Posts Tagged ‘tree damage’

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.

Woodpecker Damage - Photo by James Solomon, USDA Forest Service

Arborists are often asked, “What is boring holes in a straight line across my tree’s trunk?”

The woodpecker is the culprit, and most of the time it causes no health problems for the tree. The most common woodpecker in our area is the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker. This migratory bird can be identified by its medium size and distinctive markings. The adult birds are identified by a black crescent on the breast, pale yellow belly, white wing stripe, and a crimson crown. The male also has a crimson chin and throat, distinguishing him from the female whose chin and throat are white.

IDENTIFYING THE WOODPECKER DAMAGE

Typical damage can be a single row of small holes or several rows close together around the trunk or branches. Woodpeckers are drilling these holes to feed on sap and the insects attracted to it. Just because a woodpecker is feeding on a tree, does not mean the tree is infested with insects. Although some woodpeckers do feed on wood boring insects, bark lice and other pests harmful to trees.

Severe Woodpecker Damage: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Archives

In severe cases, the rows of holes can be drilled so close together that entire patches of bark and wood are removed. If the tree is small and the damage is extensive, the tree could be girdled. This results in reducing the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients, and the tree could die. This is rare, and most damage should not be a concern. Woodpeckers choose trees for no particular reason, but tree species with softer bark or high sugar content in their sap are favored. Some trees are repeatedly chosen over and over each year due to habit and migratory patterns.

MANAGEMENT OF WOODPECKER DAMAGE

Physical Repellents:

• Wrap burlap or other materials loosely around the area being tapped
• Smear a sticky repellent material on the affected area such as: Tanglefoot, Roost-No-More, or Bird Stop

Visual Repellents:

• Hang shiny metal objects (aluminum) or brightly colored plastics on or around the tree

Noise Repellents:

• Play bird distress calls or any other loud noises. Ex: propane cannons, fuse ropes, bird banger rockets, screamers, electronic scare devices or music.

In summary, it’s best not to worry about the damage already caused by woodpeckers. Instead, implementation of deterrents may be the best strategy in coping with further damage. This also aids in the prevention of any initial destruction.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits the killing of woodpeckers without a permit.

References: North Central Forest Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, St. Paul, Minnesota
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources