bethel! The Bethel Business Podcast produced by the Bethel Chamber of Commerce.

Join us on Saturday, August 12th at noon for the Green Expo. We'll be giving out kids shirts, spruce tree saplings and other swag! Then stay for a fantastic performance of Love's Labour's Lost, a hilarious comedy about - you guessed it - love. The play starts at 2pm.

Mulch is an important part of tree care and landscaping, but using herbicide-treated grass clippings as your mulch can damage or kill trees.

Relaxing in the shade of trees from a comfortable hammock is a great way to spend time outdoors, but be sure to hang your hammock properly so you don't damage your trees.

One in four trees used to be chestnut trees, until chestnut blight, a fungal disease, attacked our forests. Read about blight-resistant varieties of American chestnut trees, what has been done, and how you can help.

We've been relatively lucky so far in the Danbury area and Fairfield County - most of the recent gypsy moth infestations and the resulting defoliation of trees took place in eastern Connecticut. But 2017 could turn out to be much worse for us. Here are the facts about gypsy moth, the damage it causes, and your options for treating or controlling it on your property.

Are your trees ready? If you’re not sure, give us a call today for winter cleanup damage assessment spring fertilization pest and disease prevention

Did you ever think about the amount of physics, math and biology knowledge needed to be an arborist? Most people don’t. And if you tell kids what they’ll need to know, many would never choose to become an arborist! But if you show them how it all works, and make it fun at the same time, […]

Spring-flowering trees offer the biggest seasonal show of bountiful blooms. And after a cold dreary winter, it's just what we need to get spring off to a great start. Many trees that flower in spring are fragrant and feed pollinators, in addition to beautifying our Connecticut landscape. Plus, the best don't just offer spring flowers - they're multi-season powerhouses. My top picks for the best spring-flowering trees are resilient, beautiful, easy to maintain, and just right for growing in Connecticut. They include regional natives, in addition to well-behaved non-native trees with impressive spring flowers.

In February we attended our fourth Tree Care Industry Association Winter Management Conference, held just outside San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was a great opportunity for learning, networking, reflection - oh, and some fun.

Some years we get so much snow and wind in February that it's hard to believe spring officially starts in just a month. Other years, it feels like spring has already arrived! But while we wait until spring is really here, there are some things you can be doing in the yard, as well as important tree care issues to take care of now.

Winter can be tough on trees here in Connecticut, with wind, ice and heavy snow loads, not to mention frigid temperatures. But with proper preparation, your trees can make it through the winter unscathed. Here are the things we recommend you do before winter sets in, as well as things to keep in mind throughout […]

My best tips for choosing, acclimatizing, decorating and then planting a beautiful live Christmas tree. Not only are live trees beautiful, they’re an environmentally friendly alternative to the typical cut (and dead) tree. But live trees take a little more effort and care if you want them to survive the holidays.

Tree damage caused by deer browsing during winter is a common occurrence in CT. Here are three practical ways to prevent deer damage to your trees.

Barts Tree Service is proud to sponsor this amazing comedy series at the Ridgefield Playhouse, with featured acts including Janeane Garofalo & Rob Schneider.

Barts Tree Service is a proud sponsor of the upcoming Saluting Branches event September 21st where arborists across the country will be donating a day of services at veterans cemeteries. Here in Connecticut we will be at the Spring Grove Veterans Cemetery in Darien. We are deeply appreciative of the brave men and women who […]

Summer means drought stress, storm damage and pesky insects and disease for our trees. Here's how to keep them healthy through the summer heat.

If the needles on your white pines are turning yellow and falling off, it could be white pine decline. Here's what you need to know to identify & treat it.

Save Your Ash Trees Before It’s Too Late By the time you see obvious signs of infestation in your ash tree, Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been there for years and it’s usually too late to save the tree. EAB was confirmed in the Danbury area last year, putting all local ash trees at risk.   Don’t Take […]

We have career opportunities for qualified, safety conscious climbers/bucket truck operators. To be considered, you must be proficient in all tree care principles, pruning techniques, technical rigging and removals. Experience, certifications, and CT arborist license are a plus. CDL–A license is required within 3 months of hire. Paid training and benefits are available. Background checks […]

On a freezing February day, Barts donated a day of service to the Aspetuck Land Trust to clear a former blueberry meadow from encroaching hardwoods.

This was our third year attending the Tree Care Industry Association’s Winter Management Conference, which is a gathering of leading arborists and tree care companies from all over the world in a nice warm Caribbean area in February. My friends always say I am going on a boondoggle and I’ll admit the first time I […]

Owner Matt Bartelme was featured in this article in the NewsTimes about the Emerald Ash Borer infestation that he found here in Danbury.

Despite the continuing snow and cold weather, spring is here – at least in theory. Before you know it we will all be out enjoying our landscapes, gardening, playing with the kids and barbecuing. So, with all this in mind, it’s time to make sure your landscape is safe after all that winter has thrown […]

There’s only one reasonable way to permanently remove a tree stump – use a stump grinder It’s not easy to do properly and it’s dangerous when done by someone without the right training and protective gear. But when done by a professional, grinding will completely eliminate those unsightly tree stumps. Learn how and why Barts […]

A properly trimmed apple, pear, or peach tree is not only more pleasing to the eye but can yield more and better quality fruit by focusing growth to fruit.

Thanks for entering the Barts Tree Service giveaway! If you signed up for our newsletter or are already a subscriber, check your inbox for an email with your Unique ID – it should be heading your way soon. And if you chose not to get our seasonal newsletter full of helpful information about keeping your trees and […]

Enter today to win 2 free tickets to see Ron White in “Tater Salad” at the Ridgefield Playhouse on March 10, 2016. Sponsored by Barts Tree Service.

We're very proud to announce that we've been awarded a Professional Communications Award from the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA).

With so many to choose from, how do you choose the right Christmas tree? Here are our best tips for choosing the perfect tree this holiday.

Each fall, some time in October, the leaves start to fall and homeowners are faced with the question of just what to do with all of those leaves. Many people simply rake them out to the curb and let the city pick them up. Or they place them in paper bags for disposal. Some call […]

Winter is coming. Are you sure that your trees will make it through the winds, snow, ice, and cold in one piece? Winter weather, especially winter storms, can be tough on trees. The wind and snow load can break branches and even bring down whole trees. Freezing temperatures can cause trunks to crack and split […]

On May 5, 2015, Matt Bartelme, owner of Barts Tree Service, was featured in an article in the Business section of the Danbury News-Times! “About six years ago, Matt Bartleme gave up climbing the corporate ladder. He decided to climb trees for a living instead.” Read the full article here >>

This last year was brutal on evergreens with a very wet spring that launched a fungal attack that took a great toll on our spruce trees. We saw very high levels of needlecast disease spreading all over the county. What is Evergreen Needlecast? As the name implies, affected evergreens cast or lose their needles and look sickly, very […]

Q: I heard that Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is now threatening our local ash trees. Is there anything I can do to save my trees? Emerald Ash Borer was first found in Prospect, Connecticut in 2012 and since then has spread to a large part of the state, infesting and killing ash trees as it […]

Keeping your landscape trees healthy and beautiful in the urban environment can be a challenge, especially considering most of these trees are planted in sub par soil conditions that do not provide the required nutrients for proper tree health. In a forest environment, trees drop leaves and organic matter that composts and enriches the soil […]

Have you ever seen an experienced arborist or tree care worker throw a line into the upper reaches of a tree, secure it, and then climb 60 feet straight up the rope? How about watching as they tie themselves in and then reach out to prune off branches high above the ground? Or perform an aerial […]

With spring just around the corner, people are getting ready to head out to the yard to plant flowers, trees and shrubs. While everyone has good intentions for planting trees, all too often we see the wrong tree in the wrong location. Right Tree, Right Place – Or Not … Every year we get tons […]

Many people are unaware that the tree care industry is one of the most dangerous professions out there. Tree care employees work at extreme heights (up to 120 feet here in the northeast) while using dangerous tools, such as chain saws. The danger is compounded by working near power lines, busy roadways and other infrastructure […]

Question: We’ve had a lot of snow this winter and it’s piled up along the drive and walkway. Are all these snow banks going to damage my trees and shrubs? Although Connecticut seems like the new arctic right now, spring is just around the corner (at least I hope so). With all the snow piled up […]

Question: During the cold winter months, when temperatures dip well below freezing, what prevents trees (and shrubs) from turning into a giant icicle? Trees basically have three ways of protecting themselves from freezing temperatures. Dry Out Most trees remove water from their tissues to enter a dehydrated or dormant state for the winter. That way, […]

Mice, voles, rabbits and rodents can cause damage to young trees, saplings and shrubs during the winter months by feeding on bark, twigs, buds and foliage. As snow accumulates around tree trunks and lower branches, it provides a great environment for little critters to tunnel around tree trunks. By tunneling under the snow, they can […]

Question: My trees make all kinds of popping and cracking sounds during really cold winter weather. What’s all that racket?? When temperatures dip well below zero, trees will make all kinds of popping and cracking noises, especially if the temperature drops very quickly. These sounds are typically caused by frost cracks. What is a Frost […]

With “Snowmageddon 2015” heading our way, we remind all home owners to stay safe – including when it comes to removing heavy snow loads from roofs and tree branches. It’s difficult enough to shovel snow on a driveway or path. Add height and unstable, slippery surfaces to that, and you have a recipe for disaster. […]

Here in Connecticut we face a whole range of threats to our trees and shrubs during winter, both from the weather itself and from animal pests. Here are just a few of the things that can injure your plants during the cold months of winter: Heavy snow loads can break branches, especially if snow is […]

Fall is the perfect time to help your trees recover from the heat and lack of water they probably experienced over the summer. Stressed trees are more susceptible to pests, disease, and winter damage so now’s the time to make sure your trees enter the harsh winter months in the best health possible. Below are the […]

We just attended a great Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) workshop put on by Connecticut Tree Protective Association (CTPA) and the town of Southbury, CT where we met with our state experts and entomologists to review the latest information and best practices for dealing with EAB. Then we had a little field trip and visited local […]

Planting trees in the fall gives them a head start on establishing them selves before the ground freezes. Fall is the season when trees turn their energy to growing new roots, whereas springtime is the season for growing new foliage and twigs. Not to mention many nurseries are looking to clear out stock before winter […]

I’m often asked which trees or shrubs to plant for best fall foliage color here in Connecticut. So here’s my list of the 10 trees that I think look best in autumn. Sugar Maple Tree (Acer Saccharum) This is the quintessential New England tree and one of the most common maples in Connecticut, where hillsides […]

As the weather has cooled, demand for high quality, well-seasoned firewood has heated up. After a rush on firewood over the past couple of weeks, we’re sorry to say that we’re completely SOLD OUT of seasoned firewood. We do have limited quantities “wet” wood available. It’s the same high quality wood as our seasoned firewood […]

Many homeowners who face the unfortunate occurrence of a tree that has fallen and damaged their property are frantic and unsure what to do. Here are the typical questions asked in this situation: Should I call my homeowners insurance company? Is this covered by my insurance company? Is this my neighbor’s tree or my own? […]

Many trees and shrubs can be disfigured and killed by road salt (Sodium Chloride or Calcium Chloride).  Sodium Chloride is used primarily since it’s less expensive but it’s also more damaging to plants. Late season applications of salt are more harmful to trees since there is less time and run off to leach salt from […]

We received a very nice note from Mrs. Reuthera’s 2nd grade class here in Danbury. “Dear Barts Tree Service, I can’t fully express my joy, excitement, and thanks for your donation to my project. It is great to see that you share my vision for reaching children. The tools that you have funded will enable […]

Winter browning or winter burn of conifer (evergreen) shrubs and small trees around the house is best prevented by making sure the roots have adequate water late in the season. The browning, called desiccation, results from wind removing more moisture from the needles than can be replaced. Browning or bleaching of evergreen foliage during winter […]

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ARBORICULTURE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ——————————————————————————————————————————– PO Box 3129 • Champaign , IL 61826-3129 • (217) 355-9411 • www.isa-arbor.com Matt D. Bartelme Earns Professional Certification as of November 5, 2013 Champaign, IL — Matt D. Bartelme of DANBURY, CT recently demonstrated professional competency by successfully completing the CERTIFIED ARBORIST examination administered through the International […]

High winds and bitter cold wind chills are pounding the area. We have crews out responding to emergency calls for downed trees in Sherman and New Fairfield. Then we are headed to Ridgefield to remove storm damaged trees once the power lines are cleared. Be safe out there and stay indoors since there is a […]

Our area here in southern Connecticut is being attacked on several fronts by invasive pests as seen by DEEP quarantines in recent news articles. Most notably, Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and Dutch Elm Disease (DED) have become widespread, potentially eliminating these trees from our forests and landscapes forever. Don’t let your trees die from something […]

The News Times published a story about what local arborists have been fearing – the spread of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) into Fairfield county is upon us. Visit the link below for the full story. http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Destructive-emerald-ash-borer-found-in-Sherman-4688862.php It’s possible to save ash trees from the onslaught of EAB. If you have ash trees on your property […]

Have your fruit trees stopped producing fruit? Do you have disease or insect problems on your fruit trees? Has the tree grown too tall to safely harvest the fruit? Many of these problems are caused by poor or neglected pruning. A good fruit tree should not make a good shade tree. However, when pruning is […]

The rise of Dutch Elm Disease (DED) has been a devastating event in the history of tree diseases. It is caused by the fungi Ophiostoma novo-ulmi and O. ulmi and is carried by bark beetles. The disease affects American elms (and other elm species, to a varying extent), killing individual branches and eventually the entire […]

Matt Bartelme, CTSP and Jeff Rabito, CTSP recently completed the Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP) program offered by the Tree Care Industry Association.  The CTSP program allows one or more key employees at a given company to become certified tree care safety experts, thereby empowering and encouraging a culture of safety within that organization. Barts Tree […]

Take your yard back from looking like a war zone after all the storms. Barts Tree Service has been busy stump grinding many unsightly uprooted stumps in Danbury, Brookfield, Bethel, Wilton, Weston, Newtown and Ridgefield. Some of these blown over uprooted stumps are 12 feet tall which is no problem for our new 85HP Vermeer […]

If you’re thinking about removing a tree stump on your own, please read our Stump Grinding FAQs before you start. If you’ve read our FAQs and are still determined to do it yourself, then you’ll need to rent a stump grinder. It isn’t something you have cause to use very often so purchasing is generally not cost […]

Barts Tree Service employees are attending the 2013 TCIA Winter Management Conference and meeting Arborists from across the country to review leading industry topics on safety, arboriculture, legislation, and marketing best practices. Great speakers and great people.

High winds have brought more storm damage to the area. We are out removing trees from houses and opening driveways in Ridgefield, Bethel and Danbury. Many roads are closed from downed trees and wires so remember to stay clear of wires and assume they are all live.

Angies list posted a good article about post storm safety and recovery activities so we wanted to share it.   Click here to see the article http://www.angieslist.com/weather-protection/storm-recovery.htm  

The day after the storm is going to be a busy one since the phone has been ringing all night. Emergency tree removals from several houses in Brookfield, Newtown and Ridgefield along with removing a tree from a day old jeep in Danbury. Then we move onto opening access ways and removing hurricane damaged trees […]

Barts Tree Service has already been out removing hazardous trees that clients were worried about hitting their houses with the hurricane coming our way. We wound up removing 19 trees across Danbury, Ridgfield, Wilton, Brookfield and Weston all day Saturday and Sunday before the storm. It looks like we might see gusts up into the […]

The last couple weeks brought several rounds of bad storms that we have been cleaning up after. Barts responded to emergency calls with 2 crews across Ridgefield, Danbury, Bethel and Brookfield and wound up working all weekend to remove trees from wires and roof tops. Be careful when we have these storm warnings. I know we […]

We wound up with a beautiful sunny Sunday and a great turnout for the Touch a Truck Event this year which was held at the Danbury High School. We brought down our 60 foot bucket truck and used it as a flag pole and also brought our new stump grinder and chip truck with chipper. […]

Barts Tree Service continues to be a proud sponsor of the annual kid’s fishing derby put on by Danbury Fish and Game at the Danbury Town Park Saturday May 12th, 2012. We lucked out with a beautiful sunny day and a great turn out. All the kids received trophy’s and there were some nice trout, […]

There is still an overwhelming amount of storm damage left from last year. Yes the roads are clear and the big stuff is removed but there are still many trees that are partially uprooted, hanging limbs, cracked limbs, and trees that are greatly compromised from loosing limbs and trunks. Now that warm weather is upon […]

Hurricane Irene is headed our way with 80 mph winds and Barts Tree Service is geared up and ready with enough supplies to last us two weeks. We will be responding to storm damage calls with two crews 24 hours a day and prioritizing storm cleanup by severity i.e. Removing trees from houses and roof […]

Based on recent weather events I have come to the conclusion that mother nature is just angry….. Barts Tree Service has been out a good portion of last night responding to all the storm damage, pulling trees off of houses and tarping up roof tops in Brookfield, Danbury and Newtown. Then this morning off at […]

Black knot of plum and cherry trees is a widespread and serious disease throughout North America. The black knot fungus mainly affects twigs, branches, and fruit spurs, although sometimes trunks may also become diseased. Usually, infections begin on the youngest growth. What Black Knot Looks Like Black knot is visible as knots or elongated swellings […]

Barts Tree Service continues to be a proud sponsor of the annual kid’s fishing derby put on by Danbury Fish and Game at the Danbury Town Park Saturday May 21st, 2011 from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. It’s free, lunch will be served and kids can win lots of prizes and trophies so come on […]

Barts Tree Service removing a two trunk oak tree with a heavy lean directly over a new carport. Unfortunatly many years ago the driveway was backfilled a couple feet around this tree so it had developed root rot and was just a matter of time before it crushed the carport and hit the house. Remember […]

Three large trees were uprooted by wind in Ridgefield CT and wound up ripping the underground electrical  service out. So Barts Tree Service was called to remove the trees, we had two Barts Tree Service trucks, two CL&P trucks and another with an excavator so we pretty much had the road all closed down. We […]

Moving Firewood Kills Trees USDA has put together a great website for informing the public about how to help stop the spread of Emerald Ash Borer Beetle (EAB) which has already killed millions of trees. EAB has now made its way to the northeast and is threatening our already declining population of ash trees here […]

Angie’s List published a great article on their website and in their magazine this month that we wanted to share since it’s valuable information for the homeowner. This article specifically adresses the issue of “Tree Topping” and will help educate the consumer so as to avoid hiring any contractors that still might use this horrible tree […]

The forecast is calling for up to 1/2 an inch of ice from this latest storm. Barts Tree Service is already on call to provide emergency storm support for some of the local towns and will be out responding to emergency tree removals and repairs caused by the ice storm across Fairfield County. Never is a […]

We have yet another storm upon us here in CT which could leave up to a quarter inch of ice in its wake. This condition could bring down trees and limbs so be very careful outside and park the car away from any suspect trees. Barts Tree Service is staged and on call for any […]

Here is our first pass at using the new helmet cam to give you a birds eye view of removing a tree. We will continue to create new videos especially with all these storms we’ve been having so be sure to check back often.

This client came home from an international trip to her home in Redding CT and could not even get in the driveway because a large three trunk beech tree that fell on the house and driveway during a wind storm. SSince this was an emergency tree service we shifted around the schedule and arrived within […]

When there is a tree removal or trimming of hazardous limbs that needs to be done in close proximity to electrical wires, there are a couple of things that can be done with CL&P to greatly reduce any risks and save money with the tree service since it saves them time while reducing risks. The […]

  We were called to remove a large sugar maple tree in Ridgefield CT that was about 80 years old and unfortunately suffering from crown dieback. Since it is located in the back yard of a children’s day care center it was decided to remove the tree since it was on a steady rate of decline and posing a […]

We were called to remove an old oak tree in Norwalk that was 65” across and had an old lighting strike injury that was killing the tree and creating a significant hazard since it was located 15 feet from two houses and the power lines. We had an interesting noteworthy first on this job. The […]

Here are some pictures of a large five foot diameter red maple that Barts Tree took down in Danbury CT. This tree had a lot of rot on one trunk and has been slowly falling apart for some time. The client finally had enough with all the recent storm damage in the area and wanted […]

March marked the start of our transition from winter to spring. Now that the snow is gone, it’s a good time to examine your trees for winter damage. We often expect our trees to be self sufficient and tend to neglect their well-being. Spring Tree Care Tips Here are the things you can do each spring […]

Here’s a great educational video on identifying wood decay that was put together by the University of Minnesota. If you observe any of these conditions in your trees or have suspect trees, contact Barts Tree Service at 203-240-1302 for a free consultation. Tree Decay Detection from University of Minnesota Duluth on Vimeo.

Storm damage clean-up in Weston CT involved removing several downed trees from the roof of a house and a car.  

So the phone started ringing late Saturday night in the middle of the storm. We rounded up the troops and headed south with a three truck convoy. It was amazing driving down Route 57 when half way through Weston we started to see more and more trees down and then we arrived at the Westport border where it […]

At Barts Tree Service, we are asked all the time about general liability of a tree falling as a result of a storm and who pays for damages and removing the tree. So I thought I would put up a direct excerpt from the Connecticut Insurance Department website that helps answer that question. question: If my […]

It is a fact, hazardous weather conditions can cause trees to fall and create extremely dangerous situations. For this reason, dying trees that cannot be saved or dead trees in close proximity to residential properties should be removed before a windy storm can potentially knock them down. Every year, a significant number of trees fall […]

As much as we all love nature and the rustic look of a lush, tree-filled yard, trees can present a hazard to property if left to grow unfettered. Trees are like grass. They need to be trimmed periodically. They also need to be maintained for their health and your safety. An overgrown tree is more […]

Mulching your landscape trees and shrubs can potentially kill if done improperly. A recent and serious trend has been over-mulching landscape plants, also called mulch volcanoes. Not only is over-mulching a waste of mulch, (and a potentially costly one at that), it is rapidly becoming the number one cause of death to shrubs and trees. One […]

Avoid tree instability issues when having landscaping done or building a new house. All too often people bring in topsoil or fill and bury the trunk flare of existing trees which will result in a stem-girdling root which destabilizes the tree. You should always be able to see the sweeping radius from the tree trunk to […]

You should inspect all trees on your property every year. Tree inspections can be done at any time of year, leaf-on or leaf-off. However, to be thorough, it’s best to inspect trees after leaf drop in fall, after leaf-out in spring, and routinely after severe storms. Inspecting your trees is an ongoing process that will […]

Trees are essential to our world, offering a wide range of benefits to our environment. However, trees become hazardous liabilities if they fall and injure people or damage property. Proper constant maintenance will help prevent and identify when a tree becomes dangerous. What to Look For High-risk defects are signs that a tree is failing. Look […]

Barts Tree Service is a member of the Arbor Day Foundation and you should be as well. They help promote tree pruning and tree removal best practices across the industry as well as educate people on the correct trees to plant for the Connecticut region and their specific application. Unfortunately, this is all too often why Barts Tree Service is […]

The suspected killer is called ”ash yellows,”  and is increasingly thought to be at work in the majority of cases of decline that have struck white ash trees. Once an ash has ash yellows,  there’s no way to cure it. Instead of living to 100 years or more, white ashes – valued for their fast […]

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been found in approximately 30 trees in Western New York State.   A Chicago suburb is a testing ground for a new weapon to combat Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) beetles that have already killed millions of ash trees in North America. The weapon is a tiny specialized wasp. And the […]

The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is an eastern Asian beetle that belongs to the metallic wood-borer family (Buprestidae). EAB was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. It has since become established in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York and Ontario.  In the central United States, it has killed green, white, […]

  Yesterday we ground 8 stumps in Sherman CT so I figured I would snap some pictures of each phase to show you the end to end process for when we grind a stump, remove the chips, and then back fill with fresh top soil, seed and straw.                  […]

Topping is defined as “the drastic removal of large branches with little regard for location of the pruning cuts”. Topping provides the illusion of quickly reducing the size or height of the tree.  It is not a practice that should be performed by any certified arborist. Instead, there are professional pruning techniques to limit the height of […]

Choosing a tree care company is similar to choosing most any professional service. The people performing the work must be knowledgeable, properly equipped, safety conscious and have the experience to perform the service. Outlined below are a few questions that will help you select a tree-care company that provides quality work at a reasonable cost. […]

Pruning Trees and Shrubs As trees grow, they need direction. This may be in the form of pruning, thinning, or removing deadwood. Barts Tree Service has specialized training and equipment, as well as an “eye” for what needs to be done. Pruning enhances the appearance and value of landscaping, but its importance is more than cosmetic. […]

The Problem With Wet or “Green” Firewood Freshly cut wood has a very high moisture content. As much as 60% (or more) of the weight of a tree is water. At least some of this water must be removed before trying to use it as a fuel wood (See below for a moisture content table). […]

Did you know that by heating your house with wood or burning wood in your fireplace for enjoyment, you are taking a stand in favor of the environment? It’s true, heating your home with wood does not contribute to the greenhouse effect the way fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal do. When oil, gas, […]

If your hemlock trees seem to be dying and/or are covered with a strange, white fuzzy substance, it’s probably due to an infestation by Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA). The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae Annand) is a destructive fluid-feeding insect pest that feeds on eastern North American hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis and T. caroliniana). It is […]

Trees lower air temperature by evaporating water in their leaves. One acre of trees removes up to 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide each year. The average tree in metropolitan area only survives about 8 years! Trees keep our air supply fresh by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. The death of one 70-year old tree […]