What We Do & Why We Do It:

Our Plant Health Care (PHC) program is designed to manage the health, structure, and appearance of trees and plants in the landscape within our client’s expectations. With a holistic approach, our Plant Health Care Technician will focus on developing and maintaining healthy trees and plants, so they become less vulnerable to problems.

When a tree is in decline it is rarely caused by a single factor. In most cases, several agents act together over more than one growing season and collectively result in decline. Our primary goal is to predict and prevent problems before they happen, because once trees reach the downward spiral of decline it is almost impossible to reverse the process.

Services we offer:

• Proper Pruning
• Proper Mulch Rings
• Soil Nutrient Management
• Integrated Pest Management – method of controlling plant pests

Pruning

Proper pruning by a professionally trained arborist or PHC Technician will enhance the beauty and improve the overall health of trees and shrubs.

Benefits of proper pruning:

• Promote and maintain health – Removing older stems and/or deadwood will encourage a plant to put energy and resources into new and healthy growth.
• Reduce the potential for disease and pests – Removing dead, damaged, or diseased branches will decrease the risk of diseases and pests entering through dead or damaged wood and spreading throughout the plant.
• Increase the number and quality of flowers and foliage – Pruning at the right time and cutting in the right places can increase the number of shoots and encourages flowering.
• Improve air circulation and allow sunlight into the inner and lower growth.
• Control the shape and size to improve aesthetic value.

Mulch Rings

Properly applying a layer of mulch around your tree provides many benefits that help with the long-term health of your trees. These benefits include soil insulation to provide a buffer from temperature extremes, conserving soil moisture, reducing weeds that compete with tree roots, prevents soil compaction, improves soil structure, encourages beneficial soil microorganisms, and reduces lawn mower damage.

Soil Nutrient Management

We apply a root growth stimulant that will boost growth and vigor by increasing plant development, activating the root system, and improving nutrient absorption. The stimulant is injected into the soil around the tree. This saturates the soil and allows the root system to absorb the compound, increasing the amount of usual nutrient uptake. Other benefits of this treatment is improved color, activation of enzymes, and reduced frost damage.

Integrated Pest Management

This is a holistic approach to managing pests in your landscape environment by assessing the pest situation, considering options, and implementing the safest and most effective method of control. Our PHC Technician will go through the diagnostic process to determine stress contributors, determine the level of tolerance, determine our clients’ expectations and goals, and design a management strategy to best fit the situation.

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Many contributing factors compromise tree health: storm damage, heat, drought, varying weather conditions, increase in pests & diseases, fungal & bacterial infections from the rain, etc. These factors contribute to the overall decline of the tree.

The root system is the “root” of the issue for many of these factors (pun intended). Anything that causes root death will eventually result in twig and branch death, as the impaired root system is unable to adequately supply water and nutrients to the entire tree canopy. Just like humans, trees need a consistent and healthy supply of nutrients.

Some conditions, such as drought or defoliation by insects, contribute to decline. They weaken the tree and allow other agents, such as pathogenic fungi or boring insects, to cause more damage than would otherwise occur in a healthy tree. Some infectious diseases, those that may spread from other plants or organisms, can be the primary cause of decline symptoms. Adverse environmental conditions may accelerate the progress of the disease. Common activities that contribute to root injury are construction, soil compaction by foot or vehicular traffic, and de-icing salt.

How to Help Your Trees Flourish

To specifically address these issues, we apply an organic tree stimulant that can boost growth and vigor by increasing plant development, activating the root system, and improving nutrient absorption. This saturates the soil and allows the root system to absorb the natural biostimulant, increasing the amount of usual nutrient uptake.

A healthy tree is more resistant to ward off pests and diseases. If you are concerned about or unsure of the health of your trees, please call Denise at (802) 464-3603 or contact us.

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We expect the Grinch to be returning shortly after Christmas again this year to chip Christmas trees. If you’d like to take advantage of this opportunity, drop your tree off between December 26th 2021 and January 9th 2022.

HERE ARE THE DETAILS:

• December 26, 2021 through January 9, 2022
• 136 Vermont Rte 100 North, Wilmington, VT 05363

Please Note: no garland, lights, decorations, or any other remnants of Christmas should be left of the tree when dropped off!

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Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive pest from Asia that has killed tens of millions of ash trees throughout the United States since it was first discovered in Michigan in 2002. EAB was first detected in Vermont in 2018 and has been spreading through the state ever since. Through a combination of natural spread and human activity, EAB is now found throughout the United States and Canada.

Signs & Symptoms

• Adult beetles emerge in late May/early June
• Bark splitting 
• S-shaped tunnels beneath the outer bark
• D-shaped exit holes 1/8″ wide on bark surface
• Woodpecker flecking
• Crown dieback
• Leafy offshoots on the lower trunk

Life Cycle

Solution

Despite the challenges presented by EAB there are steps you can take to protect your ash trees. Black Diamond uses the most advanced products on the market to provide treatment options that are safe for you and the environment. The sooner a tree is treated, the more likely it will survive. Preventative treatment before the tree has visible signs and symptoms is most effective.

You may be unsure if your ash trees are healthy. If so, contact Denise to schedule an appointment to perform an on-site assessment.

Call (802) 464-3603 or contact us.

For continued up to date information visit VT Invasives.

This is a map of the infested area. View this map in more detail here.

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The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) is a small, aphid-like insect that feeds on the sap of hemlock trees. Native to Japan, it has become an invasive species in Eastern North America due to a lack of natural predators. As HWA feeds on the sap of trees it dries out the needles turning them a greyish-green color. The needles drop from the trees within a few months, leading to the death of major limbs within two years, progressing from the bottom of the tree upwards. The entire tree usually declines and dies within four to ten years.

No, that fluffy white stuff is not snow. It is actually a woolly substance that covers the insects and their egg masses.

Since the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid can cause significant damage in a short amount of time, early diagnosis and treatment is vital. We can perform an on-site assessment to determine the best course of action for your hemlock trees.

For more information, visit the VT Invasives website. https://vtinvasives.org/invasive/hemlock-woolly-adelgid

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Tis the Season of Free Christmas Tree Chipping

While we are still enjoying the magic of the season, we know all things will eventually come to an end. When it’s time to remove the garland and lights, we’ll be ready to take that Christmas tree off your hands!

Since 1994 Black Diamond has offered this as a service to our community. From December 26-January 10 all you have to do is drop off your bare tree to Route 100 at River Bend Farm Market – Wilmington, VT.

Please Note: no garland, lights, decorations, or any other remnants of Christmas should be left of the tree when dropped off!

No Grinches Here

We promise, we have tons of jolly cheer in our hearts this season, we just happen to be ready to chip that tree when the time is right!

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As our team works in an essential business, performing highly skilled services that maintain the safety of the public, we are able to remain fully operational throughout this time. We are still taking calls, working in the field, managing emergency/urgent situations, and visiting your properties for consultations as needed.  We would be happy to arrange a Video Chat conference with you in place of in-person meetings.

We will let you know if anything changes, but for now, we are fully available to you during this time. Please call Denise with any questions, comments, or concerns at 802-464-3603.

Staying Strong Together,

The Black Diamond Team

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Our Conference Experience

Our son, Brendan, flew in from Los Angeles for the conference as well. He was just two months old when he attended his first TCIA event in 1998. Brendan still works in the business (now remotely) in various capacities. One of which is marketing and content creation, so to keep an eye on our Facebook page as you can expect to see a recap video coming soon!

After WMC 2018 in Maui, we committed to the process of becoming a TCIA Accredited company. “Accreditation is a third-party consumer confidence verification program…[that] helps consumers identify qualified tree care companies who conduct business in a safe, legal and ethical manner.”

Accreditation for Black Diamond

Becoming an Accredited tree care company aligns with Black Diamond’s core values of Safety, Excellence, and Integrity. We successfully completed the program in May of 2019. This year in Puerto Vallarta, we were recognized as one of several companies that have become Accredited in 2019. The Black Diamond team is proud to be one of only five companies in Vermont to achieve Accreditation.

Bill and Denise are excited to implement what they learned this year at WMC as Black Diamond continues to accomplish goals set for 2020. We look forward to building the culture of our company, enhancing your customer experience, to better serve our community.

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Part of preventing ice damage is planning in advance. If you’re thinking of adding new trees, consider the size they are likely to grow to, where the limbs may extend to, and dangers that could be 25 years down the line. If your trees are already planted and you don’t have plans to add more, there are still safety measures to account for to avoid breakage and damage.

Immediate branch or tree removal is vital. If storm damage has caused a limb to break either partially or fully, removing them quickly and safely can benefit both your property and the tree. If the broken branch is not properly pruned, a new and even weaker branch is likely to sprout and pose a new risk in the future. Poor pruning can also invite insects which increases the risk of infestation and disease.

Reach Out to Us

As Accredited and certified tree care professionals, we are prepared to help you with every step of the process. From tree planting to pruning and damage control, we don’t expect you to know it all. If you are concerned about a tree, have noticed a potential weak spot, don’t hesitate to call. We can arrange anything from site visits, to removals, to ongoing tree care.

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