Austin Cowen

Across Northwest Indiana, many property owners have noticed mature oak trees beginning to thin, lose branches, or decline seemingly without warning. Often, the first question is, "What's killing my oak?" The answer is rarely simple. While insects and diseases are often responsible for the final stages of decline, they are frequently only part of a much larger story. In many cases, environmental stress weakens an oak's natural defenses, making it more susceptible to opportunistic pests and...

Every so often, we receive a call from a homeowner who is concerned that a neighbor may have poisoned their tree. Usually, the conversation starts the same way: a tree that looked healthy last year is suddenly showing signs of decline. Leaves may be smaller than normal, parts of the canopy may be thinning, or entire branches may be dying back. When neighboring trees appear healthy, it's natural to wonder whether something more intentional is happening. While herbicide damage can occur,...

As we move into summer, one of the biggest challenges facing trees in Northwest Indiana is moisture stress. Most homeowners think about watering when trees begin showing symptoms such as wilting leaves, leaf scorch, or early leaf drop. The problem is that by the time these symptoms appear, the tree has often been experiencing moisture stress for weeks. For trees, maintaining adequate soil moisture isn't just about surviving drought—it's about supporting every major function that keeps them...