The Plant Doctor’s Diary: An Update from the Field
“The Plant Doctor’s Diary: An Update from the Field”
The Plant Doctor, aka ‘The Tree Doctor’, travels the highways and byways of Michigan every year to assist people and their plants in distress. This program will disclose some of the more interesting issues Dave has encountered in recent years, ranging from Beech Bark Disease, Boxwood Blight & Critters, Oak Wilt Management Research, Arborvitae Decline, Irrigation Kerfuffles, and a variety of other issues. Dr. Dave specializes in accurate diagnoses of tree and landscape problems so that proper remediation efforts can be administered. Please be sure to bring your questions so Dr. Dave can (hopefully) regale you with his knowledge accumulated over his 50+ year career.
Monday, April 7, 2025
6:30 p.m. Doors Open with Raffle Tickets and Auction Items
7:00 p.m. Program begins
Guest fee at the door: $5, Annual HPS Membership: $20, All are welcome!
Bring your friends with tree and plant questions!
In-person Meeting Location:
Birmingham First United Methodist Church
1589 W. Maple Rd.
Birmingham, MI 48009
Biography Information for of Dr. David Roberts:
Dr. Roberts retired from Michigan State University in 2018 after committing over four decades to advancing MSU’s Land Grant Mission, originally signed into law by president Abraham Lincoln during the midst of the American Civil War. He received his B.S. (1975) and M.S. (1977) from The Ohio State University and his Ph.D from Michigan State University. Over the decades, Dr. Roberts has published 100’s of articles and taught 100’s of lectures and workshops. He has researched many issues in Michigan’s plant industry including Dutch Elm Disease, Diplodia Tip Blight of Pines, along with variety of cultural problems such as plant nutrition and herbicide toxicity. Dr. Roberts has worked on Oak Wilt for over 40 years, inventing several new and innovative remediation techniques. During his career, he has discovered a variety of new diseases and pests such as Phomopsis Canker of Spruce and the first bacterial wilt disease of turf grasses in North America. His discovery of bacterial biological herbicide for weed grasses resulted in several patents with MSU. His research on greenhouse and nursery crops disclosed the first fungicide-resistant strains of the Pythium, a root rot fungus, altering management methods for crop preservation. In the early 2000’s, his research on Ash Decline in Southeast Michigan led to the discovery of the invasive Emerald Ash Borer in North America. In his retirement, Dr. Roberts intends to remain active with the Arboriculture/Landscape/Nursery Industries while hoping to have more time for his hobbies. Dr. Roberts is President, CEO and CBW (Chief Bottle Washer) of The Plant Doctor, LLC…aka The Tree Doctor.
Contact information: Phone 248-320-7124; Email: treedoctordave@gmail.com
Web: plantdoctorllc.com
Web: oakwilt.info