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Creepy Crawlies that are Harmful to Oregon Trees

Fall is here, Jack-o-lanterns are aglow, and everyone’s looking for a good scare. As Portland certified arborists, we’re always on the lookout for a certain type of creepy-crawlies—the pests that plague trees. Insect pests can cause tree disease and death, costing thousands of dollars every year in tree treatment and replacement.

Damaging insects are generally categorized by the type of harm they cause.
Sap-Feeding Insects use piercing and sucking mouthparts to access and extract the tree’s sap. They are the vampires of the tree world.
Defoliating Insects eat plants’ leaves; this may or may not lead to tree death.
Woodboring Insects drill through the outer bark to feed on inner bark and transport tissue, including phloem and xylem. (Transport tissue circulates nutrients and water throughout the plant.) Each type of pest insect causes a unique form of damage. Let’s explore this more as we consider a few tree pests specific to our state.

Pests that are Harmful to Oregon Trees

Aphids & Scales
Damage these pests can cause: Curled leaves with honeydew, a sticky, shiny substance which the pests secrete as they feed on sap. With enough damage, the leaves or needles may turn yellow and fall off completely. If enough leaves are destroyed, the tree may die. However, the more common death by aphid or scale occurs when these tiny pests spread fungal tree diseases.

Signs that you could have an infestation: Sooty mold, ants farming the honeydew by tending the aphids, curling leaves with wet, shiny surface.
Aphids and scales may beset many Pacific Northwest species, including dogwood, ash, lilac, maple, pines, spruce, and Douglas fir. Most species of trees suffer species-specific aphids and/or scale pests.

Elm Leaf BeetleElm Leaf beetle, Xanthogaleruca luteola by Sarah Zukoff, on Flickr.com
Damage this pest can cause: Elm leaf beetle larvae skeletonize leaves by eating all the tender material while leaving structural veins in place. Adult elm leaf beetles chew circular holes in leaves (also known as “shot holes” to arborists). If enough defoliation occurs, leaves may fall early and sections of the infested tree may die back.

Signs that you could have an infestation: Look for skeletonized leaves, shot holes, clusters of eggs laid on leaves in the spring, and larvae moving down the stems prior to pupation.
Elm leaf beetles are known to attack all manner of elms, including Siberian, English, American, and other elm species.

Bronze Birch Bore Beetles
Damage this pest can cause: Adult beetles cause minimal harm as they feed on birch leaves. However, the larvae of this species can cause significant damage. Adults lay eggs in cracks, under bark cracks, and in damaged areas of the tree. After the eggs have hatched, the larvae chew deeper into the bark, and they begin feeding on the phloem and xylem tissues. These larvae galleries inhibit the tree’s ability to distribute water and nutrients. Eventually, the tree may suffer dieback at its crown; if the infestation is not stopped, dieback can continue into the main stem, eventually causing tree death.

Signs that you could have an infestation: Look for 1/8”, D-shaped exit holes. These are created when the adult beetle leaves its larvae feeding gallery. Dieback at the crown is another clue that you may have a bronze birch bore beetle infection on your hands. Finally, you may be able to detect larvae chambers as bumps or ridges underneath bark.

This species attacks birches including European, Himalayan, and other ornamental birches. European and Asian birches are more susceptible to Bronze Birch Borers; native birch species with non-white bark are more resistant to the beetles, as both species evolved together.

Tree pests can be scary for arborphiles like us. But what’s really terrifying is the thought of relying on noxious chemicals to handle Elm leaf beetle on leaftree infestation problems. Massive bee deaths can be caused by certain tree pesticides—and this is only one of many negative environmental impacts. Organic pest control is not only possible; it can also be effective, if you’re working with the right Portland tree service. Call us to quell your tree pest fears. Urban Forest Pros always seeks to use organic options first; we only turn to more traditional chemical solutions when all other options have been exhausted. Give us a call for more advice on how to organically treat and prevent tree pest infestations.

 

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com

Portland Tree Permit Series: Take Care of Tree Services Now

Residential Tree Care ServicesOn January 2nd, a new Portland tree code referred to as “Title 11 Trees” becomes law. This plan places strict guidelines on what kind of trees can be removed and also issues guidelines for pruning heritage trees. Homeowners are required to obtain these permits, but rather than trying to deal with understanding the 15 pages of guidelines and dealing with the bureaucratic process yourself, we recommend partnering with a licensed, professional tree removal service such as Urban Forest Professionals. This is the second part of our Portland Tree Permit Series. In part 1 we looked closely at the changes that will occur with the City of Portland’s Urban Forest Plan at the start of 2015.

In this post we encourage you to take care of Portland tree services, including pruning and removal, now, before the new codes take effect. We also outline what that homeowners can do this fall to prepare for winter. Getting ahead of the game now means a safer winter, with less chance of falling trees.

Fall Planting. The rains are settling in and the ground is starting to loosen up after the dry, summer months. This means its time to put the shovel in the ground and get back into the garden. Certain species, such as Hostas, Astilbes and Cranesbill geraniums, should be moved this fall, to make more room. After that, consider whether you want to move any of your shrubs. Fall planting is most recommended by arborists and horticulturalists because it gives the plant lots of time to settle in and establish new roots over the winter months.

Pruning and Removal. This is an area where professional advice is a good idea. After a long and dry summer, many shrubs and trees require pruning. It’s not always easy for the average homeowner to know which plants should be trimmed in the autumn. In addition, proper tools and training are necessary for the long-term health of your trees and shrubs. A professional Portland tree removal service, such as Urban Forest Pro, will ensure that proper and safe techniques are used, and that trees and shrubs will be maintained properly, according to their yearly cycles.

Title 11. The new Title 11 legislation is strict about what kinds of trees may be removed, and how certain heritage trees must be pruned. If you have trees that are large enough to be categorized as Title 11 (i.e. trees with a diameter of or above 12”; trees that are in the right of way or are being removed for development activities; heritage trees; and trees that are in a special district or overlay such as Johnson Creek or Pleasant Valley), we recommend dealing with them now before these regulations cause more fees and delays.

Plant now. As far as planting goes, the Title 11 guidelines also include stipulations about replacing removed trees with species that will provide an equivalent amount of foliage and shade. Even without these guidelines, the value of trees to the homeowner (and city) is enormous. For instance, trees create shade, reducing your energy costs.

The rains are here and the ground is ready for planting. In addition, many plants need to be trimmed after a long summer’s growth. Don’t wait for winter to make these changes. Call our Portland certified arborists today to discuss what you can to do prepare for winter and for the new changes that Title 11 will bring on January 2nd, 2015.

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com

Urban Forest Pro’s Volunteer Work with Hoyt Arboretum

Everyone at Urban Forest Pro appreciates the beauty and generosity of the Portland landscape. Here, the trees are huge and the people are friendly. To give back to our community and the ecosystem that allows Portland’s urban forest to grow, we volunteer our time at Hoyt Arboretum.

What is the Hoyt Arboretum?
The Hoyt Arboretum is a living museum of trees spread over 187 acres of ridges in Portland’s West Hills. Located two miles northwest of downtown Portland and operated by the city’s award-winning Parks and Recreation department, the Hoyt Arboretum offers an incredible, cost-free opportunity for Portland families to learn about and appreciate an incredible range of trees.

Activities at Hoyt Arboretum include:
Hiking. There are 12 miles of hiking trails winding through the park. Each month, the Hoyt Arboretum highlights stunning trees Portland, OR by jeffgunn, on Flickr.comon trails. This September, for instance, Hoyt is recommending visitors take in the ‘Sango Kaku’ Japanese maple, Acer palmatum. Not only does the Sango Kaku’s leaves turn golden yellow in the fall; the tree’s bark also shifts color to a coral red that is only intensified as temperatures drop.
Informative tours on seasonal topics. This month’s talks, available for a small fee, include a tour of the park’s many maples and a discussion of the history behind common plants all around us.
Join a volunteer work party. Sign up online for monthly work parties in the park.

But most of all, the primary thing to do at Hoyt Arboretum is to…

Enjoy the Amazing Array of Trees.
There are over 6,000 trees from all over the world in Hoyt Arboretum. Over 2,000 species are found in the park, including 63 species that are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Hoyt Arboretum practices ex situ conservation on its threatened species, assisting Botanic Gardens Conservation International in keeping these precious trees on our planet.

Our Portland arborists do a variety of tasks at Hoyt Arboretum. Their expertise allows for holistic plant care, as provided in our residential tree service.

Portland, Oregon residents who love trees as much as we do should see Hoyt Arboretum as their personal oasis—an island of peace in Stumptown. If you’re a tree lover, we encourage you to visit Hoyt Arboretum regularly, and sign up for volunteer opportunities to help the park thrive.

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com

Portland Tree Permit Series: What is Title 11 Trees?

As nearly every Portland certified arborist is well aware, a new Portland tree code named “Title 11 Trees” is rolling out on 1/2/15. Title 11 Trees is part of the Urban Forest Plan, which aims to “protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of Portland” by “enhancing the quality of the urban forest and optimizing the benefits that trees provide.” The City recognizes that trees provide many benefits, including the creation of oxygen, erosion prevention, storm water filtration, reduction of storm water runoff, minimization of energy demands, visual screening, maintenance of property values, and preservation of the “beauty, character, and natural heritage” of Portland. As such, the City of Portland is changing the rules about how homeowners can prune, remove, and plant trees.

While the City’s tree ordinances previously applied mainly to commercial property owners and new developments, the new regulations also include private property owners. Today we’re reviewing how the city defines “Title 11 Trees,” i.e. those that are included under the new tree code.

Overall, the City of Portland’s Tree project aims to retain healthy trees and the urban canopy. When trees are removed, the new code requires “tree-for-tree” replacement according to the trunk diameter of the removed tree. For instance, if a tree with a 12” diameter is removed, multiple trees with smaller diameters adding to 12” may replace it. If space is unavailable for tree replacement, the city forester can waive replacement. In such a case, the property owner may be required to pay into the city’s tree fund, so that other trees may be planted elsewhere in the watershed.

Let’s take a look at the basic definitions of Title 11 trees, and how Portland homeowners will be impacted by the new urban forestry code.

What are Title 11 Trees?

Portland city treesPrivate property trees included in this new plan are defined as:

  • Trees with a diameter of 12” or larger or
  • Trees of any size that are:
  • In the right of way
  • Being removed for development activities.
  • Heritage Trees, the 300+ trees in the city that have been recognized for their horticultural or historic significance, size, and/or age.
  • Included in a previous land use review.
  • Located in a special Overlay Zone, such as the Pleasant Valley Natural Resources overlay zone, or the aircraft landing zone.
  • Located in a special Plan District, such as the Johnson Creek Basin Plan District.

Whether or not they contract for Portland tree services, residents will be required to submit a permit for removal of Title 11 trees.

What does this mean for Portland homeowners?

The main change for Portland homeowners is that a permit will be required to remove a Title 11 tree as defined above. Permits will also be required for pruning private heritage trees and native trees in certain Overlay Zones. Finally, topping and heavy-handed pruning are unlawful under Title 11, and the City may categorize such activity as removal for Title 11 enforcement.

Title 11 Tree code enforcement is complex; complex enough to require 15 pages in the Title 11 legislation. Homeowners should know this: A monthly enforcement penalty may be charged for properties in violation of the new tree code. Property owners may also be required to pay for replacement trees. For trees that are damaged but still viable, residents may work with an arborist to enact a treatment regimen.

Ultimately, the easiest route for homeowners will be to partner with a professional Portland tree removal service such as Urban Forest Professionals. Rather than combing through the byzantine City tree regulations, it will be far less of a hassle to contract with professional local arborists who know municipal tree codes in and out.

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com

Fall Tree Care Tips

It’s fall in Portland—apples are blushing, pumpkins are ripening, and the last round of roses bloom. As kids go back to school and the weather turns crisp, your trees are in need of attention. Just as you prepare your home for cold, wet winter temperatures with winterization, your trees will do best with winter preparation, as we outline below.

Get in touch with Portland arborists for fall pruning, which should be done every year, and is especially crucial if your trees Fall tree care inspectionhave broken branches, insect damage, or disease-ridden areas. Fall is the perfect time to schedule tree service, Portland residents. These breezy, crisp autumn days in the Rose City are perfect for outdoor work such as tree pruning and removal.

Remove risky trees—but don’t do it yourself. Any trees that are hazardous—mostly dead, leaning at an angle, unstable in winds, etc.—should be removed before harsh weather arrives. Felling a tree is hazardous work that requires considerable expertise and specialized equipment. When it comes to tree removal, Portland residents are wise to leave it to professional arborists.

Plant new trees. The workable temperature and cooler temperatures of fall make it an ideal tree-planting season. Trees can put down roots and take in soil nutrients before the harsh days of winter arrive.

Fertilize for healthy growth in the spring. How do you know if fertilization is required? It may be needed if:

–You notice wilted leaves.
–There’s been stunted/slow growth in leaves and branches.
–The tree’s leaves seem to be changing and falling earlier than they normally do.
–In trees whose leaves do not turn yellow, watch for pale green or yellow leaves.

Mulch. During the winter months, mulch acts as a blanket of protection for your trees. Mulch helps keep the soil warm and rich in nutrients. Avoid mulching directly to the trunk, which can encourage fungus growth. Leave a mulch-free ring around the trunk.

If you’re worried about a particularly sensitive tree surviving the cold winter months, you can wrap it in burlap or plastic cloth.

For any questions about tree health this fall, give your local Portland arborists a call.

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com

Why Urban Trees are So Important

Urban TreesWhen people think of how trees and other plant life are beneficial, it’s usually in the context of the environment and large remote forests. But trees play a vital role in urban settings as well, and in more ways than you may realize.

Trees Clean the Air

Planting trees is a very affordable means of removing excess CO2 from the atmosphere. Additional pollutants can be controlled, at least in part, by trees, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides, carbon monoxide, ozone, and small particulates. Up to 60 percent of street level particulates can be reduced by trees.

Urban areas are missing plenty of opportunities. According to the National Wildlife Federation, there may be as many as 200 million spaces on our city streets with room for trees to be planted. In a perfect world, if that space had trees planted, they estimate an energy cost savings of $4 billion and the potential for absorbing 33 million additional tons of CO2 every year.

Trees Benefit the Economy

A survey revealed that 74 percent of the public preferred to patronize businesses that incorporated trees and other landscaping features around its structure and parking lots.

Trees Shrink Utility Bills

When summer heat is beating down, having trees placed in just the right spots can cut your air conditioning expense by more than 50 percent.

Trees Increase Home Values

According to Arbor National Mortgage & American Forests, the vast majority of Realtors they surveyed believe mature trees increase the salability of a home. Nearly all (98 percent) believed this to be true with homes over $250,000.

According to the Georgia Urban Forest Council, homes that are adjacent to parks and open spaces can be as much as 20 percent higher in value than comparable properties.

Trees Can Reduce Crime

A study from the University of Illinois found that urban trees “are directly correlated with lower levels of fear, fewer incivilities, and less violent and aggressive behavior.” Inner cities that are greener also tend to have a lower crime rate.

Health Benefits of Trees

Nature has the power to heal as well, and not just in its positive environmental impact. In 1984, environmental psychologist Roger Ulrich was the first to use modern medical research standards to prove what many of us already know from firsthand experience… that being around our natural environment makes us feel better.

But Ulrich’s study found that hospital patients who had window views of leafy trees healed faster, needed significantly fewer pain medications, and experienced fewer post-surgery complications.

The impact trees have on our society, from health to economics, is immeasurable. By planting a tree, in your own small way, you are contributing to a much bigger purpose that can reach beyond the beauty it brings to your property.

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com

Oregon Bee Deaths Important Lesson in Tree Care

beesLast month, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) suspended the licence of an Oregon tree care company for allegedly using a chemical pesticide spray that killed about a thousand bees outside a Eugene apartment complex. The commercial pesticide service ignored or overlooked label instructions not to spray flowering trees.

The incident is one of several in Oregon that have involved pesticides. In Wilsonville, a landscaping company sprayed 44 linden trees in a Target parking lot in order to kill aphids, an insect that produces a sticky liquid that drips on cars or anyone walking under the trees. The ODA confirmed that the insecticide called Safari was to blame.

Just a day after the incident in Eugene, beekeepers in Estacada and Sandy reported the deaths of hundreds of thousands of bees on their property.

The plague of bee deaths was first reported to the state’s Agriculture Department by the Portland-based Xerces Society, a non-profit invertebrate conservation society. Their stance is that aphids can be controlled without insecticides.

With the current bee death crisis estimated at 50,000, there are causes other than pesticides, including mite infestation, fungal diseases and loss of habitat.

“There are several stresses that are stressing the immune system of the bee,” said Ramesh Sagili, a bee researcher at Oregon State University.

But pesticides are particularly worrisome, especially since they can be perpetuated by the average citizen with no understanding of the potential consequences.

The main ingredient in Safari, dinotefuran, is in a newer class of pesticides called neonicotinoids. Its nonlethal effects can compromise bees’ behavior, memory and homing ability. The bees can retrieve these chemicals along with the nectar in the plants, bring it back to the hive and infect the rest of the bees. According to Sagili, 121 different pesticides have been identified in bee hives across the country.

There’s a certain amount of mystery behind the recent mass deaths of bees and their colonies, the latter of which is referred to colony collapse disorder (CCD). But increasing evidence is showing that pesticides are playing a major role.

In 2012, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health showed in two studies a strong connection between CCD and neonicotinoids. After the second study, lead author Alex Lu said in a release, “We demonstrated again in this study that neonicotinoids are highly likely to be responsible for triggering CCD in honey bee hives that were healthy prior to the arrival of winter.”

So, why are honey bees so important? Simply put, honey bees are responsible for pollinating one-third of the crops in the United States. Hence, if there were no more bees, the consequences would be devastating.

We’re not here to settle the debate over what’s causing the alarming rate of bee deaths, just to shine a light on the situation, and to demonstrate how responsible tree care professionals can most safely perform pest control. We also advocate organic pest control when possible.

First off, we don’t use any foliar sprays, which as the name suggests, is sprayed directly on the foliage. We do a basal bark spray and injections, and when necessary, a root drench.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not allow for spraying trees while they are in bloom (which is what’s responsible for large scale bee deaths). Bloom isn’t always easy to detect, and differs from species to species and weather conditions.

While landscaping companies get the vast majority of press, individual homeowners are likely responsible for killing the most bees. Since the jury’s still out on how certain applications might be affecting bees, it’s important to hire a professional who can use the lowest dose possible and provide a variety of application methods best suited for your circumstances.

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com

Glowing Trees May Light Up Future City Streets

Is it possible that the future of illuminating urban areas at night may come, not from traditional electricity, but organic material Bioluminescent Treeattached to trees that line the streets? The answer may be bioluminescent jellies and bacteria.

Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde and his team at Studio Roosegaarde are interested in applying organic materials to the built environment that can produce light without electricity. More specifically, lighting the streets naturally with glowing trees.This lofty ambition led him to someone who’s been there, done that. Alexander Krichevsky of the State University of New York, Stony Brook, founder of tech company Bioglow, has already created small glowing plants through genetic modification.

Dr. Krichevsky does so by splicing DNA from luminescent marine bacteria with the chloroplast (which absorbs sunlight) of a houseplant. It’s the luciferase enzyme in Vibrio fischeri bacterium that is responsible for making the glowing plants, they have dubbed Starlight Avatar.

Ironically, direct sunlight damages rather than nourishes the Starlight Avatar plants. The plant lives for two to three months. So, unlike Roosegaarde’s vision, these would be indoor plants.

Calling it the world’s first light-emitting plant, Bioglow plans to auction the first batch off and is taking pre-orders on future plants that are currently being grown.

The notion of glowing plants has been around for a few years. In 2010, researchers at the University of Cambridge modified genetic material from fireflies and the luminescent marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri which led to what they termed as BioBrick that was inserted into a genome.

“We didn’t end up making bioluminescent trees, which was the inspiration for the project,” said research team member Theo Sanderson. “But we decided to make a set of parts that would allow future researchers to use bioluminescence more effectively.”

Yet another project is in the works, but this one does not rely on genetic modification. The Arup project involves a fine coating of “biological paint” that makes trees glow at night. Arup engineers envision a future where cities are set aglow by this biological dust.

There’s good news for people who worry about any large-scale dire consequences: The light-emitting pathway can’t be transferred by pollen to other plants. So, there is no reason to worry about intensely-lit forests for 24 hour days.

If you prefer to keep trees as nature intended, but still find the positive environmental impact of biological lighting to be too alluring to ignore, there is also a project in the works that would make streetlamps in this fashion.

Algae street lamps are being developed that store energy produced by photosynthesis during the day that generates light at night. The concept has a dual positive impact on the environment. It can cut down on the use of electricity, plus it absorbs CO2 in the process.

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com

How You Can Attract and Conserve Urban Wildlife

Last month, two bald eagles found themselves stuck together in a Portland tree for several hours. Officials from the Audubon Society and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife arrived to help free them.

While seeing one, let alone two, bald eagles in your tree may be a rare occurrence, the environmental problems associated with Blue Jayurban sprawl are an inevitability unless something is done about it.

Fortunately, urban biodiversity initiatives appear to be growing in number. For instance, the University of Virginia recently launched The Biophilic Cities Project, dedicated to integrating nature into urban life in the U.S. and abroad.

So, what’s all the fuss about?

A 2010 report stated that the population of 17 percent of North American bird species are in rapid decline, in part due to urban development. Urban areas were estimated to triple in its share of our planet’s surface from 2000 to 2030. Since we’re halfway there, it’s time to take action to help conserve wildlife in urban settings.

To counter the problems associated with urban development, conservation groups are promoting urban initiatives to nurture a healthy bird habitat. Part of that means picking the right trees. For instance, public officials in Baltimore, Maryland have stipulated that 80 percent of trees in the county have to be canopy trees, and half of those need to be oak. Why? Because oak trees attract well over 500 species of caterpillars, an important food source for birds.

Trees are so important for birds, for so many reasons. They provide shelter, food, water, and a nesting area. While public initiatives are taken to nurture our feathery friends, there are things you can do on your own to conserve wildlife in urban settings.

Plant a fruit tree. The buds on fruit trees are a spring food source for birds. While birds can eat the fruit directly, since they also attract insects, it offers multiple ways of feeding them.

Consider conifers. Coniferous trees are important for northern birds because they are an essential food source, but also provide winter shelter since they are evergreen trees.

Don’t forget deciduous trees. While they lose their leaves in the winter, spring fruit, flowers and buds are great for birds. Even the leaves that hit the ground in the fall are a food source for ground-feeding birds.

Go for diversity. Each type of tree or shrub has its own benefit to birds. If possible, diversify and plant a little of each to have the best of all worlds.

Need Help Planting A Tree?

At Urban Forest Professionals we have years of experience working with trees. We can help you select the perfect trees for your yard, especially if you are looking to help conserve a home for birds and other wildlife in your area. Our tree planting services are offered to past customers or people looking to conduct other tree work and want to adding tree planting to their work request. Contact our office for more information.

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com

How to Care for Mature Trees

Mature trees are some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring natural features on a piece of property. Their sheer height and multitude of gnarled, curling branches never fail to capture the attention of passersby.

These trees can be fairly sensitive to changes in the environment surrounding them, so they require a high level of care. Their requirements for pruning, watering and protection from disease are different from younger trees. Improper watering and pruning could make a mature tree much more vulnerable to deadly diseases.

Perfect PruningMature Trees

To ensure the health of your gorgeous mature trees, it’s important to remove the parts that have died or become diseased. You should also have a professional arborist perform what is known as an end-weight reduction. While it’s only performed on evergreens, this involves reducing the amount of weight carried on each branch in order to prevent the branches from breaking off (and potentially hurting someone). If performed improperly, these pruning techniques could actually starve the tree by leaving too few leaves attached or damage it in some other way.

In addition to pruning the tree itself, you should remove all plants that are competing with the tree for resources. The number one pesky plant that loves to steal trees’ resources is ivy. You can do a lot for the health of your tree by pulling all the ivy off it. It’s best to get going on this early, since ivy will attach pretty firmly to a tree once it gets a foothold.

Well-Placed Watering

Mature trees need their water levels to be just right. If your area isn’t getting a decent amount of rainfall, you should give your trees a deep watering on a monthly basis. You should consult with professional arborists to find out how much water your tree needs overall.

Defense Against Disease

As a tree grows older, its ability to defend itself against pests and diseases wanes. Certain pests that can harm your tree include whiteflies, aphids, thrips and scales. Diseases to watch out for include the fungal diseases anthracnose, oak root fungus, powdery mildew, and verticillium wilt as well as the bacterial disease fire blight. If you believe that your tree has a disease, you should consult a professional arborist for advice and treatment. Removing competing plants, mushrooms and excess soil build-up from the base of the tree can help keep these blights to a minimum.

As big as they are, mature trees are fragile. It’s important to pay close attention to their health. A professional arborist can keep you in the know regarding watering, pruning and disease prevention.

With proper care, your trees may stay standing long enough to be historical relics.

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com

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