Nancy Stairs's Page

That being said, the actual value is somewhat market dependent so the numbers may not be the same from place to place.  But research continues to show that home buyers tend to place a value on trees.  Here is a link to a report on some recent research in Iowa that shows the impact on a local market.http://phys.org/news/2012-12-housing-sales-urban-natural-resources.htmlIf you want to read the study itself: …See More

In North Carolina (as elsewhere) with the spread of people also comes the spread on non-native plants which can often out-compete native plants.  When these invasive, introduced species get into the forest habitat, they can crowd out native plants which are important for various wildlife (food and cover, for example).  Some invasive plants maybe noxious or highly flammable, some may put out many seeds or roots and spread rapidly, others may climb and shade out the plants below.  And none of…See More

The black-dotted brown moth has been making itself known in parts of NC (also GA and SC).  Rarely noted as a significant problem, the presence of the leaf-eating caterpillars of the moth seems to be most obvious where pieces of bark on white oak have been removed and lie scattered at the base of the trees.  It isn't the caterpillars doing this but the birds and squirrels feeding on the caterpillars.  It isn't know to be a serous concern any more than any defoliator is, where multiple years of…See More

A beautiful spring with the colorful flowers from plants, shrubs and trees is the time for getting out and tidying up yards and gardens.  We also notice some "pruning" that tells us that the chainsaws are out in force.Pruning trees is a skill that requires an understanding of how trees grow and how they respond to dramatic branch removal.  Pruning trees and pruning shrubs are not the same thing.  Much has been written about topping trees and why is should not be done (and most of that…See More

North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) and North Carolina Urban Forestry Council (NCUFC).NC ARBOR DAY - 1st FRIDAY after MARCH 15thNATIONAL ARBOR DAY - last FRIDAY in APRIL.Website: NCUFC - http://www.ncufc.org/Website: NCFS -  http://ncforestservice.gov/Urban/Urban_Forestry.htmSee More