Articles, News + Events

October 2024 Treecologist Tribune

❄️ Winter Celebration, Native Seed Drive and How to Heal Our Planet

Thickets 101: Collections of Small Trees and Shrubs that Provide Privacy, Erosion Control, and Wildlife Habitats

These dynamic ecosystems provide many benefits and fill in the gaps in our natural landscape.

4th Annual Leaf & Limb Community Appreciation Event

Fun for the entire family: tours, hands-on classes, and so much more!

Opposums are Awesome (and No, They Don't Have Rabies)

These magnificent marsupials help control ticks and venomous snakes.

September 2024 Treecologist Tribune

When There is TOO Much Rain 🌧️

Video | Project Pando Needs Your Donations

By supporting Project Pando, you increase our impact and help us connect more people with trees.

August Treecologist Tribune

Why Your Trees Need Some Extra TLC Right Now

Video | Worried About Big Trees?

Think twice before you remove them.

Think Your Tree Needs to Be Removed? 6 Reasons You Might Be Wrong

Common concerns about trees and an explanation of why they are often unfounded.

July 2024 Treecologist Tribune

From No Rain to Too Much Rain

June 2024 Treecologist Tribune

Heat Stress, Ambrosia Beetles and Soil Health

How to Perform Structural Pruning

Learn how to use the 3-Cut Method and the Reduction Cut to structurally prune your tree.

May 2024 Treecologist Tribune

How to Prepare for Hurricanes, What to Do With Poison Ivy, and L&L in the Press!!

Video | How to Perform Structural Pruning

This video will show you how to combine pruning cuts to properly prune your tree.

Video | How to Perform the 3-Cut Pruning Method

This video will show you how to make a proper pruning cut that avoids harming the branch collar.

How to Properly Prune Using the 3-Cut Method and The Reduction Cut

Follow these basic steps to learn how to prune your tree without causing long-term harm.

April 2024 Treecologist Tribune

Making Space Where Wildlife Thrives

Video | Learn How to Save Time and Help Heal Earth in Our New Book

From Wasteland to Wonder—Easy Ways We Can Help Heal Earth in the Sub/Urban Landscape, a new book by Basil Camu.

March 2024 Treecologist Tribune

How Do We Truly Eliminate Pests??

Setting the Stage—A Conversation About Why Change is Necessary

From Wasteland to Wonder—Easy Ways to Help Heal Earth in the Sub/Urban Landscape

February 2024 Treecologist Tribune

The Great Cicada Emergence!

Tree Root Structure

A look at healthy tree root structure.

January 2024 Treecologist Tribune

Importance of Pruning and Hazards of Mulch Volcanoes

Point of View: 2023 Year in Review at Leaf & Limb

Looking back at last year through candid photos captured by our crew.

November 2023 Treecologist Tribune

Leave the Leaves and Plant More Trees

Bats are the Best (and, Unfortunately, They're Endangered)

Not convinced? Learn about the fascinating world of bats and the benefits of having them nearby.

October 2023 Treecologist Tribune

Fall is the Season for Soil Health

Video | The Story of A Seed

How Project Pando volunteers grow trees from seed to sapling.

September 2023 Treecologist Tribune

When Rain Doesn't Help Thirsty Trees

Video | Meadows, Thickets, and Pocket Forests: Going Beyond the Traditional Landscaping Model

Rethinking your backyard and common spaces.

Strength in Numbers: The Basics of a Pocket Forest

These densely planted mini forests provide a variety of benefits and are easier to maintain than traditional lawns.

Wondering How to Get Rid of Crape Myrtle Bark Scale?

This challenging new pest has spread quickly throughout the Southeast over the last few years. Here is what we recommend.

August 2023 Treecologist Tribune

A Tree's Way to Beat the Heat is Under Your Feet

Video | From Seeds to Serenity: The Piedmont Prairie Process

Turn your boring lawn into a gorgeous Piedmont Prairie.

10 Native Flowers and Grasses to Plant in a Central North Carolina Piedmont Prairie

Our Treecologists' favorite flowers and grasses that thrive in planting zones 7b/8a.

July 2023 Treecologist Tribune

An Ideal Growing Season

Video | Tree Roots Don't Break Pipes

Archie the Arborist debunks common misunderstandings about tree roots.

Do Roots Cause Damage? Debunking 3 Common Myths About Tree Roots

The truth about roots: separating fact from fiction.

Stop Blaming Tree Roots: 5 Ways to Proactively Prevent Property Damage

Understanding root behavior and planning ahead will prevent property damage and allow trees to grow healthy and strong.

June 2023 Treecologist Tribune

Cool Weather = Calm Plants

10 Native Shrubs to Plant in Central North Carolina

Our Treecologists' favorite plants that thrive in planting zones 7b/8a

Video | How to Manage Invasive Plants

Tackling the Trio of Troublesome Invasives: English Ivy, Bradford Pear, and Bamboo

Managing Invasive Plants

Some strategies for removal include pulling, smothering, starvation, containment and more.

May 2023 Treecologist Tribune

It's Raining, It's Pouring? Not All Rain is Equal.

Video | Earth Day is Every Day

Plants make the world go round.

Plants Make the Planet Go Round

Trees, shrubs, grasses, and other plants seed, feed, and fuel life on earth.

Spring Scavenger Hunt

Go on a search for tree buds, bluebirds, and more.

March Treecologist Tribune

What Does Early Spring Mean to Plants?

We Are Safe At All Times: Our Approach to Tree-Climbing Safety

From training to inspections, our comprehensive approach ensures safe tree climbing.

Video | Climbing with Archie: How to Climb a Tree Like an Arborist

Ever wondered how we climb trees? Watch this video and see the world from a whole new perspective.

Video | Day in the Life

Follow along while Zeb climbs, prunes, and cares for trees.

February Treecologist Tribune

Liquid Gold: Worms, Leaves, and Food Scraps, Oh My!

Why I Recommend Herbicide for Some Ecological Restoration Projects

by Basil Camu, co-owner of Leaf & Limb

Point of View: Behind the Scenes at Leaf & Limb

Candids captured by our crew on the job.

Video | How Hand Pruning Your Shrubs is Faster, Cheaper, and Healthier than using a Hedge Trimmer!

Planning before you prune and being intentional about cuts means the results will last longer and cause less damage to your shrubs.

Checklist: Tools and Supplies for Hand Pruning Your Shrubs

Not sure where to begin with hand pruning? We've created a short list of tools and supplies to get you started.

Still Using Hedge Trimmers? Hand Pruning is Better for Your Shrubs

It’s faster, cheaper, and healthier for your plants.

January 2023 Treecologist Tribune

Dormant Season: Winter Tree Care

Sapling Stories: Bald Cypress

Some of the oldest trees in the world live right in our backyard. You just have to go on an adventure to find them....

October 2022 Treecologist Tribune

We Only Plant Native Trees

Friend or Foe? Snakes (Yes, Even Copperheads) Are Important to Our Ecosystem.

Learning to co-exist with our slender, scaly neighbors is part of our shared responsibility to create thriving ecosystems and a healthier planet.

Project Pando Needs Your Help! How to Collect Native Tree Seeds

A fun and easy way to learn more about native plants and help heal the planet at the same time!

Project Pando: Community Seed Collection

Help Project Pando collect native tree and shrub seeds!

Video | Piedmont Prairies: An Alternative to Grass and Lawns Where Beauty and Life Thrive!

Watch to learn more about the benefits and beauty that Piedmont Prairies provide.

August 2022 Treecologist Tribune

Beat the Heat: Keep You and Your Plants Cool

Planting a Piedmont Prairie Helped Change the Way I See the World

A story about Basil, flowers, and finding a deeper connection with Mother Earth

Piedmont Prairies: The Process & What to Expect

Creating a Piedmont Prairie takes time and patience, but it is well worth the wait.

Video | How to Structurally Prune a Tree for Strength

One of the most effective ways to maintain the long-term health of your trees is structural pruning.

[Case Study] Before and After: Structural Pruning on an Oak Tree

Structural pruning may look different than what you expect, but it helps ensure your trees' long-term health and safety.

Video | How to Spot a Dead or Dying Tree

Watch to learn what signs you should be looking for that tell you your tree might be dead or dying.

Video | Bigger is Not Always Better! Planting Small Can Lead to Big Benefits.

choosing to plant smaller trees is often a better option, both for you and for your tree. Saplings are easier to plant, need less...

Bigger is Not Better! 3 Reasons Why You Should Plant Trees When They are Smaller

Planting trees when they are saplings is easier, requires less maintenance, and the trees typically grow more quickly.

Video | How Invasives Harm Our Local Ecosystem (And the ONE Thing You Can Do to Help)

Watch to learn how invasives impact ecosystems, and find out more about why it is so important to plant native trees and shrubs.

How Invasive Trees and Shrubs Harm Our Local Ecosystem and One Way You Can Reverse That Damage

We are facing a rapid loss of biodiversity. Planting native trees and shrubs instead of invasives is one way to increase biodiversity.

10 Invasive Plants to Watch Out for in Central North Carolina

These invasive trees, shrubs, and vines damage our local ecosystems and should be replaced with native plants.

Spring Scavenger Hunt

Go on a search for tree buds, bluebirds, and more.

Fascinators and Flagella: How to Host a Tea Party for Soil Microbes

Want more microbes to visit your garden? Simply steep a pot of compost tea.

Compost Tea Makes Soil Healthy and Trees Happy

Learn more about our incredible deep root fertilizer for your trees & shrubs!

Video | Tea for Your Trees

Watch to learn how compost tea improves the health of your soil and the ongoing benefits this has for your trees and shrubs.

Video | Mulch Volcanoes: Deceptively Deadly

Piles of mulch at the base of trees might look nice, except for one little issue... they are killing your tree.

Are Mulch Volcanoes Threatening The Trees in Your Neighborhood?

We've developed an emergency alert system to determine how much damage is being done to your trees.

Sapling Stories: Beryl's Beauties

White Oak trees grown in honor of Grandmama Beryl who loved her trees, being outside, and spending countless hours with her grandchildren.

Video | Sheep, Seeds, and Swales: An Update from Project Pando

Here's a recap of what we accomplished this year at our volunteer-driven tree nursery that sustainably grows native trees to give to the public...

6 Reasons Why Planting A Native Tree Benefits the Environment and Our Local Ecosystem

Native trees need less care, have a better chance of survival, and provide food and shelter for local wildlife.

Video | Drop That Rake: Save Time and Money by Leaving Your Leaves

Why leaving the leaves benefits you AND your trees.

Project Pando: Native Seed Drive 2021

Want to help heal the planet? Help Project Pando collect 100,000 native tree and shrub seeds this fall!

Video | How to Plant a Tree: The Definitive Guide to Proper Planting

Everything you need to know about how to plant a tree or shrub perfectly every time

10 Simple Steps to a Perfectly Planted Tree or Shrub

Proper planting is essential to the health of your tree.

Video | 3 Ways City Life Stresses Trees (And What You Can Do to Help)

Trees in the urban environment face unique challenges and need special care.

Why is Tree Care Important? Outside of the Forest, Trees Face Unique Challenges.

Trees in our backyards and urban environments need extra care and attention.

Emerald Ash Borers are Killing Trees. A Simple Treatment Can Stop Them.

If ash trees in North Carolina are not treated soon, we will likely lose all of our ash trees within the next five years....

Business Conservationist of the Year

Leaf & Limb was awarded the 57th annual Business Conservationist of the Year from North Carolina Wildlife Federation

Video | Did you Know? The Secret to Fertilizing your Trees and Shrubs Without Using Chemicals.

A better way to fertilize your trees: care for the little critters in the soil.

Chemical Fertilizers: 3 Surprising Myths and Why You Should Choose Organic Matter Instead

Resist the urge to use chemicals on your trees and shrubs. Use compost, wood chips, or leaf mulch instead.

4 Options for Fertilizing Trees and Shrubs the Cheap, Easy, and Healthy Way

Choose compost, leaf mulch, wood chips, or biochar over chemicals.

Video | 4 Fundamentals of Tree Care

Want your trees to live long, healthy lives? Watch to learn about four fundamental practices, that you can start today, to ensure the health...

Not Sure How to Care for your Trees? 4 Simple Steps to Happy, Healthy Trees

Do this, not that, when caring for your trees.

[Parody] Video | Introducing Timber: the Only Dating App for Trees

It's time for your trees to fall... in love.

Video | Introducing Archie the Arborist: 5 Amazing Tree Facts

Trees are amazing and beautiful! Watch this video to learn more about these fascinating, complex organisms.

We Show That We Care: The History of Project Pando

Before we started a native tree farm, Leaf & Limb donated thousands of hours between 2017-2020.

How to Spot a Pine Borer Infestation

Have you noticed your pine trees are turning brown from the top down? You might have a problem.

Video | How to Plant a Tree: 5 Questions to Ask Before You Pick Up a Shovel

Watch to learn how our Treecologists determine if they have the right tree for the right place.

Drop that shovel! 5 Questions to Ask Before Planting

How to assess the qualities of a location before planting.

10 Native Trees to Plant in Central North Carolina

Our Treecologists' favorite trees that thrive in planting zones 7b/8a

Holiday Gift Guide for That Special Tree in Your Life

Not sure what to get the tree that has everything? Our Treecologists compiled a list just for you.

Measure What Matters - We are B Corp Certified!

Learn more about why we are proud to be a Certified B Corporation.

Video | Wood Chips: The Secret Ingredient to Healthy Trees

Watch to learn more about how the benefits of wood chips and how to properly install them.

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Wood Chips Over Other Types of Mulch

A cheap, easy solution to increase the health of your trees.

Healthy Eating Plate for Trees

Trees need a balanced diet of water, sunlight, and rotting stuff.

Video | Welcome to Project Pando

Learn more about our volunteer tree farm where we are growing native trees to give away to the public for free.

Video | Structure is Strength - How to Make your Trees More Safe Using Pruning.

Watch to learn more about how structural pruning is the key to strong, healthy trees.

Are Your Trees Safe? Prune to Make Them Stronger.

Structural pruning is key to the long-term health and safety of your trees.

How to Select a Safe Branch for a Tree Swing

The top 5 things to consider when picking a branch for a tree swing.

Your Dirt is Hungry

Soil is a living, breathing, eating organism that needs rotting material like compost and leaves and wood chips to stay healthy.

Video | Soil is Alive

Learn more about the key differences between healthy soil and dead dirt.

Recipe: Savory Soil Casserole

Earthy. Aromatic. Full of fungi. This all-natural favorite is hit with trees and shrubs.

How Trees Can Heal Earth & What We Can Do to Help

Ways you can plant and care for trees to help address some of our biggest environmental challenges and help restore life on this planet....

Earth Day Bingo

How tree-friendly is your yard? What do you do to celebrate nature?

Video | How Trees Can Save the Earth

Abundant healthy trees create happy people and a vibrant planet.

Spring Tree Care Checklist

It's the season for pest management, mulching, and soil improvement.

Spring Scavenger Hunt

Go on a search for dogwood flowers, redbud blooms, and more.

Don't Make a Deadly Mistake: Top 10 Questions to Consider Before Pruning

Improper pruning cuts cause irreversible harm that often results in decline in health, structural instability, or death.

Video | Planning to Prune? Use this simple framework and avoid deadly mistakes.

Follow this simple framework to set pruning goals and prevent deadly damage to your trees and shrubs.

Video | Rooted by Our Purpose: A New Direction at Leaf & Limb

At Leaf & Limb, caring for trees has always been the heart of what we do, but this means we sometimes have to make...

Why Dead Wood is Good Wood

Helen Yoest from Bee Better Naturally explains why you should consider leaving a dead tree where it stands.

Video | Want More Birds in your Backyard? Plant These Native Trees.

Watch this video to find out why native trees are important and which ones you should choose.

Best Native Trees for Butterflies

A comprehensive list of native trees that support butterflies, birds, and other wildlife.

Fall & Winter Tree Care Checklist

Leave your leaves, plant new trees, and other important tasks

Video | Fall Tree Care Checklist: Leave your Leaves, Plant New Trees, and Other Important Tasks

Watch this video to find out what you should do or hire someone to do during the dormant season.

Top 10 Most Surprising Benefits of Trees

Trees play a vital role in our ecosystem but also have many surprising benefits to humans.

How I Learned to Love My Trees

...or how paying attention to my backyard opened me up to a whole new world of the benefits of trees.

Video | Trees are Critical to Our Future

Environmental change is overwhelming. Trees (and healthy soil) might be the antidote.

Think Your Tree is Dead? Look a Little Closer

7 Common Ways Trees Play Dead (But are Actually Still Alive)

How to Spot a Dead or Dying Tree

It can be challenging to identify a dead or dying tree. Here's what to look for first.

Video | How to Spot the Warning Signs: Dead, Dying or Hazardous Trees

Watch this video for some basic tips on how to determine if a tree is dead or dying.

Right Tree, Right Place: What to Plant and Where to Plant it

The top 4 questions to ask when selecting a tree.

Video | How To: Choosing the Right Tree for Any Location

Watch this video for some basic tips on how to pick the right tree for any location.

Our Favorite Tree Recommendations for Tricky Areas

Including trees that do well near roads, in heavily shaded areas, and in wet soil.

Using Fertilizer? Think Twice Before You Do.

Find out why many fertilizers offer short-term gain, but inflict long-term pain.

The #1 Reason Most Soil Tests Don't Work

Traditional soil tests are missing one key component: biology.

Friend or Foe: When to Take Action Against Pests

How to tell when to treat for pests and when to wait

The Insect Apocalypse is Here. How Can You Help?

6 ways to make your yard friendlier for bugs

16 Fascinating Facts About Fungi

Fungi play a vital role in plant health and they contribute to our ecosystem in so many different ways.

Mycorrhizal Fungi: The Unsung Heroes of Tree Care

Trees and shrubs cannot survive with out this helpful fungi

Case Study: Watch How Soil Improvement Turned this Tree from Sickly to Stately

This magnolia tree was wholly transformed by the reintroduction of healthy, living soil.

From Dead Dirt to Healthy Soil in 7 Simple Steps

Transform dead dirt into healthy soil using these tried-and-true methods.

6 Pruning Mistakes to Avoid

Maintain healthy trees and shrubs by avoiding these six common pruning mistakes.

How to Install and Enjoy Your Rain Gauge

An essential tool that helps you monitor whether your trees and shrubs are receiving adequate water.

Help Save the Monarch Butterflies!

The Monarch Butterfly is an iconic North American species, but it is in trouble. Find out how you can help.

4 Fascinating Facts About Mistletoe

At first glance, these hemi-parasitic plants might seem harmful to your trees, but mistletoe provides a wealth of benefits to ecosystems.

Proper Care for Newly Planted Trees

Follow these basic steps about watering, mulching, pruning, fertilizer, and more to ensure that your trees have a strong foundation for a long, healthy life....

8 Ways to Accidentally Kill Your Tree When Planting

Planting is not as simple as just digging a hole. Avoid these 8 behaviors to ensure that your tree will be happy and healthy...

Drop that Rake! Why Leaving the Leaves is Vital to Your Trees' Health

Leaves provide many benefits, and they even offset some harmful behaviors. Here are just a few reasons to leave your leaves.

Save Time This Fall: Leave Your Leaves

Three ways to use leaves to benefit your trees and shrubs.

Video | How To: The Fundamentals Of Watering

Watch this video for some basic tips on how to best water your trees and shrubs.

Video | The Fundamentals of Mulch: Proper Care, Installation, and Selection

Watch this video for some basic tips on how to select, install, and care for mulch.

Too Many Choices: Which Mulch or Weed Barrier Should I Choose?

The towering mulch shelves at any home improvement store can be overwhelming. So which one is right for your trees and shrubs?

When Good Mulch Goes Bad

Mulch is key way to keeping trees healthy, but only if it is in good shape.

How To: The Fundamentals of Mulch Installation

Follow these basic steps to ensure that mulch is installed properly.

Five Ways to Spot a Thirsty Tree or Shrub

How can you really tell if your plants need water? Here are a few tips and tools you can use to be sure your...

Soaker Hoses, Irrigation Systems, and Treegators, Oh My!

3 ways to set your watering to autopilot.

Drought Resistant Trees

Our Treecologists selected a few of their favorite hardy trees.

How To: The Fundamentals of Watering

Follow these basic steps to keep your trees and shrubs healthy.

The Joy of Planting Native Trees in Durham, North Carolina

Leaf & Limb employees planting trees during Arbor Day at Durham Central Park.

Crepe Myrtle Pruning Class and Demonstration

A Tale of Love, Murder, and Proper Pruning

Brightening Up Neighborhoods Across Durham

Leaf & Limb employees volunteered to plant trees in neighborhoods across Durham, NC.

Changing lives one seed at a time in Durham

Changing lives one seed at a time in Durham

Soil Decompaction - An Essential for Good Tree Health

Compacted dirt is devoid of life because there is no water and no oxygen. Life on Earth needs both to survive.

Emerald Ash Borer is in NC!

The Emerald Ash Borer is an invasive beetle that causes major harm. It is now in North Carolina.

Cabling & Bracing - Options for Making Your Tree Safer

Cables & brace rods can often reduce the possibility of a branch or trunk split by providing support structures.

Tree Care for Crape Myrtles

Crape Myrtles are truly beautiful trees. It is no wonder that they have become a favorite across North Carolina and the rest of the...

How to Prevent Tree Damage

Trees can cause incredible damage to people and property. It is essential to identify potential problems early, before they turn into actual problems.

Help! My Tree Has a Disease!

What can you do if your trees or shrubs have a disease? Here are some pointers.

Dragon’s Blood Tree

The Dracaena Cinnabari, or, the Dragon's Blood Tree, is a fascinating tree!

Deep Root Fertilization: Myths & The Truth

Deep root fertilization should be used to help rebuild your soil food web, not as a way of pumping nutrients into the soil.

The Dangerous Truth About Ghost Insurance Policies

If you hire a tree service that has a ghost insurance policy, and someone is injured on your property, you could be held responsible...

Happy Trees Begin With Proper Planting

Proper planting is critical to a tree's health. How you plant your tree will determine whether it lives a healthy life or a short...

Trees & Shrubs Need Check-Ups Too!

Just like visiting the doctor on a regular basis for a health check-up, regular inspections help keep trees and shrubs healthy and problem-free.

How To Protect Your Trees from a Lightning Strike

You cannot prevent a lightning strike, but you can reduce its potential harm on a tree and nearby structures by installing a lightning protection...

Mulching: A Cheap, Easy Way to Increase the Health of Your Trees!

With the right product and installation, mulching provides an amazing set of health benefits for your trees and shrubs.

Crape Myrtles: A Tale of Love, Murder, and Proper Pruning

When pruning Crape Myrtles, avoid improper pruning techniques such as Crape Murder. Instead, use proper pruning techniques to produce a beautiful, healthy tree.

The World's Oldest Trees

Trees make up some of the oldest known living organisms on the planet.

Help! Insects are Attacking my Trees & Shrubs!

What can you do if insects are attacking your trees and shrubs? Here are some pointers.

Tree Care: Save Money and Increase Your Property Value

Your trees look beautiful and can increase property value by as much as 20%. Thus tree care solutions should be considered before tree removal...

Root Collar Excavation is Critical to Your Tree's Survival!

A buried root collar is a serious health issue for a tree or shrub. It is a common issue in the urban landscape, one...

Tree Risk Assessment: The Key to Safer Trees & Peace of Mind!

It is normal for trees to break and fall. But when people and property are nearby, the consequences could be catastrophic. Risk assessment is...

10 Tips on How to Choose the Right Tree Service and Avoid Scams

Our industry is full of con artists and fly-by-night crooks. Take the following precautions to avoid being scammed.

Happy Trees Grow From Healthy Soil

In order for a tree to be healthy and happy, it needs healthy soil, which includes a functioning soil food web, aeration, adequate moisture,...

TCIA Accreditation: Empowering You With Confidence

We are TCIA Accredited. This shows that we are a safe, capable tree company that operates according to the highest standards possible within our...

What is Tree Care?

Tree care aims to maintain or improve the structure, appearance, and vitality of your trees and shrubs. Good health is a plant’s first, strongest...

Mulch Volcanoes: the Mt. St. Helens of Tree Problems

A mulch volcano, which is the term used to refer to mulch piled around the base of a tree or shrub, is very harmful...

Trees Need a Thriving Soil Food Web

Rebuild and rejuvenate the soil food web to improve the health of your trees and shrubs. Excellent health is a plant’s strongest line of...