On our blog we often write about bugs that can be damaging to your trees but many bugs are great for your trees, shrubs and gardens. According to the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Kemper Center here are some bugs that you actually want to have hanging around! So think before you squash the next bug you see in your backyard.

Bagworm season will be here in a matter of days. Bagworms have been known to feed on about 128 plant species, according to the University of Missouri's Department of Entomology. Most commonly, they attack arborvitae, red cedar and various other juniper species, as well as black locusts, maples, and sycamores.

A few weeks ago, we told you about the Emerald ash borers, which have crossed the Mississippi River for the first time and have infected trees in Minnesota. Recently, we also learned that a research team from the University of Alberta in Canada has discovered that mountain pine beetles have invaded jack pine forests in Alberta. According to Science Daily, this opens up the possibility for an infestation that could sweep eastward, toward the Atlantic Ocean.

Today is Earth Day and it is a day dedicated to preserving our environment through acts of environmental service and advocacy. Each year there is a theme assigned to Earth Day and this year’s theme is “A Billion Acts of Green.” Everyone who wants to take part in Earth Day is encouraged to pledge to commit an “act of green” as a way to be involved. We here at Cartwright Tree Care can’t think of a better way to get involved than by planting a tree!

Did you know that the state of Missouri is home to 77 communities that have been designated as a “Tree City USA” community? Kansas City and several of its surrounding communities, including Grandview, Lee’s Summit, Independence, and North Kansas City have earned this title. This is quite a prestigious recognition bestowed on over 3,400 communities around the nation.

Emerald ash borers have crossed the Mississippi River for the first time and have been found in trees along the West River Parkway in Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to KARE11, the Minneapolis-St. Paul NBC affiliate, these invasive insects were first discovered in St. Paul about two years ago. Due to this new infestation, Minneapolis forestry crews will have to cut down about 100 or so trees in the West River Parkway, as well as in the Prospect Park neighborhood, where they were discovered late last year.

Spring is here and that means it is also thunderstorm season in the Kansas City area, so we thought we would take a moment to remind everyone that Cartwright Tree Care offers a 24-hour Emergency Response Service. Any time storms are in the forecast, our response teams are put on alert and will be ready and available to relieve you of the damage caused by limbs and debris that has fallen onto houses, cars and driveways, as well as provide an expert diagnosis of the damage to your trees. They will also determine cost-effective treatment options to restore your trees’ health.

It is essential to properly care for your newly planted young trees. The care you give to your trees in the beginning phases of their growth can and will affect their shape, strength, and life span, according to the Arbor Day Foundation blog. Young trees use a lot of their energy just to establish their roots in the soil, which makes them susceptible to heat and drought, as well as other issues. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to keep young trees healthy and strong. Check out these tips from the Arbor Day Foundation blog.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently revealed the results of an 18-year study on 27,000 trees. The study revealed that tree growth, as well as a tree’s ability to produce viable seeds, may be more sensitive to climate change than previously thought. Some of the factors affecting tree growth and reproduction include earlier spring warming and summer drought.

We may be a long way from Pennsylvania, but we love what's going on in Philadelphia lately! The city has quite an ambitious goal for the next several years – to plant 300,000 trees by the year 2015. According to Philly.com, the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) helped to jump start the effort yesterday with a new program that provides free trees to the faculty and staff. The goal of the project is to create a more sustainable landscape within the city, as well as create a greener campus at Penn.