Talking Trees with Davey Tree

Chrissy Balk, plant pathologist and technical advisor at the Davey Institute, talks about the intricate and fascinating anatomy of trees, including the function of each internal trunk layer, how root systems work, how water moves within a tree and the structure and role of the canopy. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about the Davey Institute, visit The Davey Institute | Davey Tree Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Hear from three students attending the Davey Institute of Trees Sciences (D.I.T.S.) program, Davey’s flagship training program in biological sciences, safety, tree and plant care and management techniques. Ethan Ramirez Gothard from Davey's Nanaimo office, Sam Phetteplace from Davey's Albany office and Maggie Graves from Davey's Boston North Shore office share their experience in the four-week program, including key takeaways, being away from home for 30 days and bonding with other employees and tree care professionals from all over North America. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about careers at Davey, visit Davey.com/Careers. To learn more about training at Davey, visit Davey.com/Training. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Frank Thompson from Davey’s Buffalo office shares his “love at first sight” — trees! For Valentine’s Day, Frank walks us through three of his favorite species, his background in environmental science and forestry and how to determine the age of mature trees. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about how to identify or take care of trees you love, read our blogs Fall in Love with Healthy Trees This Season, Guide on How to Choose A Tree to Plant: Planning & Selecting and How to Tell What Type of Tree I Have. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Mike Cassidy from Davey’s West Columbus office shares advice for whatever Groundhog Day brings! Will there be six more weeks of winter or an early spring? In this episode, Cassidy covers last‑minute dormant season care, such as dormant pruning, as well as early spring tasks like reviewing your landscape. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about tree care and landscaping in late winter and early spring, read our blogs Does a Late Spring Frost or Snowfall Damage Trees?, Winter Tree Protection: Three Proactive Tips, Most Common Questions about Tree Care in Spring, Spring Ahead: Schedule a Tree Inspection, Fruit Tree Care in Early Spring and What Does the Dormant Season Mean For Your Trees? Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Lou Meyer, arborist and business developer in Davey's Mid-Atlantic region, meets with host Doug Oster at the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show! Here, they discuss the latest trends in gardening, including recent planting choices, gardening designs, outdoor living and more. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about gardening practices and techniques, read our blogs DIY Flower Bed: Tips for the Perfect Flower Bed, Landscape Design Idea for Privacy | Davey Blog and What Plant Hardiness Zone Am I In. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Eric Countryman, district manager of Davey’s East Pittsburgh office and the first-ever guest on the podcast, joins host Doug Oster to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Talking Trees with Davey Tree! In this episode, they discuss five common tree and landscaping mistakes homeowners make in the first five years, along with tips on mulching, planting best practices and a special giveaway for listeners! In this episode we cover: GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Send an email with your mailing address to podcasts@davey.com for a chance to win a 2026 Trees of Davey calendar! To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about best tree and lawn care practices early on, read our blogs, First-Time, New Homeowner’s Guide To Lawn Care, In Too Deep?, Should I Mulch Around Trees or Not? Yes & Here's Why, How to Take Care of a Newly Planted Tree and Fact or Fiction: Five Ways You May Be Harming Your Trees. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Paul Vega from Davey's Elmsford office talks about how trees adapt to winter and how homeowners can take care of them during the colder months, including frost cracking, tree dormancy, safe winter work practices and preparing for spring. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about trees during wintertime, read our blogs, Winter Sunscald and Frost Cracks on Trees, Winter Tree Protection: Three Proactive Tips and Can a Tree Freeze to Death in Winter?. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Jason Parker, district manager of Davey's Warminster office, walks us through what it's like to work with a Davey arborist, including the client relationship, consultations, proposals, price and safety for homeowners. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about what an arborist visit is like, read our blogs, Why You Should Hire a Certified Arborist, What To Expect When You Request a Davey Tree Free Consultation and The Risk of Using an Uninsured and Unlicensed Arborist. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Luke Brunner, Detroit arborist and business developer in Detroit, talks about what it takes to care for trees during the wintertime, including snow and ice protection, pruning, mulching and general planting tips. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about winter tree care, read our blogs, Tree Care: Winter Tree Protection for Roots, Trunks and Branches, Don’t Skip a Winter Tree Inspection: Why Cold Weather Reveals Hidden Tree Risks, Seasonal Tree Care Checklist: How to Keep Trees Healthy This Winter and Protecting Newly Planted Trees from Frost & Cold Winter Weather. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Dr. Dan Herms, vice president and general manager of the Davey Institute, takes us through Davey's newly completed SEED Campus. Since its opening in August 2025, several programs, trainings and initiatives have started taking place there, which is strengthening safety, training and research in the green industry. You can watch this podcast in video form to see the completed property come to life. Watch the YouTube video, Tour the Completed SEED Campus with Dr. Dan Herms. In this episode we cover: To watch Doug's tour of the property with Dr. Herms, watch the video on YouTube here. To learn more about the SEED Campus, visit www.Davey.com/SEED. To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Throughout the Talking Trees podcast, we’ve asked Davey employees questions like "How did you become an arborist?" and "Why is this job right for you?" In this special episode, we’ve compiled eight arborists' inspiring answers that share the journeys that brought our team to where they are today. In this episode we cover the stories of: To learn more about careers at Davey, visit www.Davey.com/Careers. To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Jacob Ryg, district manager of Davey's South St. Paul office, debunks common winter tree care myths and shares practical tips to keep your landscape healthy throughout the season. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Matt Scott from Davey's Raleigh office talks all about tree pruning, including best practices, safety, ideal times to prune and why a certified arborist is best for the job. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about pruning and tree care, read our blogs, What is Pruning? Importance, Benefits & Methods of Pruning, Signs Your Trees Need Pruning and our other pruning blogs. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Lou Meyer from Davey's Mid-Atlantic region talks all about the sweet gum tree, including its biology, unique features and pros and cons. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about tree species, read Davey's Tree Identification blogs, such as Tree Identification: Do I Have a Sweetgum Tree and more. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Michael Cassidy, sales arborist at Davey's West Columbus office, shares his list of scary movies featuring spooky trees, eerie forests and creepy plants just in time for Halloween. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about scary trees and plants, read Davey's blog, Zombie Trees: What You Need to Know. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Sam Heywood, area manager for Davey Resource Group (DRG), talks about urban forestry and answers listener questions about planting native species in urban environments and how climate change is affecting the species we plant. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about DRG's work with urban forestry, visit our webpage, Urban & Community Foresty Services. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Adam Passo, district manager of Davey's Milwaukee office, talks about all kinds of trees and plants with winter interest, explaining how their berries, bark and foliage stand out during colder months. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about trees and plants with winter interest, read our blog, Best Trees to Plant for Winter Color. To read our blogs about tree care in the winter, read our blogs, Can You Plant Trees, Shrubs or Evergreens in the Winter? and Winter Watering Tips for Evergreens. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Craig Stone, assistant district manager at Davey's South Pittsburgh office, talks about unique trees that can increase landscape diversity, along with key characteristics homeowners should consider when selecting the right tree for their yard. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about unique tree species, read our Tree Selection Guide blogs. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Zane Raudenbush, manager of research operations at the Davey Institute, shares expert tips on managing your lawn during the fall season, including turf health, grass types, sodding and more. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about keeping your landscape healthy this season, read our Lawncare & Maintenance blogs. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!

Michael Holleran, assistant district manager from Davey's Wilmington, DE office, talks about the many uses and benefits of leaves, including nutrients, composting, mulching and more. In this episode we cover: To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code. To learn more about leaves and all their uses and benefits, read our blogs, Managing Fallen Leaves In Your Yard and Compost Shredded, Dry Leaves for Leaf Compost Benefits. Connect with Davey Tree on social media: Twitter: @DaveyTree Facebook: @DaveyTree Instagram: @daveytree YouTube: The Davey Tree Expert Company LinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company Connect with Doug Oster at www.dougoster.com. Have topics you'd like us to cover on the podcast? Email us at podcasts@davey.com. We want to hear from you! Click here to send Talking Trees Fan Mail!