Arbor Doctor LLC

The root crown and root flare are foundational to tree health, yet they are often buried beneath excess soil, mulch, or turf.

Through Root Crown Excavation (RCE), we use an air knife to carefully excavate soil around the base of the tree, allowing us to examine the root flare, trunk base, and root system without the same level of mechanical disturbance associated with conventional digging.

This can reveal problems such as:

• Trees planted too deeply
• Buried or obscured root flares
• Girdling and crossing roots
• Other underground root defects

We can also use air knife tilling to address compacted soil throughout the root zone. Soil can be loosened to improve aeration and create better conditions for root growth.

For appropriate trees, we recommend maintaining the treated area under mulch rather than returning it to turf, reducing competition between grass and tree roots.

Why is this foundational? Because if the root system is struggling, other Plant Health Care measures may be less effective—or ineffective altogether.

Before we treat the tree, we need to understand the roots.

Insects may be small, but they play an enormous role in the ecosystems around us. They pollinate plants, feed birds and other wildlife, recycle nutrients, and help keep our landscapes functioning.

Doug Tallamy explores why supporting insect life - especially native insects - is one of the most meaningful things we can do in our own yards and landscapes.

Restoring Insects Doug Tallamy explores the vital role insects play in our ecosystems and presents a science-based approach to restoring their populations.

September 27, 2026 Soil Moisture, Condition Monitoring and Drought Update
Near Normal conditions at Cheviot, OH 3.4W.
Widespread dry and drought conditions in the western half of the US, the East Coast, Florida, the South, and much of the Mississippi Valley. Ohio is the only state with no dry or drought classification. (US Drought Monitor does not include rains since September 27, 2026).

Weather Blog | Arbor Doctor Near Normal conditions at Cheviot, OH 3.4W. Widespread dry and drought conditions in the western half of the US, the East Coast, Florida, the South, and much of the Mississippi Valley.  Ohio is the only state with no dry or drought classification. (US Drought Monitor does not include rains since Se...

Fall gives us an opportunity to look beyond this year's symptoms and ask a bigger question: What can we do now to help plants enter winter in a healthier condition?

A strong Plant Health Care program isn't simply about reacting to problems when they appear. It means observing the landscape throughout the year, understanding what caused plant stress, and making thoughtful interventions and preventions when they're warranted.

Healthy plants going into winter are better positioned for the season ahead. 🌿

GOLDENROD GETS THE BLAME.
RAGWEED IS THE CULPRIT.

Goldenrod (Solidago spp.): bright yellow, insect-pollinated, and an important late-season food source for pollinators. Goldenrod pollen is relatively heavy, sticky, and adapted for insect transport. Goldenrod is not primarily wind-pollinated. Its pollen must be picked up on the bodies of visiting insects and moved from flower to flower. Because it is too heavy and sticky to blow freely through the air, it is not floating around in clouds waiting to cause widespread allergy symptoms.

Ragweed (Ambrosia spp.): small green flowers, wind-pollinated, and a major source of airborne fall allergy pollen.
Every fall, goldenrod gets blamed for the sneezing and allergies that arrive with the season. But goldenrod is actually an important resource for pollinators when many summer flowers are winding down. 🌼🐝

Ohio is home to roughly 25 native species of goldenrod, providing nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, flies, beetles, wasps, and many other insects. You'll see it blooming now in gardens, disturbed habitats, along the roadside and woodland edges.

So what's causing all the sneezing?
Ragweed!

Ragweed blooms around the same time as goldenrod, but its small, green flowers are easy to overlook. Unlike goldenrod, ragweed is wind-pollinated, releasing abundant, lightweight pollen into the air.

Goldenrod is visible. Ragweed is airborne.

Next time you see a field of goldenrod glowing yellow in the fall, don't blame it for your allergies - take a closer look at how much life it's supporting instead. 🌼

In Ohio, trees and shrubs can often be planted into late fall and even early winter, as long as the soil remains workable and is not frozen or excessively wet.

As temperatures cool, many plants slow their above-ground growth while soils can remain warm enough to support continued root development. Cooler conditions also reduce the water loss and heat stress that newly planted plants experience during summer.

Why plant in fall?

🌱 More time for root establishment
Roots can continue developing before the ground freezes.

💧 Cooler, moister conditions
Fall weather can reduce transplant stress and help maintain soil moisture.

☀️ A head start on summer
A well-established root system is better positioned to support the plant when next summer's heat arrives.

🍂 Less stress on new plantings
Plants aren't trying to establish roots while simultaneously dealing with peak summer temperatures.

Doug Tallamy reveals the essential role oak trees play in supporting biodiversity and explains how they sustain wildlife and healthy ecosystems. 🌳

The Nature of Oaks Doug Tallamy reveals the essential role oak trees play in supporting biodiversity and explains how they sustain wildlife and healthy ecosystems. Please feel free to use this video at events or meetings to inspire your group and spread the word, using the guidelines below! TAKE ACTION: https://homegr...

We don't treat what we haven't diagnosed.

Our approach combines:

🌿Careful plant diagnosis: Identifying the underlying problem before recommending a treatment plan.
🌿Phenology & pest timing: Timing is based on plant development and phenology, rather than simply following the calendar.
🌿Years of arboricultural experience: Our staff is trained to consider the entire landscape, not just the plant itself. We regularly discuss current pest and disease pressures, plant progression, and environmental conditions to help identify potential problems early.
🌿Targeted treatments: When pesticides are necessary, we select and apply them with the specific pest, disease, and life stage in mind.
🌿A focus on minimizing pesticide use: We strive to use the least amount of pesticide necessary and select materials with low or no toxicity whenever possible.
🌿Customized programs: Not every landscape needs the same treatments or frequency. Your plant health care program is tailored to your landscape and budget.

Every landscape has different needs.
Every prescription is tailored accordingly.