Arboreal first aid

By REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree ..."
So penned poet Joyce Kilmer back in 1914.
For many of us, Kilmer's sentiments ring true.
We treasure our shady maples and mighty oaks as if they were dear, old friends.
But what happens when one of those beloved backyard friends starts looking a little sickly?
Do we try a home remedy? Do we call an expert? Do we -- gasp! -- cut the tree down?
It is when a tree shows signs of illness that many of us realize we know next to nothing about saving a tree or hiring someone to save it.
Furthermore, we know very little about what can make a tree sick in the first place.
Common tree troubles
Myriad ailments can plague a tree.
Aphids, scale, fungus, beetles, gypsy moths, soggy soil -- it often takes the trained eye of a professional to figure out the problem.
Dave Tisdale, owner of Dave's Tree Care in Niles, said even a professional might not know at first glance exactly what is wrong with a tree.
"Unless the problem is obvious, I will take samples from the tree and the soil and send them to the Ohio State Extension service to be tested in the lab," Tisdale said. "I also look at the big picture. I consider the drainage of the yard and what types of diseases a particular type of tree is more susceptible to."
David Cauley, owner of Bazetta Tree, which has offices in Cortland and Boardman, said tree ailments often start below ground in the tree's root system.
"One thing most people do not realize is that many trees get sick because of problems that start below the soil. Construction projects can wreak havoc on a tree's root system," Cauley said.
If the roots of a mature tree are compacted by heavy soil, run over by heavy construction equipment or severed by digging, the tree can get sick and die.
Piling excavated soil around a tree trunk can also cause sickness.
"The tree's roots and trunk need to breathe, and if you pile up too much soil around a tree, it will choke off its life," Cauley said.
Careful construction
To preserve the life of mature trees at a construction site, ask contractors and excavators not to dig or run heavy equipment too close to trees.
"I recommend staying clear of the tree's 'drip line.' The drip line is the circle on the ground around the tree where the overhead branches extend outward, and it's where the main roots are located. If you don't disturb the tree's main root system, you'll have a better chance of saving the tree," Cauley said.
Cauley said a tree's underground root system is usually twice the length of its above-ground height, and that the root systems of large trees can stretch throughout an entire yard.
"But you don't have to worry too much about harming the minor tree roots that are far away from the trunk of the tree," Cauley added.
Girdled roots
Of course, tree root ailments are not always man-made.
Sometimes they occur naturally when one of the roots of a tree wraps around the tree's trunk and "chokes the life out of the tree."
Cauley and Tisdale call this process "girdling."
"Girdling cuts off the tree's ability to soak in moisture," Tisdale said. "If you see a flat part at the bottom of a trunk of a tree, there's a good chance it has a girdled root."
Tisdale and Cauley said maples are particularly prone to girdled roots.
Besides being unhealthy for the tree, girdled roots can make the tree structurally dangerous and cause it to fall down, Cauley said.
To treat a girdled root, a professional might have to dig down and cut the root out.
"You have to be careful about this, though, because if the root is one of the main suppliers of moisture and nutrients to the tree, cutting the root out could cause the tree to die," Tisdale said.
Don't choke the tree
Sometimes people unwittingly choke their favorite trees by wrapping foreign objects around the trees' trunks.
"Never tie a clothesline, or a wire, or a dog chain around a tree. The tree will eventually grow around the foreign object, and as the tree grows, the foreign object will tighten and choke the tree," Cauley said.
Cauley said the outer layer of a tree just beneath the bark plays an important role in moisture absorption, and disturbing this part of the tree can cause the tree to die.
"Often young trees will die because people will slice into this part of them while using a weed whacker," Cauley said.
If you ever do damage this part of a tree, Cauley advises pulling back any loose pieces of bark.
"The tree will heal beneath the loose bark. Loose bark needs to be removed because it is a haven for bugs," Cauley said.
Spraying for bugs
Speaking of bugs, don't be surprised if your favorite tree doctor chooses not to spray your bug-infested tree with chemicals.
"Sometimes spraying is the only way to treat a bug infestation, but there are often other alternatives to spraying. I have a commercial pesticide license, but I use other methods when I can," Tisdale said.
Sometimes it's essential to spray, such as when gypsy moths are devouring a tree's leaves.
Of course, the state of a tree's leaves can have little to do with the overall health of a tree.
"The condition of a tree's leaves does not always reflect the structural integrity of a tree. A tree that's rotten in the center might still produce green leaves," Cauley said.
Fertilizing
If a tree is suffering from stress or needs invigoration, fertilization can be beneficial.
Tisdale said there are two main types of tree fertilization.
"You can inject fertilizer into the ground with a wand. This method is called deep-root fertilization and allows the tree's root hairs to instantly suck in the nutrients. Or you can drill holes in the ground around the tree and put granular fertilizer in the holes. This is done during the tree's dormant season -- usually around November. The granules slowly leach out into the soil, and by springtime, the tree is soaking in the nutrients," Tisdale said.
The right person
Now that you know more about what can plague a tree, how do you know whom to hire to heal your favorite tree?
Certified arborists are trained in the art and science of planning and caring for trees, but not all folks who treat sick trees are certified arborists.
The International Society of Arboriculture certifies arborists based on their knowledge.
Cauley, who is a certified arborist and recommends hiring someone who is certified, also said that just because someone is certified doesn't necessarily mean he or she is the right person for the job.
"You have to also consider how much experience the person has," Cauley said. "And you should also make sure that the person you hire has both liability insurance and worker's compensation. They should carry a card with them that offers proof of this. Ask for a copy of the card."
Tisdale, who is not a certified arborist but is a member of the International Society of Arboriculture and the Tree Care Industry Association and has been in the tree business since 1980, suggests finding out what types of tree work are a person's specialty before hiring.
"If a person specializes in taking trees down, you might not necessarily want to hire that person to just prune your tree," he said.
Staying current
Both Cauley and Tisdale said all tree doctors must continue with their education and stay up to date on the latest techniques in arboriculture.
"Opinions are always changing. For instance, it's no longer considered a good thing to top off a tree," Tisdale said. "First of all, it looks terrible. Second, it is unhealthy for the tree because it exposes the wood to moisture, bugs and fungus. And third, making a big cut in a tree stimulates growth, and the new growth will be weaker and more prone to coming down in a storm."
Of course, if the tree is too overgrown or too close to the house and you don't want to entirely cut it down, then it might be a good thing to remove the upper limbs of the tree, Tisdale added.
Treating wounds
Cauley said opinions have also changed on how to treat a wound in a tree.
"It used to be recommended that a wound be sealed off, but now they are saying this isn't good because it seals in too much moisture," Cauley said.
Tisdale said a good tree doctor takes many factors into account when assessing a problem.
"Something that works in California might not be the best thing for Northeast Ohio," Tisdale said. "No matter what the rule is, there are often exceptions to that rule. That is why experience is so important."