Spring ahead! As we change our clocks, know that Spring is just around the corner. And Nature is giving us some clues! So even though snow is falling today, get out and look for signs of spring!

If you are a woodland enthusiast and happen to be at the right place at the right time, you may be rewarded by catching a glimpse (or hearing the chorus) of a fleeting spring habitat - the vernal pool - and the assortment of unique critters it supports.

This time of year, people may be thinking about tapping maple trees for sap. But how can you tell the difference between Sugar, Norway, Red and Silver Maple.

Each week, the Clinic receives plant and pest samples to be diagnosed in a timely manner. The winter months tend to see less samples than the other months, but there are still samples being submitted.

That's right, we're talking bug poop.

Yesterday afternoon, our weather went from 50 degrees Fahrenheit down to 30 degrees F and rain which began turning to Ice. It made me ask myself this morning as I walked out to ice-coated trees: “Will Ice Hurt Trees?”

The Ohio Tree Care Conference, sponsored by the Ohio International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) was held in Cleveland, Ohio on February 8-10, 2022. At the conference, I saw a presentation on trimming trees and power lines by Joe Jimmo from Pennline Tree Service. I got to thinking how many homeowners try to trim trees close to power lines.

Check out this new Ohio State University FactSheet, Efficient Lawn Care Practices to Help Protect Ohio’s Waterways. The FactSheet authors include: Ashley Kulhanek, Educator, Ohio State University Extension; Eugene Braig, Program Director, Aquatic Ecosystems, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University; and Zane Raudenbush, Turfgrass and Herbicide Specialist, Davey Tree.

Years ago, a Growing Degree Day (GDD) article was a reoccuring staple in what was the weekly Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL) e-newsletter. While the newsletter evolved into a real time, blog-like, format, GDD information still had a presence as an occasional summary, and of course was included in many of the insect alerts. In 2022, you will be seeing monthly summaries, and we will continue to tie in GDDs into other alerts as well.