In this Middletown Press article, Megan Joseph from Davey's Hamden office talks about how recent climate and habitat changes have caused stress on Connecticut's trees. 

Posted: August 04, 2025

Connecticut trees are in crisis, one local arborist says.

A combination of changed climate patterns, new diseases, invasive insects and extreme weather events, coupled with the continued loss of habitat, have left trees stressed, damaged and "just plain confused," said arborist Megan Joseph of Davey Tree in Hamden.

"Trees are used to rhythm," she said. "With the seasons getting mushier and warmer, they have been struggling."

A dry and brown-colored field with trees and a fence in the background.

In addition to invasive insects like the emerald ash borer and spongy moth (formerly gypsy moth), which have caused significant damage, a new threat — beech leaf disease — is affecting the silvery American beech and is rapidly spreading, arborists say. 

"The weather patterns come in big waves, where we have a whole bunch of rain all at once and then the warming temperatures. The trees are stressed," Joseph said.

To continue reading Megan's advice, click here. 

For more information, contact the Hamden office. 

The Davey Tree Expert Company, headquartered in Kent, Ohio, provides research-driven tree services, grounds maintenance and environmental and utility infrastructure consulting for residential, utility, commercial and environmental partners in the U.S. and Canada. As one of the top ten largest employee-owned companies in the U.S., Davey's 12,000 employees have been dedicated to creating and delivering sustainable solutions since 1880. Apply today to join the Davey legacy, and learn about how we're growing with our new SEED Campus

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