Recently we discussed that Stein Tree Service is certified to perform tree care services in all areas that have spotted lanternfly quarantines in effect. Now, you may have seen in the news that Pennsylvania has strengthened its efforts to control and eventually eliminate the invasive pest.
We have talked previously about the dangers of non-native plants and trees, and how much planting native species benefits the local ecosystem. But how do you know what the native species are? Below we list some of the native tree and shrub species for Delaware and Pennsylvania, to enable our community to more easily plan for native planting, as well as avoid some native species that can cause their own problems for homeowners, such as those prone to disease or vulnerable to pests like the emerald ash borer.
As you drive down the streets of our communities in Delaware, you see a wide variety of trees and shrubs, including evergreens that lend year-round color, and other trees that are beautiful in spring and fall. A few trees that are native to Delaware and which are particularly showy are:
The Pin Oak (Quercis palustris) and the White Ash tree (Fraxinus Americana) are also beautiful showy trees, but the first is prone to the fatal bacterial leaf scorch, and the ash is vulnerable to the destructive emerald ash borer. The River Birch (Betula nigra), whose bark adds interest year-round, and grows up to 40-60’ tall, but the appealing bark itself attracts the bronze birch borer.
If you enjoy evergreen trees, you might want to consider the native Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), with its blue/gray fall coloring, or the American Holly (Ilex opaca) with its deep green leaves and red berries in the winter).
Some beautiful native shrubs that will add interest to your landscape are the Red Bud (Cercis canadensis), Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) and the Winterberry (Ilex verticillata). These examples are just a few of the choices you have when considering native trees and shrubs for your Delaware landscape.
Some of the same trees that are native to Delaware can also be found in Pennsylvania, as we are close neighbors.
Some particularly attractive varieties are the:
Some evergreen native varieties, are the Black Spruce (Picea mariana), Yellow Pine (Pinus echinata), and the tall Red Pine (Pinus Rinosa).
The Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra), which can reach 70’ in height, is impressive, but is prone to the bacterial leaf scorch, like the pin oak. Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), with its weeping branches is showy and smells good, but is often afflicted with fall webworms or tent caterpillars. The Pennsylvania state tree the Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), is native to the area, but unfortunately, wooly adelgid, a pest native to Asia targets the tree, and without treatment, can starve the tree in 3-10 years. In its native habitat, the insect is controlled by environmental factors.
Native Pennsylvania shrubs include the fragrant Carolina Allspice (Calycanthus floridus) and the Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia). If you are looking for something to stabilize a bank, one good choice is the Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia), which has a brilliant color in the fall.
According to the Lancaster County Planning Commission, whose site has a more extensive list of native PA trees and shrubs, Pennsylvania has more than 2,100 native plant species, so if you are looking to plant native, you have lots of choices.
Stein Tree Service’s professionals are passionate about tree care and about preserving our native environment. Our certified arborists and other tree care specialists are trained and have a great deal of experience with determining if your trees and plants are healthy. We are certified to treat for emerald ash borer in Pennsylvania and Delaware, and we provide whatever tree care service is needed to preserve the vitality of your plants and trees, from inspection, to tree removal and stump grinding. Contact us for more information about native trees or to schedule a free tree care consultation.
Wilmington, Delaware–March 3, 2019–Stein Tree Service announces that they are permitted to work in all spotted lanternfly quarantine areas of Pennsylvania and Delaware.
As tree care professionals, one big aspect of our job is tree removal, and one of the tree removal services we provide frequently is municipal or commercial right of way clearing. Some might think that right of way clearing only refers to keeping roadway borders maintained, but many other types are actually more common.
Feb 18, 2019 – Wilmington, DE – Local tree care company Stein Tree Service reminds Wilmington residents that next week, February 25 – March 1, 2019, is National Invasive Species Week (NISAW). The week is set by the nonprofit of the same name to encourage awareness of invasive plants and insects, such as the emerald ash borer (EAB) and the spotted lanternfly, that can negatively impact our plant life.
The emerald ash borer has been spreading across the United States since 2002 and was discovered in Delaware in 2015. The emerald ash borer primarily attacks ash trees, which flourish in the Delaware and Pennsylvania climates, but has recently been found to be attracted to fringe trees as well.
The spotted lanternfly is a threat to a variety of trees. The insect was found in Pennsylvania in 2014 and confirmed in Delaware in 2017. According to Delaware Online, the spotted lanternfly attacks trees such as the tree of heaven and walnut, and leaves oozing weeping wounds in the trees.
Events such as the NISAW help increase awareness of dangerously destructive creatures, which is critical to saving affected trees and preventing the spread. The emerald ash borer can cause such damage to an ash tree as to render it beyond saving within two years. The beetle consumes the nutrients of the tree, beginning with the inner wood under the bark as larvae, and then as adults, from the tree’s canopy.
If the emerald ash borer is discovered early enough, a professional tree care company may be able to save the affected trees. The key is to be vigilant, looking for any signs of the insect or of loss of vigor in your trees.
Signs of the emerald ash borer include:
The spotted lanternfly may be hard to spot when on the trunk of a tree, because when its wings are closed, they are a greyish color that blends with the bark. When their wings are spread, they are a vibrant red color.
Both the emerald ash borer and the spotted lanternfly can be carried on firewood, so one campaign that the NISAW promotes is “Don’t Move Firewood.” The pests can be carried from place to place in firewood, so campers are encouraged to use only local firewood when camping.
The NISAW encourages awareness of all types of invasive species, but the emerald ash borer and spotted lanternfly are definite local threats that homeowners should be aware of. Stein Tree advises that early spring is a good time to schedule an inspection of the trees in your landscape to ensure that they are healthy and free of problematic issues.
Stein Tree Service is the oldest independently owned tree care service company in Delaware. The company is licensed to perform inspections and treat for emerald ash borer in Delaware and Pennsylvania. The professional certified arborists and specialists are dedicated to exceptional tree care, and has been serving the needs of local communities for over 30 years. For more information call 302-478-3511 or visit the company website at: www.SteinTree.com.
Tree care involves dangerous tasks, especially for those who are inexperienced. The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) claimed that 153 tree care-related occupational incidents occurred in 2016, and almost half, 93, proved fatal. These incidents occurred among trained professionals, so they could certainly happen when untrained people attempt hazardous tasks. Whenever you need to have tree care services performed in your landscape, play it safe and hire someone who cares for trees as a profession, like a certified arborist.
An arborist is someone who has studied and become knowledgeable about tree and plant health care. These professionals work to ensure that trees hare cared for in a manner that is environmentally sound. ISA, or the International Society of Arboriculture, provides certification after strict requirements have been met, including:
Once an arborist is certified, you can feel confident that he/she has the knowledge and experience needed to address tree care issues. Ongoing education is required to ensure that ISA certified arborists stay abreast of current best practices and safety concerns, and new issues, like the spreading emerald ash borer infestation. In addition, ISA Certified Arborists are held to a code of ethics. This code determines how an arborist will handle issues like chemical treatments, tree diseases and unhealthy tree practices such as tree topping.
We have discussed this issue before, but the subject bears repeating. Using an uninsured tree service professional, or any contractor, to perform work on your property is dangerous to you, and to the contractor. If a worker is injured, or if damage occurs during the course of the work, the homeowner would be responsible for the costs. Those costs could include repairs for damage to your property, your neighbor’s property, or medical treatment costs for injured parties, and they could add up to thousands of dollars.
Stein Tree has been in business for 35 years and we have seen homeowners fall victim to debts due to uninsured contractors. Our certified arborists, tree inspectors and all of our specialists are dedicated to ensuring our customers get exceptional tree care. We attend training seminars, follow safety protocols, and use the proper equipment for whatever task we are performing. For information or a free consultation about your tree care concerns, contact us today.
January 2, 2019 – Wilmington, DE – The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a threat to the ash, and some other varieties of trees, across the country. They spread easily from state to state, often by the transport of firewood from area to area. Regulations have been in place for years, which support efforts to identify EAB infestations and to enforce quarantines for affected areas. These quarantines attempt to prevent travelers from carrying infected wood from an area into another area, thus spreading the insect infestation.
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has proposed removing the quarantine requirements in order to allow more resources to be used in research and development of ways to combat the spread of EAB. This proposal would put an end to site visits and also turn the nation’s focus to attempting to kill the pest via biocontrol. This method involves introducing tiny stingless wasps that prey naturally on the emerald ash borer, to impacted areas. Some of these wasps are already being used, but the measure would call for more.
The public was allowed to comment on the proposal, and these comments are now under review before a final decision is reached. Many oppose the proposal, feeling that the quarantines, while imperfect measures, bring awareness of the problem, and in some degree, at least, help keep the emerald ash borer from being spread even more quickly. Some states without quarantines rely on them to keep travelers from bringing infested wood into their forests.
Stein Tree Service is one of the companies that has been trained and certified to treat for emerald ash borer in Delaware and Pennsylvania. They know how to identify the insect, and signs of an infestation, and recommend regular inspections in areas with ash tree populations. If the proposal goes through, homeowners will need to be even more diligent and proactive on their properties to avoid losing valuable trees to this destructive pest, as well as spread the word so that others are aware of the risks.
Though having regular inspections is recommended, homeowners can look out for these signs of infestation. If any of these issues are noted, call a certified arborist or other tree care specialist who can treat for the pest as soon as possible.
Chemical applications are sometimes needed to treat EAB and they can only be applied by licensed vendors. Stein Tree Service is licensed to apply the treatments for EAB and if a tree is unable to be saved, can perform necessary tree removal.
Stein Tree Service is the oldest independently owned tree service company in Delaware. The company has been serving homes and businesses in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland since 1983. For more information about available services or emerald ash borer presence, contact Stein Tree Service at or visit their website directly at www.steintree.com.
One of the benefits of hiring a professional tree care company to handle your tree care needs is that the company will have the tools necessary to complete the job, and the expertise to use them properly. In a blog last month, we discussed Stein Tree Service’s competitive advantage. We are the oldest independently owned tree care company in Delaware, but our equipment and knowledge are state of the art.
When we think about tree and plant health care, one thing that is often overlooked is how vital soil health is to the trees and plant life. In fact, roots play a more important role in the overall health of the tree than the canopy, or anything above the ground.
At Stein, we are always working to improve our tree care techniques and processes. To that end, we recently purchased an advanced new mini lift that will allow us to more easily and safely perform tree pruning or tree removal.