The Arborist Journal

Spraying trees is usually associated with applying pesticides to the foliage.  Old school, although it still is a practice it should be one that is rare.  For the simple fact there are economically more effective techniques that last longer and affect a larger range of damaging insects.

Insects not only damage trees structurally, but they affect the general level of the tree’s health.  Insects are persistent, non-deterred, purpose filled critters with a voracious appetite for tree tissue and cause harm.  There is a bug for every part of the tree at every different part of the season that at times overlap but not always up until the first freeze with exceptions.  So with the new chemistry and techniques, systemic medicines are a better tool.  They deliver a specific dosage that is long lasting, catching many damaging insects that can jump from one tree to the next and very well vector many destructive diseases with them.

Avoiding the beneficial insects entirely thus allowing them to feed uninhibitedly. Spraying has its place in treatment for certain pests but it’s a tool we like to see replaced.

Would you go to a shoe salesman to have your feet worked on?  Think about it.  Do you care about your trees?  Really, do you care?  Is your perception of your trees that they are some static ornament in your yard?  Have you ever thought that maybe they are an organism that needs you to take care of them?  Have there been times you’ve said to yourself ” boy, they look bad”?  Have you done anything about it?  What would it be like if you didn’t have any trees?  Lots of questions.

And like the shoe salesman, who is qualified to answer the questions about what may look good or what they have in stock, he is not the source to consult about correcting growth problems or fractures.   Neither is your landscaper when it comes to your trees.  While your landscaper may have an opinion about your trees aesthetically, he is not the one to consult about your trees health or how to correct it.

Every cut in a tree has an impact, be it structurally or health related.  Call your Certified Arborist who specializes in tree health care, and who will treat your living organism the way it deserves.

Trees are dead and dying all over the place.  Some died early last year, some over the winter and some are continuing to die.  What we are seeing in the trees themselves is trunk and limb bleeding, splitting of bark down to sapwood, dead branches sporadically throughout canopy (flagging), and fungus at base of tree.  What this means is that the drought of last year, severe indeed, predisposed trees to secondary infections.  Trees that are dead and ones that are severely affected should be removed and properly disposed of, especially if there are other healthy trees in the area.  Disinfection of tools between use on trees is essential, as well.  This will reduce the chance of the infection jumping from infected trees to healthier trees.  On larger specimens a preventive treatment is available.  Call your Board Certified Master Arborist who specializes in tree health care for a proper diagnosis and treatment recommendation.

I believe it is best to plant early in the fall, for many reasons but one in particular and that is it allows more time for growth.  Although it is getting cooler and the leaves are falling off or have fallen off, roots are still functioning.  Soil temperatures are still conducive at 50 degrees for root growth and function, it seldom if ever reaches that temperature.  Rain frequency increases as well along with a reduction in temperature, intense sunlight and prevailing winds.  All of these factors combined allow for the best environment for the longest period of time before the heat comes on.  In addition you should have the tree fertilized, but be careful there are only a few fertilizers that will work.  Those are the actual tree fertilizers (3-1-1), that are organic and slow release like Arbor Green Pro.  The lower the salt index the more friendly it is to the roots.  These fertilizers require professionals with the proper equipment to perform the service because of the difficulty of handling and applying it to the root zone.  It is both economical, affordable and long lasting.