Arborist and Tree

11/14/2025

Not the Bill Bryson kind—more the kind an arborist needs to reset.

Arborists spend our days seeing the world through a lens most people never notice: dead and declining trees, high-risk failures waiting for the next storm, corridors devastated by emerald ash borer, motts of live oak lost to oak wilt, and the ever-present echo of the American chestnut. Day in and day out, it can warp our sense of what a healthy forest even looks like.

So sometimes, I walk the woods simply to reset.

Stepping into a thriving ecosystem and seeing vigorous, resilient trees restores my perspective—and my hope. It reminds me why this work matters and what we’re fighting to protect.

Here are a few photos from today’s lunch-hour walk. May they bring you a moment of renewal too.

11/14/2025

A walk in the woods…
Not the Bill Bryson kind—more the kind an arborist needs to reset.

Arborists spend our days seeing the world through a lens most people never notice: dead and declining trees, high-risk failures waiting for the next storm, corridors devastated by emerald ash borer, motts of live oak lost to oak wilt, and the ever-present echo of the American chestnut. Day in and day out, it can warp our sense of what a healthy forest even looks like.

So sometimes, I walk the woods simply to reset.

Stepping into a thriving ecosystem and seeing vigorous, resilient trees restores my perspective—and my hope. It reminds me why this work matters and what we’re fighting to protect.

Here are a few photos from today’s lunch-hour walk. May they bring you a moment of renewal too.

11/14/2025

Giving tree plantings the dignity and recognition they deserve! Instilling meaning to trees these kids will carry with them a feeling a of responsibility into adulthood! An invested and educated consumer is what will move our industry into greater professionalism. Wouldn't it be great to compete on quality tree care and not price?

11/10/2025

I have a lot of students that ask me about how they might improve their skills. The answer is pretty simple, practice with people that have more advanced skills than yourself. Attend tree climbing competitions! You will meet many new people and have a chance to meet the best of the best within our industry. Here is a link to our friends over at the Georgia Arborist Association.

When was the last time you climbed a tree? You and your kids can try it at GAA's Tree Climbing Championship, on Nov. 15 in Lithia Springs. Join us! Our free family fun climb lets your family members experience what the professionals do each day. Come to Violet F. Stout Memorial Park and see what it's like to (safely) dangle from a tree! https://www.georgiaarborist.org/tcc #

02/21/2025

🌳 Hey there, fellow Texans and those that want to be! 🌳

We wanted to share something really cool created by our friends over at Texas A&M—introducing Trees of Texas! This handy tool will help you identify tree species all across our great state. 🌲 You can check it out here: http://texastreeid.tamu.edu/

As arborists, it's crucial to know the exact species of tree we're working with when diagnosing or treating tree pathogens. And with Texas being as diverse as it is, tree species can vary greatly! Trees in Central Texas aren’t quite the same as those in the Big Thicket or Big Bend.

Take a moment today to explore A&M’s tree ID site and discover the incredible variety of trees we have here in the Lone Star State!

© Texas A&M Forest Service - All rights reserved, Member Texas A&M System Accessibility, Site Policies & Public Notices http://texastreeid.tamu.edu/

03/31/2024

Looks like the Easter bunny 🐰 has visited my cabbages this fine morning. 😉

Happy Easter!

01/14/2024

Join us for our First Wednesday Webinar on February 7th, 2024. Fruit Tree Primer with Dr. James Downer & Dr. Ben Faber. You can register online at https://wcisa.net/meeting/10090

04/12/2023

How many certified arborists do we have out there following this page? How many want to become arborists? The pic here is my job site yesterday, an Alamo trunk injection, for Oak Wilt protection.

02/01/2023

It is freezing cold here in central Texas, at least for a few more days. You might have been worried about your trees after the 2021 super freeze that damaged so many trees. Recently I gave a presentation to the Central Texas Master Gardeners about how energy levels in trees are impacted by pruning. Within that presentation is woven information about how our trees are impacted by extreme weather events. Here is a link to the pdf. https://swansontree.com/presentations-%26-handouts while you are on the site check out the video too!

Want to protect your trees from the next freeze or help your trees recover from the 2021 freeze? Call email or text us to set up a quote.

[email protected]
254-753-5885
SwansonTree.com

09/05/2022

Though still a relatively new ecological concept, tree-related microhabitats (TreMs) present interesting opportunities for multidisciplinary research from remote sensing to biodiversity conservation. This recent study from a scientist and her partners underscores the importance of international perspectives and applications of TreMs, reshaping our understanding of trees’ influence on complex forest systems from Western Europe to the U.S. and beyond.

forests host about two-thirds of the world’s biodiversity?! Forests play a key role in tackling biodiversity erasure worldwide.

Tree-related microhabitats measure biodiversity, but what is a TreM? They include:

Tree cavities
Tree injuries or exposed wood
Crown dead wood
Fungi or fungi-like organisms dependent on wood
Structures dependent on wood (nests, etc.)
Any woody growth, resin, or gum

This systemic review addresses the value of biodiversity indicators, forest management impacts, and local factors associated with TreMs.

Check out "Tree-Related Microhabitats Are Promising Yet Underused Tools for Biodiversity and Nature Conservation: A Systematic Review for International Perspectives" at https://www.nrs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/64582

09/05/2022

Many people think the worst part of a long, hot, and dry summer is the need for irrigation. However, what really happens is that the beneficial fungi and bacteria stop doing their jobs of mining nutrients for our plants. Here in central Texas the water in the water towers became so hot we didn't need our home hot water heaters for showers...the same water is used for irrigation (well water users are a bit different) and our soil temps were just too high and our plants suffered. Recently we began getting rain and the soil temps dropped to the point that microb activity ramped up. The peppers and tomatoes have instantly responded to new nutrient flood!

08/28/2022

One heck of branch!