our services
bioTree services are unique because we take a more holistic approach to treating trees and landscape plants for disease and insect infestations or other problems. We focus our efforts in three areas. Identifying the problem or pest. Treating the problem or pest. Making applications to increase plant health so the plant can fight off pests on its own. We use injections to provide targeted treatments and broad sprays to get overall benefits. To make sure the proper treatment is used, we leverage our own arborists and university specialists to identify the problem and prescribe the best prescription. We take an environmental approach in every way possible. For instance, we encourage pruning to promote healthy and proper growth. We are also fans of soil amendments, IPM practices, and proper cultural practices.
Disease
Managing diseases such as apple scab, oak wilt, dutch elm, and diplodia are important for tree health. We also treat diseases, such as powdery mildew, on landscape plants.
Insects
Emerald Ash Borer and Japanese beetles feed on your plants, weakening them and disrupting their visual appearance. We have proven methods to combat these tiny critters.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is the nutrition your tree or landscape plant needs to grow strong and healthy. Balancing the right inputs for the right plant, we can restore your tree or plant to life.
Trimming
Regular pruning and trimming can promote proper long-term plant growth and improve the visual appearance of plants.
How we work
When a tree or shrub on your property is sick, it is important to take action as soon as possible to restore that plant to health and to make sure healthy plants remain healthy. At bioTree, we start by identifying the true cause of the poor plant health. Then we establish a plan to manage the problem. This plan will include which plants to treat, products to use, and what time of year to apply the products. Sometimes, plants are too infected or damaged to be saved and must be removed to allow the other healthy plans to prosper. Our comprehensive plan will tell you what needs to be done and when it will be done.
solutions to
common problems
While disease, insects, fertilization, and trimming is where bioTree focuses our services, there are other services you may need to have a healthy and vibrant tree or landscape plant.
Watering
Many properties have irrigation systems for their lawns, but not their landscapes or trees. These plants use a substantial amount of water. Water is not only critical to plant life, but it is also a transporter of nutrients and compounds to and in the plant to aid in growth. Without water, plants can become stressed and in turn susceptible to diseases, insects, and other problems. Make sure to keep an eye on your plants and water them when needed.
Bracing or Cabling
Limbs can break when v-crotches are present. V-crotches are structurally weaker than a single stem because there isn’t as much connective tissue anchoring the stem to the tree’s trunk. The more extreme the angle, the greater chance of failure. If you have a plant with v-crotches, there are multiple ways to manage them. One of the stems can be removed. Bracing rods can be put into the tree to prevent sideways movement or further spreading. Cabling can be done between branches to restrict movement, thus reducing the chance of breakage. Once bracing rods or cabling is used, the tree is more structurally sound and can better withstand its own weight and additional strain from weather.
Construction Damage
Often damage done during construction is not obvious until years down the road. Construction injuries may include trenches that compromise the root system, improper pruning, or land movement that alters drainage patterns and root mass. Once a tree or plant is weakened from a construction injury, disease and insects often invade and cause further damage. Before construction begins, it is important to protect the plant. Make sure construction traffic doesn’t pass over the root zone by using fencing or stakes. Avoid storing items under or near the plant to avoid additional damage. During construction, make conscious decisions about trenching, trimming, and land movement to avoid damage and future problems. After construction, evaluate the tree for any potential issues and consider having treatments applied to stimulate plant growth and recovery. bioTree has the expertise to apply these treatments to help your tree or plant grow strong.
Storm Damage
Storm damage can be unpredictable and poorly timed. The injuries that occur to trees and landscape plants cannot be avoided (although trimming and other preventative maintenance can help) but proper post-care can make a huge difference. After a storm, evaluate damage. If structural integrity has been compromised, then a tree or plant may need to be removed for safety reasons. If the tree or plant is still structurally intact, but sustained damage, then fertilization and biostimulant treatments properly timed and applied may help it recover from damage more quickly and prevent disease or insect infestations. Contact bioTree if you would like to discuss fertilization or biostimulant applications.
Winter Damage
Minnesota winters can be very tough on plants. Damage from cold, wind, and snow are the most common problems. Cold can kill or injure plants that are not hardy to Minnesota conditions. Sudden drops in temperature from a winter thaw can be especially devastating to plants. Sun scald is a particular problem that occurs when the sun warms the south side of the plant but then as the sun sets, temperature drops rapidly, causing cells to burst. Winter winds, combined with frozen soils can dry out plants, especially evergreens, causing them to turn brown. Heavy snow falls can place additional weight on limbs causing them to break. We also experience salt damage and animal damage in the winter. The best course of action is prevention. Trimming plants can reduce damage sustained during the winter months. Properly fertilizing trees and maintaining plant health can also help plants be prepared for harsh winters. Following winter damage, actions can also be taken to boost plant growth to return the plant to vibrance. Contact bioTree to learn more about how our services can help your plants.
Girdling Roots
Girdling root syndrome is a fatal condition for trees and landscape plants that occurs when plants are planted too deeply in the soil. This causes the roots to grow up to water and nutrients in the soil. Ultimately the roots wrap themselves around the trunk and choke out the tree. Girdling root syndrome is a fatal condition for trees. Symptoms of this problem are a thin canopy, discolored leaves, lack of trunk flare at the soil surface, and leaf drop. This is very common in lindens and maples. Early on, trees can be treated through a series of surgical cuts of the roots. Wait too long and the tree will likely need to be removed. Girdling root syndrome is preventable during the planting stage by ensuring the plant is planted slightly above ground level.
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