Myers Plant Health Care, LLC

11/15/2023

Our ”Go To” product for improving soils! Healthy soils = healthy trees!

American BioChar Company promotes soil rejuvenation and plant health with biochar soil amendments

06/29/2023

Our first Japanese beetle sighting in Allen County yesterday!

07/08/2022

We’ve been receiving many calls regarding trees
that have leaf scorch (dead leaf margins), leaf
drop, and discoloration. Most of this has been
attributed to the extremely dry and hot
conditions over the past few weeks. I cannot
stress enough the importance of proper
watering, mulching, and caring for your soil.
Improving soil organic matter and fertility can be
helpful, but high rates of nitrogen (as is way too
common) needs to be avoided. Check out the
link from Purdue Extension (Thanks Lindsey
Purcell) regarding trees, drought, and proper
care.

https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:36a2b02d-09e0-472c-a3c4-5a1cc2fee8d6

10/11/2021

The area outlined in red must remain exposed at all times! This area is called the “root flare” or “root collar”. Deep planting, excessive soil or mulch (an epidemic!) can cause stem girdling roots (top right before removal) and restrict the growth of the stem (bottom right) and cause the tree to die.
Trees planted today (right tree in the right location and planted/maintained correctly) should outlive all of us!

06/06/2021

Before/After: Pin oak with iron chlorosis.

05/12/2021

Tree topping is a method of pruning in which branches are cut back to stubs. This can shorten the lifespan of your trees.

05/05/2021

Great video on how rust, and many other fungi, affects plants. This is why we spend most of May running.....to stay ahead of these guys!

https://youtu.be/AKY_pelBZek

More about rust fungus ► https://www.csiro.au/en/About/Our-impact/Our-impact-in-action/Agriculture-and-Fisheries/Cereal-rust-diseaseMore videos from CSIRO ► ...

11/02/2020

07/06/2020

The very hot and dry forecast says it’s time to start watering your trees! This video from Purdue is a few years old but applies to current conditions. Short version: water a wide area very heavily, especially on sensitive trees, once or twice a week until the weather cools and moisture returns.

https://youtu.be/5U9gLnzIhGI

Despite having deeper, moisture-reaching roots than agricultural crops, trees are not immune to this summer's persistent drought. Purdue urban forestry speci...

05/01/2020

Rhizophaera Needlecast on Blue Spruce - images show treated vs not treated (we treated the good looking trees!)

YES, our treatments for Needlecast are effective, but, there are a few things you should know (symptoms include browning and dropping needles):

1. They often look worse the first year we treat
them because the existing needles were
already infected (from the previous
season).

2. It takes 2-3 seasons of treatment to see a
nice improvement.

3. Full sunlight is required to maintain full and
healthy plants.

4. Irrigation directly on foliage or flooded soils
make things worse. Removing all dead
wood and low branches (at least 1-2 ft off
of the ground) helps. As does mulching,
fertilization, and growth regulators.

5. If you will not be happy with a 2-3 year wait
for results, it would be best to replace your
Spruce with something that is disease
resistant and is a good match for the site.

6. Sprays for Needlecast (we use an
organic fungicide) will begin in just a few
weeks!

04/24/2020

Boxwood leafminer (4/23/20). These little guys cause damage by feeding between the upper and lower surface of the leaf. Interesting fact: in a couple of weeks, around the time of flowering, they make sounds like Rice Krispies cereal (Snap, Crackle, POP!). Nearly every property with untreated boxwoods that I have inspected recently has damage. We can treat them! Treatments will start soon to prevent damage to this season’s growth.

02/07/2020

Happy Friday!!!

12/11/2019

Growers in northern states are combating virulent outbreaks of a disease as seasons grow warmer, orchards have been reconfigured for higher yields and new varieties may be more vulnerable.

11/22/2019

This article is spot on. Particularly in reference to over watering! Irrigation systems need to stay off until supplemental water is needed!

Many of our landscape evergreens are struggling and dying. Rather than a single plaque, a variety of factors are combining to wreak havoc lately on this valuable class of plants.

10/02/2019

Tubakia is something that we have seen a lot of this year on oaks. If your oaks dropped a significant amount of leaves early, this is likely the cause. Foliar diseases in general have been extremely prevalent this year due to a very wet season.

Leaf spot diseases of shade trees are easy to spot at this time of year. Pictured is a common fungal leaf spot disease of oak, tubakia leaf spot. Most trees tolerate this damage with no long term damage. To minimize damage next year, rake and remove leaves as they fall; or chop finely with your mower to speed decomposition.