Soil & Plant Health Care Writer · Beat: Soil & Plant Health Care
Owen Brandt covers soil and plant health care for Rochester Tree & Shrub Care. His work explains root collar excavation, soil testing and amendment, mulching done correctly, and the proactive plant health care plans that prevent the expensive problems most homeowners only notice once a tree is already in decline.
Writes for Rochester Tree & Shrub Care, an independent editorial publication on tree and shrub health in the Rochester, New York area.
Which trees and shrubs tolerate road and driveway de-icing salt in the Rochester area, plus salt-sensitive species to avoid and how to protect plants.
July 22, 2026
Do tree roots crack foundations, heave sidewalks, or invade sewers in Rochester? A myth-correcting guide, plus when to bring in Monster Tree Service.
July 22, 2026
How often should you water a newly planted tree in Rochester? A deep, root-ball-focused schedule for the first two to three seasons, plus clay-soil cautions.
July 22, 2026
Piled-up mulch volcanoes rot Rochester tree trunks and invite pests. Learn the correct doughnut method, depth, and trunk-flare clearance for Zone 5b-6a.
June 25, 2026
Wilting, thin canopy, and dark oozing bark at the base? Phytophthora root rot thrives in Rochester's wet clay. Learn the signs and the drainage-first fix.
June 25, 2026
Buried trunks and girdling roots slowly kill Rochester maples and lindens. Learn the trunk-flare tells and what an air-spade excavation actually does.
June 25, 2026
Order a Cornell soil test the right way for Rochester trees. Learn which parameters matter and how local high-pH glacial soils skew the results.
June 25, 2026
Plant health care (PHC) is proactive, whole-tree care that catches stress early. Learn what it covers and whether your Rochester landscape needs it.
June 12, 2026