Category Archives: Tree Health

deceased tree

When Trees Start Dying

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Signs You Have a Diseased Tree

Do you notice any funky-looking growths on your trees? One of the signs you have a diseased tree, for instance, is the appearance of fungi– which can be colorful growths, looking like a mushroom, conk or shelf-life structure.

Fungi typically appear after a tree has been wounded. How does that happen? Well, say you’re cutting the lawn and you accidentally swipe the base of the tree with a part of your lawn mower. You think nothing of it, but now that tree has a flesh wound. Or maybe you take your pruning shears to some tree branches… and when you’re done, there are parts of the “inner” parts of the branches left exposed to the elements. Their protective covering has been pruned away, whether on purpose or accidentally. Hey, it happens. Other ways trees get wounded include excavators (coming along to carve out areas for sidewalks, for instance), trench builders (putting in or taking out water/gas lines), and even good ol’ wind damage thanks to Mother Nature.

Fungi are looking for a place to grow, and tree wounds are ideal. Therefore, a fungus will enter a wound and start to discolor it. Essentially, fungi cause wood to decay. Wood fibers get weakened. In many cases, roots get weakened, too, causing structural support problems for the tree– and it begins to look like it’s going to fall. Perhaps the tree begins to take on an asymmetrical shape. If you start to notice you’ve got large limbs that look like they’re dying and, indeed, they start to fall off the tree at the slightest hint of wind, you probably have a diseased tree.

Once a tree gets diseased it’s very hard to turn it around and make it completely healthy again– some might say it’s impossible. Over time, the tree may decay to the point where it becomes a danger to people and property around it. In that case, it’s time to call S & J Tree Care to come take it down and remove it safely and properly.

How To Hire A Tree Care Company

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Hiring a Tree Care Company

Trees have the power to increase property values, improve air quality, reduce household energy costs, improve water quality and more according to the Unites States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. When trees are present in our everyday landscape it’s easy to forget just how significant they are to all of our lives. Trees of the right variety placed properly and cared for professionally provide enormous benefits and have significant economic, environmental and societal value.

 

Become an intelligent tree care consumer. And remember, without regular care, trees can quickly change from a valuable resource to a costly burden.

What is an arborist?

Be aware that the credentials of someone calling themselves an arborist can vary widely. Don’t just hire someone with a chain saw who knocks on your door!

An arborist is a professional who cares for trees and other woody plants by pruning, fertilizing, monitoring for insects and diseases, consulting on tree related issues, and occasionally planting, transplanting and removing trees.

Beware of the fly-by-night “individuals” who call themselves arborists. “With hundreds and possibly thousands of dollars at stake, not to mention the integrity and appearance of your property and your personal safety, make sure that you take your time in deciding which company you should hire,” warns Peter Gerstenberger, director of safety and education for TCIA. “Disreputable companies are renowned for ripping gutters off, breaking fences and bird baths, and even dropping trees on houses. Then they typically fold up and leave, never to be seen again.”

How do I find an arborist/tree care company?

SearchUse TCIA’s search to find a TCIA tree care member company in your area. 

When you hire a TCIA-member tree care company, you are assured that the company you are hiring has access to the most recent information on tree care practices, and that they are insured and/or bonded to protect you and your valuable property. Verify additional professional affiliations the company might have, such as membership in International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

You can also seek recommendations from neighbors, friends or business associates who you know have had professional tree care work done in the past and check the Better Business Bureau to find information about companies in your area. When reviewing companies, look for information about the company: number of years in business, professional affiliations, licenses, certification, etc.  Also check with your City Hall and see if your municipality requires licensing for arborists; many communities do.

You may also consider hiring a TCIA Accredited company. TCIA Accreditation is a voluntary program that credentials companies which meet stringent criteria for professionalism, employee training, state and federal safety regulations, business ethics and customer satisfaction. Under the process, businesses undergo an extensive review and a comprehensive audit of professional and business practices aimed at safeguarding consumers.

Accreditation is the only business practices and compliance program for tree care companies in America. Companies accredited by TCIA are required to provide documented proof in many areas that protect consumers. When you hire an accredited tree care company, you can rest assured that TCIA has checked for proper insurance, applicable business and pesticide licenses, and customer service that is reliable and ethical. Make an informed decision – choose a company with the TCIA Accreditation “seal of approval.” Find an Accredited TCIA member company by company name, zip code, services or other criteria.

What should I ask when I meet my arborist?

  • When meeting with your arborist for the first time, ask to see current certificates of liability and workers’ compensation insurance, if applicable.
  • Ask for references, and check on the quality of their work.
  • Don’t be rushed by a bargain, don’t pay in advance, get estimates in writing and insist on a written work order. Get additional estimates or opinion of the needed work.
  • Insist on a signed contract as to cost, dates when work is to be performed, and exactly what is to be done.
  • Ask about ANSI Standards. A professional arborist will be aware of the current safety, pruning, fertilizing, and cabling standards.
  • Insist that climbing spikes are used only if the tree is to be cut down; spikes damage the tree.

What if I don’t want to hire a professional?

Care for your trees needs to be done by skilled, trained and insured professionals, both for the health and beauty of your trees and for your safety and financial well-being.

For your safety, do not perform treework. Taken from published reports, TCIA maintains a monthly list of Accident Briefs that outlines the sad details of homeowners getting severely injured or killed when attempting their own tree work. If you are at all uncertain about what could happen by attempting your own tree work, contact a qualified tree care professional for help.

For your financial protection, hire a company that is professional. Studies published in the Journal of Arboriculture have demonstrated that it is actually cheaper to regularly prune trees rather than neglecting them, and cleaning up the resulting damage! And no matter when you’re hiring them, be aware that if the tree care company doesn’t have insurance or is not a legal company – you, the homeowner – could be held responsible as a contractor.

When to Hire an Arborist

Bonus Tip: Break with tradition and shop in the off-season.

Spring and summer are typically when our thoughts turn to the yard and the trees, but shopping for tree care in the winter offers several potential benefits:

  • Many reputable companies offer modest price discounts on winter work. They do this to provide employment to their loyal help and to improve their cash flow.
  • You can get the service when you need it. The best service providers typically have huge backlogs of work in the summer, but can respond to your needs more quickly in the off season.
  • Winter is a good time to look at and work on most trees. The tree architecture is highly visible, and there are no leaves to add to the cleanup time.

Written By www.TCIA.org

Drought Season

Drought Season

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 Informational sites, such as drought.unl.edu, can be helpful to tree care providers. Image courtesy of drought.unl.edu.

As humans, we seem to struggle with things that we have no control over. Bullies at your kids’ school, the driver of the car in front of you on the highway and prices at the grocery store are everyday examples. The weather is another. The common sense approach to dealing with any of these circumstances is the same. First, it’s about acceptance. Take a deep breath, accept it, and then examine the options and management strategies going forward.

Recent rainfall patterns

Many regions throughout the U.S. have been in soil water deficit patterns the past few years. While this is not a surprise to tree care providers in those locations, arborists in other areas can benefit by being aware of the drought condition of the country as a whole. One of the best sources of this information is the National Drought Mitigation Center website, coordinated cooperatively by several agencies. As you peruse this site, be sure to click on the Drought Monitor icon to investigate current conditions; this helpful tool is updated on a regular basis throughout the year.

Trees on a slope suffer because runoff occurs before adequate infiltration takes place. Photos courtesy of John Fech.

Trees on a slope suffer because runoff occurs before adequate infiltration takes place.
Photos courtesy of John Fech.

Droughty sites

Regardless of how wet or dry it has been in various locales, some landscape features and microclimates are simply better than others in terms of water efficiency.

  • Slopes — In terms of dealing with drought, slopes are horrible. The main issue is that there’s no way to retain the water before it runs off. When rain occurs as a gradual light precipitation event, the effects are reduced, but they still occur. Clay soils add insult to injury in that they offer much reduced opportunity for infiltration at the top of the slope. Slopes that are hard to mow are good indicators where this will occur, but even gradual slopes will be subject to uneven infiltration if trees are growing in clay soils.
  • Thin narrow strips in the landscape — Usually covered with concrete or another impervious surface, trees in these locations rarely gain the full effect of natural rainfall events. Considering that less than a quarter of the potential roots are below soil or a modified soil, it’s no wonder they often struggle. In a similar problematic way, flat expanses of asphalt and concrete materials that surround a tree and cover the roots are also frequently encountered in both residential and commercial sites. In addition to being restrictive for water percolation, the covering also cuts off oxygen exchange.
  • Low-maintenance areas of the landscape — Various out-of-the-way locations, such as alleys, rural cemeteries, parks, golf course roughs, museums and school grounds, can be droughty sites for several reasons. Many of these areas contain buried debris, pea gravel, perched water tables and compacted soils, which limit infiltration and tree root expansion.

Separate turf from ornamentals

Turf and trees differ greatly in the amount of water they need, with trees requiring about one-third (on average) of what is necessary for turf. If placed together in the landscape, problems arise. Two main outcomes can occur if they are co-located.

Good mulching practices are important when dealing with drought.

Good mulching practices are important when dealing with drought.

When water is applied with the goal of keeping turf green and healthy, the result is that the rootzone stays moist to soggy for the benefit of the turf and the trees tend to be overwatered, with water filling the spaces between soil particles for long periods of time. Likewise, when water is applied to meet the needs of the trees, the turf may suffer.

A best management practice concerning trees and turf is that they should be separated in the landscape and cared for as separate masses of plant materials. Whenever possible, work with landscape designers and architects to encourage their division.

Young and old, deep and shallow

Efforts to keep the root systems of young trees moist (not soggy or dry) are more important than efforts aimed at older trees, at least in the short term. Younger trees have smaller root systems and have less capacity to recover from periodic droughts than older trees with extensive and expansive roots. As such, in terms of prioritization, if several weeks go by without a significant rainfall event, focus your initial efforts on providing supplemental irrigation for young or newly planted trees.

In order to determine the moisture content of trees (or turf for that matter), insert a deep probe into the root profile, pull it out carefully and slowly and feel the tip end. If it goes into the soil easily and a slight sloshing sound is made, then the soil is too wet. If the soil is dry and powdery, then it’s too dry. If it feels cool and moist, then, like Goldilocks with the Three Bears, it’s just right.

Drip irrigation is a good slow and steady water delivery method. Photo: John Fech

Drip irrigation is a good slow and steady water delivery method. Photo: John Fech

Whether trees are young or old, the goal is to deliver water to the bottom of the roots and keep them moist. It takes some experimentation at first to know how deeply various trees are rooted, but starting with the mindset that the majority of feeder roots are in the upper 24 to 30 inches of the soil profile is helpful in terms of overall rooting depth. When problems are encountered, excavation exercises can help you gain insights during the diagnosis.

Methods

There’s more than one way to bake a cake, and the same can be said for watering a tree in a drought.

Slow trickle – Probably my favorite. With a drip irrigation system, soaker hose or a hose laid on the ground, the slow and gradual emitting of water limits evaporation and facilitation of infiltration, which is beneficial for clay or compacted soils.

Water bladders – Especially good for young trees, placing 15 to 20 gallons of water near the base of the tree to be absorbed slowly can be quite effective. These work well, however, the need to refill these can be a limiting factor to their success.

Delayed starts – On slopes and in narrow strips, adjusting a time clock controller to run a particular zone for a short time (10 minutes or so), then stopping to allow the applied water to percolate downward, and then start again after a couple of hours to finish the job is a good way to overcome the natural tendency for water to run off before it infiltrates.

Overhead – From an efficiency and uniformity standpoint, overhead irrigation is generally not considered a good method. However, it’s easy to see where the water is going, and easy to measure how much is being received. Overhead irrigation replicates Mother Nature to some degree as well.

Water lance – Attached to a water tank or spigot, a slender pipe with a hole in the end can be effective because it limits evaporation; however, it can create excessive water channels or chasms underground. In addition, there’s the potential to push valuable water past the rootzone. When using a water lance, push it into the soil about 6 to 12 inches deep and use low water pressure.

When tree roots are covered with concrete, gaining the full effect of natural rainfall is limited. Photo: John Fech

When tree roots are covered with concrete, gaining the full effect of natural rainfall is limited. Photo: John Fech

Mulch for retention

After a rainfall, it’s desirable to hold on to the water and not let it evaporate. Proper mulch installation begins about 3 inches away from the trunk and extends to the drip line of the tree (or as far away as your client will allow). Obviously, several options exist, but the best advice on depth, type and placement comes from Mother Nature. She uses natural mulch, not rock or rubber; she allows it to accumulate to about 3 inches in depth before decomposing and recycling nutrients back to the roots; and she uses a variety of materials including bark, leaves, fruits, flowers and stems. As you communicate with your customers about mulch product options, point out a few well-mulched landscapes, either naturally placed or replicated by an arborist.

weather-trees

How Weather can Impact Trees

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 Winter desiccation can be devastating in some years. Photo: John Fech

In the world of arboriculture, or at least the arborist, a variety of factors impart effects on the trees we care for each and every day. One of the most impactful, or at least most commonly referred to is weather. The adage goes like this: “Can’t figure out what’s wrong with a customer’s tree? Well, you can always blame the weather.”

A few terms are helpful to consider: Weather is what we experience day to day and week to week. A forecast is what we expect, or are told to expect. Climate is an accumulation of weather events over a long period of time.

Leaf scorch is a temporary shortage of leaf moisture. Photo: John Fech

In a sense, weather can be a good answer for the unknown or the hard to determine, as it is such a major influence. There’s nothing like it terms of impact. After all, it’s multi-component factor with winds, flood, hail, heat, drought, sun, rain, snow and ice. It’s an all-season and ever-present factor. There is no rest from the weather; it’s dramatic – extremes seemingly are commonplace these days — and, it’s a mimic because weather related maladies are often difficult to diagnose because they closely resemble insect or disease related injury causes.

Drought stress can occur easily when no one is responsible for newly planted trees in a limited root zone. Photo: John Fech

Good and Bad Weather Conditions

Weather is often defined in black and white terms of good or bad, at least from the human perspective — but what’s good weather for a tree? Perhaps it’s best to describe it in two ways, in the establishment phase and the maturity phase, or even year one and year two and beyond.

Initially, even if a tree is touted to withstand soggy or dry soils such as a baldcypress or a chinkapin oak, most trees tend to be favored by moist, not soggy or dry soils, moderate temperatures and moderate winds. Sure, eventually drought tolerant species will be able to survive well on limited water, but at first, moist soils, favor the development of roots and shoots. Likewise, exposure to gentle to moderate winds encourage a tree to respond by developing a strong structural root system and bole to resist wind throw. After establishment, good weather conditions are those where most days are in the desired range for the species in terms of moisture, wind and sun.

Conversely to the above, bad weather conditions are those that present a tree with significant time outside of the desired range for a given species.

An important caveat to the good and the bad is the ugly, which is the time lag or the length of time that it takes for symptoms of injury that are due to weather to express themselves. For herbaceous plants such as tulips, turfgrass or hostas, there is a short time involved with the visibility of a cause and effect of weather ie. it’s hot and dry for 4 weeks, without supplemental irrigation, Kentucky bluegrass is going to wilt in the heat and appear highly stressed. With established woody plants, the symptoms often show up several months later or even the next year in response to the same heat and drought. Most customers simply cannot fathom this difference in responses to weather; therefore it’s wise to try to explain or at least warn them in advance of what could come to pass.

Effects of wind can be significant, like the storm damage to this backyard tree. Photo: John Fech

Commonly Seen

Here are some of the more commonly observed/encountered maladies due to weather:

Drought injury and leaf scorch — Caused by extended periods without adequate rainfall or supplemental irrigation. Prevent it by providing even moisture, mulching to retain moisture once received, monitoring often with a soil probe/screwdriver to gauge moisture content.

Leaf scorch is a temporary shortage of leaf moisture. Photo: John Fech

Winter desiccation — Caused by strong, consistent winds that dry out leaves; worst on broadleaf evergreen species such as holly and arborvitae. Prevent it by irrigating to moisten soil and enter the winter with roots fully hydrated, apply an anti-desiccant product 3-4 times as per label instructions, install wind screens in high value situations.

Winter desiccation can be devastating in some years. Photo: John Fech

Sunscald — Caused by solar rays that warm the surface of thin barked trees in winter, causing it to be warm and cold in a series of diurnal cycles. Prevent it by installing white wrapping or PVC drain tile to reflect solar rays in late fall, remove in late winter.

Prevent sunscald with white wrapping. Photo: John Fech

Sunscald damage to this thin barked tree. Photo: John Fech

Hail Damage — Caused by ice chunks striking the bark with sufficient force to break the surface and allow desiccation and entry of pathogens. Correct it by pruning out badly affected branches.

Wind Encouraged Herbicide Drift — Caused by movement of broadleaf herbicides from adjacent areas. Prevent and correct it by discussing potential for damage with nearby property owners. Provide for future needs of tree but avoid overwatering and overfertilizing.

Effects of wind can be significant, like on this broken ash. Photo: Nancy Null

Frost Injury – caused by cold temperatures received after buds have broken dormancy. Prevent or correct it by avoid species that are prone to frost injury. Prune out badly affected branches.

Wet Soils – caused by overabundant moisture from flood, irrigation system leaks and zealous turfgrass irrigators. Prevent or correct it by measuring rainfall and irrigation amounts received and adjusting accordingly.

Effects of wind can be significant. Photo: John Fech

WildFire Effects

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Evaluating Trees After Fire

 Photo: Steven Swain

When wildfires roll through, the devastation is often immense. While attention is usually focused on the impact to structures — sometimes homes are burned right down to their foundations — part of the rebuilding process requires an evaluation of the surrounding trees. In most cases, a decision can be made relatively quickly about whether a building is a total loss and must be replaced, or whether the existing structure can be brought back to life. It’s a simple equation of which approach makes the most financial sense. But as living organisms, trees can be trickier to evaluate once the smoke clears.

Each species of tree, fire event and property is different, so there is no universal rule to follow, explains Steven Swain, environmental horticulture advisor with the Cooperative Extension of Marin County in California. With the numerous wildfires California has endured in recent years, Swain has had plenty of opportunity to evaluate trees after fires have passed through, and to monitor their conditions in subsequent months and years.

“In broad terms, conifers generally die after a fire, and broadleaved trees typically resprout from their root systems, at least here in the West,” Swain says. He offers the caveat that these are general rules, and each tree species and fire event is a little different. Redwood, for example, is a conifer that resprouts. “And it has very thick bark, so even if a redwood is completely charred and loses all of its leaves, there’s a decent chance that it will pull through and survive,” Swain says. “Whereas if you’re dealing with a pine or a fir, if there isn’t a speck of green left on that tree, there is virtually no chance that it’s going to survive. And even if they do make it, if they have less than about 30 percent of their canopy, a lot of times beetles come in and kill the trees that are so stressed by the lack of foliage.”

Trees such as western oak or bay laurel, though, stand a better chance. “Most hardwoods in this environment, even down to toyon and coffeeberry and things like that, sprout from their roots readily because they’re sort of adapted to having their tops burned off,” Swain explains, again with the disclaimer that he’s talking about trees growing in western environments. So before cutting down trees, it is often best to take a wait and see approach. “If you have an oak that’s badly burned, for example, you want to wait until spring and see if it recovers or not. Because oaks can survive surprisingly severe amounts of fire. They’ll be blackened, there won’t be a leaf left on the tree, and then three months later when the rains come you’ll find that much of the tree, except for the ends of the twigs, will resprout.”

When this resprouting from the roots occurs after a fire, it may produce 15 or 20 sprouts; if the goal is to have a tree regrow in that space, the weaker sprouts can be selectively pruned out—but not immediately, Swain cautions: “If you prune them out to a single sprout right away, you’ve once again eliminated almost all of the tree’s canopy, further compromising the root system.” Instead, prune out the unwanted sprouts slowly, over several years, never removing more than about 30 percent of the canopy in any given year, he advises.

While it’s important to understand that many such trees are “fire-adapted,” meaning they have learned to survive — and even thrive — following natural fire events, it’s also critical to understand that when fires rip through residential areas, the environment is anything but natural. “When fire gets into a built environment, houses and cars with gasoline can burn for hours… fires can burn super intensively — maybe up to 3,000 degrees — for a long time. Even if nearby plants don’t burn themselves, they can essentially be boiled alive from the radiant heat,” Swain says. Clues to look for include trees that still have leaves attached, but with sap coming through splits in the bark and running down the trunks. “Different trees can die in different ways due to fire, and it can be difficult to figure out exactly what happened,” he says.

One thing you typically shouldn’t do after a fire is to fertilize trees in an effort to help them recover, Swain says. “Fertilization is generally discouraged,” he explains, noting that while fires wipe out a lot of carbon and nitrogen from the soil, many other nutrients are left behind. And supplemental water is only needed in the event that the weather following a fire is excessively dry, he adds. “The amount of water that the tree can use is directly related to the amount of canopy it has. If you add a lot of water to a tree that has virtually no canopy, you’re just begging to start a root rot problem if the weather turns warm.”

Given all of the devastation that fires leave behind, it’s important to remember all of the reasons why trees are so important, and why it’s worth the effort to save them when possible. In addition to the shade and aesthetic and many other “visible” benefits they offer, “trees, particularly on slopes, help to stabilize the soils,” Swain explains. Again, California has seen its share of landslides, which can be a particular concern following a fire, when the landscape has been wiped clean of trees and other substantial vegetation. “The survival of trees is critical in assessing what kind of erosion potential there may be,” Swain says. It’s the kind of thing that hydrologists and soil scientists are concerned about, but that homeowners might not always think of, he notes, so a tree care expert may need to explain the ramifications of removing versus trying to save trees on sloped properties.

Of course, if the weakened tree itself poses a hazard — maybe it’s beside a road or structure — it should be removed, adds Swain. “In those instances, you may decide that you want to leave the roots in place, because they’re still anchoring the soil,” he explains. In some cases, a hydrologist may need to be called in to assess the stability of the soil due to the loss of tree roots.

But unless a hazard exists (or a home needs to be rebuilt and it will be easier and cheaper to remove any questionable trees on the property before construction), it’s usually best to take a wait and see approach to fire-damaged trees, advises Swain. “Let the tree recover on its own, and tell you how it’s doing.”

Wildfire Effects

Wildfire Effects to Trees

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Evaluating Trees After Fire

 Photo: Steven Swain

When wildfires roll through, the devastation is often immense. While attention is usually focused on the impact to structures — sometimes homes are burned right down to their foundations — part of the rebuilding process requires an evaluation of the surrounding trees. In most cases, a decision can be made relatively quickly about whether a building is a total loss and must be replaced, or whether the existing structure can be brought back to life. It’s a simple equation of which approach makes the most financial sense. But as living organisms, trees can be trickier to evaluate once the smoke clears.

Each species of tree, fire event and property is different, so there is no universal rule to follow, explains Steven Swain, environmental horticulture advisor with the Cooperative Extension of Marin County in California. With the numerous wildfires California has endured in recent years, Swain has had plenty of opportunity to evaluate trees after fires have passed through, and to monitor their conditions in subsequent months and years.

“In broad terms, conifers generally die after a fire, and broadleaved trees typically resprout from their root systems, at least here in the West,” Swain says. He offers the caveat that these are general rules, and each tree species and fire event is a little different. Redwood, for example, is a conifer that resprouts. “And it has very thick bark, so even if a redwood is completely charred and loses all of its leaves, there’s a decent chance that it will pull through and survive,” Swain says. “Whereas if you’re dealing with a pine or a fir, if there isn’t a speck of green left on that tree, there is virtually no chance that it’s going to survive. And even if they do make it, if they have less than about 30 percent of their canopy, a lot of times beetles come in and kill the trees that are so stressed by the lack of foliage.”

Trees such as western oak or bay laurel, though, stand a better chance. “Most hardwoods in this environment, even down to toyon and coffeeberry and things like that, sprout from their roots readily because they’re sort of adapted to having their tops burned off,” Swain explains, again with the disclaimer that he’s talking about trees growing in western environments. So before cutting down trees, it is often best to take a wait and see approach. “If you have an oak that’s badly burned, for example, you want to wait until spring and see if it recovers or not. Because oaks can survive surprisingly severe amounts of fire. They’ll be blackened, there won’t be a leaf left on the tree, and then three months later when the rains come you’ll find that much of the tree, except for the ends of the twigs, will resprout.”

When this resprouting from the roots occurs after a fire, it may produce 15 or 20 sprouts; if the goal is to have a tree regrow in that space, the weaker sprouts can be selectively pruned out—but not immediately, Swain cautions: “If you prune them out to a single sprout right away, you’ve once again eliminated almost all of the tree’s canopy, further compromising the root system.” Instead, prune out the unwanted sprouts slowly, over several years, never removing more than about 30 percent of the canopy in any given year, he advises.

While it’s important to understand that many such trees are “fire-adapted,” meaning they have learned to survive — and even thrive — following natural fire events, it’s also critical to understand that when fires rip through residential areas, the environment is anything but natural. “When fire gets into a built environment, houses and cars with gasoline can burn for hours… fires can burn super intensively — maybe up to 3,000 degrees — for a long time. Even if nearby plants don’t burn themselves, they can essentially be boiled alive from the radiant heat,” Swain says. Clues to look for include trees that still have leaves attached, but with sap coming through splits in the bark and running down the trunks. “Different trees can die in different ways due to fire, and it can be difficult to figure out exactly what happened,” he says.

One thing you typically shouldn’t do after a fire is to fertilize trees in an effort to help them recover, Swain says. “Fertilization is generally discouraged,” he explains, noting that while fires wipe out a lot of carbon and nitrogen from the soil, many other nutrients are left behind. And supplemental water is only needed in the event that the weather following a fire is excessively dry, he adds. “The amount of water that the tree can use is directly related to the amount of canopy it has. If you add a lot of water to a tree that has virtually no canopy, you’re just begging to start a root rot problem if the weather turns warm.”

Given all of the devastation that fires leave behind, it’s important to remember all of the reasons why trees are so important, and why it’s worth the effort to save them when possible. In addition to the shade and aesthetic and many other “visible” benefits they offer, “trees, particularly on slopes, help to stabilize the soils,” Swain explains. Again, California has seen its share of landslides, which can be a particular concern following a fire, when the landscape has been wiped clean of trees and other substantial vegetation. “The survival of trees is critical in assessing what kind of erosion potential there may be,” Swain says. It’s the kind of thing that hydrologists and soil scientists are concerned about, but that homeowners might not always think of, he notes, so a tree care expert may need to explain the ramifications of removing versus trying to save trees on sloped properties.

Of course, if the weakened tree itself poses a hazard — maybe it’s beside a road or structure — it should be removed, adds Swain. “In those instances, you may decide that you want to leave the roots in place, because they’re still anchoring the soil,” he explains. In some cases, a hydrologist may need to be called in to assess the stability of the soil due to the loss of tree roots.

But unless a hazard exists (or a home needs to be rebuilt and it will be easier and cheaper to remove any questionable trees on the property before construction), it’s usually best to take a wait and see approach to fire-damaged trees, advises Swain. “Let the tree recover on its own, and tell you how it’s doing.”

Tree Care

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Types Of Tree Problems

Stability and safety of the trees on your customer’s properties are just as important as the aesthetics that they provide. It’s up to you as a tree service provider to inform your clients of the status of their trees in terms of health and longevity as well as the immediate, short term needs that may be of immediate concern.

Leaning trees are usually the result of the loss of root and soil connection. Photo: John Fech

Inspections, Monitoring

Defects are usually spotted through inspection by an arborist. Or sometimes during a customer call when the customer mentions that “My tree looks kinda funny, is that a problem?” However, those types of inquiries are usually reserved for older trees or ones in close proximity to their house, building or other important structure. In their defense, it’s unrealistic to expect any other routine. After all, it’s the rare individual that can spot a cavity in their tooth, let alone the need for a bridge. The dentist and/or dental hygienist is the professional that is responsible for noticing these concerns, similar to an arborist noticing serious maladies in trees.

To provide responsible tree care and provide for the bottom line, it’s good practice to implement a yearly inspection or better yet a continuous monitoring plan (as in dental care) and charge for it — the dentist does, so should you. Explain that yearly inspections will spot problems before they get too bad, and can usually be corrected or at least major damage to surrounding structures can be prevented.

A crack in the bark and sapwood often leads to internal decay. Photo: John Fech

Serious Tree Flaws

All tree flaws are serious, but some more so than others. Generally speaking, there are two groups of defects in trees, the serious and the concerning. Perhaps the most serious are cracks, leaners and decay.

A crack in the bark and sapwood often leads to internal decay. Photo: John Fech

Cracks, the physical separation of bark, sapwood and cambium, are troublesome in both a structural and water conductive sense. As well, the separation and opening in the outer tissues allows entrance of disease organisms and insects to the inner tissues, which is almost always a negative outcome in years to come.

Leaning trees are much like cracks, except that the separation has occurred underground instead of on the trunk. Leaners are trees whose roots have loosened and lost connection to the soil particles around them. If you spot a tree that is more than 15-20 degrees off vertical, consider it an immediate problem, only correctable with removal. A tree that is 5-10 degrees off vertical is one that is to be documented and monitored for greater lean in the future.

Leaning trees are usually the result of the loss of root and soil connection. Photo: John Fech

A caveat with leaning trees: Some leaners are simply stretching for the light. If there are trees with a building or other object nearby that block the tree from being fully exposed to sunlight, the canopy may have simply reoriented itself in that direction. This is a tree to be monitored, documented and the results communicated with the property owner.

Decay is the result of pathogenic fungi activity, working to soften tree tissues, causing loss in structural capacity. There are many specific pathogens such as white rot and brown rot, but all produce the same results. Decay is often hidden by intact bark, necessitating inspection by an experienced tree worker to spot it. Sounding, drilling and simple probing are techniques that can be helpful in this regard. In addition to the loss of integrity in the short term, the seriousness of the malady is that there is no way to lessen the effects in the long term, other than to notify the customer of the seriousness of the defect.

Decay is often not visible upon external inspection. Photo: John Fech

Concerning Tree Flaws

Included bark, co-dominant leaders and girdling roots are worrisome, but are usually not an immediate threat to tree failure — more so over time. All can lead to the greater, more immediately concerning problems described above, but are just as important to document and communicate to the client. Root plate issues, surface rooting, roots cut in utility repair, compacted soils, overwatering and other damaging influences are also of certain negative influence and should be noted in monitoring reports, especially when targets of importance are present.

Cracks weaken trunks and branches, causing immediate structural concern.