When Hugging Trees is Not Enough
Tree Care Advisor Core Course Training 2012 Making Tree Health and Condition Decisions
Three (completely arbitrary) Perspectives 1. 2.
3.
Look Good, but Dangerous. With the Right Amount of Chemicals‌They Might Be Okay. Too Big or Too Small
Photo by Nancy Rose
One Example of Decision-Making
Saving the Tree/Trees is Critical
Historically Significant Majority of Canopy Cover
Tree/Trees not Critical
One Tree of Many Use of Area Has Changed Tree Was a Volunteer
The Tree/Trees Critical to the Landscape This
VS
This?
One Example of Decision-Making
The Problem May Be Safety (Risk Related)
Correctable
Long-Term Correctable Short-Term Only Correctable
Not Correctable
The Problem May Be Health
Manageable
Culturally Correctable Chemically Dependent
Not Manageable
Safety Versus Health Issues
Health? Safety, or‌.
I. Good-Looking, but Is It Dangerous?
Danger Categories
Got Off to a Bad Start Damaged by Construction Weakened by Decay
Got Off to a Bad Start
Poor Architecture Propagation/Production Issues
DED Resistant Elms: Aggressive Growth
Aggressive Elms
Poor Architecture: DED Resistant Elms
Elms in Production: Prune 2-3 Times Per Season
Bad Forms Catch Up: Removal is Only Option
Bad Forms Catch Up
Correct Now, or‌
Remove Tree Later
Decision-Making on Weak Attachments ď Ž
Remove the Attachment (young trees)
Removal Delayed: Larger Wounds
Waited Too Long: Not Correctable
When it is Too Late to Correct
Is It Too Late?
A Chance to Save Them: Pruning and Cabling
Propagation/Production Issues
Stem Girdling Roots
Some Begin Here
Stem Girdling Roots
Some Begin Here
The Consequences of Burying Trees
Stem Girdling Roots
SGRs Correctable at This Stage
Exposure of Problem
SGRs Correctable at This Stage
Correction of Problem
Stem Girdling Roots: Not Correctable
Symptoms Too Advanced
SGR Problem Not Correctable
SGR Problem Not Correctable: >50% of Stem Circumference Compressed
Stem Girdling Roots: Correctable?
Hackberry
Stem Girdling Roots: Problem Corrected?
Correcting Root Depth Issues
Photo: E. Berg
Depth Problem: Too Late?
Green Ash
Depth Problem Corrected – 7 yrs. Later
Depth Problem Corrected – 7 yrs. Later
Ohio Buckeye
Depth Problem Corrected? Autumn Blaze Maple, 4 yrs. Later
Autumn Blaze Maple, 4 yrs. After Correction
Damaged by Construction
Define the Damage Evaluate the Species Evaluate the Health
Step One: Define the Damage
Stem Wounds, Broken Branches Root Loss Soil Disturbance Microclimate Disturbance Disease and/or Insect Problems
Wounding, Broken Branches
Least of the Problems – Inciting Events Generally Easy to Treat Long-Term Effects Negligible
Trunk & Buttress Roots Wounds? Bigger Issues.
Trunk & Buttress Roots Wounds?
Photos by D. Fallon
Is the Problem Stem Wounds and Broken Branches?
Photo by Ken Arndt
Root Loss
Direct Root Loss Indirect Root Loss
Water and Oxygen Restriction Soil Microflora Altered Soil Chemistry Altered Root Growth Restricted Rhizosphere Temperature Extremes
Direct Root Loss: On the Streets
This Caterpillar is Much Worse than Gypsy Moths!
Direct Root Loss
Direct Root Loss
Healthy Trees Often Recover From 1-Sided Root Loss
Direct Root Loss
2-Sided Root Loss is More Serious
Direct Root Loss
Oooooh, 3-Sided Root Loss? Do You Want the Tree to Live?
Direct Root Loss
4-Sided Root Loss? I’m Not Parking Here!!!
Direct Root Loss – One Sided Trees Were Healthy, but Unstable
Photo Eric Berg
Photo: J. Ryg
Can It Get Worse?
Direct Root Loss
Even Green Ash Has Its Limits
Indirect Root Loss: Water and Oxygen Restriction
Photo by B. Johnson
Typical Tree Reaction: Defensive DieBack and Clumped Growth. Remove.
Photo: R. Kennedy
Identify the Species: Tolerance Dependent on Type of Damage
“Tolerant” Species
Bur Oak Silver Maple Elms Tamarack Crabapples Birches Hackberry
“Intolerant” Species
White Oak Sugar Maple White Pine Douglas-fir Ironwood Hemlock Hickories
Evaluate Health
Younger Trees Better Groups of Trees Better Starch Test Before Water Management
Monitoring: Aerial Photography CIR
September, 1997
Monitoring: Aerial Photography CIR
September, 1999
II. With the Right Amount of Chemicals, They Might be Okay
Chemicals for Health Chemicals as Preventatives Chemicals as Lifelines
Chemicals for Health: Grandfather Oak: Paclobutrazol, Root Stimulants, O.M. Species: Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) Size: 27" diameter Crown diameter: 45 feet Estimated age: 150 years Estimated life span: 250 to 350 years Tree Health: Excellent (based on consultant's tests)
Environmental Liabilities: Remove
Poor Condition – Small Canopies
Environmental Liabilities: Decision? It’s a Bur Oak.
Solitary, Poor Health, Poor Condition
Environmental Liabilities: Decision?
Solitary, Poor Health, Poor Condition
Environmental Liabilities: Decision?
Solitary, Limited Site Potential and Small
Environmental Liabilities: Decision?
High Maintenance Tree – High Risk Potential
All Oaks (white and bur) in Oak Wilt Area: Preventative Treatment or Not?
Impacts of Emerald Ash Borer
David Cappaert, , www.forestryimages.org
David Cappaert, , www.forestryimages.org
75% Ash Neighborhood: Preventative Chemicals? Lifeline Chemicals?
What’s that doing Here?
Too Big or Too Small
Infrastructure Conflicts (Risk issue) Inadequate Space (Risk & Health issue)
Infrastructure Conflicts: Remove/Keep?
Photos: D. Hanson
Infrastructure Conflicts: Remove/Keep?
Photos: Jacob Ryg
Infrastructure Conflicts: Remove/Keep?
Photo: T. Teynor
Infrastructure Conflicts: Remove/Keep?
Photo: D. Hanson
Not Enough Space: Urban “Core” Trees
7-10 Year Lifespan?
Save or Retain Trees: Bicolor Oak on Left, Black Ash on Right?
Knowing Failure is Likely, Retain or Remove Planting to the Right?