Ladybug Arborists

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A The most important and least considered part of your tree is the root system. The root system of your tree will be extensive (several times wider underground that then tree is tall). The majority of these roots are absorbing roots that occur 6-12 inches below the surface. The structural roots which are the branches underground, grow as the support system to the tree. The presence of suckering on some varieties of trees can be an indicator of root issues. #consultingarboristlethbridge #lethbridgetreecare #treeplanting #treehealthcare #constructionandtrees #ladybugarborists #treeinspections

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A I had the pleasure of spending a few days in Lake Louise with a great bunch of people from the Alberta Native Plant Council. As an arborist, I love my trees and shrubs but I also have a real soft spot for herbaceous plants. What better place to increase my knowledge than with a seasoned group of botanists and horticulturalists. It didn’t take long when I realized that we were speaking two languages. Me, in common name, and them in Botanical Latin. In my dealings with clients, if I referred to their Manitoba Maple as Acer negundo – they would give me a confused look so I seldom use the Latin terminology except at professional development events or for technical writing. It was surprising how easily it fades to the background. Even more challenging is the botanical references to flowers. This is a new area of learning for me as I work towards my Master Gardener Certificate so it was a great opportunity to learn for seasoned veterans. The experience was fantastic. As mentors my fellow flower hunters were patient and enthusiastic, and the weather really cooperative. Each day offered a two different hikes depending on your potential interests and your energy level. Hiking with them was a bit different than I am used to. It took 30 minutes to get through the first 10 feet of trail as they busily brought out their hand lenses and horticultural keys. I was rewarded with a white bark pine and a busy squirrel harvesting seeds. We only made it half way along the trail before the sun started to dip behind the mountains on the first night. Every field activity ended with a massive list of identified species. All the lists will be compiled by the ANPC and published some time in the future. On Saturday, I ended up at Lake Louise. Having lived in the Elkford, BC I was familiar with a lot of the plants and the beautiful colour of the water from the gypsum. I was especially excited to see a Stellar Jay and an opening friendly chipmunk. Sunday, I tagged along with Mari and her family. She works full time looking for rare vascular plants. I just had a funny thought – do all green people take green working holidays? We took a short hike to see some hoodoos and the two of us challenged a 5.5 km, 700 m elevation change trek. I thought I would be pretty sore today but not the case. I guess I am in better condition than I thought – I suppose hauling branches and digging in the garden is a good substitute for going to the gym after all. With no sign markers along the way, we chatted with hikers on their way down to get an idea of how much further – amazingly, each response was estimated at 20 minutes (x 6 or so requests). We noticed the changing bloom periods the higher up we went. We did find a few introduced/invasive species. Mari was especially excited when she identified a rare species for our log book. She recorded all the data and took a few pictures. To further my challenges, I brought along my new digital camera. While I did get some fantastic shots, probably wasn’t the best time for learning all the new features. I have posted a number of pictures on Flicker if you are interested in seeing some more. Click on this link: Photostream #Uncategorized

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Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A While sitting on my porch to escape the mid-day heat I observed this sparrow taking on what looks to be a tomato hornworm. I managed to get one zoom shot in before my dog came bounding around the corner and scared it off. An unusually large caterpillar found this time of year. My ID is based on the faint white stripes on the sides. Anyone else have a guess? Keeping the bird feeder stocked last winter has paid off this season. We had nesting this year and the summer feeder and a bird bath keep them coming. Primarily sparrows, but I enjoy a daily dose of flickers, robins, finches, nut hatches, chickadees, starlings, crows, etc. This past couple of weeks, I have watched the antics of two blue jays. I have definitely noticed, or should I say, not noticed a lot of pests this season. I have been watching birds for years. This year brought about a new behaviour for me – dust bathing. When it is time to hoe and weed the veggie patch, I find shallow basins where the birds have been cleaning their feathers. Sadly, I also observed a hawk swoop into the Lilac and exit with lunch. #beneficialinsects #biologicalpestcontrol #birdsinthegarden #treeinsects

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A Extreme weather has really taken a toll on Albertan’s this year. Like many of you, I have given up on the possibility of having fresh cucumbers from my garden this year. Trees and shrubs are more costly than perennial plants so they should be your first priority after a storm. How will trees survive the flooding and hail damage. Time and patience is the best answer. Hail damage is the result of intense impact. It crushes the tissues which affects the trees ability to move water and nutrients in a continuous straight line along the vascular tissues from roots to secondary limbs and twigs and the leaves. Hailstones rip and shred leaves, and defoliate branches on the windward side of the tree. Depending upon the size of the hail, it can tear bark on young and thin-barked trees (Birch, Mountain Ash, Linden, etc.) on both the upper surface of smaller secondary branches and the side of the main trunk facing the storm, and damage the underlying vascular tissues. Smaller twigs can become torn away. Wounds are often a key infection sites for diseases. Some varieties that are ‘self shedding’ like willow will easily break off. While hail can destroy leaves, some deciduous trees may have enough reserve to re-leaf in the same growing season. This takes a lot of energy and can put the tree into a deficit and vulnerable to secondary issues such as insects and diseases. The bark tissue around these injury sites dies. Physical damage to tree bark is usually easy to see on smaller trees following the storm. Mature trees with hail damage may show symptoms later as drying of the dead tissue and formation of callus tissue causes the bark to crack. This type of injury is often found on golf course trees where they are frequently struck by golf balls. Over the next few years, trees will produce callus tissue to seal off bark wounds and re-establish vascular function. Until then, they have a reduced ability to cope with dry conditions, which are often compounded by high winds that dehydrate leaves more quickly. Evergreen trees hold their needles for several years. This makes defoliation much more serious on evergreen trees than on deciduous shade trees. Evergreen trees may show severe thinning of the needles on the side of the tree that faced the storm. If a majority of the branches are still alive and put out new growth this spring, the tree has a good chance to survive and eventually fill in on the damaged side. Here are some guidelines to help your trees recover from hail damage: Prune off any broken branches. Damaged limbs that will not heal quickly should be pruned off cleanly. If trees or shrubs were split and large limbs broken, create a clean cut but DO NOT APPLY PRUNING PASTES. Use proper pruning cuts, taking care not to cut into the branch bark ridge. Inspect branch wounds and monitor throughout the growing season. Many will callous over the proper watering and maintenance. Turf irrigation systems apply water more shallowly than trees need. Don’t rely on automatic systems to meet the needs of your trees. Keep trees well watered throughout the summer by a deep soaking once per week (1 inch of water applied over the entire root zone). Adjust in response to natural rainfall. DO NOT FERTILIZE YOUR TREES THIS LATE IN THE SEASON. A fall application may be appropriate but in most cases, products of this type are only available to commercial tree care providers. Protect your trees from additional stresses. Inspect your tree more often and address insect infestations and prune out diseased plant material. Thin out and remove hail damaged fruit. Wait to make a final evaluation of trees until the next growing season. Watch this Video for great information from Susan Browning. Please note that some of the diseases references may not be typical in our region. #lethbridgecertifiedarborist #lethbridgetreecare #lethbridgestormdamagedtrees #ladybugarborists #treeinspections #lethbridgetreeservice

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A Many Birch trees in our area are affected by the arrival of this pest. Since then, many Birch have been removed. Left un-addressed, an infested tree can be dead in as little as two-three years. There is good news for the Birch that remain in the City. In the past, what has made it difficult to control is that the pest feeds under the bark before emerging as a reproductive adult. The only method of control had been pruning out infested and dead limbs, appropriate irrigation, fertilization programs and pest management of other problems such as leaf miner/aphids to promote tree vigour. The other option, unfortunately, was removal. There still remains many seriously infested and mostly dead trees throughout the City. I realize that the cost of removal can be daunting for many on a fixed or limited budget. By leaving infested trees in place, you put otherwise healthy trees at risk. New methods for control were approved earlier this year. Contact Grant at 403 327-9109 to see if your tree is a candidate. To help prevent the spread of this devastating insect, PLEASE do not store infested birch firewood and remove trees in serious decline. Be observant to changes in your trees. Regular maintenance programs can save your tree. BIRCH PRUNING SEASON – JULY AND AUGUST ANNUALLY #Uncategorized

Do Your Part to Maintain Lethbridge’s Green Canopy Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A I had the pleasure to work with a client in the London Road Neighbourhood last week. She brought up a concern about the attitude about boulevard trees. London Road is one of the older communities in the City, blessed with many mature trees in residential yards, neighbourhood parks and along boulevards. A mature landscape increases real estate value, brings wildlife and protects against environmental conditions. As she strolled about the neighbourhood walking her dog, she was saddened to see many of the new/replacement trees dead within a couple of years. We speculated on the cost of new tree ($500). I pointed out that the cost of removing the original tree and stump grinding should be included (add $1000+). Now factor in 30 or more years of caring for it until it is the same size ($5,000+). With every lost tree, our urban forestry department has to sacrifice other services to stay within their budget. This comes out of our collective pockets in the form of taxes. Perhaps think of this this way … you just invested $40,000 into landscaping your own yard. I am certain that you would water and maintain it to protect your investment, wouldn’t you. City trees need the same care and attention. Boulevard Trees have a much lower life expectancy than a residential tree. Here are my thoughts on why? The owners change frequently and attitudes about them also Maintenance cycles are less frequent due to the number of trees versus the budget and staffing levels Reduced use of insect control products Trees are used as sign posts using nails or screws They are used for electrical cord hangers (causing girdling) Weed whipping strips the bark from the trunk Vehicle damage Roots are damaged from sidewalk and road construction and installation of electrical, gas and water/sanitary services The single LARGEST ISSUE, I believe, is the lack of irrigation given to City trees. Drought stressed trees are at higher risk of diseases and insect attacks. As I look back through the Galt Archives, I came across a picture of how our first City trees took root. They were hand planted and watered by hand by horse and cart. With modern irrigation and water services, irrigating your trees should be simple. I know there are complaints about the changes in how our utilities are being invoiced – so people are cutting back on watering their landscapes. Without a tree to provide you with shade, your turf will brown off more quickly, your house will be hotter in the summer (resulting in higher consumption of air conditioning/electricity), less shelter during storm events, less water absorption during rain events. By neglecting the tree on your boulevard, you put your own trees and those around you at risk. A sick tree is a magnet for destructive insects, diseases and wood decay organisms. With temperatures in the high 30’s this week, consider what it would be like to open your door and only see this. Or worse yet, have to completely restart your urban forest like the community of High River. Little changes make a huge difference. Considering using your tub water to water plants rather than flushing it down the drain – you get double the use for the same cost. I hope you look at your trees a little differently tomorrow. #lethbridgecertifiedarborist #lethbridgetreecare #lethbridgestreettrees #lethbridgetreewatering #treehealthcare #lethbridgearborist

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A I have the best career ever! I consider myself really fortunate to have the opportunity to offer my skills and knowledge to such as a wonderful list of clients. For someone who is a passionate about plants, I relish and love every leaf and petal I tend. Every yard is unique reflecting the personalities and passions of their owner. Every visit brings a new flower or feature to enjoy. There isn’t a yard big enough for me to include all my favourite trees, shrubs and flowers. This is why I feel fortunate to have an entire community of yards to care for. Here is a sampling of what I get to be part of. #lethbridgegardening #yardcarelethbridge

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A The true purpose of mulch is to simulate nature, retain moisture and to insulate roots against winter frost. Mulching is a great thing for your plants, especially newly planted trees. Keep some of these key points in mind when selecting a product. ORGANIC MULCH is the best thing going for plants, after all, it is the leaf litter and decomposing materials that create the rich soil on forest floors. There are bacteria, fungi and insects that all work to break down this material. Our tendency in the urban landscape is to rake up every last leaf or needle to create a clean look. We take all the organic materials your tree needs to the landfill and end up buying mulch. The mulch initially has to steal the nitrates and organic elements from your tree’s root zone. When applying mulch apply a light sprinkling of fertilizer (like the type used on spring lawns) first and then water it in. Turn your mulch beds annually (in late fall) and replenish with fresh chips to maintain a level of 3-4” ever other year. This makes your mulch a much less attractive location for over-wintering insects and disturbs seeds that blow in. A condition which often results in gravel beds is “scorch”. This occurs when the sun’s rays are reflected from the rock (particularly white or light coloured) to the underside of the plant’s leaves and the lower branches and trunk (similar to sunburn). When selecting a gravel product – use something that is darker in color. Key Points Landscape fabrics don’t prevent weeds. Weeds germinate from seeds, and soil, that blow into the mulch bed. Weeds and volunteer plants should pull up easily in 3-4 inches of mulch. Mulch beds should be NO MORE than 4 inches deep – roots need to have oxygen available at a specific depth. Organic products usually need to be complimented initially with fertilizers to prevent stealing nitrates from the soil DO NOT pile mulch against the trunk of your tree. Allow at least 2 inches of free space to allow for growth and air exchange. Gravel can cause lesions on the trunk or actually become embedded in the bark. This irritation is an open door to fungal and bacterial problems at a point where injuries can result in failures. Inspect annually and make corrections as needed. When possible, mulch products should be made up of the same wood type as tree – evergreens for evergreens and deciduous for deciduous. NEVER USE PLASTIC! It does not allow for oxygen and moisture exchange and can actually make your soil toxic. Plants need to be watered deeply and regularly to remain healthy. As milder temperatures persist this fall, be sure to give your trees an extra drink before freeze up. #repurposingtreewaste #lethbridgetreewatering #treeplanting #treehealthcare #lethbridgemulching

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A I consider myself privileged to have worked along side Brenda Isaak Takao on both Coaldale’s Communities In Bloom Committee and the Coaldale Community Garden Society. As well as loving and living gardening she offers a unique talent – she is journeyman welder. I think that is what drew me to her right from the beginning. So few women enter these non-traditional roles that we bond easily. Her talents don’t stop at spectacular garden art. She is an accomplished painter as well. She describes her work is primarily “organic” letting her inner gardener out. Brenda didn’t start out to be welder. She graduated from University with an Education Degree. When she was at a crossroads, she had a talk with her father and decided to go into partnership with him in his business (Coaldale Iron Products Ltd.). She has since sold her shares to her brother to pursue her other talents. She is currently pondering a Master’s Degree in Art, Counselling or Horticulture. She is the smiling energy that keeps the Rotary Garden in Coaldale looking great. This is her second season as contract gardener and she has done a wonderful job maintaining it while adding her own personal flare. It is a little piece of floral heaven. Perhaps this is where she gets some of the inspiration for her artist works. If you want to see her hard work visit ‘Rotary Memorial Park (location 19th Ave & 13 Street, Coaldale). “It could not be situated in a better spot to sit down and enjoy a cold drink or an ice cream across from the Dairy Queen. Relax on a bench, or take a walk and enjoy the flowers and greenery. Source: Town of Coaldale Community Profile.” With more time on her hands, her own yard is beginning a transformation. I believe her latest project is a gazebo. I can’t wait to see the final product. She has been an eager student learning how to take a more hands on approach to caring for her own trees. Her hard work is really starting to show. Brenda is an excellent organizer. As Chair of the Coaldale Communities in Bloom Committee, she led the team of volunteers when they won 1st place in 2011. She has served as a CIB Provincial Judge for the past two years. If you are looking for local unique stunning yard art or something to brighten up your office, Brenda is someone you should definitely contact. Here are a few more examples of her work. #Uncategorized

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist 4600A Weather events can result in a variety of issues related to trees. hail damage (shredded leaves and damage to young bark) flooding and root suffocation blow over or failure While it may seem urgent, take time before making a decision regarding the future of your tree. Trees are resilient and should be assessed by a Certified Arborist who better understand their potential for recovery. Here are a few outstanding videos produced by the Arbor Day Foundation that provide advise on what steps you should be following and to caution against opportunistic ‘door knockers’. After the storm Watch Out for Scam Artists Can This Tree be Saved? First for Your Tree Storm damaged trees can be dangerous. Hire an INSURED, licensed arborist. #lethbridgecertifiedarborist #lethbridgetreecare #lethbridgestormdamagedtrees #ladybugarborists #treeinspections #lethbridgearborist

JUNE 22 – 28 With your help we can keep Alberta DED free. You are encouraged to pass the included article on to others or have it placed in your local paper and newsletters during DED Public Awareness Week. For more information on the symptoms visit the Alberta STOPDED WEBSITE Report all DED symptoms to your municipality (Lindsay Bell 403 320-3850) or the Provincial DED hotline (1-877-837-3567). For more information on the symptoms visit the Alberta STOPDED WEBSITE #STOPDED #lethbridgeelmtree #lethbridgecertifiedarborist #lethbridgetreediseases #lethbridgearborist #lethbridgetreeservice #lethbridgetreeinspections #lethbridgetreehealthcare