Acorn to Oak

What should you do when a tree falls on your house during a storm? Who do you call first, and will homeowners insurance cover emergency tree removal?

In this episode of Acorns to Oaks, we're joined by Bluestone Tree owner Tiffany Oren along with Eric Petersen of Arborisk Insurance, to discuss storm damage, fallen trees, homeowners insurance claims, and emergency tree removal.

We break down common insurance myths, what homeowners should do immediately after tree damage, how professional arborists respond to storm emergencies, and what to look for when hiring a tree removal company. Plus, learn how proactive tree inspections and maintenance can help reduce storm-related risks.

Whether you're dealing with a fallen tree or preparing for the next big storm, this episode offers practical advice to help protect your home, property, and peace of mind.

Acorns to Oak is brought to you by Bluestone Tree in Bloomington, Indiana, and hosted by ISA Certified Arborist Stefanie Boucher. Join us as we explore the world of trees, arboriculture, and professional tree care through conversations with ISA Certified Arborists, industry experts, and local professionals.

Follow and subscribe to Acorns to Oak for more conversations about trees, tree health, and the people who care for them!

Visit www.bluestonetree.com to learn more about our services or schedule a consultation.

Thinking about planting a tree? Getting a new tree off to a healthy start doesn’t have to be complicated, but a few common tree planting mistakes can cause problems that last for years.

In this episode of Acorn to Oak, Stefanie sits down with ISA Certified Master Arborist Ashton Phelps to break down some of the most important things homeowners need to get right when planting a tree.

We cover how to choose the right tree for the right location, how deep a tree should actually be planted, how to find the root flare, what to do with circling and compacted roots, how to properly backfill a planting hole, and how much water a newly planted tree really needs.

You’ll also learn why planting a tree too deep is such a common problem, whether you should add compost or fertilizer when planting, how wide to dig a planting hole, what to do with burlap and wire baskets, and why piling mulch against the trunk can hurt rather than help your tree.

If you're wondering how to plant a tree correctly, how often to water a newly planted tree, where the root flare should be, or why a recently planted tree is struggling, this episode is a great place to start. These practical tree planting tips can help give your new tree the best chance at establishing a strong, healthy root system and thriving for years to come.

Acorn to Oak brings practical tree care advice from professional arborists to homeowners who want healthier trees and better landscapes.

Subscribe or follow the podcast for more conversations about tree planting, tree health, pruning, plant health care, tree diseases, insects, soil health, and professional arboriculture. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to [email protected] and a certified Arborist will get back with you.

Oak wilt can be devastating to oak trees, but a declining oak doesn’t automatically mean oak wilt. In this episode Stefanie of Acorn to Oak, is joined by Board Certified Master Arborist Ashton Phelps to break down oak wilt disease in Indiana, including the symptoms homeowners should watch for, how oak wilt spreads through root grafts and sap feeding beetles, and why proper diagnosis and laboratory testing matter.

We also share our own experiences with suspected oak wilt in Indiana and discuss oak wilt treatment and prevention.

If you own oak trees or want to better understand oak wilt symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, this episode is a great place to start.

If you have questions about your trees or want a professional evaluation, contact Bluestone Tree. A certified arborist would be happy to help. You can contact us at [email protected] or visit www.bluestonetree.com.

Purdue University has a great article on Oak Wilt. Check it out, https://purduelandscapereport.org//article/oak-wilt-in-indiana/

Not every call an arborist gets is about tree work. In our second special short episode of Acorns to Oak, ISA Certified Arborist Matt Baldwin shares the story of rescuing a hawk caught high in a tree.

We talk about how the situation unfolded, the challenges of reaching and safely handling a wild bird, and how professional tree climbing and arborist skills helped make an unusual wildlife rescue possible.

It’s a unique story about arboriculture, wildlife, and one very memorable day in the canopy.

If you have questions about your trees or want a professional evaluation, contact Bluestone Tree. A certified arborist would be happy to help. You can contact us at [email protected] or visit www.bluestonetree.com.

Sometimes working in the trees means helping more than just trees. In this special short episode of Acorns to Oak, ISA Certified Arborist Ash Phelps shares the story of an unexpected cat rescue high in the canopy. We talk about what happened, the challenges of safely reaching and rescuing a stranded cat, and how an arborist’s climbing skills can come in handy in some pretty unusual situations.

It’s a quick, fun look at one of the more unexpected sides of life as a professional arborist.

If you have questions about your trees or want a professional evaluation, contact Bluestone Tree. A certified arborist would be happy to help. You can contact us at [email protected] or visit www.bluestonetree.com.

What does it really take to manage a city’s trees? In this episode, we sit down with Haskell Smith, ISA Certified Arborist and Urban Forester for the City of Bloomington Parks & Recreation, to explore the realities of urban forestry in Bloomington, Indiana.

We talk about the challenges of managing an urban forest, from tree selection, species diversity, and long term tree health to limited rooting space, sidewalks, utilities, budgets, and public expectations. Haskell also shares how much control an urban forester actually has when working within existing city infrastructure, including those notoriously difficult planting spaces known as “tree coffins.”

It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the decisions, challenges, and planning that go into growing and protecting the trees that make up our urban communities.

If you have questions about your trees or want a professional evaluation, contact Bluestone Tree. A certified arborist would be happy to help. You can contact us at [email protected] or visit www.bluestonetree.com.

What makes great compost—and what can it actually do for your soil?

In this episode, we sit down with Bloomington farmer Jonas Carpenter to hear his story and learn why compost has become an important part of his farm and growing practices. Jonas shares the long-term benefits he’s seen from using locally produced compost and why soil health matters for everything we grow.

Grayden Bloxham, co-owner of Bluestone Tree and head of the Recycling Division, joins us to break down how Bluestone’s compost is made, what goes into it, and what makes quality finished compost different from raw organic material.

From vegetable gardens and farms to trees and residential landscapes, we dig into compost, organic matter, healthier soil, sustainability, and why keeping these resources local matters.

If you have questions about your trees or want a professional evaluation, contact Bluestone Tree. A certified arborist would be happy to connect with you. You can contact us at [email protected] or visit www.bluestonetree.com.

Tree work is one of the most dangerous professions in the world, and every arborist has a story they'll never forget. In this episode, ISA Certified Arborists Simon, Matt, and Ash share the scariest moments of their careers, the split-second decisions that kept them safe, and the lessons those experiences taught them. From close calls to valuable safety takeaways, this conversation highlights why proper training, professionalism, and a commitment to safety are at the heart of every successful arborist.

If you have questions about your trees or want a professional evaluation, reach out to Bluestone Tree. A certified arborist would be happy to connect with you. You can contact us at [email protected] or visit www.bluestonetree.com.

Oak trees are some of the most valuable trees we can plant—but choosing the right oak for the right location ensures they thrive.

In this episode, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist Ashton Phelps joins us to explore why oaks are among the best trees for urban landscapes. We discuss selecting the right species for the right space, why tree diversity matters, the dangers of monocultures, the incredible ecological benefits of oaks, and how proper establishment ensures generations of healthy growth.

Whether you're a homeowner, arborist, landscaper, municipal forester, or simply someone who loves trees, this episode will help you better understand why oaks play such an important role in creating healthier, more resilient communities.

In this episode of Acorn to Oak, Stefanie Boucher sits down with fellow ISA Certified Arborist, John Xanders of Xanderbuilt Tree Care, to discuss why professional tree assessments matter before any tree pruning or tree removal begins.

Learn what it takes to become an ISA Certified Arborist, how arborists evaluate tree health, structural defects, and safety risks, and why expert guidance can help homeowners avoid costly mistakes while protecting the long-term health of their trees.

Whether you're concerned about a hazardous tree, planning a pruning project, or wondering if a tree should be removed, this episode explains how certified arborists make informed recommendations rooted in science, experience, and safety.