Usher Plant Care

02/12/2026

🥶🌲After recent snowfall followed by weeks of freezing temperatures, invisible stress is developing in many evergreen landscapes.

Evergreens continue low-level transpiration (loss of water v***r through leaf pores) on sunny and windy winter days. When soils remain frozen, roots cannot absorb replacement moisture, and foliage gradually desiccates over time.

The injury is delayed. In spring this commonly appears as bronzing, marginal browning, tip dieback, thinning growth, or one-sided damage (often southwest exposure).

Commonly affected Long Island landscape plants:
Boxwood
Rhododendron
Cherry Laurel (Skip Laurel)
Arborvitae
Holly

Winter conditions determine spring performance. We offer compost tea fertilization programs to support recovery in stressed plants, and organic anti-transpirant applications to protect vulnerable evergreens before next winter.

01/09/2026

🌧️❄️🌱Long Island winters are increasingly dominated by rain instead of snow, and that shift matters underground. Winter rain can leave soils saturated for long periods, limiting oxygen to roots and weakening fine feeder roots. Plants often look fine through winter, then show stress later with slow leaf-out or thinning growth.

That’s where healthy soil makes the difference. Assessing soil conditions and building better soil structure helps roots recover and improves plant resilience. If plants struggle despite normal care, it’s often a below-ground issue - and easier to address early.

12/20/2025

Some positive news!

Summer 2025 broke that pattern in dramatic fashion. The Sound’s hypoxic zone, defined as bottom waters with critically low oxygen levels, shrank to just over eighteen square miles and lasted about forty days. Modern records, which date back to 1987, had never seen a footprint that small. For scientists, policymakers, and advocates watching the Sound for years, the data marked a rare moment of measurable environmental progress.

12/15/2025

In winter, we often see salt-related stress on landscape plants from both home ice melt and municipal road salting. Salt pulls moisture out of plant tissue and interferes with root function. Over time, it can also disrupt soil health, making plants more vulnerable to stress in spring.

Common signs include:
• Browning or “burned” evergreen foliage
• Dieback on the side facing roads or sidewalks
• Patchy decline that can resemble disease

There is no ice melt product that is truly safe for plants — but we understand that safety comes first during icy conditions.

To reduce plant stress:
• Use the minimum amount needed
• Target icy areas only
• Sweep up excess once ice melts
• Keep melt products out of planting beds when possible

Salt exposure is usually a stressor, not a death sentence. Winter damage can look dramatic, but healthy plants can recover as conditions improve. If issues compound or persist in spring, we’re happy to help in recovery with organic, soil-focused solutions.

12/02/2025

As the landscape quiets down, we use this season to review the year, refine our plant-health plans, and prep for a strong spring. Winter may look slow, but it’s when we build healthier, more resilient ecosystems.

Thank you for trusting our family business and for choosing environmentally responsible care. Every healthy tree makes a healthier community. 🌱❄️🌎

11/17/2025

🦌🍂❄️Deer populations have been rising across Long Island for years, especially in Suffolk, thanks to mild winters, plenty of ornamental plantings, and no real predators.

In fall, bucks enter the rut and roam far outside their usual territory, so we start seeing deer in places they were never spotted before. By winter, natural food sources run low and deer turn to our landscapes, targeting shrubs, young trees, and especially evergreens.

Evergreens take the hardest hit: arborvitae, yews, hollies, rhododendron, and leyland cypress are prime winter snacks. And when food is scarce, even “not usually preferred” plants become fair game, so surprise browsing is common this time of year.

Deer damage can feel inevitable, but plant choice helps. When planning new landscapes, lean toward plants labeled deer resistant, just remember their menu gets bigger every winter!

If all else fails, contact us for organic deer control options.

11/14/2025

MORE: https://bit.ly/43vjT8L
A death in New Jersey is now being called the first-ever linked to a meat allergy caused by a tick bite.

11/13/2025

Earthworms drag foliage subterranean, converting it into nutrient-dense castings that enrich the ground. Their burrows deliver oxygen and moisture to plant roots, maintaining the soil's vitality.

A hidden labor force, transforming decay into life underfoot.

Source: Based on ecological studies, including Charles Darwin's 1881 research.

11/13/2025

James in the field showing how sooty mold forms on plants near spotted lanternfly feeding.

11/10/2025

Winter can be tough on broadleaf evergreens. Cold wind and bright winter sun pull moisture from the leaves at a time when roots can’t replace it, which leads to the “winter burn” everyone sees in February.

We offer an organic anti-desiccant spray that gives vulnerable plants a protective, breathable coating. It’s not something every landscape needs, but it makes a big difference for:

• New plantings that haven’t established yet
• Laurels, boxwood, hollies, and rhododendrons in windy or exposed spots
• Plants that showed winter burn last year

If you’re unsure whether your shrubs need protection this winter, we’re happy to take a look and give an honest recommendation.

10/17/2025

Mulch is the winter blanket your plants deserve. Above ground, the landscape slows down. Below ground, roots are still breathing, and mulch keeps them safe.

Fall mulch protects, feeds, and restores. It’s the simplest way to give your soil a head start for spring.

• Mulch regulates soil temperature, protecting roots from freeze–thaw cycles.
• It preserves moisture through dry winter winds.
• It adds organic matter as it breaks down, feeding soil microbes.
• It reduces erosion and suppresses weeds as spring arrives.
• Proper technique: 2–3 inches, pulled back from trunks, using shredded bark, leaf mold, or composted wood chips (not dyed mulch).