A short follow up to last weeks post on girdling roots. Just to reiterate, the point of the post was that we need to be careful not to jump to conclusions when assessing tree problems. It’s important to look beyond the first defect we see and consider additional causes. And to also reiterate, girdling roots can be a serious problem and can lead to tree failures. The photo below shows an example of tree that was both planted too deep and had stem girdling roots. … Continue reading this article “Trees can be good plumbers”
Category: What About the Trees
Girdling roots: The source of all evil in the world?
One of the most widely discussed topics in arboriculture and tree care these days is the problem of girdling roots. Virtually every conference or workshop on tree care has a speaker or speakers on how poor planting technique or poor nursery practices lead to girdling roots and their subsequent correlation with poor tree performance, tree failures, global warming, the soaring Federal budget deficit, and the batting average of the Seattle Mariners. Before we go any further let me state categorically that I do not think girdling roots are a good thing; nor do I think any of the consequences mentioned are a laughing matter – especially the Mariners’ batting average. … Continue reading this article “Girdling roots: The source of all evil in the world?”
Planting trouble: multiple trees in one hole
[I enjoyed Jeff’s Valentine story so much that I thought I’d stick to the theme of togetherness…for better or worse.]
A week or so ago a reader asked about the practice of planting three or four fruit trees in the same hole. Having not heard of this before, I checked on the web and found many “how to” pages geared to home gardeners who either want a longer harvest of a particular fruit (early to late) or a mixture of different species. … Continue reading this article “Planting trouble: multiple trees in one hole”
Scrambling for Answers
Yesterday a good friend of mine who works for a well respected tree company in town asked me whether I would be willing to talk about tree conservation as it relates to the emerald ash borer. Specifically he wanted me to make people aware of a statement produced by a group called the Coalition for Urban Ash Tree Conservation which you can find here which was produced by a number of well respected industry people and academics. … Continue reading this article “Scrambling for Answers”
When trees attack!
I’ve been suffering through my post-holiday, post-annual-reporting cold and/or flu, so I don’t feel as witty (or snarky) as I might otherwise be. Instead, I feel like my body’s been invaded by a slowly spreading mass that reminds me…oh, I don’t know…of what trees can do when they encounter an immovable object.
Not much of a segue, I know, but I just had the urge to post some interesting photos after Holly’s photo-fest yesterday. (Memo to self: not fun being Holly’s follow-up act.) … Continue reading this article “When trees attack!”
Landscape conifers: The Good, the Bad, and the Underused
This week is our annual Great Lakes Trade Expo, the main trade show and education venue for Michigan nursery and landscape industry. One of my talks was for the Arboriculture track on landscapes conifers. The theme this year was “The Good, the Bad, and the Underused.” Hey, you try giving a dozen talks a year for 10 years and see if you can come up with an original title!
The selections were based the following, admittedly subjective, criteria.… Continue reading this article “Landscape conifers: The Good, the Bad, and the Underused”
Will cabling a tree’s crown make it stronger?
In a previous column (December 1, 2010) I discussed the problems that wet, heavy snow can cause for trees and shrubs – particularly evergreens. In response my colleague Terry Ettinger mentioned a cabling technique discussed in the 2nd edition of Arboriculture (1991). I think it’s worth looking at the science behind this practice and some of the unintended consequences.
Harris’s Arboriculture text is considered the bible for landscape professionals, including certified arborists. In the late 1990’s, Dick Harris was joined by Jim Clark and Nelda Matheny, two other gifted academics who have crossed over into practical writing. … Continue reading this article “Will cabling a tree’s crown make it stronger?”
What fir?
OK, it’s the middle of December so I get to indulge my passion for Christmas trees. One of the most interesting projects I’ve gotten to work on during my time at Michigan State is a study to look at alternative species of firs (Abies spp) for Christmas trees and well as for landscape conifers. Firs are fascinating trees that are distributed throughout temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. There are about 50 species, many of which are important for timber, landscaping or Christmas trees.… Continue reading this article “What fir?”
Saving your ash
My earlier post regarding plans to replace the monoculture of ash trees at the Gateway Arch Monument in St. Louis, MO with a monoculture of Lindens prompted a question about options for treating ash trees for emerald ash borer. This is a complex topic so I wanted make sure I had time and space to respond completely.
First, the best and most current source of information regarding treatments for EAB is the Multi-state bulletin “Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees from Emerald Ash Borer” which is available as a full-color .pdf… Continue reading this article “Saving your ash”
Snow falling on cedars…not always a good thing
Seattle had its first snowfall last week – a mere 3-6″ – and the city shut down. (Yes, those of you in the snowier parts of the midwest and east can laugh…but we’ve got hills. That’s the main problem.) It was unusally cold, so the snow that fell was the light, fluffy kind that I remember from our Buffalo years.
Every year someone writes to ask whether they should remove the snow from their trees and shrubs. … Continue reading this article “Snow falling on cedars…not always a good thing”