For Every Thing, There is a Season

Originally published in TCIA Magazine.

     " A time to prune, a time to take down, a time to spray, a time to mulch.  A time to fix all my stuff, a time when my stuff better not need fixin……." (with all due respect to the late, great Pete Seeger).

 The challenges of the Northeast arborist are many. While no Yukon, the changes in the seasons require forethought and planning in order to provide the best care for clients’ assets. It is essential to understand basic tree physiology, so that treatments are most effective, and cause no harm to the tree.

The sun is still low on the horizon and offers little warmth, but the red maple buds will soon swell. Pitchers and catchers report to Florida soon. It is mid-February. Most of the equipment repairs are done, and the days are getting longer. We begin to emerge from our shops, squinting like Mr. Magoo in the harsh reflective light.

The trees have been dormant for some time, and there is little pathogen activity. The naked frames give good insight into structure and defects. The ground is still quite frozen. Now is an excellent time for pruning. We will try to schedule most of our fruit tree pruning during this time frame. When snow pack is low, we can also access sensitive areas otherwise inaccessible to equipment, and will try to schedule aerial lift work in these areas during this time.

 Later winter turns to early spring. My long dormant business phone begins to startle me from my “reading”.  It is a tricky time for us. Horticultural oil treatments for scales and insect eggs weigh heavily on the mind. Weather patterns and growing degree days are monitored. While its’ still ok to prune out dead, broken or diseased parts, the transformation is beginning and the pruning window is closing. It is best not to perform pruning just after the spring growth flush. Tree energy reserves are low, weakening the response to wounding and possibly opening the door for pathogen activity. Mud season arrives. Using heavy equipment must be carefully considered near root zones. More harm will be done due to soil compaction than any benefit derived from pruning treatments. Keep perspective. Do no harm.

The season ramps up and the summer help arrives. Client properties and noise production are no longer our singular domain, as the landscapers emerge with little trucks towing enormous trailers. The phone is ringing, the leaves are popping and the pests are emerging. Apple scab, anthracnose, and leaf spot. Caterpillars, scales and aphids, oh my! A daily check onweather and wind conditions ensues, timing being essential for treatments. Fungicides are most effective as a prophylactic treatment, and must be applied when the leaves are just emerging.  Winter moth caterpillars crawl into bud scales upon hatching. Treatment cannot begin effectively until the buds open, and a delay in leaf development can have severe consequences. The phone keeps ringing and the juggling begins. The days blend into one another, marked by the passing of flowering plants. Forsythia, magnolia and crabapple begin the march. The heavenly scent of lilac and wisteria mixed with freshly cut grass follow. Catalpa, horse chestnut and lastly, the kousa dogwood emerge, the creamy white flowers escorting us into summer.

The leaves are on and the always chic “Farmer’s tan” is all the rage. The heavily tanned drivers’ side forearm reveals who’s in charge. The summer help (not the year-round-summer-help) is shaping into character. Some show interest and potential. Others experience an epiphany of what they would rather not be doing in the future; college studies take on a new perspective. The days set into a steady rhythm. The work load consists primarily of pruning and removals. This is an especially good time to perform structural and restorative pruning. The trees full flush of leaves provide plenty of energy for wound response, promoting both wound closure and strong pathogen defense.

Many of the insect pests and disease pathogens are past their peak, but there are still considerations to keep in mind. Birch and elm trees, to name a few, should not be pruned at this time. The pathogen toting Elm bark beetle and Bronze birch borer are in flight, and the release of plant volatiles through wounding may attract more egg-laying females.  Two-spotted spider mite populations must be monitored as the weather heats up, their populations capable of exploding in a few weeks’ time.

Now is also an excellent time to inspect the trees in your care.  Areas of weak foliage or tip die back as the weather gets hotter and drier may indicate root issues below. Take note of any changes to trees with cracks or areas of included bark that may warrant a support system. Signs of stress may offer an opportunity to discuss the possibility of mulching with your turf-enamored client.

 The dog days of late July into August apply their steamy weight. The air is heavy, the quality of a hearty broth. We will try to keep to small pruning jobs in the shade, but taking a few days off is ok too. The phone settles into a mid-summers nap, waking only for the occasional thunderstorm related event. There’s a little time to take stock of the equipment and make repairs, and I’m not just talking about your stuff. A little R and R is well deserved. Re-connect with who you are and what you’re doing, maybe re-examine your priorities, or maybe just go fishing and drink beer.

The days begin to shorten and the oppressive air relinquishes its grip. The summer help (not the year-round-summer-help) begin to shuffle off to various institutions of higher learning. Some will be back for another season or two. Many go on to promising futures, and I was gratified to have had maybe a small impact on their character and appreciation of a work ethic.

Days are still pleasantly warm, but the evenings take on the whisper of a chill in anticipation of the show to come. It varies from year to year, but we are rarely cheated. The crisp clean air with the occasional bluebird-sky backdrops the riotous pallet unique to the northern climes.  For a brief moment of time, they put on their party dresses. A wine colored gown of leaves adorns the otherwise drab red maple. The yellow poplars quivering in the breeze contrast the deep burgundy of the dogwood and its waxy red fruit earrings. The cold, hard, silver bark of the sugar maple alit in hues of burnt orange.

Any pruning other than emergency or crown cleaning will have to wait. Abscission layers have been formed and the transition begins in reverse. Energy is being stored, and response to wounding will be slow or postponed. Many fungal pathogens are highly active and re-producing in the cool, damp conditions. As water demand on the trees decrease, we will perform many of our root treatments at this time. This may include root crown excavations, girdling root removals, and soil improvements. Tree removals are ongoing, but more precipitation means wet soil. Judicious use of equipment ensues on sensitive areas. The oaks and hickory reveal their tannin hues.  The white oaks are the last to go, holding on to their minions like an aging rock star. A sense of urgency sets it. It’s time to gather and store the nuts.

Ah yes, winter in New England. Sometimes it slides on easy like an old wool sweater; sometimes it lands like a Winnebago full of in-laws. For utility line workers, the real fun begins. With frozen fingers and sluggish hydraulics, many companies will continue to fight the good fight, dragging along a snow-thrower to clear the job site if need be. Then there are those intrepid souls saddling the chip truck with a snow-plow blade, the ultimate sacrifice to the saline gods. Some may use this time to re-group, maintain and repair equipment. Other skills may be revealed by the “summer-help-all-year-round” guys that could be utilized. In between hanging and removing Christmas lights, we have re-furbished chippers and stump grinders, replaced bearings and seals, rebuilt chainsaws and painted truck frames.

The trade shows and educational events (TCIA in Nov.) call our attention. CEU’s must be earned, new stuff must be ogled. As a small time, independent arborist, I was able to choose a career path that afforded time for reflection, introspection and general wound licking.  I was able to witness and participate in the blossoming of my daughter. I used some of this time to further my arboricultural knowledge. Much time was also spent on other passions, experiences and interests that will accompany me through life.

The wood stove is blazing. On occasion, I will recognize a piece of wood from a particular tree we removed years ago and acknowledge the gift. A fresh foot of snow has postponed this old arborist’s foray back into the trees, but no worries. After all, this is New England. If you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute.  

Island Re-Tree

Originally published in Arborist News.

It was a sound more associated with a group of girl scouts at a smores party than with 40 + year old men. As we all stood around it, Johnny O correctly identified the snake as a Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus), but was unaware that, when threatened, they have been known to rear up to their full length and charge at people in attempt to frighten them. I am here to tell you that defense mechanism works.
One of the perks of volunteering here is a tour of different parts of this unique place. We encountered the snake during an extracurricular excursion. There are only 30 or so houses on this island off the Massachusetts coast, mostly seasonal residences. There are few roads and no pavement, yet in the midst of a forest thick with American beech, Oak, Tupelo and (my personal favorite) Greenbrier, lay the Hosmer Arboretum, a three- acre site enclosed with a deer fence.
Like their father, Ned and Marc Colt are the type of individuals that are hard not to like; gregarious, engaging and welcoming. Back in 1990, Ned came upon a fenced in, heavily wooded area of about three acres on the property of his extended family. It had a single, locked gate. A little investigating revealed it to be a tree nursery/arboretum, that had been somewhat cleared, then fenced in and planted in the mid-1950s by relatives and their friends.
I am a relative newcomer to the annual pilgrimage here. When my good friend and fellow arborist John DelRosso (head arborist at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston) invited me to join him here five years ago, I was unsure what to expect. I had no illusions of grandeur but my initial reaction was still somewhat muted. A few nice looking trees were located close to the entry. A Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), and Monkey Puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) stood out prominently. There were some nice Stewartia, and a one-sided Big-Leaf Magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla), but aside from that, I could not see the Arboretum for the trees.
The over-story is primarily American beech, with a smattering of oak, maple, ash and white pine. A guided tour from my colleagues revealed dozens of trees planted over time, suffering in various degrees from the suffocating influence of the over-story trees, both above and below. I came across specimens of Metasequoia and Bald Cypress over 20 years old no taller than me. “You have to understand,” stated Johnny O, “when I first got here, it was choked with beech trees and greenbrier. I had to cut a path just to get in. What you see here is a vast improvement.” Oh.
The property has been left in Trust and any changes require approval of a number of relatives who sit on a board of Trustees. In order to work in the Arboretum, says Ned “I figured I'd have better luck finding approval by associating myself with a pro... and in New England... no one takes issue with Harvard's Arnold Arboretum. I went to their front office, outlined my needs, and was summarily sent to go see a man at the top of a white pine.” This man was my friend and former classmate, John Olmsted.
That was 21 years ago, and that relationship, along with the struggling Arboretum, began to grow. Now, once a year, they come. A few arborists and horticulturists, a mason, some friends and resident volunteers all convene for a long weekend of hard work, and, well, partying.
The fore-mentioned Metasequoia was the first tree planted by Ned and his father on that first work weekend. It was 5 foot tall when planted, and it is now…..5 feet tall. To quote Ned, “It's not easy when you work two days a year in a sandy, salty, soil poor environment. That said, dozens of other trees have adapted and done considerably well.”
We are volunteers, but the Colts’ gracious hospitality makes this experience most enjoyable. We are provided with comfortable sleeping arrangements, excellent dining experiences, and plenty of beverages. We spend a full day and a half at the Arboretum, and usually spend some of the remaining time exploring the island.
Saturday morning, the truck is loaded with all the usual implements of destruction. An ancient chipper is hooked up to an even older tractor for the half mile journey to the site. There is no grand scheme here. Trees, mostly beech, are removed, and new ones are planted and documented. It is rather a haphazard approach, but only one weekend per year is spent here, and you do what you can. Most of the small and medium beech trees have been removed. We have spent the last 3 or so years concentrating on removing some of the larger ones, and the increased sunlight is beginning to show its effect.
The new trees are usually provided by Johnny D and the Arnold Arboretum, the Colts, or Todd Burns, a horticulturist at Wellsley College, in MA. Todd has been heading up the “offering of sacrificial plants” here for years. A wide variety of trees and large shrubs have been deployed here, but the going is tough. Todd basically looks for spots where decaying wood chips and forest litter may have created enough of a soil niche for some of these plants to live. Dig the hole and throw it in, one good soaking and they’re on their own.
There isn’t really any leader, per se, but I think we look to Johnny O for initial guidance and a basic plan for the day. The Johns and I embark on some tree removal, while Todd, Mark, and Tim (one of the most tireless workers I have encountered) begin the systematic annihilation of the underbrush. While prepping some gear, I notice Tim and Todd performing what appears to be some type of dance ritual followed by running. I figure this is a tradition I’m unaware of until all 6 foot 5 inches of Tim hit the turf. Apparently some yellow-jackets took offense to the mowing operation. Todd is stung several times and the swelling produces a cankle. He will self- medicate later.
Once some of the larger trees are on the ground, the volunteers from the island lend a hand hauling brush, chipping, and moving wood. Lunch is graciously provided and consumed. We then assess our progress, and decide on a plan for the afternoon. Today, I set my sites on a large red maple that has been overshadowing a Big-Leaf Magnolia. It has been bothering me for years and it’s time had come. Steve Shneider, Director of Operations at the Arnold, is my ground man. Two sweaty hours later, the maple is topped out, and I haven’t got hurt or broken anything. The volunteers make short work of the brush.
The tree planting started here in the early 50’s with some family members and a friend by the name of Henry Hosmer, of Sudbury, Massachusetts. Hurricanes and gales in 1938, 1944, and 1945 decimated large tracts of forest on the island. Except for beech sprouts, the island was fairly devoid of trees, enhanced by the work of sheep and deer. Species such as eastern white pine, hemlock, white spruce and sugar maple, native to the mainland, but not the island, were planted. Ned describes Hosmer as an armchair botanist. He had a day job, but he absolutely loved trees.
Anyone who would attempt to establish an Arboretum here certainly looks on the sunny side of life. The bony, dry soil offered little in organic matter. Greenbrier would forever be on the edge, ready to pounce. Critters would sample the newly planted. Drought, salt air, and wind would be an issue. But...what the hell.
A number of arboretum trees had been transplanted to other properties on the island over time, but some of the pine and spruce planted still thrive here. Other specimens were uncovered over the years, including a copse of Stewartia, some of which have doubled in height, once provided some sun.
We head back to Ned’s house for an evening of “copious consumption of good food and drink”, punctuated by a ribald game of croquet. All the volunteers and others from the island attend. The next morning we are back at the arboretum for one more round.
While no crown jewel, the arboretum is clearly beginning to show improvement. Today, there are over 100 different plants. New plants are tagged and documented, previous sacrifices located and checked. The removal of large over-story trees has greatly improved growth. Years of chipping have enhanced the soil, and the undergrowth has been beaten into submission. The annual event has been moved from June to September, and this appears to be having a positive effect on the survival of new plantings.
There are likely thousands of small arboretums like this throughout the United States. For some of us, the fascination with trees is inborn. We may see them as symbol of strength and fortitude that radiate humble nobility. Perhaps they’re a touchstone for generations, an unmoving sentinel that marks the passage of time. Every Arbor Day, Massachusetts Arborists Association (MAA) members take part in a statewide volunteer effort called Arbor Day of Service. The annual service day allows tree care professionals to have a direct impact in their local communities and draws attention to the importance of proper tree care and tree planting. Originally, one site was picked which we all convened upon. Now members are encouraged to find their own worthy sites, and dozens of parks, schools, town commons, and other venues benefit from our services.
Perhaps there is a small arboretum in your town that could benefit from your services. The annual pilgrimage to the island has become a tradition of camaraderie and good times. The cultivation of friendships, as well as trees, is realized, along with the innate good feelings that go with participating in a positive enterprise.
While there is promise for the future of the Hosmer Arboretum, a quick glance at our aging crew may give one cause for concern. “I do worry about what will happen after we're no longer able to hoist ourselves up in a tree or lift a chainsaw” says Ned. “I'd like to see the tradition continue.
We are working at getting younger folk involved in the process, and I'm hopeful that someone will step forward to continue organizing an annual "Work Weekend" when we're no longer able to do so. It's a rewarding experience in so many ways”.

Willow Top: When is Extreme Pruning O.K.?

Originally published in TCIA Magazine.

Flush cuts were still the norm when I began my arboricultural sojourn. In 1983, Dr. Shigo spoke at my alma mater. He was just beginning to obtain notoriety for challenging the practices of the past with modern science. A New Tree Biology would not be published until 1986. Tree response to wounding is being studied and documented. CODIT, and bark ridge pruning are introduced and tree topping is chastised.
So now I present to you a technique I will call “extreme heading back”, but really, I topped the tree, though not indiscriminately. I really wanted to call it entrenchment (a novel approach to managing veteran trees), but my methodology was far more primitive and abrupt.
I’ve performed extreme heading on my fair share of willow (and other) trees early in my career. It was commonly done, and at that point, I did what I was told. Slap on some spurs and climb on up. Make a cut at the desired height, slather on the tree paint, beauty! As I became more “educated”, the pendulum swung the other way. I was proud of my righteous stance on tree toppers, and they’re heinous crimes. I refused to do any topping what so ever. I knew stuff! Thirty years later, to quote Socrates, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing”.
While this technique will be rarely considered, there are times when the situation leaves little other options other than removal. The Willow (Salix species) I present here had considerable dieback in the crown and a lean toward the house. While the root anchorage still seemed solid, the hollow trunk was somewhat compromised.
Willow trees are poor compartmentalizers. They are subject to cankers, leaf spots, rust, tar spot, aphids, and leaf beetles to name just a few afflictions. The wood can be brittle and break apart in storms. Leaves, twigs and branches are constantly falling. The root system is aggressive and can ravage underground pipe. The….wait, why not just cut the $#%* thing down!?

Ok, the Pros:
- Likes wet conditions and is an excellent choice for areas with standing water, but can withstand drought to some extent.
- Not too fussy about soils, though does not like a high ph.
- Fast grower, usually strong regrowth response to loss of parts
- Aesthetics. Ah there’s the rub, maybe the deal maker. Imagine a hot, steaming, summer day in the shade by the pond. The willow crown bends to the will of a gentle breeze announced by ripples in the water....but I digress. The point is, they’re nice too look at.

Though the trunk of this tree was fairly compromised, it was also incredibly cool. Twisted and gnarled, it was hollow right through, but did exhibit good health and woundwood formation. If the risk could be removed, this tree might still provide benefits for years to come.
Once again, I whipped out the ANSI 300 pruning guidelines and specifications were derived. From the ANSI 300 Pruning Specification Writing Flowchart:
The Clients goal: Retain the tree, reduce the risk and create a structure to promote a low, spreading crown.
Considerations: Willow tree, fast grower, strong likelihood of epicormic sprouting.
Pruning Objectives: Reduce risk, remove stems exhibiting disease or decay back to healthy wood, encourage lower epicormic sprouting.
Pruning Method Options:
- Crown cleaning along with light reduction pruning.
- Crown cleaning with a combination of heading back and reduction pruning.
- Extreme heading back (client’s choice).
Specifications:
- Reduce stems to an approximate height of 15 feet.
- Actual site of cuts will be based on the size of the cut (the smaller, the better), evidence of existing decay and the presence of live growth or nodal areas.
- Remove any remaining dead, broken, or diseased parts.

A written proposal was provided to the client outlining the goals and objectives. We planned the work for mid-June. I felt the timing would be late enough to obtain some benefit from the current year’s growth, yet early enough to develop new shoots and promote some wound closure activity.
As access to the tree with an aerial lift was possible, and deemed the safest, most efficient way to do the job. We placed ¾ inch plywood on the turf, and maneuvered the aerial lift into position, maintaining a safe distance from the root zone. The pruning was performed to specifications, no one got hurt, and we didn’t break anything.
Upon completion, we stood back to marvel at our handiwork. Woof. Had we not been in a rural area I would have been moved to cover our signage and don paper bag head-gear. A younger version of me would have railed at this obvious catastrophe. Topping! Heretics!
OK, younger, smarter, more handsome version of me, ANSI 300 defines topping as: “Reduction of tree size using intermodal cuts without regard to tree health or structural integrity”. In this case, the cuts were made just above the nodes, with full regard to health, structure, and integrity. That’s’ right; extreme heading back.
We returned in September of that year to find a nice flush of growth emanating from all the remaining leaders, much to my relief. Another year later, the willow exhibits the type of crown envisioned. We will likely return soon to do some crown cleaning and thinning. The trees’ stewards are very happy with the results, and will likely enjoy this specimen for years to come.

Unchain My Heartwood: Replacing a Tree Support System

Originally published in TCIA Magazine.

Something was amiss with that old oak tree. It just seemed wrong from the get-go. A long, open split ran down the main trunk from where a defective crotch had begun to fail long ago. There is no way this tree should be standing. What could be holding it together? I followed my gaze up the trunk and there it was. About 10 feet above the crotch, a contraption of seemingly medieval design embraced the tree. Composed of chain and pipe and nuts and rod and even a hook, this intriguing device had held this tree together for some time.

 The improvised device was partially embedded in both leaders, and the effects of the stem girdling were evident in the upper crown. If the tree were to be retained, the device would have to be removed, and a new brace and cable system installed. There would be no guarantees that the crown would regenerate. Areas of decay were evident throughout the split trunk. It was questionable whether there would even be enough sound wood to allow for through-bracing.

I consulted with the owners of the tree. We discussed the pros and cons. We agreed that I would first perform an aerial inspection and determine if installing a support system was feasible. The inspection revealed a rather thin layer of solid outer wood in one of the stems. I was reluctant to proceed with the job, but the clients’ wish to preserve the tree coupled with a low target rating made the effort seem reasonable.

I took some photos and measurements, and then headed back to the office to do some research and design a system.

I whipped out my copy of the ANSI A300 standard (Part 3) – 2006 Supplemental Support Systems (includes Cabling, Bracing, Guying and Propping) and began to scheme. Here’s the neat thing about being an arborist: It’s a science and an art. On occasion, you really have to think. There are many excellent guidelines and best management practices (BMPs) available to arborists. The problem is that treatments for trees, as with people, often need to be customized to the individual. From whole tree removals to transplanting, unique challenges are constantly presented. Good improvisational engineering skills are the foundation and delight of many a successful arborist.

In this case, best management practices BMPs suggest that at least three rods, 3⁄4 inch in diameter, be installed, along with at least one cable above. The lack of substantial solid wood eliminated the possibility of “dead-end bracing.” Budgetary constraints, along with the tree’s architecture, necessitated a compromise with the BMPs. A 30-inch auger bit would be sufficient for most of the holes, but the site above the crotch would require at least a 48-inch bit, and the cost of a 4-foot-long, 13⁄16 auger bit was a budget breaker.

I was, however, able to find a reasonably priced 60-inch-long, 11⁄16 auger bit. As the crown above was not excessively heavy, and there was no target below, I elected to do some end-weight reduction pruning and install four 5⁄8-inch rods along with two support cables. It could be argued that more rods should be installed, but I felt that four would be sufficient, or at least closer to industry standards than the device currently employed.

One problem I have run into when drilling through large diameter trees is accuracy. I don’t have to tell anyone who has tried to drill a straight and level hole with a 3-foot or longer drill bit the difficulty involved. I rigged a jig to install in the tree to help align the drill bit.

I chose a calm, comfortable day to do the job. We laid out and organized all the tools and materials needed before we left the shop. Fortunately, we were able to access the site with a bucket truck, reducing the difficulty involved. We devised a plan and set out our tools.

The two leaders were no longer in alignment where the split had occurred, but there was no way we could correct that. We would install the braces first, starting with the lowest, then the cables, and lastly, remove the medieval device. I set up my improvised jig and proceeded to drill. I was somewhat anxious as the limits of my 3⁄8-inch electric drill were about to be challenged. Slowly but steadily, the sharp new drill bit bored smoothly into the tree. I stopped frequently to clear the shavings. The drill was clearly straining, but appeared to be up to the task.

 The jury-rigged jig was helpful, but as a prototype there was, alas, room for improvement. None of the holes were exactly where I wanted them, but three had satisfactory alignment, and the fourth was still positioned well enough to employ. The rods went through with ease. Bark was excised where the washer and nuts would meet the wood. The nuts were tightened, excess rod removed, and we were ready to install the cable. The tree architecture above allowed for the installation of two cables, approximately two-thirds of the way up from the split, which fit in well with ANSI guidelines. The defective crotch made dynamic cable sys- tems inappropriate for this tree. I elected to go with 1⁄2-inch, forged eyebolts and 1⁄4-inch EHS cable. I installed a temporary 3⁄8-inch poly line from point to point to mimic the cable and help align the drill holes.

The cabling proceeded without incident and the moment of truth was upon us. Usually, when replacing a previously installed support system, retaining the original is considered a good choice if possible. That would not be an option in this case. The vasculature was being compressed. I called for the angle grinder equipped with a diamond tipped blade. The chains of tyranny would soon be van- quished!

I donned my helmet, face shield, safety glasses, ear protection, heavy gloves, steeltoed boots, Kevlar vest, and lucky underwear. The embedded chain turned cherry red as the blade progressed. I braced myself at the moment of release and then... nothing. There was nary a move- ment in the tree as the contraption dangled below me, indifferent to being rendered obsolete. I continued to work at removing the chain from the wood tissue, achieving moderate success. I performed a crown cleaning and light crown reduction as the sun set, casting a rose colored hue on the surrounding wood and canopy.

We returned to check the tree about three weeks later. A new child’s rope swing hung from a stout lower limb. The upper crown looked OK, and I thought, maybe we had gotten to this in time.

I have to commend the current stewards of the property. The old oak offered no substantial benefits other than wildlife and aesthetic appeal. Several other mature trees were in the vicinity. My initial response upon viewing it was removal, which would have been far less costly than installing an adequate support system. The tree owners surprised me with their request for preservation, and reinforced a valuable lesson: One must strive for objectivity when consulting with clients. Offer different management options, without bias, to help them achieve their goals.

Back at the shop, we took a good look at the apparatus we removed. Naturally, being tree guys, we ridiculed and belittled it. But aside from the fact that it was girdling the stems, the design was actually thoughtful and effective (though I’m still a bit perplexed by the hook). Had it not been installed, that tree would be long gone, and I would not be writing this today.

Root Crown Excavation Wizardry

Originally published in TCIA Magazine.

The Zelkova tree looked rather poorly last fall. Portions of the canopy were thin and exhibiting early leaf drop. The leaves were small and off-color. The trend continued this spring. The new growth appeared anemic and sparse. I have suspected root issues with this tree, and removed stem-girdling roots (SGR’s) that were accessible near the surface. While parts of the root collar showed proper flare entering the ground, other areas showed no flare, entering the ground vertically. Additionally, these “flat” areas of the trunk seemed to coincide with the weakened areas of the crown. A root crown excava- tion (RCX) was clearly in order.

Although I see this problem with great frequency, selling a RCX to a potential client can be difficult. The irony is that it’s far easier to sell above-ground treatments such as pruning or fertilization, even though those treatments are likely to have little or no benefit to a tree with SGR or root-girdling root (RGR) issues. I suppose there’s something sexy about the aerial ballet of shiny bucket trucks and climbers to which blowing dirt around with a magic wand can’t compare.

This tree was strategically located to provide shade and aesthetics to a large horse barn. The owner is a well-educated lover of trees. She planted dozens of unusual trees on the property including amur cork, yellowwood, golden chain, sweet gum, katsura, and others. I had done several RCX’s to other trees on the property, with good results. Over time I have convinced her of the benefits of wood chips and proper (which sometimes means no) pruning. We do not fertilize.

The importance of this tree, along with a trust developed over the years, made the decision to do the RCX easy for this client. At best, we could reverse the demise of this tree; at worst, we would get a good sense of what’s happening underground and make informed decisions concerning its future.

We scheduled to do the job when there was a good deal of moisture in the soil. It was a cloudy, misty day. We set up plywood walls to contain the soil and fired up the pneumatic soil excavation tool. It did not take long to reveal the culprit. A root approximately 1-inch thick by 12-inches long was clearly embedded in the trunk, just below the flattened area. While the rest of the root system was growing in a spiral pattern, and clearly had issues, this root appeared to be having a direct impact on the vasculature. We removed this root along with other, lesser RGR’s, and replaced the soil. A thorough soaking was administered. Now we would wait and see.

We returned to the site three weeks later and were amazed at the results. The crown looked full, with good color and normal leaf size. I have seen good results from this treatment before, but never anything like this. The client thought me an “Arborwizard,” but I was doubtful. I checked with some fellow ASCA members to get their thoughts. While not unanimous, the consensus seemed to be that, yes, a direct correlation could be made.

In the words of Russ Carlson, RCA:

“Think about how the tree grows. The cells of the cambium divide and then enlarge. Once they reach a certain stage, the cell walls lignify and become rigid, at which point they can no longer grow larg- er. New cells grow in the now displaced cambium, next layer out. When the cambium has no room to expand, over time you have a series of small compressed cells, so sap transport is reduced. Now you come along and remove the obstruction. The cambium, which apparently was not dead, can grow without restriction once again. Those cells start dividing and the new ones can again grow to normal size. In just a few weeks in springtime, enough early wood can be created to make a big dif- ference in the sap flow to restricted areas.”

While I am sure that most RCX’s I have done have had positive effect, this by far was the most compelling. Timing is everything in life, and I am sure that had a big effect on this case, but the results cannot be denied. I have documented this case along with several others, and have used the images to encourage more RCX’s.

I still like my shiny bucket truck, fancy ropes, saws and saddles, but it is becomming clear that the air-excavation tool may be the most unassuming, revolutionary tool for saving trees to date.