Posts Tagged ‘tree care’

Native Eastern Red Cedar (left) has proven to be more drought and heat tolerant than it's non-native counterpart, Leyland Cypress (right)

It may be a few years before we fully understand the impact of last summer’s drought and heat on our urban forest.  The immediate effect is quite blunt.  Whether from relentless heat or lack of water, many trees have died.  The most obvious losses include Southern Magnolias, Leyland Cypress, Japanese Black Pine, and other broadleaf evergreens and conifers that continue to retain their damaged brown foliage.  It will be May before we can better assess deciduous trees.

We have made some early observations that could help you in caring for your trees or factor into selecting replacements.  Trees that are generally in good health have not been as negatively impacted by the drought and heat as those already stressed.  This is apparent when comparing mistletoe infested Cedar Elms with their clean counterparts.  The same can be said of Bradford Pears and other trees that are highly susceptible to Cotton Root Rot.

Trees native to North Central Texas fared better than most introduced tree species.  Post Oaks are the first to come to mind.  Even on non-irrigated sites, Post Oaks’ leaves remained glossy and green until fall.  Pecans seem to have fared well, too—some even producing a crop.  The exception to this observation would include Crepe Myrtles.  From the old standards to the latest improved varieties, Crepe Myrtles are proven tree selections.  However, Silver Maples have reconfirmed their place as a poor choice for local landscapes.

Heat and drought damage to many Magnolia trees is severe enough to consider removal

Mulch continues to serve as a tree care staple.  A simple 2 to 4 inch layer of mulch covering a tree’s critical root zone retains moisture and insulates soils.  Both newly planted and well-established trees have benefited from the buffering effects of properly mulched trees.  There is added benefit in the nutrients made available to a tree’s root system when mulch decomposes into compost.

Adequate watering, regular fertilization, and appropriate tree care are practices that have a measurable effect on a tree’s ability to address stress.  Should you have questions or concerns about the trees in your landscape, a Certified Arborist is available to assist you.  Simply call our office or complete a service request.

BY NEIL SPERRY - Special to the Star-Telegram

When the guy’s ringtone is of a chain saw revving, he might be an arborist.

I had a chance to visit with Steve Houser, owner of Arborilogical Services, a few days ago as his crew worked 50 feet up in my trees. Houser is highly respected by his crews, his clients and even his competitors. He has been instrumental in bringing tree issues to the attention of thousands of local residents. He’s an advocate for North Texas trees, and he’s good at it.

So, there he was in my landscape. What a golden chance to get tree-management tips from one of the top guys in town. He had the time, and I had the tablet. Here are some of his feelings on local trees and how they fared after last summer’s brutal weather.

In Houser’s mind, it wasn’t just the high daytime temperatures that did damage. Evenings when temperatures never dropped below 85 degrees were perhaps even more harmful. The trees were under stress all day and all night, and they never really got a chance to recover. Trees that aren’t especially suited to high temperatures struggled most.

From Houser’s observations, silver maples were among the most impacted. “High-water-use trees like cottonwoods and willows were hurt, and many bald cypress trees went into self-induced dormancy,” he said.

The effects of summer 2011 will continue to be felt for five or 10 years, Houser predicts. Root systems of many trees were damaged. As temperatures rise this spring and summer, those trees will find it hard to get enough water to their foliage, and some will begin to decline. The more time that passes, the more difficult it will be to convince people that this ties back to the record summer. Local soils developed cracks 2 and 3 inches across, and that contracting of the clays did serious damage to trees’ roots. Rural native trees that are not part of urban landscapes were especially hard hit. Houser said as many as 10 or 15 percent of those trees may have been lost.

The best thing we can do for our trees this spring and summer will be to water them attentively, according to Houser. He encourages deep soaking, almost to the point of runoff, then waiting until the soil is relatively dry before watering again. Most of all, he suggests not rototilling and planting flowers near the trunks of trees.

“People water their flowers way too much, and that is not good for their trees,” he said. “I’d much rather see them put mulch or a low-water-consumption ground cover near the trees’ trunks.”

He said he prefers purple wintercreeper euonymus or mondo grass in such settings, but that mulch is still his first choice.

On feeding our trees, Houser says we need to be patient with them after last year, and that we shouldn’t try to promote strong new growth too quickly.

He recommends fertilizing healthy trees twice per year. His company uses organic fertilizers, so timing is not as critical, since the organics work over longer periods of time. For people using inorganic products, he suggests feeding once the trees are fully leafed out in the spring, with the second feeding in early fall. However, he says that if the trees are growing in a landscape setting, nutrients supplied to the turf will also be taken up by the trees, so special applications just to the trees may not be required.

Neil Sperry publishes Gardens magazine and hosts Texas Gardening 8-11 a.m. Sundays on WBAP AM/FM. Reach him during those hours at 800-288-9227 or 214-787-1820.

In disclosure: Mr. Houser’s business, Arborilogical Services, advertises with Neil Sperry’s radio program, magazine and website.

For all your tree needs Neil Sperry recommends Arborilogical Services, Inc.

“It’s never been about the money for me,” says Arborilogical owner Steve Houser. Despite 30 years as a successful business owner, he says the majority of his actions are driven by one goal: “I want leave my children a better world,” he says.

To that end, Houser promotes sustainability at nearly every opportunity. He’s long advocated responsible ecological stewardship for regional planning committees; he teaches Master Naturalist and Master Gardener extension programs; and, perhaps most importantly, his company encourages sustainable tree care to homeowners. “When we preserve more trees through proper care, there’s a dramatic positive effect on our air, soil and water,” Houser says.

For customers like J.R. Estes of Rowlett, Texas, the trees-first approach makes a positive impact. “Trees are a big investment in the long-term value of a home,” he says. “[Arborilogical's] arborist was terrific in answering all my questions and offering solutions.” Separating profit from proper tree care is a core company value, Houser says. “If a client wants something that’s not in the tree’s best interest, I don’t want my name on it,” he says. “Any work we do is going to be something we’re proud of.”

For Rhonda Krasselt of Fort Worth, Texas, that value translated into great customer service. “Their communication was great,” she says. “They made me believe that not only they know what they’re doing, but they actually care about customer service.”

In business since 1981, Steve Houser’s Arborilogical Services has garnered the Super Service Award every year since 2005.

Houser also practices what he preaches. His arborists use biodegradable chain-saw oil to minimize harmful environmental impact, recycle tree trimmings, and, if safe, encourage homeowners to leave dead trees on their properties to promote ecological diversity. Off the job, Houser’s east Texas ranch house is totally off the grid, powered by solar panels and warmed by an energy-efficient geothermal system.

Although most Texans think of drought and cold as the top enemies of trees, snow, ice and wind can create additional stress that leads to major breakage or toppling, a North Texas arborist told members of the Wood County Master Gardeners in a monthly meeting Thursday, Feb. 17, in Quitman. In the wake of recent heavy snowfalls in North Texas, arborist Steve Houser, who serves as chairman of the Urban Forest Advisory Committee for the city of Dallas, spoke about how to protect and repair damaged trees. “The best way to avoid damage is to understand the tree,” Houser told the group. Trees that, when they begin to branch, are joined in a U shape are stronger trees and more likely to weather the storms, he said. But those with tight V shapes are more likely to break. These are trees that may need a cable and bolt system to keep the branches from splitting. Equipment needed for the cabling is available at an arborist supply store, he said.Because fruit-bearing trees build up weight on the ends of the limbs, they are also vulnerable to breakage, although proper trimming can help, he said. Trim some of the smaller limbs at the end to relieve the weight, while making sure you leave a natural look, he said. But never take more than 20 to 30 percent off a tree because it will interfere with its food-making processes, he warned. Houser said last year he saw lots of damaged trees because of the ice and snow. When snow builds up especially on smaller plants, stand away from the plant and use a cane pole to gently knock off the snow, he said.The root system is also a very important to supporting the tree, he said. The roots run horizontally within the top four or five feet of the soil and can extend four to five times the distance of the canopy of the tree. That means a neighbor who puts herbicide on his lawn can affect your tree, he warned. If you must cut the roots, use a saw and paint the ends with a latex spray paint because of soil pathogens, he advised. When trimming limbs, cut at a slight angle just passed the branch collar or flair where it meets the trunk, he said. If the limb is long, cut it in pieces starting at the tip. Houser also asked the group to help in an attempt to locate trees at least 200 years old which have been bent to the ground and are attached. Some of these trees were bent by Native Americans to serve as markers and need to be preserved, he said.

Source: Mineola Monitor

Steve Houser is a Certified Arborist and currently the owner and President of Arborilogical Services, Inc.

By  Steve Houser, Dallas Urban Forest Advisory Committee Chair

Trees clean our air, water, and soil. They also add greatly to our health, sense of well being, quality of life, and our economic future in many ways. As a result, the presence of trees and healthy ecosystems provide a strong foundation for a sustainable urban infrastructure in the future. The very essence of nature provides sound guidance for reaching urban sustainability. To quote Mr. Albert Einstein “look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.”

We all breathe the same air plus use the same water and soil to survive; therefore, it is important to understand the interconnectedness of all things as well as the important role that trees and healthy urban ecosystems play in planning for our future. Education is critical in stimulating the public conscience which will ultimately drive environmental causes. We must learn to think globally, plan regionally, and act locally to reach sustainability. We all benefit greatly from a shared regional vision of social, economic, and regional goals for sustainability.

Improved Air Quality

Rising levels of carbon, specifically carbon dioxide (CO2), are accelerating global warming and our urban forest offers the opportunity to mitigate the problem by sequestering (or storing) carbon as well as ozone, nitrogen oxides, and sulfuric oxides plus filtering particulate pollution. Trees are long-term carbon storehouses, or carbon “sinks”, however, they also release the carbon as they die and decompose or when they are burned.

As an urban forest declines in health or significant populations are lost over time, they must constantly be replaced to increase the net carbon storage capacity. Failure to conserve trees or replant what is lost can cause an increase in the release of carbon by an urban forest. Conservation is important because larger healthy trees (over 30 inches) sequester 90 times more carbon than smaller trees (under 4 inches) and store 1,000 times more carbon. Also, poor air quality results in increased health care cost to treat the associated problems.
It is important to note that trees also emit biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), such as isoprene, benzene, and monoterpenes, which react with nitrogen oxide to form ozone. Research exists on the subject but it is based on trees in other parts of the country. As a result, further study of how local tree species affect air quality in our region is required before we plant a large number of trees that may not be ideal.

Reduced Energy Use

Planting deciduous trees on the west, south, and east exposure of homes and buildings (or strategic shading) can save up to 30 percent on our energy bills. If we can shade our air conditioners, we can save an additional 10 percent on our energy bills. By planting dense evergreen trees on the north side of a building or home to slow the cold winter winds, additional energy savings can be gained. By reducing energy use, we decrease emissions from regional power generation plants and their negative effect on our air quality.

Reduced Urban Temperatures

A 1995 geothermal study of the Dallas area by Dr. Ken Morgan with Texas Christian University, found that various areas could be 10 to 12 degrees hotter than Oak Cliff due to the extensive tree canopy cover and minimal grey infrastructure. The grey infrastructure amounts to large amounts of brick, glass, and concrete that hold heat well into the night which increases urban temperatures—called the urban heat island effect (UHI).
By strategically placing trees in UHI problem areas such as parking lots and vast expanses of grey infrastructure, we reduce urban temperatures as well as evaporative emissions from the fuel tanks and fuel systems of our vehicles. Heated fuel tanks and fuel systems release hydrocarbons and 16 percent of all hydrocarbon emissions are created by evaporative emissions. By reducing urban temperatures, air quality improves because the formation of ozone is dependent on higher temperatures.

Reduced Storm Water Runoff and Flooding

Large amounts of grey infrastructure greatly increase the amount of storm water runoff which can lead to flooding. Trees reduce storm water runoff by allowing the rain to slowly filter through the foliage which decreases the potential for flooding. Strategic shading of grey infrastructure not only reduces flood potential and the UHI effect but it can also extend the life of asphalt by 60 percent. This offers a very large return on our investment in tree planting and care plus reduces the impact that asphalt has on the environment.

Improved Water Quality

Bioremediation or phytoremediation is the use of trees, plants, and biological agents to remove or neutralize contaminants in polluted water or soil. Leaves, twigs, and limbs that lay on the ground stimulate biological activity which also helps to remove pollution. Removing the organic layer on the top of the soil reduces its capacity to grow healthy plants and trees as well as its ability to remove various types of pollution.

Increased Economic Benefit

Trees offer many tangible economic benefits such as increased property values and a better quality of life which will attract corporations and the general public to an area. The result is an increased tax base due to the establishment of a more desirable area to live and conduct business. The more green and sustainable an area becomes in the future, the more successful it will become in economic terms.
Sprawl and “business as usual” will no longer be desirable because sustainable infill developments will attract the public. As far as a return on investment, for every dollar spent on tree planting and care, we receive up to five dollars in benefits according to research. Studies across the nation show that residential home prices can be up to 20 percent higher due to the presence of trees. Also, a home will sell faster with healthy trees as opposed to others with few or no trees.

This article is reprinted with permission from North Central Texas Council of Governments and Steve Houser.

“The more green and sustainable an area becomes in the future, the more successful it will become in economic terms.”

“Reprinted with permission from Texas Nursery & Landscape Association. This article originally appeared in TNLA Green magazine, February 2011 issue.”

As seen in: Dallas City Hall Highlights
Related DallasNews.com Story

As part of the Dallas Mavericks Guard the Planet initiative, the Mavs launched Trees for Wins and committed to plant one tree in Reverchon Park for every Mavs win this season. For the Mavs 50 wins to date, 50 trees were recently planted by players Eduardo Najera and DeShawn Stevenson.  The trees will be cared for by the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department and Arborilogical Services, The Experts Your Trees Deserve.

“We are proud to share the park as our backyard with the Mavs and we want to thank the Mavericks for this beautiful gesture of planting trees,” said Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children President J.C. Montgomery, Jr.

“The Mavs support for this project expresses their corporate leadership as well as their sound principles in being stewards of our urban forest,” said Arborilogical Services, The Experts Your Trees Deserve President Steve Houser. Reverchon Park offers many leisure and recreational programs as well as baseball fields, basketball and tennis courts and an accessible children’s playground.

Plano’s subdivisions and shopping centers hardly conjure up natural wonder. But a short walk from some mini-mansions, a Chase bank and a Chinese restaurant sits a leafy grove with some of the oldest living organisms in Texas.

There are ashes, elms, pecans and a bur oak believed to have sprouted during Christopher Columbus’ time.

Starting Friday in the bur oak’s shadow, dozens will gather in Bob Woodruff Park for a series of events known as the Texas Tree Climbing Championships. The competition, held each year, serves as a Super Bowl of sorts for tree-service workers. This year’s event will highlight Plano’s ancient grove, part of a robust greenbelt that follows Rowlett Creek from Dallas north into Allen.

“The first thing out of somebody’s mouth when I tell them about the competition is, ‘Are there any trees in Plano?’ ” joked Steve Houser, an arborist and climber who serves on the Dallas Urban Forest Advisory Committee.

Trees elsewhere in North Texas, aided by plentiful water and fertilizer, may grow larger. Yet few match the ages of some of the trees in this Plano grove, which stands in a floodplain and has been protected for centuries from grazing cattle, encroaching development and Mother Nature’s hazards, arborists say.

“We often talk about the past. But when you see these trees, you’re standing in a time machine and looking at the past,” said Pete Smith, who heads a registry of landmark trees for the Texas Forest Service.

Not far from the bur oak stands an ash tree believed to be 300 years old. Next to that is a pecan estimated to be 400 years old. Close by, another massive bur oak of unknown age towers over the forest floor.

Gauging age

Pinpointing ages is tough. The surest way is to examine the tree’s rings, but doing so without damaging the tree is tricky.

Mother Nature offered arborists a glimpse of the big bur oak’s age in 2006, when a storm felled a large branch.

Plano dubbed the tree the “Bicentennial Bur Oak” some years ago as arborists originally estimated the tree to be about 243 years old.

But arborists determined the felled branch was, itself, 226 years old. That forced scientists to increase the tree’s estimated age at more than 500 years.

Other trees in Texas have received more fanfare.

Austin’s Treaty Oak has won prizes and is believed to be at least 500 years old. Another landmark Texas tree, the Goose Island Oak near Corpus Christi, may have germinated a millennium ago.

Methuselah, a sprawling and wrinkled bristlecone pine in California, is celebrated as the world’s oldest. Its age: about 4,800, give or take a century.

Plano’s bur oak, by comparison, has lived in relative obscurity. It dominates a tranquil clearing just out of sight of bustling Park Boulevard.

The aging oak rarely sheds big acorns anymore. Bees have built a nest on a high limb. And arborists have attached a copper rod onto the tree’s spine to shield it from lightning.

But the oak has grown admirers, who take in its sublime splendor like oxygen.

“When you’re 80 feet up in the air and you feel that big ancient giant swaying back and forth in the wind, it’s just utopia,” Houser said. “I just don’t know how else to describe it. All I know is that when you come down, your worries are gone.”