Bill Pramuk

Before actually planting, select a sunny location and an appropriate tree for the local climate and for the specific site. With respect to soil characteristics, drainage is essential, writes columnist

Spending a few recent weekend hours in the garden I was impressed, almost alarmed, at the explosion of growth and signs of new life, columnist Bill Pramuk writes.

In my previous column, "Spring watchfulness is key for trees and gardens," I touched on a big subject. In the intervening two weeks I saw some examples of tree disease problems worth mentioning, columnist Bill Pramuk writes.

Bill Pramuk, Trees and People in Napa Valley: Dealing with squirrels in trees and gardens

A couple of recent, late June, incidents are reminders that gardeners need to be vigilant during the long, warm days of summer. Being cold-blooded, insects that are sluggish in cold weather become active when the weather heats up, columnist Bill Pramuk writes.

Fire safety with trees in the home landscape is an increasing major concern. In my experience, some cases involve homeowners insurance while others are about fire marshal requirements. Recent incidents where homeowners were put on notice showed how fire safety requirements are not uniform for all locations, columnist Bill Pramuk writes.

A recent visit to a north Napa residential property prompted me to take renewed interest in the Mediterranean Oak Borer (MOB), a tiny beetle that is killing many of our mature valley oaks, columnist Bill Pramuk writes.

The summertime appearance of muted fall colors in deciduous trees is common here, in and around Napa. We see reds and purples in the red-silver hybrid maples, now common as city street trees, yellowing and shedding in native black walnuts on the valley floor and blue oaks on upland, west facing slopes, columnist Bill Pramuk writes.

Fusarium wilt is insidious. It can lurk indefinitely in the soil, waiting to infect susceptible palm roots, columnist Bill Pramuk writes.

Columnist Bill Pramuk reflects on a recent visit to a favorite tree in a New Jersey park.