Posted by Eric Berry
Dear Tree Doctor,
There is a mature Norway Maple on the parkway in front of my home. It has always looked healthy and happy until this year. The half of the tree that is facing east looks fine, but the western half of the tree has several branches that are bare, and leaves that are super small and just not getting bigger. Any idea what this could be? I noticed that the same thing happened to my neighbor's tree as well. Help! I don't want to lose this shade maker.
Answer:
Crown thinning on one side of a tree may be the result of several things. Norway maples are notorious for developing stem girdling roots (SGRs). SGRs are roots that encircle the base of the tree, often out of sight below ground. These circling roots typically result from how the trees are propagated, grown, dug, transplanted and develop over their lifetime. SGRs often become more problematic as the trees get older, and the trunk and roots grow into each other. SGRs are often identified because of the lack of trunk flare at ground level. Your photo does not show the trunk flare, so I cannot confirm this possibility.
Root damage, physical injury to the trunk, decay and other impacts are also possibilities. My recommendation would be to have one of our Certified Arborists take a look. He or she can look at the scenario, and combined with a site history provided by you, can develop an idea of what is happening as well as the treatment options available.
Thanks for writing!
The Tree Doctor
If you have a question for Ask the Tree Doctor, you can e-mail treedoctor@thecareoftrees.com and we will feature selected questions on this blog.
This article originally appeared in our Fall/Winter 2011 Arbor Topics.
Posted by Eric Berry
In late May 2011, the University of Illinois Plant Clinic identified samples of spruce that had been affected with Sudden Needle Drop (SNEED). This was the first time it had been found in Illinois.
SNEED can be identified by yellowing and browning of old needles on Norway, white, and Colorado blue spruce trees. By the end of summer, these needles fall off leaving only the newest needles on the tips of branches. This can affect parts of the tree and in the most severe cases, the entire tree.
If you suspect that your spruce tree has Sudden Needle Drop, please contact your Certified Arborist to set up an appointment today.
This article originally appeared in our July 2011 e-newsletter.
Posted by Eric Berry
As we approach the middle of the summer season, severe heat is becoming an issue in the Midwestern and Eastern states. Extended periods of heat can tax trees and make them more susceptible to problems such as heat stress. Heat stress can lead to leaves with scorched edges and eventually premature leaf drop, causing die back and a thinner canopy.
Why is heat a problem for trees?
High temperatures can have a detrimental effect on trees growing in tough sites or those with damaged vascular systems. Trees cool themselves through transpiration, a process where water is released from the leaves as water vapor. This is similar to the way we transpire water to cool our bodies when we sweat. As temperatures rise, water vapor is released through small pores in leaf surfaces. Even though trees have mechanisms to regulate water loss, water can evaporate from the leaves faster than it can be replaced. Even with sufficient soil moisture, trees and shrubs with limited/unhealthy root systems can struggle to move enough water. Lack of available water to trees and shrubs in hot areas often results in scorched, dead or wilted leaves.
What can I do to help my trees?
Watering your trees is extremely important during heat waves. Watering a tree should be deep so that the water soaks into the ground. In addition to watering, mulching, fertilizing, and other SoilCareSM activities can help create the optimal growing condition for your trees.
Mulching is a way to help trees in general but especially in drought conditions. Consisting of organic materials such as wood chips or composted leaves, mulch helps conserve moisture in the soil and increases the amount of organic material and activity. For more tips on how you can help your trees during the summer, read our Summer Tree Care F.A.Q.
Fall tree care will be very helpful this year. A great deal of root growth occurs in the fall. Practices that promote root development will go a long way to protecting their long-term health. Help your trees begin to recover as they head into winter. Contact your arborist today to schedule your next appointment.
This article originally appeared in our July 2011 e-newsletter.
Posted by Eric Berry
With the recent storms of late June and early July, many trees were damaged including fallen limbs and uprooted trees. Our June storm damage album on Facebook prompted a question from one of our followers.
Dear Tree Doctor,
I've always wondered, when a big tree gets totally uprooted, can it ever be saved? Like re-planted? If so, I'd love to hear about some success stories.
Beth Walsh
Ms. Walsh:
With large trees, if they are uprooted, so much damage has been done to the root system that they cannot be saved. Even if the trees could be up-righted, and anchored, which would be very costly to do, the tearing of the roots will lead to decline in the canopy of the tree over the next several years resulting in the necessity to remove the tree at a later date.
Also, the future stability of the tree is questionable, because the next windstorm is likely to topple the tree over again.
Sometimes, smaller trees can be up-righted and anchored so that they may have a chance, but there is always a substantial risk that the tree will decline over time and ultimately need to be removed.
In general, the high costs associated with trying to save windthrown trees, coupled with the poor chances of success, make such attempts highly questionable. If an attempt is made, clear expectations must be established with the client.
Thanks for writing!
The Tree Doctor
If you have a question for Ask the Tree Doctor, you can e-mail treedoctor@thecareoftrees.com and we will feature selected questions on this blog.
Posted by Eric Berry
Dear Tree Doctor,
I have a client in LaGrange Park with a very healthy Ash tree. They are planning an addition to their home and are contemplating moving the tree as it is in the line of fire as it were. It is about a 4 or 5” caliper tree. Are all Ash trees doomed? Should they investigate relocating the tree?
Very Truly Yours,
Michael Cody, Cody Design Group
Mr. Cody,
In light of the threat posed by emerald ash borer, I would advise against investing the funds and effort necessary to move the ash tree. Even though the tree appears healthy, EAB is likely already in the area and may already be impacting the tree.
While protecting individual trees from EAB is possible, moving the tree will result in root loss that will compromise the tree's ability to translocate the chemical needed to protect the tree via its vascular system. Moving a tree is stressful enough without having a primary pest in the works that will kill even the healthiest ash tree.
The vast majority of urban ash trees will be lost to EAB. Preventive treatments can be successful, but must be evaluated in terms of the candidate tree's health, structure, importance and availability of funds. In this case, I would recommend installing another tree species suitable to the site that does not have the baggage now associated with ash.
While it may seem difficult to part with a beautiful tree, in the long run, I believe it is the best course of action.
The Tree Doctor
If you have a question for Ask the Tree Doctor, you can e-mail treedoctor@thecareoftrees.com and we will feature selected questions on this blog.
For more information and the latest news on Emerald Ash Borer visit our EAB Watch Page.
Posted by Eric Berry
You may have had an arborist on your property before, but do you know what a typical day is like for them? I rode along with certified arborist
Art Davis of our
Glen Ellyn office to experience a day in a life.
At the office – 6:30 am
An arborist’s day starts pretty early. The first thing that happens is a safety meeting with the crews before going out to do work on client's trees. A safety meeting is held every Tuesday to discuss potential hazards crews might encounter on a job site. The safety discussion this week was about heat stress and safety. Heat exhaustion is something our crews look out for as they work outside during the upcoming summer months.
The team also talked about potential safety issues that they encountered in the last week and steps they took to prevent problems. One topic that came up was proper display of safety cones & signs. When crews are on a job site, proper warnings must be given to pedestrians & drivers.
Before crews go out to work with clients, they review work orders, where they’ll be going, what job they will be performing and what specific tools they’ll need. During this time they do stretching exercises to loosen up for the physical work they’ll be doing all day. After this, crews inspect equipment and tools then head out to their first appointments of the day. An arborist will look at paperwork including new proposals and check their email and calendar to review their upcoming appointments.
Off to the first appointment – 8:00 am
Driving to the first appointment it is clear that an arborist’s vehicle is a mobile office. Our arborists have their laptops & small printer mounted inside the vehicle to write proposals on site and safety equipment and tools stored in the trunk.
At the first job site, arborist Art Davis reviews a pruning job on an ash tree with the crew, pointing out specific branches to take off & what to avoid taking off.
Pointing out Emerald Ash Borer – 9:00 am
Emerald Ash Borer is the number one concern for arborists in the Midwest and East Coast at this time. Many parkway trees in residential areas are ash trees. While driving to next site, ash trees were pointed out to me. They are everywhere! Because of EAB, the entire urban landscape could change in two to four years. The loss of Ash trees will affect the water table, shade from the canopy, and the property values of entire neighborhoods.
I was shown one such neighborhood where EAB was spotted two years ago. Trees were removed because they suffered from sucker growth & major woodpecker damage. Once EAB has infected a tree, the decline is rapid. In just three years the ash trees here went from green to dead; 10-15% dieback within the first year, up to 50% by the second year, and dead by the third year. In the same neighborhood, a client had their ash tree treated against Emerald Ash Borer. It was very green & healthy compared to all others, a major visible difference!
Yew problem – 10:00 am
At the second site, a client thinks their yew bush has been poisoned by neighbor. The arborist notes it is green in spots and trying to push out new leaves. With a pick tool he digs around the base of the tree and finds the potential cause, girdling root. When a tree is planted too deep, the roots start to grow up and around the base of the tree trying to get close to the surface. Over time, as the tree matures, the roots start to choke the trunk, cutting off its vascular system. Art promised to return in two weeks to see if the yew will leaf out fully, if not it is a sure sign of girdling root.
We checked other trees and shrubs at client's home. Other problems included spider mites on evergreens and root rot on small bushes caused by too much water.
After leaving the site and heading to the next one the arborist stopped to take a picture of browning upright yew to send to the client to show problem is in neighborhood, it's not just them. In between appointments an arborist will return calls, check email and respond if it’s an emergency. Arborists are very connected and concerned!
More girdling roots – 10:45 am
At the third site of the day, the arborist was giving directions to the crew on where the client wanted wood chips from a tree stump that was just removed. Continuing the site inspection, a magnolia tree had some die back in one area. Art ran through a mental checklist for magnolias, there were no signs of scale insects or visible diseases. Checking the base of the tree he dug and found girdling roots. Girdling roots are more common in linden and maples; it’s a huge problem from improperly planting a tree too deep.
The client wants to save the tree so Art wrote a proposal for air tool excavation of roots & root trimming to deal with girdling problem. An arborist will leave a proposal with options for the client to sign and return to our office. The job will then be scheduled and completed,
Too much water – 11:15 am
At the fourth site, two large pines have to be removed due to too much watering, causing root rot. To determine this, Art used a soil depth tool. A soil depth tool is a hollow metal rod, open on one side. It takes a deep soil sample and if there is too much water present in the soil it will be wet, loose mud. Too much water is a bad thing for trees, causing root rot, fungi, and mold; all of which can kill.
Drop bys – 11:45 am – 1:30 pm
Typically on busy times an arborist will have up to eight appointments a day. They also do drop bys on client properties to check to see if treatments are effective, checking the health of the tree and see if any suggestions can be made for service.
At the fifth site, Art checked a client’s hornbeam trees. There were signs of rodent damage to the base of the root crown, where the tree’s roots flare out and into the ground. The arborist made a note to follow up with this client soon.
At the sixth site, we did a walk-through on one of arborist's largest properties he works with. Up to 25% of trees on this client’s property are ash, susceptible to EAB. On very large properties an arborist will take notes on all the details and locations of the trees and create a multiple page, detailed proposal for service.
Moving on to seventh site, this client called the arborist and was worried about their ground cover shrubs. There was die-back where shrubs meet the lawn. The leaves showed signs of curling & "cupping", potentially from lawn care herbicide. Damage was limited to where the overspray of the herbicide met the edge of the lawn. There were also signs of the leaf miner insect, but it was a minor case and would not harm the tree. Both of these issues will grow out during the summer, so no treatment is necessary.
On the eighth site, the client asked us to supervise a stump removal and branch pruning. A second crew was there applying a crabapple spray treatment.
Moving to ninth site, Art marked a tree on a property that was scheduled for removal later that day. This was ahead of the crew and makes it easy for the crew to identify the right tree to be taken down on large site with a lot of trees.
Heading back – 1:30 pm
We are heading back to the office with all of the morning appointments finished. An arborist will use the rest of the day to write up & send out proposals.
Below is a map of the route taken during the day, as you can see this one arborist has a large area to cover. Special thanks to certified arborist Art Davis for helping to provide this special insight to an arborist’s day. To find your own certified arborist, request a consultation today.
Posted by Eric Berry
This Spring and Summer there are several issues that could affect your trees. In this blog post we discuss these issues in detail.
Emerald Ash Borer
There is no doubt that Emerald Ash Borer is here. We can not stress enough the impact and wide spread devastation this borer will cause. It’s a problem that if left untreated will definitely affect your Ash trees. If these trees are important to your landscape, we recommend having your arborist out to your property as soon as possible. We have products that are effective at different times of the year, treatment recommendations will vary dependent of tree size and level of infestation.
Excessive Rain
Many areas across the United States have been hit hard with record rainfall over the past few months. Excessive rain can lead to fungi that cause scab and rust diseases to attack new growth on the host plants, especially in early spring. Foliage, twigs, flowers, and fruit are susceptible to attack. Scab fungi overwinter on fallen leaves, fruit, and in infected twigs. Their spores are released on cool, moist days in early spring when the host plants are beginning to leaf out. Proper pruning of ornamental crabapples and hawthorns will thin the crowns of the trees to provide improved air circulation. This creates a less favorable environment for the fungi. Healthy well maintained trees are better able to withstand any stress caused by these leaf fungi.
Spruce/Pine Issues
These trees are being hit especially hard this spring. Damage can be due to winter injury, salt damage or fungi that attack needles of pines.
- Winter injury typically results from a combination of two different environmental stresses. The first, winter drying, is characteristic of plant materials located where they are exposed to drying winds. Evergreen foliage continues to transpire during the winter months and breezy conditions result in rapid loss of water from the foliage. If this water cannot be replaced via the plants vascular system, the plant tissues will desiccate. Frozen ground and dormant plant tissues will slow the flow of water from the roots to the foliage, increasing the likelihood of injury. Damage will be most evident where drought conditions exist during high transpiration periods, or where trees are in a weakened condition because of other forms of stress.
- The second cause of winter injury, winter burn, is characteristic of evergreens in southern or southwestern/eastern locations with full or partial sun exposures. On bright, sunny days, rapid temperature fluctuations can occur during sunrise, sunset, or when shadows are suddenly cast by clouds or buildings. During periods of sunshine, the temperature within the dark colored foliage rises above the surrounding air temperature. If the sun’s rays are then blocked, the temperature within the foliage drops rapidly. If the foliage temperature alternates between nonfreezing and freezing temperatures, ice crystals form inside the cells, and plant tissues can quickly become injured. Damage is much more visible following periods of warm spring temperatures. Yew and dwarf Alberta spruce often display this effect.
A number of fungi can attack needles of pines resulting in leaf spots, blights and premature defoliation. Spots may coalesce to kill most of the needle, resulting in premature defoliation the summer following infection. Additionally, diseases can result in severe stunting and death of young trees.
Leaf Miner
Leaf miner, often associated with Boxwood, is an infestation of newly developed leaves resulting in new leaves becoming spotted yellow by late spring or early summer. The off-color leaves become puckered or blister by mid-summer and may drop prematurely. Infestations may result in the death of twigs
and can render the plant susceptible to disease.
Spider Mites
Mites are common pests in landscapes and gardens and can be found feeding on many fruit trees, vines, berries, vegetables and ornamental plants. Mites cause damage by sucking cell contents from leaves. A small number of mites is not usually reason for concern, but very high populations - levels enough to show visible damage to leaves - can be damaging to plants. Damage is usually worse when compounded by water stress.
What to do
If you experience any of these issues, call us to come look at your trees. Or go to www.thecareoftrees.com and click on request a consultation. Don’t delay, many infestations if caught early enough, can be treated!
Posted by Eric Berry
Over the last several years many individuals have helped to save trees by avoiding physical greeting cards. Sending greeting cards electronically during holidays has been an increasing trend over the last decade as it is a way to send a loved one a personalized greeting and it helps to save the environment. Some of the most popular holidays when it comes to sending eCards online are Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving and, of course, Christmas. Christmas eCards online have exploded in popularity as families love to send messages via the Internet. Rather than using gas and spending extra time to head to the nearest store, Internet users have the opportunity to reduce their fuel consumption and save money at the same time.
Recently, a website has been created that will allow individuals to send an eCard that Plants a tree. This is a wonderful idea that will help to illustrate the importance of trees. This would be a great opportunity to teach young ones exactly what trees do and how they affect our everyday lives. Unfortunately, with the fast paced world we live in, many children do not fully understand how important trees and plants truly are. By sending an eCard that plants a tree Americans will be able to show many how special trees are to our Earth.
The recipient of this eCard can download a personalized tree certificate and view an online tour of tree planting projects. It is important to note that an eCard that plants a tree starts at $6.50 but this is small fee that is well worth it. There are free eCards available but they do not plant a tree. Even though they do not plant a tree they can still provide inspirational messages about Mother Earth.
To send an eCard that plants a tree today, visit the Tree Greetings website.
Guest blog by Allison Beasley, lead contributor for Quarterly Retail Review.
Posted by Eric Berry
Trees have been around for a very long time, since 360 million years ago, even before the dinosaurs. They are responsible for producing the air we breathe, food that we eat and home to countless animals. Trees play a huge role in ecosystems across the planet. As remarkable as trees are by themselves, there are many trees that stand out historically and culturally.
Historic trees are important because they have witnessed or have been a part of events that have shaped us, associated with famous people and places or have a unique quality to them.
Did you know that hundreds of tree seedlings went to the Moon and back as part of Apollo 14’s historic mission? These “moon trees” - redwood, loblolly pine, sycamore, Douglas fir, and sweetgum trees sprouted from seeds that astronaut Stuart Roosa took to the moon and back 40 years ago. These tree seedlings were then distributed throughout the U.S. and planted. Some have died from severe weather and disease and now the hunt is on to track and locate these famous trees. To read more, visit NASA’s moon tree page.
Petrified forests offer a glimpse into past species and what the world was like in a different time. One of the most famous is Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona. Here, fallen trees from the Late Triassic period can be found alongside fossils of early dinosaurs. Paleontologists have been uncovering and studying the fossils since the early 1900’s and because of the area’s historic significance, it was declared a National Monument in 1906 and a national park in 1962. You can visit the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm.
One of the largest species of tree is the Giant Sequoia, the largest of which is called “General Sherman”. The volume of the trunk is around 52,000 cubic feet making it the biggest tree in the world. While the largest by volume, General Sherman is not the tallest tree. The tallest tree is a Coast Redwood named Hyperion, measured at 379 feet tall! This is taller than both the Big Ben (316 feet) and the Statue of Liberty (305 feet)! For more on these remarkable trees and other record setters, visit http://www.monumentaltrees.com
There are many historic and famous trees throughout the world, for a complete list visit Wikipedia’s List of Famous Trees. Your own tree may not be famous, but it’s important to you! Contact one of our Certified Arborists to care for your trees.
Posted by Sue Bennett
Welcome to our first in a series on TREE MYTHBUSTERS. In this series, we will be taking long standing myths about trees and tree care and BUST them apart.
Our first myth is brought to you by a client from Chicago, IL.
I’ve always heard that tree roots only go out as far as the branches on trees. The biggest root is the one that goes straight down into the ground. Is that true?
Joan W. Chicago, IL
Well Joan, we put our top people on this to see if this is, in fact, a myth. To get to the truth, we conducted a study on a tree in a park in the heart of downtown Chicago. We chose a medium sized tree and got to work. Now, we could have just hand dug into the tree base, found a root and continued to keep digging out soil to follow that root until it ended. But that would have been very damaging to the tree (and I’m sure the grass wouldn’t look too good either).
So it seems Joan that this is a common misconception that tree roots only extend as far out as the branches on a tree (commonly referred to as the Drip Line). In fact, they reach much farther out than that. And, are found in the top 12 inches of the soil….NOT one long root that goes deep into the earth.
Keep this in mind when you are considering construction around your home or office, such as building a deck or extension. It might seem as if the construction it is far enough from the tree to actually damage it, but as we’ve learned here, you can’t be too sure. Best bet is to have an arborist come out to your property to review your construction plans and discuss options to keep your tree healthy and happy. Click here to request a consultation with your local arborist.
So there you have it. Our first tree myth BUSTED.
If you are interested in submitting a tree or tree care myth, please email us at treedoctor@thecareoftrees.com and we’ll try and BUST it in an upcoming blog.