Plant Health Care Manager / Sales
When Paul was 15 years old he moved with his family into a new house that was within walking distance to a maintenance facility for a golf course. He immediately went over got a job working on the golf course after school and on weekends. Paul fell in love and never looked back. He continued to work on the golf course through high school and college. Paul graduated from North Carolina State University with a Turfgrass Management degree in 1998. He has dedicated his entire career to the Green Industry, serving learning and growing in many different aspects of the industry for the last 28 years. As a Certified Arborist, Paul’s emphasis has been on tree and plant health at Arborscapes, and we are lucky to have him!
Recent Articles by Paul Crenshaw
It’s Nature Doing Its Thing
When my phone rings this time of year, I can predict what many callers are going to say: “My plants aren’t looking good.” We’ll take a look. The diagnosis is often the same. “It’s winter burn.” Here in the Carolinas, early Spring can bring a wildly fluctuating swing in temperatures, 70s during the day, 20s for several nights running. That’s...
Spring Landscaping Guide for Charlotte, NC Homeowners: Tips and Tricks for a Thriving Yard
Spring is the time everyone starts thinking about landscaping and giving their yard a fresh new look. Charlotte area homeowners have several things you can do to get your yard in top shape for the warm weather ahead. In this article, we’ll explore some tips for landscaping your yard: Plan and research: Before you start any landscaping project, it’s important...
Juniper Blight Treatment
Juniper blight, particularly Phomopsis blight and Kabatina blight, are fungal diseases that affect junipers, causing branch dieback and foliage browning. Managing these blights requires an integrated approach. Of course, prevention and treatment for juniper needle blight is included in a Plant Health Care subscription from Arborscapes. (As are myriad other pests and diseases) If you would like to become a...
Cypress Blight Treatment
Cypress blight, often caused by fungi like Seiridium cardinale, Seiridium unicorne, and Seiridium cupressi, can be particularly detrimental to cypress trees. Infected trees show symptoms such as browning of needles, branch dieback, and cankers on stems. Unfortunately, once infected, there are no effective treatments for this disease. Here’s a guide on managing Cypress needle blight: Cultural and Physical Controls: Resistant...
Crape Myrtle Aphid Treatment
Crape myrtle aphids are pests that specifically target crape myrtle trees. These small, pear-shaped insects suck sap from the leaves, leading to curled, yellowed foliage. Aphids also excrete a sugary substance called honeydew, which can attract ants and promote the growth of black sooty mold, detracting from the tree’s appearance. Of course, prevention and treatment for crape myrtle aphids is...
Winter Fertilization for Trees
A comforting truism when it comes to fertilizing: There’s never a bad time to feed your trees and shrubs. Just because autumn has passed doesn’t mean you missed your window of opportunity. As we say on the Plant Healthcare team“If a plant is hungry or stressed, you want to feed it immediately.” Fertilizing the right way with the proper fertilizer...
Laurel Shot Hole / Cherry Shot Hole
Laurel shot hole disease, (Sometimes called Cherry Shot Hole due to the infection of Cherry Laurels) often caused by the fungus Stigmina lautii or sometimes Blumeriella lauri, results in small holes in the leaves of laurels where the fungus has attacked. These holes are the result of infected portions of the leaf dropping out. The disease can detract from the...
Japanese Maple Pruning
If we’re considering the importance of properly pruning your Japanese Maple, think of it in these terms: These beautiful trees require a slight and carefully executed trim, NOT A BUZZCUT! And winter is a great time to do it. Pruning a Japanese Maple is no different than pruning a shade tree. It’s just done on a miniature basis, in a...
Treating Cherry Borer / Peach Tree Borer
Cherry borers, particularly the peachtree borer (Synanthedon exitiosa) and the lesser peachtree borer (Synanthedon pictipes), can be significant pests in cherry trees as well as peach trees. These borers attack the base and upper portions of the trunk, respectively, and can cause severe damage if left unchecked. Of course, prevention and treatment of cherry and peach tree borers is included...
A To-Do List For Fall
Thank goodness most of us (we hope!) take great pride and pleasure tending to the never-ending needs of our lawn, garden and trees. Nobody embraces the work like Carolinians. In that spirit, we offer these random recommendations in our Fall newsletter. As always, when in doubt, consult Arborscapes. In no particular order… Take care of those leaves! Make sure they’re...
Dormant Oil 101
A thin, highly refined petroleum may be just the thing to get a jump on growing season. We’re talking Dormant oil. Here’s the lowdown: Dormant oil is most often applied during winter – we recommend December to February – to help reduce the population of insects and eggs. You want to wait until the temperature is at least 40 degrees...
Cherry Shot Hole Treatment
Cherry shot hole, a catch all term, could be caused by two different diseases. The two pathogens that commonly produce these symptoms are bacterial leaf spot caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas pruni and cherry leaf spot caused by the fungus Blumeriella jaapii. Both diseases are favored by warm, wet spring weather. Of course, prevention and treatment for shot hole fungus...
Fighting The Fall Armyworm
Google “Fall Armyworm” and you will come across a video that captures the essence of the problem concisely (and ominously): “It invades. It infests. It consumes.” This pest can do widespread damage to small grain plantings in farm-focused places like Texas and Oklahoma. In and around Charlotte, it’s our lawns that are mostly at risk. The female moth will lay...
Warning: The Spotted Lanternfly
It hasn’t been spotted yet in the Charlotte area, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t coming. We’re talking about the dreaded Spotted Lanternfly. The invasive insect native to Asia was first detected in the United States in 2014 in Pennsylvania and has since spread to nine other states. In late June, it was spotted in the Winston-Salem area, specifically Kernersville....
Dogwood Powdery Mildew
Dogwood powdery mildew, caused by the fungus Erysiphe pulchra, is characterized by a white, powdery substance on the surface of leaves. As the infection progresses, leaves can become distorted, and premature leaf drop may occur. Of course, prevention and treatment for dogwood powdery mildew is included in a Plant Health Care subscription from Arborscapes. (As are myriad other pests and...
Emerald Ash Borer – Deadly Charlotte Pest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE LOCAL ARBORIST WARNS OF POTENTIALLY DEADLY BEETLE PINEVILLE, N.C. – A leading tree care company is warning residents in our City of Trees: Watch out for emerald ash borer. “It’s a bad insect that we don’t want in the Charlotte area but it’s here,” says Nathan Morrison, a certified arborist and co-owner of Arborscapes in Pineville. The...
What is Sooty Mold?
Sooty mold is a type of plant mold that results in an unsightly black discoloration on trees. Without proper control, it can make the host plant turn entirely black. This tree mold grows on the honeydew residue left by sucking insects, such as aphids and soft scales, that infest the plant. These pests can cause the host plant to lose...
What are those holes? Sapsuckers
Clients often ask us about small holes in the trunks of their trees and shrubs. Most often these are from a small bird called a sapsucker. These birds like to visit a wide variety of trees and shrubs during the winter months and create a series of small holes that are generally arranged in a horizontal line. Often times there...