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Colder temperatures and shorter days serve as a reminder that it’s time for your trees and shrubs to have a winter check-up. Now is the time to uncover issues such as weakly attached branches, dead wood, diseases, pest infestations and other problems before they can cause serious damage in the spring.

Now is a critical time of year to prepare your trees and shrubs for the coming summer in the Cleveland area. Healthy trees and shrubs are better able to withstand the higher temperatures and weather extremes that summer brings. Proper care in spring can help ensure the health of your landscape plants.

Given the likelihood of encountering ticks, it is important to know that controlling tick populations in your landscape is possible. The first step is assessing your landscape for common habitats like wooded areas, leaf litter and ornamental beds. Based on the assessment, treatments can specifically target at-risk areas.

Spring is when many sap-sucking pests become active, including types of scales, aphids and mites. These tiny insects can infest virtually any type of tree or shrub. Now is the best time to identify and treat for damaging populations.

After winter ends, your trees and shrubs will be working hard to establish spring growth. A soil test in early spring can help determine the precise nutrients needed for that growth, yielding a fuller canopy and vibrant, health foliage.

The Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories has broken new ground to protect beech trees from beech leaf disease with novel pest management strategies.

Summer storms often cause branches or entire trees to fall. Preventative care can help you maintain your landscape while mitigating the possibility of unanticipated costs.

Now is a critical time of year to prepare your trees and shrubs for the coming summer. Healthy trees and shrubs are better able to withstand the higher temperatures and weather extremes that summer brings. Proper care in spring can help ensure the health of your landscape plants.