Tree Care Operations Manager
A self-proclaimed tree hugger and preservationist, John has more than 20 years of experience in arboriculture. He earned an Associate Degree in Horticulture Technology from Central Piedmont Community College and became a Board-Certified Master Arborist in 2012. In addition, he has a strong knowledge of plant health care. He and Lori, his wife of 20 years, have one daughter, Adaline. It’s easy to see John’s heart is in the outdoors. His hobbies include mountain biking, whitewater kayaking and wood milling and woodworking.
Recent Articles by John Maurice
Canopy Reduction’s Branch-Out Benefits
How important is monitoring and, as needed, reducing your tree canopy? For the sake of tree health, safety and beauty, it’s up there. In landscaping as in life, it is wise to plan ahead and act. Late summer and early autumn – before the ice storms strike and winter’s winds blow – is the right time to consider your tree...
Why is My Cherry Tree Dying?
If you will allow this analogy: Cherry trees have become the rock stars of the tree world. They live fast and die young. What I’m trying to say is that it’s a challenge to keep a cherry tree alive and well, especially in the Carolinas. These beautiful, bountiful trees like it cooler than a Carolinas summer and warmer than one...
The Summer Storm Mistake Homeowners Don’t Have to Make
In this summer season of popup storms and high winds, Arborscapes’ Tree Care team offers a solution to the threat. As they put it succinctly, “Cabling and bracing.” Installing cables or braces as recommended by a board-certified master arborist can spare your trees from defects, damage and even having to be removed. These defects, or cracks, can put maples, oaks,...
Now’s The Time To Prune
For the beauty of your trees and the safety of people and property down below, early Spring is a great time to prune that dead wood. Early Spring is when certified arborists can best inspect the tree before new buds begin to sprout. That makes it easier for them to determine what’s dead, dying, damaged, infested or diseased and needs...
Black Knot
As arborists, we have seen many tree diseases and pests, but one of the most persistent and destructive is the black knot fungus. This fungus attacks a wide range of tree species, but is particularly harmful to wild and cultivated cherries, plums, and apricots. The black knot fungus infects the branches, twigs and sometimes the trunk of trees, and can...
Pruning Young Trees Makes Them Healthier
Since becoming our Tree Care Operations Manager and a self-confessed tree hugger, I’ve found an awesome analogy when talking about the importance of pruning trees when they are young. Trees are like children. Provide them with good shape and structure early and they’ll grow up sturdy and strong. We’re talking hardwood trees – maples, oaks and the like. Whether planted...
Free Wood Chips!
Here’s an offer too good to refuse: Arborscapes offers free wood chips all year long. Wood chips work great as a mulch in gardens and natural areas. It improves soil conditions by adding organic nutrients, maintains soil moisture and also temperature, namely warm in winter. Developers and contractors can use it to minimize soil compaction during construction projects around trees....
New Tree Ordinance In The Works For Charlotte
Here’s an important FYI for everyone who cares about preserving our community’s tree canopy. As our Co-Founder Nathan Morrison says, “Our tree canopy defines Charlotte.” Charlotte’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), which takes effect June 1, 2023, intends to monitor and control our city’s rapid growth in a way that preserves the city’s beauty. That includes maintaining our trees. Charlotte is...
Tea Scale Treatment
What is that ashy looking stuff on my camellia? Tea scale is the most serious insect pest of flowering camellias. Tea scale also attacks hollies, citrus and the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) as well as a few other plants. Tea scale is a small insect that attaches itself to the leaf and sucks plant juices. Adult female tea scales are...
Reducing Your Canopy
The yin and the yang of winter: Here in the Carolinas, we savor those rare snow storms that turn our landscape a glistening white, if only for a day or two. But then we find ourselves trudging outside to tackle the task of picking up all those limbs large and small that fell with the snow. Even worse is having...
Winter’s The Time For Discount Tree Work
Arborscapes is excited to announce a great opportunity, and incentive, for you to take care of your tree work this winter. We are offering a 10-percent discount on all tree pruning and removal performed between Dec. 1 and Feb. 28. The discount is for labor-based services and does not include basic health care services such as fertilizing. Do you have...
Preventing Construction Damage
There’s a wise old English proverb, “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.” That applies to protecting your trees against damage from construction. A quick drive around town will tell you that many of us are renovating, remodeling and expanding our homes, and place of business in some cases. To safeguard the trees that might be in the...
10 Resolutions For Your Yard
John Maurice, our Tree Care Operations Manager, offers some practical new year’s advice for your trees. Have a question or concern? Reach us at (704) 525-7148 or office@arborscapes.com. We are eager to help. You can visit us 24/7 at Arborscapes.net. Exercising more isn’t the only resolution you should make early in 2022. Here are 10 things to resolve to do...