The spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) is a bark beetle species native to North America. Host trees include mostly white spruce, but also Colorado Blue and Norway spruce. Known for its devastating impact on large boreal spruce forests, this beetle has recently gain attention due to infestation occurring in towns, summer villages, woodlots, shelterbelts, and windbreaks. […]
Aphids are among the most frequently and widely encountered insects on trees, shrubs, and ornamental garden plants. These small, sap-sucking insects with very high numbers for extended period of time can cause e damage to a wide range of trees, impacting their health(dieback) growth(wilting), and overall productivity. Aphids are prey for numerous beneficial insects, such
Fireblight is a destructive bacterial disease caused by the pathogen Erwinia amylovora. This bacterial disease widely affects plants in the Rosaceae family, including apples, pears, variety of cherries, chokecherry, Saskatoon berry, raspberries, black berries, hawthorn, cotoneaster, and mountain ash. Fireblight, caused by Erwinia amylovora, remains a significant threat to fruit production worldwide. Spread Overwintering bacteria
Cytospora canker on hardwoods, particularly caused by Valsa sordida, and Leucostoma sp. is a significant and destructive disease affecting various hardwood trees. Cytospora canker on hardwoods is notorious for its detrimental impact on fruit trees( Prunus species, apples, pears, cherries, peaches, and plums.), ornamental trees(maples, ash, birch, oaks, elms. Mountain ash, etc. ), and forest
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Cytospora canker, also known as Leucostoma canker, is a pervasive and damaging disease, primarily caused by the fungus Cytospora kunzei. The disease is notable on spruce species, such as the Colorado blue spruce (very susceptible to Cytospora canker), Norway spruce and native white and Engelman spruce. Disease causes tree significant structural damage; reduces their effectiveness
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Golf courses are meticulously designed landscapes that combine natural beauty with strategic gameplay. Trees, as integral elements of golf course, serve multiple purposes including to define the course layout, offer aesthetic appeal, provide shade, and can even serve as landmarks. Even though the likelihood of tree hitting golfers is very low, trees can present a
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As tree planting season is already underway, planting container and balled-and-burlapped (B&B) trees too deep is a common and often overlooked mistake that can have serious long-term consequences for tree health and longevity. This practice, frequently observed on farms, acreages, and in residential and commercial landscaping, results from a misunderstanding of proper planting techniques. Planting
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Yellow-headed spruce sawfly (Pikonema alaskensis) is native species to Alberta. Also introduced European spruce sawfly (Gilpinia hercyniae ) is found in Prairie provinces. Sawfly attacks native white, black and Engelmann spruce trees as well as variety of non-native spruce trees( Colorado, and Norway spruce). It can create significant damage to many young spruce trees on
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Southern Alberta is known for endless prairie landscapes with natural cottonwood and some willows. Closer to the mountains and foothills there are plenty of white spruce, pines, aspen, balsam poplar and in some places Douglas fir. Most of the trees you see around yards, fields, streets, parks, and RV campgrounds were planted in the last
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Either you plant trees for shelterbelts, windbreaks, eco-buffers, or afforestation proper site preparation is essential for the successful tree establishment. Tree seedlings require four basic elements to grow: water, nutrients, sunlight, and space. Site preparation refers to the process of modifying and improving the physical and chemical properties of the soil to create favorable conditions
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