Blue Pine Works LLC

06/02/2026

Remember to water your trees! 🌳 A lack of water during hot, dry conditions can stress trees and make them more vulnerable to insects and disease. To conserve water, water in the early morning or late evening.

For mature trees, water the soil under the tree’s entire canopy, from the trunk to the canopy edge, using a soaker hose. You can also rotate a garden hose trickling water around the tree. Water long enough that the first 6 inches of soil are damp.

For trees planted within the past 5 years, provide 25 gallons of water each week. A tree watering bag is one of the easiest methods.

05/30/2026

05/30/2026

ISA is excited to share that the new Z133-2026 Safety Standard is now available.

Developed to help advance safety across the arboriculture industry, the updated American National Standard: Safety and Health Requirements for Arboricultural Operations has now been approved by ANSI.

- Updated to reflect current industry practices and improved safety outcomes
- Download your complimentary individual digital copy through the ISA Store
- Print editions available for purchase in English and Spanish

Learn more about the Z133-2026 and access the new standard today: https://ow.ly/gEpL50Z5a38

05/28/2026

Sometimes what looks like a tree problem is actually a planting problem.

This crabapple had developed a significant lean, and at first glance many would assume removal, staking, or heavy pruning was the answer.

Instead, we took a closer look.

After evaluation, we found the issue was happening below ground. The tree had been planted improperly, affecting stability and long-term health.

Rather than recommending removal, we were able to preserve the tree through specialized root-zone work and corrective measures aimed at addressing the underlying issue.

The result was a healthier, more stable tree with a better chance at long-term success.

Many landscape tree issues start underground long before symptoms show up above ground. That is why proper diagnosis matters.

Not every tree problem needs a chainsaw.

Sometimes it needs the right plan.

Blue Pine Works
Expert tree care and guidance for confident, informed decisions.

Serving East Central Minnesota and Western Wisconsin
320-279-3554

05/20/2026

Some crews want a licence because the job is risky and the public rarely sees the full picture. Others worry it would shut out good people, hit small operators hardest, and turn a practical trade into paperwork.

That tension shows up fast in the real world. A climber with solid training, a clean rescue drill, and years on the saw is not the same as a bloke with a helmet and a loud opinion. But a licence can also miss the point if it only measures theory, not hands-on judgement, rigging sense, or how someone works under pressure. Regional differences matter too. What looks workable in NZ or Australia may land very differently in the US or parts of Europe.

The hard bit is deciding whether licensing lifts the standard, or just adds another hurdle for crews already doing it tough. Small operators, new entrants, municipal teams, and contract crews would all feel it differently. So would the people paying for training, tickets, audits, and time off the tools. Where does that line sit for you?

05/17/2026

Happy Birthday weekend to these two guys!

05/15/2026

“But it just rained.”

We hear that a lot this time of year.

Rain does not automatically mean your trees got enough water.

For newly planted trees, this is especially important. A quick rain may wet the surface, but not soak the root ball where the tree actually needs moisture. New trees are also stressed after planting and rely on consistent watering while they establish.

Mature trees need water too.

One thing we see fairly often is people assuming a big established tree is fine because the lawn looks green. Grass and trees use water very differently, though their roots inhabit the same general soil layer. Deep watering excourages deeper rooting, which makes plants more drought resistant.

Some signs that your landscape is dealing with water stress includes-
Wilting or curling leaves
Early fall color or leaf drop
Thin canopy or branch dieback
Leaves looking smaller than normal

A good rule of thumb is slower, deeper watering rather than frequent light watering. Think soak, not sprinkle. We want water reaching depths of greater than 3 inches. You can let the soil dry until the top 1+ inches have fully dried (generally 2-3 day cycles depending on soil type).

This week we’ve been busy with tree disease treatments, planting, and landscape improvements.

Spring is one of the best times to set trees up for long-term success, and watering is one of the easiest things property owners can do to help.

If you are unsure whether your trees are getting enough water, feel free to reach out. We are always happy to help people make informed decisions about their trees and property

05/12/2026

Last week, our COO completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program!

The highly selective program pushed the cohort through a fast paced, crash course in how MBA's run companies. In addition to schooling, she received mentorship, networking, industry guidance, and more.

Congratulations Kayana Pankey! Thank you for your hard work to make Blue Pine grow.

05/11/2026

With the change in weather comes changes in workflow.

The last few weeks have been less picture worthy as we work to get landscapes and trees ready for summer.

Here's a shot of some conifers we got the pleasure of fertilizing. We'd done some training pruning on these trees earlier this year.