In The News

April 05, 2023

English and Ivy Trees

English ivy, Hedera helix is an evergreen groundcover and climbing vine hardy in the Philadelphia...

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April 05, 2023

The Arboretum at Laurel Hill Hybrid Oak Trial

The Arboretum at Laurel Hill is collaborating with Cornell University to grow hybrid oak trees...

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April 05, 2023

Plant Healthcare News

Oak Wilt

Oak wilt has always been one of those diseases that we were happy to...

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March 31, 2023

Tree Health: Fighting Phytophthora

Phytophthora blight is a soil-borne fungal disease in the home garden. If unchecked, it causes...

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March 31, 2023

Willow Oak

Oak trees are a keystone species, supporting more life forms than any other tree in...

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March 31, 2023

Meet Our New ISA Certified Arborists

We are pleased to announce that three members of our team recently became International Society...

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March 31, 2023

A Message From Jim Ward

For me, the most exciting part of last year has been the strides our company...

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October 13, 2022

Join us for our Tree Climbing Workshop

Tree Workers with One-to-Two-Years Experience and Persons with More or Less Experience are invited to...

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April 25, 2022

Join our Team

Got a passion for Tree Care?  Harbor a love for working outdoors? Join The Area’s...

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April 01, 2022

Callery Pear

I remember the Bradford Callery pear trees along South Street in Philadelphia. Planted in the...

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April 01, 2022

Plant Health Care News 2022

White Prunicola Scale

In 2021 we continued to battle White Prunicola Scale throughout the region. Its...

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April 01, 2022

Yellowwood in Bryn Mawr

About five years ago we were asked to work on a yellowwood tree growing close...

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April 01, 2022

The Philadelphia Contributionship Garden

We live and work in a special part of the country, with many significant historic...

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April 01, 2022

Hypoxylon Canker

Hypoxylon canker is a disease that appears as a dead lesion on limbs, branches, and...

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April 01, 2022

65 years… and looking ahead

As we enter 2022, I reflect on our company which my father, John B. Ward,...

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April 01, 2022

The Benefits of Mulch

Mulch instantly gives a finished, beautiful appearance to your landscape. However, quality mulch provides trees and...

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March 29, 2021

Trees and Birds get Vertical

Trees and birds have evolved a common strategy to compete on this earth: both get...

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March 29, 2021

Plant Healthcare News 2021

Emerald Ash Borer

We have been dealing with Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in the Delaware Valley...

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March 29, 2021

Gardening, wet or dry, small or large

Whether your garden is a 10-foot-plot or a 100-square-foot expanse, whether conditions are wet or...

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March 29, 2021

Large Tree Pruning

Philadelphia’s Main Line community has a true appreciation for horticulture and the majestic trees that dominate...

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March 29, 2021

A Message from Jim Ward 2021

Since the pandemic began, people have been connecting with nature in many ways. From...

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March 28, 2021

Introducing: Woody's Recycling Inc.

John B. Ward & Co. Inc.is committed to environmental stewardship and promoting awareness of healthy...

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September 09, 2020

Programs resuming at Pennypacker Mills: Arborist talk set

Join arborist Ken LeRoy as he offers an informative talk of the landscaped grounds at...

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May 12, 2020

A Birthday Parade for John

6ABC helped capture video of a tree truck parade for John, who turned 88 years old...

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March 27, 2020

Climate Change and Pennsylvania Trees

Pennsylvania (Penn’s Woods) is aptly named for its abundant forests. According to the DCNR (Department...

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March 27, 2020

PLANT HEALTHCARE NEWS 2020

Beneficial Insects

Quietly, right under our noses, there are millions of insects, other arthropods (like spiders),...

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March 27, 2020

Alex Roberts, Miles of Mountains

Five years ago, Alex Roberts was running in Valley Forge National Park and noticed another...

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March 27, 2020

Helping Songbirds Survive

Have you ever wondered, “What’s that bird I hear?”  Have you pointed out to your...

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March 27, 2020

Arboretum Spotlight: Chanticleer Gardens

Chanticleer Gardens in Wayne, PA is a spectacular 35-acre garden that is open to the...

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March 27, 2020

In Memory: Frances Ward

On January 23, Fran Ward passed away peacefully at home in Bryn Mawr, surrounded by...

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March 27, 2020

A Message from Jim Ward 2020

Since our company began in 1957, the tree care industry has experienced incredible advancement and...

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July 25, 2019

Local experts evaluate threats posed by lanternflies

As spotted lanternfly nymphs continue to spring up throughout Northwest Philadelphia, an increasing number of...

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June 17, 2019

ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF LARGE-DIAMETER CANOPY TREES

I remember, as a child, visiting friends who had moved from our old leafy neighborhood...

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June 17, 2019

PLANT HEALTHCARE NEWS 2019

Boxwood Blight

For several years, we have been raising concerns about Boxwood Blight, which is a...

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June 17, 2019

Weather and Needle Loss in Conifers

In wet weather, a fungus can more easily infect the needles of the trees for...

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June 17, 2019

Arboretum Spotlight: Haverford Arboretum

In 1834, English gardener William Carvill laid the foundation for the oldest planned college landscape...

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June 17, 2019

Pennsylvania Big Trees

Over 133 years ago, Dr. Joseph T. Rochrock documented Pennsylvania’s largest and most magnificent trees....

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June 17, 2019

Staff Recommended Shade Trees

We asked our certified arborists what shade trees they would recommend, below are their answers.

 

 

 

 

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June 17, 2019

A message from Jim ward 2019

In February, we participated in the International Society of Arboriculture, Penn-Del Chapter, symposium held in...

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March 16, 2018

The Barnes Arboretum Plant Sale

John B. Ward & Co is a proud sponsor of the 2018 Plant Sale at the...

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March 16, 2018

Replanting the Community Tree Canopy Post-Ash Tree Decline

The native ash trees in North America, including Canada, are under attack from the Emerald...

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March 16, 2018

Plant Health Care News 2018

White Prunicola Scale

White Prunicola Scale is an armored scale insect that feeds on lilac, holly...

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March 16, 2018

I swam the English Channel

Every year, I represent John B. Ward & Co. to all my clients.

In 2017, I...

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March 16, 2018

IMPORTANCE OF WATER

An important fact most people may not know is that the symptoms of drought and...

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March 16, 2018

Case Study Underperforming Hornbeam Hedge in Devon

A three-year-old hornbeam hedge in Devon, PA developed leaf bronzing and growth inconsistency in the...

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March 15, 2018

Fran Ward Women in Arboriculture Scholarship Program

We are proud to announce that the International Society of Arboriculture is accepting applications for...
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March 15, 2018

A message from Jim ward 2018

As we begin our 61st year in business, I would like to take this...
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June 15, 2017

Accredation is the "Exclamation Point" on Decades of Integrity at John B. Ward & Co.

As a young man, Jim Ward worked in the family tree care business with his...
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April 13, 2017

Celebrating 60 Years

As we begin our 60th year in business, we would like to take this...
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April 13, 2017

Dormant Pruning

Dormant Pruning: Winter can be an ideal time to prune most trees and shrubs. There...
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April 13, 2017

Tree Care Industry Association Accreditation

In 2016, John B. Ward & Co. became a Tree Care Industry Association Accredited...
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April 13, 2017

60 for 60 Program

In celebration of our 60th Anniversary, John B. Ward & Co. will plant 60...
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April 13, 2017

Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a wood-boring insect native to Asia that was first discovered...
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April 13, 2017

Boxwood Blight

Boxwoods are the most popular evergreen shrub in our area. They are deer-resistant and easy...
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April 13, 2017

Our Fleet

You may have noticed our new look. Along with our new logo and website, we’re...
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April 13, 2017

A Hearty New Hybrid: Restoring The American Chestnut Tree

Encouraging news for a legendary hardwood tree. Current research has made a significant breakthrough in...
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September 19, 2016

Tree Canopy Conference

John B. Ward & Co. is proud to sponsor the Tree Canopy Conference Date and Location: Thursday,...
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August 22, 2016

The voracious pest emerald ash borer spotted in Philly

Originally published on Philly.com 

The emerald ash borer, a half-inch-long,...
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May 31, 2016

Laurel Hill Cemetery's legendary 'witness tree' is felled

Originally published on Philly.com 

The tree was a...

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May 15, 2016

Protecting Trees in Radnor Township

There is no denying that we live in a beautiful part of the world.  One...

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March 30, 2016

Wood Decay Fungi

The moist and mild weather of this past year were perfect conditions for fungal species...

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March 30, 2016

Plant Health Care Spring 2016

Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an insect native to Asia...

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March 30, 2016

Healthy Soil for Trees

The ideal environment for trees to thrive in is their natural element — a woodland...

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March 30, 2016

The Garden As Habitat

Plant it, and they will come! 

The plants in our yards and gardens support a wonderful...

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March 30, 2016

Case Study: Ornamental Pruning of a Japanese Maple in Villanova


Pruning is necessary to maintain a healthy, vigorous tree or shrub.

We frequently prune ornamental...

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March 30, 2016

Case Study: Preservation of a Mulberry Tree in Bryn Mawr

A client in Bryn Mawr has a mulberry tree that is strategically located on the...

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March 30, 2016

A message from Jim Ward 2016

We are proud to care for the trees at Merion Friends Meeting in Merion. The...

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April 22, 2015

Tree Cabling

Tree Cabling: Installation of a steel strand/rope (etc.), between limbs or leaders, to limit movement...

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April 22, 2015

Plant Health Care Spring 2015

Emerald Ash Borer
There were no sightings of new populations of the Emerald Ash Borer...

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April 22, 2015

Ice Load Damage on Trees

Last February was one of the most severe tree damaging weather events we can remember.

A...

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April 21, 2015

Root Crown Excavation

A client in Radnor has three nice Nellie Stevens Holly trees growing in the front...

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April 21, 2015

Large Tree Pruning

“Our expectations are really high.”

When we arrive at a client’s house to prune a large...

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November 14, 2014

Generations

Back in 1983, I was chairman of a committee of the ISA Penn-Del Chapter and...

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February 28, 2014

Winter Pruning

The gardeners among us realize that the winter or dormant season is the best time...

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February 28, 2014

Plant Health Care

Bitterly Cold Winter
As I write this, we are having the first break from the...

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February 28, 2014

Natural Predators Do All the Work

That’s as simple as it gets. Really. Natural predators do the work 24/7. 

John B. Ward...

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February 28, 2014

Safety First

When you see us working, you will notice hard hats, eye protection, ear protection, uniforms...

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February 28, 2014

De-vine Trees

Vines are everywhere in the urban forest, especially along the edges of our parks, woodlots,...

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February 28, 2014

Case Study: Chinese Elm Trees in Gladwyne

A common problem with trees in the landscape is circling or girdling roots. Often when symptoms...

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February 28, 2014

Case Study: Beautiful Weeping Beech Tree in Wynnewood

We love to know the history of trees and why they are important to our...

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January 01, 2013

John B. Ward & Co. 2013 Timely Tree Tips

As we begin our 55th year in business, I would like to take this opportunity...

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January 01, 2012

John B. Ward & Co. 2012 Timely Tree Tips

Imagine an environmentally friendly machine that recycles carbon dioxide into usable oxygen. This machine also...

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January 01, 2011

John B. Ward & Co. 2011 Timely Tree Tips

In this year’s newsletter, we highlight several tree preservation techniques. Some techniques apply to young, developing trees...

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