Do you use Facebook or Twitter on a regular basis? If so, the next time you log on to either site, be sure to follow Cartwright Tree Care! By keeping up with us on either site, or both, you’ll never miss an update. We post links to all of our blog posts on Facebook and Twitter, so you can stay informed on the latest news in tree healthcare and maintenance, news and events, and other things we think you might find interesting.

A global study conducted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has revealed that the world’s forest area could begin to grow again in a few years. According to a report from Terra Daily, massive reforestation programs, as well as the decreased rate at which trees are being cut down, has provided researchers with “evident signs” that forest areas are growing and that a balance could be reached within a few years.

It’s safe to say that dealing with cold weather and what it does to our trees can be pretty frustrating, but wouldn’t you rather deal with a little snow over falling iguanas? Recent record low temperatures in parts of Southern Florida are literally causing iguanas to freeze in their tracks and free-fall from their treetop perches, according to JustNews.com.

Researchers from the University of British Columbia and the BC Cancer Agency’s Genome Sciences Center have decoded the genes in blue stain fungus. According to Science Daily, the genes identified are those that are responsible for the fungus’ ability to bypass the natural fungicide found within lodgepole pines.

Did you know trees are pretty competitive? According to Princeton University Plant Ecologist Ray Dybzinski, trees typically have more roots than they actually need. The excess roots that trees create cause them to battle with other trees to grow taller in order to obtain maximum sunlight, Dybzinski told The New York Times.

Trees are beautiful and offer a wide variety of benefits to the environment. However, trees can be dangerous if they are not properly maintained. Snow, ice, wind, and lightning are just a few factors that can add into the danger of trees, as these elements can cause limbs to break and entire trees to fall, injuring people and causing damage to property.

Have you ever found it difficult to enhance the look of your yard or garden in the winter? According to the Arbor Day Foundation blog, it’s actually a pretty common problem among homeowners and garden enthusiasts. Trees lend us their beautiful colors in spring, summer, and fall, but are there any trees that will look great in winter, too?

Snow and bone-chilling temperatures are quite common in the winter here in the Kansas City area. While we don’t typically see a lot of pesky insects during this time of the year, we know they are hiding somewhere. Have you ever stopped to wonder how this kind of weather affects insects?

The Kansas City area has been hit hard with snow in the past few weeks. The latest storm, which is the second major storm in just two weeks, has caused many headaches for residents and has left 5 to 10 inches of snow in the Kansas City metro area.