Author: Guy Meilleur

Arborist

Armillaria scavenging, Quercus regenerating.

Here’s a Quercus alba, Armillaria conks and mycelia rolling through the middle.

Got the call to refer a removal company. Wound up selling 1.5 hours root collar work and 2 hrs pruning. Told them the work was good for 10 years. Got paid in cash and got a nice dinner as well.

Columns grafting across the hollow in 2 locations. The fungus appears to be in scavenger mode; sapwood is largely intact. Fungi are considered beneficial associates, unless and until pathogenicity is demonstrated.
Pruned some girdling roots (the white root was from the nearby ash) and redirected others (buried and held down by bricks).

Got my tie-in point on the 2nd shot with the slingshot. While ascending, i noted that the branch my rope was around was long dead.
Sobering.
I’ll get an after shot of the crown soon.

tied into dead branch.
tied into dead branch.

Girdling Strap Removal and Compacted Bark Tracing

After a windstorm shifted its tilt, this Morella cerifera was fit to be tied.  But the tie was untended, so the tree ate some of it, and got indigestion.   We removed all of the strap that we could, traced away the compacted bark so the phloem can expand, reduced a branch that was girdled by included nylon, and wished the tree well.

The hypothesis is that the exposed phloem, the whitish area in the middle of the girdle where the chisel was more aggressive, will expand outward at a faster rate.  After we chipped away the blackened, compacted bark, the phloem on either side may still be relatively inhibited by the layer of bark remaining.  What do you think will happen?

At 26′ tall, 29″ girth, and 21′ average spread, this bayberry aka waxmyrtle is a contender for state champ, just 6 points off the lead.  With the girdling mitigatedIMG_2931 IMG_2932 IMG_2933, it might outlast or outgrow its competition, and someday reign supreme!

Managing Veteran Trees: A Comprehensive Approach

After presentations in Singapore and Brisbane, I promised to list references.  Time to deliver!  I have tried to categorise the below listing in a logical fashion, but I probably failed.  Anyway please contact me if you don’t find what you need.

Maybe I can find it, maybe I can point to it, or maybe we’ll just wonder at the marvelous strategies adopted by veteran trees as they adapt to  changes in their environment.

PRUNING

A look at tools and techniques:  PolePruning_2008_06-1  

Restoration Pruning_Branches, Stems, Roots 0711

Mike O’Ryza and the Case of the Vexing View 111020(1)

Retrench cherries morris arb aiello

Goodfellow Branch Failure demonstrates the increase in branch stability by small doses of reduction pruning.  Many subsequent studies by North American researchers further establish the effectiveness of reduction pruning.

RETRENCHING HOLLOW TREES FOR LIFE 131226 tcia is the handout from a 2013 talk on this topic.

Dankers Doug-fir mgt 1308

Burnham-beeches-management-plan

Taichung standard mandarin

Advanced Structural Pruning

pvw retrench

pruning collar dujesieffken

BS3998 Pruning 110830 Jon Kiely

Reduction Size Matters g&g 0711  Regeneration research

Pruning for Preservation 1106 AN speaks for itself!

AA Car Canopy  Restoring topped trees for a car dealer

Retrenchment Fay ITMP Neville Fay’s general look at planning for this type of work.  My approach is influenced by many arborists around the world, too many to list here.  Neville’s studies confirmed, supported and informed my work on veteran trees, for which I am most grateful.

TREE RISK MANAGEMENT  The resources below illustrate a comprehensive approach to managing veteran trees.            Complete assessments contain a comprehensive specification of management options, and expected results.        Delivering specifications enables informed decisions.

ISA CEU Basic Tree Risk Assessment complete  integrating assessment and management.

AREA 140801 is a poster presented at ISA International.

DD LLL 1406  is a story written to dramatise the assessment and management of one such tree.

Eiche_Ohio 131204   Dr. Frank Rinn’s look at the same tree

Global View of Trees and Risk (1)

Kvill Oak Report 140610 copy suggests some management options for the fattest oak in Europe.

US Champion White Oak 140320 looks at the largest Quercus alba in the US.

GFCA_Report_121018final-1.pdf  one more case study of prominent trees near Washington DC, US.  Both are gone now, victims of faulty consulting.

del tredici aging-and-rejuvenation-in-trees 1999

Mitigation or Death was an earlier look, published in advance of a talk at TCIA Expo.

Valuing Vets AA Aug-Sep 2014

usfs storm_tree_response 

usfs ice damage survey

ted green fungi, trees and pollards

Hollow tree sealing fay

Ancient Tree Guide

Tree Risk Management Form 130405

Read et al Arb Journal 2013

cass nutrient bed

mature tree management

Wessolly How hollow may a tree be

Swage research auf 2011

TCIA Biomechanics nov 2010

Tree Risk Management Form 130407

IWM:  INTEGRATED WILDLIFE & DECAY MANAGEMENT

FUNGAL STRATEGIES OF WOOD DECAY IN TREES  A 2002 review in ISA’s Journal of Schwarze’s landmark work.

habitat creation

Cavity wildlife 2013 bunnell pnw

decay_ArbNews_2009_02  A look at detection devices

decay study finland

Ooze in the News from TCI Magazine 09-04 

Vines in Trees

Hazard & habitat2 NF

ted greenTREE_FODDER_97_2

ted green The_first_landscaper

ted green SoilReserves 1108

The Dynamic Forest Frans Vera

ted green Value of tree and shrubs to wildlife

Ted Green The_Wind_Doth_Blow_0705

Ted Green open-grown trees09

Value of Different Tree & Shrub Species for Wildlife – Ted Green

usfs decay 1998

Decay Boddy_and_Raynor_1983[1]

Japanese Tree Doctor Training Manual

IMMORTALITY OF TREES  Programmed to live indefinitely.

immortality del tredici 1999

Immortality-PLANT SYMBIOSIS AND PATHOLOGY – Alan Rayner

immortality osnabruck

immortality torino 2004

MISCELLANEOUS

Meilleur-PHC-CEU (1) Client relations and managing trees for health

Higher Education TCI March_07

AA EAC 1410

Lightning TCI 2007

LBG III Managing Stem-Girdling Roots1.doc

Detectives Guide to Report Writing 1008 AA

Metzger Historic Tree Collection Management 1501

Slater – The Failure of Forks

Reiterates_Architecture-Images

 

Regenerative Pruning Case Studies

Detective Dendro – The Case of the Lonely, Lashing Leader

This Detective Dendro story was about diagnosis, but the solution relied on standard tree care, like regenerative (retrenchment) pruning:

“Retrenchment pruning lessens lever-arm length and fruit loading, while interior laterals develop.  But most of the current growth is at the ends, so reduction of each leader must be carefully specified… reducing lengths from 3 to 9 feet, with cuts 2 inches or less…”

2015 Kickoff in Mississipppi

Monitoring and measuring these roots over time can document strength gain.
Monitoring and measuring these roots over time can document strength gain.

It’s been a good year for football in Mississippi… and we’re kicking off our 2015 speaking schedule in Meridian, January 15-16.

Thursday morning’s arboreal edutainment, featuring a variety of presenters and gear, will range from a Detective’s Dirty Work to Valuing Veterans.

Friday you can try the BCMA on for size, by taking our unsanctioned, unofficial Board-Certified Master Arborist demonstration test.

Click to access 2015%20PAAM%20Brochure.pdf

We’ll do our best to make the PAAM event part of an enjoyable midwinter excursion in the sunny south.  See you there!

US IPM Standard: Chemical Imbalance

2014’s biggest IPM story had to be the piles of dead bees poisoned by routine tree spraying, and the crackdown on the neonicotinoid chemicals responsible.  By a happy coincidence, the Tree Care Industry Association is currently developing a US standard on IPM, but the window on involvement by the public and professionals is about to close.  Your comments on the Integrated Pest Management Part 10 Draft will not be accepted through January 12, 2015.  This is your last chance to advocate for a balanced IPM Standard that gives equal attention to cultural and biological means of managing pests.  Some opportunities in the current draft:

The reason for integrated pest management is to avoid or mitigate unacceptable levels of pest damage while avoiding or mitigating damage to other organisms and the ecosystem.  The ecosystem, the air and water quality we need–is the primary reason for integrated practices–and for standards!  The reason for integrated pest management is to avoid or mitigate unacceptable levels of pest damage while avoiding or mitigating damage to other organisms and the ecosystem.  The ecosystem, the air and water quality we need–is the primary reason for integrated practices–and for standards!

Diagnosis

Types of biologicals

The current draft focuses on chemical applications by large companies, like the company responsible for the big bee kill in Oregon.  That’s who wrote it, so that’s who benefits.  This draft includes not only IPM but also A Guide for Big Companies to Set up and Operate an IPM Program.  This does not apply to many users:  agencies, smaller-scale operations, or individuals. If it’s in the standard, bigger companies with a more formal program would enjoy an even greater competitive advantage.

Chemical use is the focus in this draft.  Less damaging methods are thrown aside with the weakest language possible:  ‘Consideration should be given to…’  This document needs better balance, to ensure that the standard fits users who prefer cultural and biological approaches.  Other suggestions in the copy below are to follow chronological order, simplify wording, and streamline the process.
IF you are an individual practicing less toxic pest management, the only way to avoid having the rules rigged against you is to review this draft and comment to rrouse@tcia.org.  If you are associated with any of the below committee members, please comment to them as well.

Bartlett Tree Experts –pbecker@bartlett.com
Asplundh Tree Expert Co.  gkemp@asplundh.com
Davey Tree Expert Company chris.klimas@davey.com
Tree Care Industry Assn. tmugridge@forestcitytree.com
PLANET Alice Carter  acarter@valleycrest.com
Society of Municipal Arborists Nolan Rundquist nolan.rundquist@seattle.gov
International Society of Arboriculture Richard Hauer, PhD rhauer@uwsp.edu
American Society of Consulting Arborists: Torrey Young torrey@dryad.us
Professional Grounds Management Society: Gene Pouly gpouly@efpouly.com

Utility Arborists Association: William Rees (410) 291-3633
USDA/US Forest Service: Ed Macie (404) 347-1647
Alliance for Community Trees  carrie@actrees.org

A300Part10-IPM-Drft1-V1 140821