Ladybug Arborists

A good read from Canadian Gardening Click on this link: All about arborists – Canadian Gardening #lethbridgecertifiedarborist #lethbridgetreecare #ladybugarborists #lethbridgearborist #lethbridgetreehealthcare

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A #Uncategorized

We have been busy getting our elm tree pruning completed before the ban is in place at the end of March. WHAT TO WATCH FOR Detecting damage early helps keep populations from multiplying. In many cases, the symptoms are not noticed until they are quite advanced making control more challenging. Be observant and don’t wait to take action. If you noticed some of these last year, have your tree inspected as soon as possible. These include some or all of the following: 1. Leaves turning yellow and dropping early. 2. You may also notice a increasing number of smaller dead twigs. 3. Similar to aphids, elm scales cause the tree to appear to be ‘dripping‘. This is the honeydew (a polite term for poop) that results as the pest digests the sap and then excretes it. 4. A secondary problem that often accompanies this pest is SOOTY MOLD. It is a type of plant mold that thrives and grows in honeydew. As the name implies, the mold takes on a sooty, black appearance. On it’s own it is not harmful – merely opportunistic. It is however, an indication of serious problem – the insect the produces the honeydew. There are key times when control of this pest is possible. For many, the use of ‘biological’ controls are preferred. In Canada, there are few pest control options for this pest. Selecting an authorized applicator (who is also a Certified Arborist) increases your chances for control when the applicator also understands the pest life cycle and the tree it affects. Have our Certified Arborists inspect your Elm tree for free (403 634-3062). We will examine your tree and discuss a program that could combine pruning, changes to your cultural practices and seasonal watering as well as a pest management program that addresses the pest during the various life cycles. DEALING WITH THE DEW: Cleaning off honeydew can be accomplished using a mild detergent and warm water. The sooner you rinse surfaces such as your car, patio furniture or decorations, the less likely you will have sooty mold begin to grow. On plastic surfaces such as your lawn furniture, you may also consider mixing 2 Tbsp vinegar in 1 gallon of warm water and give it a good scrub. Check a small area first to ensure it won’t damage painted surfaces. #treeinsects #lethbridgeelmtree #lethbridgetreediseases #lethbridgebiologicalcontrols #treeinspections #biologicalpestcontrol #lethbridgearborist

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist PR-4600A Apple trees – it’s a love hate relationship. In the spring we love the beautiful floral display and the chirping of birds. By late summer you are preparing to rent a bobcat and dump truck to contend with the fruit which is littering your lawn, you are on your 8th container of wasp repellent and the fermenting fruit makes your yard smell like a brewery. It doesn’t need to be this way. We’ll take our lead from orchard producers on this one – they don’t waste one apple. Apples are vigorous growers and should be pruned annually to manage the delicate balance between plant health, foliar production, sun exposure, fruit production and root development. Training, pruning and good cultural practices go hand in hand. Early efforts to create good scaffold branch structure will result in reduced insect and disease problems, consistent crops and stronger wood to support the weight it will need to bear. A few well positioned annual pruning cuts are less stressful to the tree and considerably less expensive than addressing a tree that has been left untouched for 3-5 years. Most cuts should only require a pair of loppers, secateurs and a hand saw. Chances are that by year 4, you are ready to have it removed out of frustration or go into shock when someone presents you with an estimate to prune it properly because they have to bring out the chainsaw and chipper. In our region – major pruning should be done in February and March when the tree is still dormant. Since the worst of cold winter temperatures has generally passed, waiting until this time helps minimize frost damage to open cuts. It is also more pleasant to work out of doors. It gives you the opportunity to see the structure of your tree without the distraction of leaves. You can easily identify crossing and rubbing branches, dead or diseased branches, water sprouts, reverted growth, branch spacing and branch unions. Branch unions should have a visible bark ridge – this means it is well attached and can bear considerable weight. Remove branches that do not have this mini mountain range as soon as possible to avoid failure later on. Scaffolds branches (permanent larger branches) should be identified. Leaving on ‘temporary’ smaller branches will help increase wood strength and provide leaves for photosynthesis as the tree matures. The first permanent scaffold should be around 30 inches (75 cm) above the ground, with each addition scaffold separated by 8 inches (the length of your hand) in different locations around the trunk. This makes it easier to pick as well since you can access each branch easily. Consider the room you will need for maintenance of turf or other ground covers below your tree. If it is mulched, you may be able to have branches lower on the trunk. Removing more than 25% of the tree’s biomass in one season will result in a panic response to replace its food production factory (leaves). Trees are NOT hedges and should be PRUNED not shaped/trimmed. All cuts should be made at a branch/twig union just outside the branch collar. This allows the tree to compartmentalize and create callus wood around the wound (which looks like a donut) until it has completely hidden the cut. Topping cuts (those made randomly between twigs and branches shown here) is highly discouraged as it will result in a ‘porcupine’ of weakly attached vertical water sprouts, and a deeply shaded canopy of unproductive twigs. Re-growth is vigorous and before you know it, your tree is taller than before. Twig die-back from the ‘stub’ is inevitable since the tree has no chemical messages to compartmentalize at mid-point cuts. Diseases can attack the unprotected pruning sites. Watersprouts are inevitable. This means making hundreds of smaller cuts next time and who has the time or money to deal with this when it can be avoided? Once the fruit has set on the branches, remove any vigorous vertical tip growth or upright sprouts as this will detract from fruit production (10% maximum). You can also thin your crop (just like thinning rows of carrots) by picking marble sized fruit instead of waiting until it is fully developed. Water appropriately from early spring to freeze up and respond to insect feeding, eliminate egg sacks and prune out any early indications of wilting or dying twigs to control fire blight (don’t forget to sterilize tools between cuts in the active growing season). #lethbridgecertifiedarborist #lethbridgeappletrees #lethbridgetreecare #lethbridgetreediseases #lethbridgefruittrees

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A I had the great pleasure of listening to the wisdom of some real veterans of gardening at the Horticultural Society Meeting last night. I truer word was never said – DON’T BY CHEAP TOOLS – they won’t last and you will have to replace them often. Clarence Sterenberg and Mike Stefancsik brought along some great examples of garden tools through the ages – sharing stories of their youth and how it still inspires them to this day. You have to admire a gardener who has taken such good care of their tools that they are still using them 50 years later. I picked a few of my favourite comments to share here. There is always something to be learned from our elders – and they love to share their knowledge. Don’t be afraid to ask. #lethbridgegardening #pruningtoolmaintenance

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A What is a boundary tree? A boundary tree is any tree in which any portion of the above ground parts of the buttress roots, buttress or main trunk or stem intersects one or more property boundaries. There may be different interpretations of this depending on: Local laws Whether or not the tree arose naturally or was planted Who planted the tree Whether or not the tree grew into the boundary over time Who has maintained the tree in the past As a consulting arborist, we can help answer these questions when disputes over trees come into play. This is particularly important if construction activities are planned that could negatively impact a boundary tree. A tree valuation can be made so that if damage does occur, the appraisal can ascertain penalties or the cost of cure. Canadian law took a major change when a dispute over the fate of a mature maple tree in Ontario led to broken relationships and a year long legal battle – one wanting it removed and other to keep it. Definitions about trespassing and ownership are being looked at quite differently. Unauthorized pruning/removal of a boundary tree may be subject to criminal charges. Several years ago we had a resident contact us for advise on what to do. They went away for a long weekend only to arrive home to a butchered ‘fence line’ pruning job. At the time, the laws were not as clear. To see the full article: Globe & Mail June 19, 2013 Since residential yards seem to be getting smaller – tree selection and planting location can often result in conflicts between neighbours. What seems like a good idea in a 15 gallon pot can quickly require significant maintenance. It is important to take future growth into consideration at the time of planting. Understand form, growth rate and mature size. Unfortunately, in order to maximize use area and to create privacy in their own yard, homeowners frequently plant around the perimeter. They forget that the decision to allow room for their personal activities should include the potential impacts on adjoining properties. As a tree matures, it can cause conflicts as it spreads into neighbouring homes, service lines, driveways and walks or with trees in adjoining properties. While you many love the shade, your neighbour may not appreciate the caterpillars or sticky honeydew that aphids cause dropping on their very nice car. They may have trouble shovelling walks because your Juniper is overgrown. Mowing their lawn shouldn’t involve ducking under your branches. Dissension often results when fruit falls in their yard, branches are shed or break, seeds and leaf litter block gutters or branches overhang road/alley ways obstructing the flow of traffic. Be willing to help ‘clean up’ after your tree to keep peace and harmony. Root cutting or accidental herbicide events are also possibilities. Poor pruning and sabotage can be a real problem and a long process to correct if at all. Communicate with your neighbours to see if they are having any issues. Let them know that you have pruning planned so they don’t take matters into their own hands. Who knows, they may even be willing to pitch in a few bucks to help get problems addressed. Oversee the work being done. Better to have control of the decisions than someone else. Don’t be afraid to talk to your neighbours about their trees too. We see many ‘free’ trees or volunteers that have been left to grow to a size when they become a problem – pushing over fences or lifting walks. Free or not, if a tree does not have the space to mature it is best to remove it – or transplant it to a more suitable location in the yard. Replant something more appropriate in size and form if you want foliage to block views. As the tree owner, you SHOULD take responsibility for your tree care. Have regular maintenance pruning done every 3 to 5 years. This should address any dangerous branches, remove deadwood, control fruit production and keep elongating branches inside a reasonable boundary to keep them clear. It also spreads to cost over a regular cycle which usually results in being more economical. An experienced Certified Arborist will understand how fast the tree grows. Using key indicators from the tree or shrub, they can anticipate how much to remove to keep it safe distance until the next cycle. This helps maintain form, wind buffering and privacy issues in a healthy manner. A healthy tree that has received good irrigation and has adequate nutrients in the soil will help fend off most insect or disease issues. If not, address pests as soon as noticed. If knocking insects off with a jet setting on your garden hose is not sufficient, contact a licensed sprayer, preferably one that is also a certified arborist, to discuss your options. A tree under attack from insects can cause other problems. Diseases are another issue and cultural controls are usually the best or only approach. Don’t let anyone top your tree. Do not leave stubs when trimming branches. Hire a Certified Arborist to assess your trees and to develop a long term maintenance program. #treeremovals #lethbridgecertifiedarborist #consultingarboristlethbridge #lethbridgetreecare #ladybugarborists #lethbridgearborist #lethbridgetreeservice

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A What better way to get your yard and garden withdrawal symptoms cured that to sit down with a great book. There are so many wonderful books on horticulture and tree care in print (and on line these days) offering something for the everyday gardener. With great illustrations or pictures and easy to understand text, each offers a wealth of ideas and things to inspire a Canadian Prairie Gardener. Just remember to select something that is representative of the region/zone you live in. Books are often based on themes such a native gardening, small space landscaping or trees – pick up an assortment from different authors. You can begin planning for the coming season. Many are available at your public library so you can review them before you make the investment for your own library. Consider second hand book stores and thrift shops as well. A penny saved on a book means an extra plant in the Spring. TO THE ANNUAL LETHBRIDGE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY BOOK EXCHANGE MONDAY JANUARY 27TH 7 PM – PUBLIC LIBRARY Get reading, get inspired and have a wonderful gardening season in 2014. Happy New Year to all. #Uncategorized

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A DON’T DELAY DEADLINE TO APPLY TO THE TD GREEN STREETS PROGRAM IS JANUARY 10, 2014 The TD Green Streets program is the flagship of Tree Canada. It was established in 1994. It has already funded 479 urban forestry initiatives. Funding? Projects can apply for up to $15,000 for their project. Project Types: Innovative urban forest planning Single tree and forest stand innovation demonstration projects Policy and best management practices workshops Outreach and educational activities on innovative practices including arboricultural practices Innovative management tools to protect and maintain the urban forest Innovative urban design which showcases “green infrastructure” using trees, shrubs and other plants as an integral part of urban design such that the environmental health and quality of life for communities in maximized. Innovative planting techniques Tree Canada offers a wide range of other funding programs including: Greening Canada’s School grounds Operation Releaf Edible Tree Projects – deadline February 21, 2014 They also offer a range of other awareness, reforestation and tree planting programs. Their website is an amazing source of information, For details on the TD Green Streets Program and all their other projects visit their site by clicking here. #consultingarboristlethbridge #ladybugarborists #treeplantinggrants

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A The real distinction between a Consulting Arborist and a production company (who may employ Certified Arborists) is that they provide independent technical expertise rather than perform the work. They offer advanced training in problem diagnosis, tree appraisals, risk assessments and management planning. Their opinions are unbiased and fact/science based. They are prepared to defend their findings in court should a law suit be required when disputes over tree ownership, tree values or damage by a third party are involved. A consulting arborist will provide an opinion and a written report that becomes the basis for an action plan. Using the prepared specifications, companies are invited to provide an estimate for the prescribed work and only that work. A Consulting Arborist is often excluded from the estimating process even if they are capable of performing many of the services they are recommending. More often, they are employed to assist with selecting a qualified contractor and to oversee the contract to ensure that the contractors follow the tendered specifications. They should be able to interpret and understand local issues and are familiar with laws pertaining to trees in the community they serve. When should you hire an independent consultant? Services a Consulting Arborist can offer you: Tree Appraisals Ever wonder what a tree is worth? This is question that is most often asked by insurance companies after a tree is damaged. Appraisals can be useful tools when determining real estate values. They are used by homeowners and by municipalities alike. For managers of larger urban forests it can help to increase appreciation for community trees or to help with budget preparation. Landscape Planning and Supervision Landscape projects can be costly. A Consulting Arborist can review your plans to evaluate plant selections and planting plans, identify over planting potential and offer aftercare suggestions. They can oversee installations to ensure trees are healthy at the onset and properly planted. Since they have no potential gain from the number or size of plants being installed, they can be objective. Pre-Construction Tree Protection Planning #lethbridgecertifiedarborist #lethbridgetreecare #ladybugarborists #lethbridgearborist #lethbridgetreeservice #maureensexsmithwest

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A Clean the air, beautify your neighbourhood, and bring fresh fruits or nuts to your community all at the same time with our Edible Trees program. Your community gardening group, arboretum, school, housing project, or other organization can apply to have a project funded. Tree Canada will consider projects that meet the following criteria: Increases equitable access to healthy food Strengthens communities by empowering neighbors to share in the harvest and care of city-grown food resources Benefits the local community by providing access to the trees and their fruit by the public ( i.e. food banks, volunteers, community kitchens) Meets the needs of the community and includes creative plans for the produce grown Takes place within a geographic area suitable for growing fruit and nut trees Protects and preserves the Canadian environment Assists residents in understanding and participating in environmental activities in local communities. Source: http://treecanada.ca/en/programs/edible-trees/ The Coaldale Community Garden Society was a past winner. The project received great support from Green Haven Garden Centre, Country Blooms, Alberta Nurseries, Grant’s Plants and the Town of Coaldale. There were many people involved in the planning and preparation from the Community Garden Society as well. . These vital community partnerships were part of the winning entry. The site boasts apple, pear, plum, cherry and apricot trees. There is also a wide range of shrubs include saskatoon, currants, honeyberries, grapes, raspberries and strawberries. This program is open to community gardens, schools, food banks, housing projects and more in Canada. Be sure to visit the link. Coaldale Community Edible Forest depicted below. #consultingarboristlethbridge #maureensexsmithwest #treeplantinggrants

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A We are blessed to have some many wonderful, inspiring and knowledgeable people in our industry to learn from. All the cold weather has allowed me do a little reading. Hope the engineers, designers and architects, while brilliant in their own fields, take an interest in the re-post of Jim Urban’s article and consider more than the structural strength of concrete. Landscaping is frequently part of their design. The types of trees, mature size, sun values, soil conditions and volumes, irrigation requirements (which are essential to tree health and longevity) are often overlooked. On occasion, the designer lives in a totally separate hardiness zone and plant recommendations are totally unsuited to our community. This results in stressed and stunted plants that live only a fraction of their real life expectancy. As a home owner you wouldn’t want to budget for tree replacement every 15-20 years – so why should you as a tax payer or a building or facility owner? We would love to give you an independent assessment where alternative plants or construction specification suggestions can be made before the trees are planted. There are many new advances in arboriculture – we would love to make you aware of them. Live elsewhere? Click on this link to find an ISA qualified professional in your area. An Open Letter to the Complete Streets Movement Posted on November 11, 2013 by James Urban Flickr credit: sahunhong A large-canopy tree is a very beautiful thing. On this, most people will agree. But is not only beautiful—it also benefits its community. It provides shade and shelter, protects air quality, and reduces air temperatures, water runoff, and human stress. A street lined with such trees is a desirable place to live and work, and a community with many large trees is attractive to visitors, residents, and businesses. Growing large-canopy trees is a worthwhile investment and a cornerstone of today’s movement toward sustainable communities. Yet the designers of today’s built environments and city planners tasked with creating sustainable, livable, resilient communities continually make mistakes that doom their trees to failure. We wouldn’t hesitate to condemn an engineer who designed a building without being sure the columns would support its weight. Yet we allow designers to populate our landscapes with trees that have little chance to grow to a mature canopy height. Designers sometimes even refer to small stunted tees as “mature,” either an indication that they do not know what a mature tree looks like, or that they are resigned to failure as the price of placing trees in a city. The success of a tree is fundamentally linked to the soil in which it grows. Seems obvious, doesn’t it? Yet this simple idea has had trouble taking root (so to speak) in the public realm. To provide benefits to the community, trees must be put into built environments in entirely new ways MAKE THE SPACE RIGHT FOR THE TREE Fifteen years ago, James Patterson, then a soil scientist with the National Park Service, speculated that as many as “90 percent of all urban tree problems are soil-related.” Far too often, trees are planted in poor soil, soil with poor drainage, high levels of compaction, chemical imbalances, or other forms of contamination. With such disadvantages, trees are more likely to fail to prosper, grow more slowly and or suffer disease, insect infestation, premature decline, and early death. Many trees decline as a result of poor nursery stock or from inadequate or inappropriate maintenance. Yet in most cases, trees in good soils can overcome these problems. Without question, starting with proper soil is the most important factor in growing healthy trees. For years, the arboricultural profession has supported putting “the right tree in the right place.” This concept directs a designer to understand the planting site conditions; including soils, drainage, and aboveground conditions, and to find a tree species that matches those conditions. As soil in urban areas becomes increasingly degraded, there are fewer and fewer tree species that will grow in it. At some point on the road from the forest to Main Street, soil becomes so poor that almost no tree is “right.” The results are city streets with minimal species diversity, and inner-city areas containing limited numbers of poor-quality trees. If the goal is to create a diverse urban forest with healthy trees, we must design soil environments with that goal in mind. After determining which trees best fit a project’s aesthetic, environmental, and technical goals, we must adapt the project site to those trees’ requirements. We must “make the space right for the right tree.” This approach does not assume a perfect world. Budgets, political issues, and physical restraints on soil improvements will still limit the number and quality of trees. Yet designers should no longer resign themselves to accepting difficult growing conditions. Instead, they must make a strong case so they can grow trees that meet the goals of the design. Budgets for soil and trees will need to be increased to provide a better balance between trees and other elements of the design. Design fewer trees, but make allowances for soil conditions to support each one as a healthy, long-lived specimen. We can thus significantly increase the number of tree species in the urban environment. Trees will live longer, require less maintenance, and provide the benefits expected when the tree was planted. TREES NEED DIRT The fates of trees and soil are absolutely interlinked. Trees planted in urban areas by people who ignore their soil needs are likely to fail. Designers who undertake the planning, design, or installation of trees, must have knowledge of both soils and the biology of trees. Standards must not assume that the professionals who are implementing the larger planning goals at the project level know these things just because they are landscape architects. Unfortunately, despite the name, landscape architects get little training in plants, especially the biology of trees. Coursework in the science of soils is almost nonexistent, although in a few places that is starting to change. A dead or declining tree is not the only outcome of a poorly designed planting area. The effects of a lack of mature, healthy trees ripple throughout an entire community, impacting local watersheds, water and air quality, property values, street life, vehicle and pedestrian safety, even mortality and public health. An investment in healthy trees supports every element of a highly-functioning, vibrant city, and no street design guidelines will be truly complete without address the provision of soil – and creating adequate planting conditions – for them. Soil and tree requirements are not details, but a critical component that must be in a larger planning document. It is critical to include the soil and tree requirement discussion in early planning for the following reasons: These components are critical to the overall success of the street concept. Incorporating the science of trees and soil into the design will change the design of other elements as these are large structures, and volumes that need to compete with the other elements in the street for space and funding. Changing a city’s view of trees and soil will require political will and education. Exactly the kinds of challenges a planning document is designed to solve. What I am proposing is not only a new approach to designing landscapes, but also an approach to thinking about the role of trees and landscapes in your community. A large, healthy tree is an investment in sustaining a healthier, more inviting world. James Urban, FASLA, is an expert in urban trees and soils. This post is adapted from the first chapter of his book, Up By Roots: Healthy Trees and Soils in the Built Environment. #lethbridgetreecare #lethbridgetreeservice #treeplanting

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A Having been somewhat confined to the house with our recent extreme winter weather (-50 degrees Celcius last night), I have been able to delve deeply into reading (and surfing) to expand my mind and fill time between shovelling. I came across a discussion on one of my LinkedIn groups and found it particularly fascinating. As a tree person and lover of all things green, I read with great interest the comments from all over the world. One of the shares included a link to a video. I clicked. I invite you to do the same. The Eden Project #ladybugarborists #lethbridgecertifiedarborist #lethbridgetreecare #lethbridgetreeservice