Shrubs have character, same as trees and they all have functions and serve purpose. This is why in the hands of an Arborist you can get the best look out of your landscape. Some shrubs require shaping, pruning, trimming, others more attention like topiary, and some a controlled wild look. Whatever it is, its all dependent on what plant material you have in your yard, where it is located, and what species of plants you have in order to understand what they require and how they should look. Then there is the rejuvenation cut, for those of you who have let their trimming chores go beyond the scope. Be aware that you have to know what shrubs can tolerate this kind of aggressive cut and what is to be expected. This trimming usually removes most if not all foliage from the plant, this is so that when the shrub does start growing, the new lush foliage fills into an area that is more desirable. The bonus is you get new growth along with flowering in an area that is manageable. Trees on the other hand require pruning where selective limbs are removed for health and risk issues. Shrubs are trimmed, trees are pruned, this is the proper terminology.
It has been quite some time since we have seen weather conditions this cold, and below freezing this long. If you have palm trees, tropicals and even sub-tropicals here is something you can do that may help them survive. Cover them entirely with blankets and if possible electric blankets next lite oil pots around the plants to aid in temperature increase and of course irrigate prior to the event. Knowing palms like I do and experiencing the 1983 freeze, it doesn’t appear that we wold have any different outcome, but it sure would help doing the above in reducing the mortality then doing nothing at all.
There is a new tool in the technology box. But it’s not new in that sense it has been around for at least 20 years. What has changed is how it can be used, the savings behind it and In the hands of a Registered Consulting Arborist or a Board Certified Master Arborist, the most likely persons qualified to recommend and perform these treatments, the increase of success. Here are some of the cases where it can be used;
1) Ornamental/flowering trees; to maintain size and maximize flowering
2) understory trees; to maintain height and character
3) fast growing trees: to control growth
4) sick/diseased trees; with the added fungistatic properties of this chemistry a double benefit in fighting off disease and increasing vigor
5) old trees; for the maintenance of vitality
Now it is up to the Arborist how best to use this tool and when to use it. It is effective and research has proven it.
With Christmas right around the corner, now is the time to ensure your trees and shrubs are prepared for the added stress the holidays will bring to them. For example, if you plan on hanging lights on your trees, leaving them there is not a good idea. Remember to remove them because if you have a healthy tree that is growing it possibly can choke and kill it. Also, installation of these lights should be done by professionals, safety devices such as ropes and saddles should be used to protect the client from liability and injury to the tree.
Fertilization and systemics should be soil injected to prepare your trees for the coming growing season.
Pine, Spruce and fir are not the only trees you can use for Christmas decoration. Understanding these trees are not expected to thrive here and for many reasons. Here in north Texas our native cedar is a great candidate. If you were to pull it out of the ground, (root ball), yourself it would be the only evergreen tree that you can actually plant and expect to live for the distant future. These trees are excellent in a landscape as a screen.
Are your trees looking different? Leaves turning color, falling off, this may be a serious problem and a Arborist would be the person that can answer your questions. If you are experiencing premature leaf drop it may be indications of other stresses.
Health and vigor can defend against stress, disease, insect infestation and even in some cases damaging cultural practices. The goal is to use the most effective products available and educate the public on the after care. The way to achieve this is by using the new technology that is available to us. Systemics and organic products that are cost effective, efficient, and have low impact on the environment. A customized plan for your property is required since everyone has special concerns and different situations. Current programs offer a wide range of tree care that require many sprays, fertilizations and charges that are now deemed unnecessary and outdated. Many pests have aquired a resistance to spray products to point where they have little affect. With the new techniques and chemistry all these needs can be incorporated into one treatment, a treatment that will cover the entire growing season, killing damaging insects while at the same time upgrading health.
The benefits are massive when soil injection treatment is compared to a spray/fert. program.
SPRAY/FERT. PROGRAM SOIL INJECTION TREATMENT
multiple foliar sprays one time treatment
multiple fertilizations one time treatment
limited residual growing season
non-target species affected no effect
multiple charges initial cost aerification
Plant Health Care will give you the biggest bang for your buck(soil injection ). An Arborist can afford you to not only discuss the benefits in detail of soil injection but explain the challanges of irrigating, pruning, and other needs required to best plan for their future.
As Arborist, we always come into contact with trees on a property that are out of their range. We call these special needs trees,and should be addressed for the simple fact homeowners expectations may not be reasonable. Desire for such plantings has increased over the years and this is alright if they understand the challanges it requires to care for such specimens. This will be discussed at a later time.
Pruning is the most common tree maintenance procedure. As a homeowner, our trees require a higher level of care to maintain their health, safety, value and aesthetics. Pruning should be done with an understanding of how the tree (species) will respond to each cut. Poor or improper pruning (Broccoli Cut) can cause damage that will last for the life of your tree or worse, create a situation where the tree is a risk.
When preparing to prune, be aware that each cut has the potential to change or alter the new growth of your tree. No limb should be removed without a reason. A Certified Arborist will assist you in making the correct decisions… whether it pertains to a young or mature tree. Common reasons include the removal of diseased, dead (widow makers), dying, interfering , included, imbedded, competing or crowded limbs and the elimination of potential hazards. Additionally trees may be pruned to increase light and movement of air through to the landscape, to protect both structure and code enforcement through clearance. In most cases, this type of pruning (structural pruning) is required on annual to biannual pruning cycle. Structural pruning is always based on the character and genetics of the tree. It should never be compromised.
Under the guidance of a Registered Consulting Arborist/Board Certified Master Arborist an expert with the education and knowledge of tree biology- proper pruning can maintain good tree health and structure while enhancing the aesthetic and economic values of your landscape.
Are you losing leaves quickly or have you already lost all your leaves? This may be a serious issue, could there be something going on besides fall? Every year seems to be different but if you have noticed some of your trees leafing out earlier and has a history of this you should call an Arborist. Not a tree person but a real certified arborist, and if you can find one with more designations such as RCA, BCMA or college degree the chances for getting accurate up to date info is substantial. Trees on your property become part of the family treat them as such with professional help.
Tree Parasite
Look up in your trees, are all the leaves turning color or dropping, say maybe for a few bunches of dark green areas. This may well be the tree thief, prune it out and fertilize your trees. This is the time to really take control and stop the spread of mistletoe.
I heard a talk show host last week say to the effect that trees do not require pruning, and “If a tree grows a limb out in some direction, that it is because it knows best.” So, what he is saying is the tree has some unknown powers to produce limb, trunk , branch growth wherever it decides. If we were led to believe that this is a good thing then this would mean that growth, no matter what growth, would be adequate in both health and structure to support the tree. So, embedded, bifurcated, included and competing limbs are for the most part a predetermined growth that has a positive effect on the tree.
This is just another example of simplistic thought. Don’t be fooled!
Human beings, Arborist, do good things and pruning trees are one of these good things. There are reasons for limb removal as mentioned prior and it’s to ensure that tree lives and grows to a long productive life.