Tree Care Blog
Expert Tree Care Advice from the Field
Written by Clinton Sharpe and the UTS team — ISA Certified arborists sharing what we see on job sites across Ajax and Durham Region every day.
Why Does My Blue Spruce Have Pineapple Galls? Cooley Spruce Gall Adelgid
Droopy brown tips on a Colorado blue spruce in Durham are usually not tip blight. They are last spring's Cooley spruce gall adelgid — pineapple-shaped galls at the shoot tips. I had not clocked this one here before. Here's the cycle, how to tell it from Eastern spruce gall, and why spraying a brown gall in September is a waste.
September 6, 2026
Why Does My Oak Look Sick? Oak Wilt, and What It Probably Is Instead
Oak wilt kills red oaks in a single season, and it reached Ontario in 2023. It has never been found in Durham Region — so your struggling oak is almost certainly something else. Here's the real differential, and the one free habit that keeps oak wilt out of your yard.
August 26, 2026
White Powder on Your Leaves? Powdery Mildew, and Why You Probably Shouldn't Treat It
Late August in Ontario means warm days, cool humid nights, and lilacs that look like someone dusted them with flour. Powdery mildew is the disease homeowners most often overtreat — here's what it is, why the mildew on your lilac can't infect your oak, and the short list of things actually worth doing.
August 24, 2026
Spots All Over Your Maple Leaves? Here's How to Tell Anthracnose From Tar Spot
Half the maples in Durham Region are dropping spotted leaves onto lawns right now, and it's only the third week of August. Wet spring, hot dry summer — here's how to tell which spot you've got, which one actually threatens the tree, and why spraying now accomplishes nothing.
August 21, 2026
Why Is My Maple Turning Colour in August? It Might Be Verticillium Wilt
If one side of your maple is going red and crispy while the rest of the tree still looks fine, that asymmetry is the tell. Verticillium wilt comes up through the roots, plugs the tree's plumbing, and there is no fungicide for it — but that does not automatically mean you lose the tree.
August 18, 2026
Emerald Ash Borer in Guildwood: What Scarborough Homeowners Need to Know Before It's Too Late
EAB has been infecting and greatly reducing the viability of the ash canopy across Toronto since 2007 — confirmed losses exceed 800,000 trees, with 100,000+ in active decline in Scarborough alone. If you have an ash tree in Guildwood, here is everything you need to know about assessment, treatment, prognosis, and when to call.
June 10, 2026
Why BTK Won't Save Your Boxwoods — And What Actually Will
Everyone's reaching for BTK when their boxwoods look rough. But if it's leafminer — not box tree moth — you're spraying for the wrong pest entirely. Here's how to tell the difference, and what actually works.
June 7, 2026
Why We Preserve Trees First — And Remove Them Last
Most tree companies show up with a chainsaw mentality. Here's why UTS does it differently — and why it matters for your property and your wallet.
June 3, 2026
Get A Free Quote — No Obligation
Whether you need a single tree removed or a full seasonal care program, we build a plan around your property and budget. Serving Ajax, Whitby, Pickering, and all of Durham Region — no-obligation quotes, every time.