Q: When is the best time to prune trees?

 

A: The best time to prune trees is while the sap is moving the slowest - mid-summer or while the tree is dormant. Some trees can be pruned anytime of year depending on the species most are evergreens such as pine, spruce, and fir.  Some trees are can attract pests in spring and late winter and should avoid pruning then. Hardwoods are especially sensitive to major pruning in the summer because of burn back, Its recommended not to remove more than a third out of trees because of shock to the root system remember the roots are the support of macronutrients and micronutrients and hold the tree in place.

 

Q: Is topping helping my tree?

 

A: Topping is generally harmful to trees.

Cutting large leads away allows dieback and will promote sucker growth, There are other reasons also, One that stands out to me is that removing the top can starve the tree, older trees rely on the crown to manufacture food for the root system. Also allows insect damage and also weaken the limbs that grow back the become heavy there by making the situation worse.  The heartwood will rot or die leaving the top week and prone to storm damage scabbing and burn down is common.

 

Q: My tree isn't that big - can I cut it down myself?

 

A. When homeowners cut down trees, it often ends badly, with injuries or property damage. Advice from an experienced arborist is free and can help homeowners even if he/she chooses whether or not to do the work himself. Many times we are called to remove trees that have injured people or damaged the homeowner's property because the homeowner tried to remove the tree himself. Hiring an insured contractor is safe and practical.

 

Q: What tree companies use pesticides?

 

A:, Many Companies do not apply pesticides because they must be certified as pesticide applicators, in the state of Ohio We are certified and diagnose trees for cost savings and health of the tree itself and the trees around them. 

 

Q: What brand of tree and shrub pesticides do you use?

 

A. We use many kinds of products Organic and Non-organic.  We also prefer to use Mauget products, which are made in the USA. for injections. We also do basal injections into root systems to control pest and fungus, many trees will repair them selves if given chance to over come the problem,  getting a tree inspection should be done as soon as you spot the problem,  many times I am called when its to late to save the tree.

 

Q: Can injected tree pesticides and nutrients be used around pools?

 

A: Yes. Mauget's products are injected using their patented microinjection system. There is no chemical runoff and even trees right next to swimming pools can be safely treated. Injected pesticide have many advantages over sprayed, dusted, or aerosol pesticides: injected pesticides are quickly absorbed and disbursed through all of the living parts of the host tree; the pesticide does not drift to people, animals, or other plants that could be harmed by pesticides; injected pesticides remain in the tree for up to five years and give lasting protection before they break down; and injected pesticides remain in the tree without tending to leach into the environment.

 

Q: Why should I use a pesticide applicator?

 

A:  Many pesticides are not sufficient for the pest you are treating. Having the right pesticide for the right pest you have is paramount, one to save money in overusing or under-using costs.  To spray twice to solve the problem.  Working with an experienced applicator can save time and money

 

Q: What should I do about my shrubbery drying out?  

 

A. We use a product called {Vapor Gard } that prevents drying out of your broadleaf evergreens. During the hot dry summers, Transpiration is a problem for broadleaf evergreens. Vapor Gard will coat the plants with a natural waxy coat and protect against heat stress and freezing weather. Of course, this assumes they are receiving adequate water. 90 to 95 percent of water loss out of trees and shrubs go through transpiration from the leaves or needles.

 

 

Q: When is the best time to fertilize my trees?

 

A. The trees will make the best use of fertilizer in the late fall. During the winter the roots make good use of it and store it in the root cap wherein the spring you will reap the benefits. Using injections in the spring and through the summer can greatly increase the crown and protect the tree in the leaf production stage against stress. 

 

Q: What does heading back do, or crown reduction?

 

A. They are rather loose terms that allow you to remove portions of the top without affecting the integrity if done correctly. There are two ways to do this: one is by thinning out the top by removing interfering limbs and choosing dominant limbs to continue for a balanced crown. The other is to head back leaders by cutting them away where another limb has established itself on the same leader. The rule is to not remove more than one third of the crown. This allows the crown to continue to grow without dieback or burning down to occur. This is the most common way of reducing the crown. [Many times I see where tree men have talked some one into cutting the crown out and doing more damage and by just pruning out the week wood probably is all they needed]

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Q: Can I attach a clothesline to my tree?

 

A.  In order to attach lines to trees be careful not to rap the tree thereby choking the sap flow. The correct way is to lag the tree with eye bolts or use lag bolts to attach a bar to tie the clotheslines.

 

 

Q: Is my tree prone to split?

 

A. There are two types of crouches and one is commonly safe, this one is called a U crouch, and the unsafe crouch is called a V crouch. These crouches if lower down supporting lots of weight can split or break off during storms rather easily. The other thing to watch for around these V crouches is small cracks or wet weeping wood which indicates rotting wood around the crouch. These are considered weak and dangerous wood. I would like to say this is a major problem even with experts many times trees that have rot or disease will cause a crouch to fail, best to have the tree rest assessment done to be sure.

 

Q: What can happen if trees are over watered?

 

A,  Overwatering, may result in multiple problems, One it can drown the root system trees need air to grow. It can also result in mold and infestations of slugs and many other pests. Mulching is a good way to add airflow remember not to mulch too much, four to six inches is adequate around the trunk, remembering not to disturb the feeder roots. 

 

Q: Can I fill my tree cavity with concrete?

 

A. Not a good idea. Concrete is nonflexible and during storms, trees are meant to flex, so using nothing is better than using concrete but if the tree is being saturated with sinking water you can block the hole with a foaming material. This will block the cavity from absorbing water and allow the tree to flex. Note: the trees are compartmental- they tend to protect themselves from rotting.

 

Q: Should I paint or use tree coat on tree cuts?

 

A. All Tree certified arborist are instructed by the international society of arboriculture. using heavy tree coats are not recommended for live wood, it inhibits tree growth and healing, if you have cavities from birds and insects, sprays and basal injections or tree injections will not retard growth and protect the tree better. Remember trees are living breathing organisms they need air water light soil and space to live and grow. Tree are compartmental and protect them selves in four ways.

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 1. To resist vertical spread by plugging the xylem vessels.

 

2. Resists inward spread by compacting latewood cells and deposits chemicals in these cells to resists decay.

 

3.Resists lateral spread by activating ray cells to resist decay this is called the reaction zone.

 

4,  This wall of protection is the best way a tree protects it self, by regrowing new wood that forms after injury this will heal around the damaged wood there by the word compartmentalization.

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