If you’ve noticed dead branches, thinning crowns, or unusual cankers on the trees around your property, Cytospora may be part of the problem. Cytospora canker is a common tree disease that can affect stressed or weakened trees, including aspen and spruce. Here in Teton Valley, where trees face cold winters, dry periods, wind, snow load, and occasional injury, keeping trees healthy is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of serious disease. Unfortunately, Cytospora has been

Branch Out Tree Service didn't start with a business plan, or a fleet of trucks, (we still have just one truck, sometimes two). From New York, to Alaska, to Driggs Idaho.. It started with getting a job working for a tree service at 15 years old. Devin grew up in upstate New York and started working for a family friend who became his mentor, boss, and introduction to the world of arboriculture. What started as a job turned into something he really enjoyed, eventually leading h

“How much is it going to cost to take this tree down?” There isn't one easy answer. We know tree work can be a big expense, especially when you have several trees that need attention. Sometimes a property owner calls us because they know they have a few problem trees, but they're not sure where to start. Other times, they already know exactly what they want done and just want to get the whole thing taken care of. We can do either. Tree removal can vary quite a bit depending o

Trees in the Tetons have a tough life. We have long, cold winters, heavy snow, strong winds, short growing seasons, and lately, some really hot and dry summers. All of that can take a toll on trees over time. Drought stress is something we’ve been seeing more of. Even trees that have been established for years can struggle when we go through long stretches of heat and very little rain. Trees use a surprising amount of water during the growing season, and when they don't get e

We get asked this one a lot: “When should I have my trees pruned?” For routine pruning, late fall, winter, and early spring are often great times to get the job done here in Teton Valley. Once the leaves have dropped, it's much easier to see the structure of the tree and identify dead, damaged, or poorly placed branches. The tree is also going into its dormant season, so it's a good time to do some maintenance before everything starts growing again in the spring. Late fall is

You could dig your finger right into this tree.. Cottonwoods are funny trees. They can look big, healthy, and solid from the outside, while the inside tells a completely different story. We recently took down an old dead cottonwood in Teton Valley that was hollow, holding a surprising amount of water, and had mushrooms growing inside the trunk. The mushrooms were a visible sign of the fungal decay happening within the tree, which had been breaking down the wood from the insid

This fall we had a big job lined up in Felt, ID just outside of Tetonia in Teton Valley. A huge row of 25+ mature poplar trees, nearly all infected with poplar bud gall mite (Eriophyes parapopuli). They are brown, cauliflower- looking masses that were all over the tree branches. These tree branches in Teton Valley, Idaho, exhibit distinctive deformations caused by a gall mite infestation, highlighting the impact of these tiny pests on local vegetation. Hosts for this pest can