What’s New

  • With winter around the corner, Integral is busy preparing for the dormant pruning season. Although many trees can be safely pruned during any season, fruit trees or ornamental trees requiring a major reduction in size should only be pruned when they enter dormancy. Whether you have one fruit tree or one hundred, call for a consultation and to check availability.

  • On a very serious note, the Asian Longhorn Beetle has been found in Worcester, Massachusetts! For those that are not familiar with the pest, the US Forest Service has an excellent site, http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/alb/. Lets all hope the quarantine efforts keep this one away from the Hudson Valley.

  • Are the deer feeding on your plants? Do repellents not seem to deter them? Then let us talk to you about a deer repellent program. Since each property is unique, we use a combination of techniques and have been having great success. But remember, even the strongest repellents can fail once deer become acclimated to the taste/scent, or become hungry enough. I hate turnips, but if I was hungry enough I would probably eat one raw!

  • Did your Viburnum have tattered looking leaves this past summer? Then there is a very good chance you have been visited by the viburnum leaf beetle, a relatively new pest to the area. If so, the insect has already laid eggs for next season. Our friends at the UMass extension have a great link with pictures, http://www.massnrc.org/pests/pestFAQsheets/viburnumleaf.html. Keep in mind, the egg masses are visible throughout the winter months. If you suspect this pest is on the property, contact us for a free consultation and recommendation. When considering planting viburnum, please refer to this plant susceptibility page from Cornell University, http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb/suscept.html

  • Protect your shrubs from winter burn. Winter burn, otherwise known as 1406185.jpgdesiccation, occurs when cold temperatures and winds remove water from the foliage of evergreens such as rhododendron. The damage occurs more often on newly planted materials. Steps you can take to prevent winter burn include ensuring the plant receives adequate water during the fall, "wrapping" the plant in burlap and/or the use of anti-desiccant sprays. Of additional concern is salt spray from roadways, in which case burlap may be the only solution.