~ Urban Trees ~~ Urban Trees ~Beauty, Care & MiseryBeauty, Care & Misery

Vincent J. ManninoVincent J. Mannino

County Extension DirectorCounty Extension Director

Fort Bend CountyFort Bend County

October 25, 2013October 25, 2013

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Facts:•Crime is lower in a tree-lined neighborhood.•One acre of “woods” will essentially scrub the pollution of a two-car family for one year.•In a classic hospital study, patients with a forest view healed faster than patients who saw a brick will.

Watch where you plant!

Things to Consider:Things to Consider:

HealthHealth DamageDamage InsectsInsects DiseasesDiseases

Location or Proximity Location or Proximity ValueValue EstheticsEsthetics

Systematically InspectSystematically InspectIndividual TreesIndividual Trees

Tree parts to inspect:Tree parts to inspect:

CrownCrown BranchesBranches Branch unionsBranch unions Stem or trunkStem or trunk Root flareRoot flare Rooting zoneRooting zone

Systematically InspectSystematically InspectIndividual TreesIndividual Trees

Diagnostic toolsDiagnostic tools

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Using binoculars to Using binoculars to assess…assess…

Systematically InspectSystematically InspectIndividual TreesIndividual Trees

Examine all sidesExamine all sides

of the tree:of the tree:

From a distanceFrom a distance Close upClose up Use diagnostic tools Use diagnostic tools

as neededas needed

Viewed from one side From opposite side.

Tree Risk CategoriesTree Risk Categories

Decay

Wood that has rotted or is missing. Indicators of advanced decay are rotten wood, fungal fruiting bodies, cavities, holes, open cracks or bulges in the wood.

Systematically InspectSystematically InspectIndividual TreesIndividual Trees

Diagnostic toolsDiagnostic tools

Measuring Measuring shellshell thickness with an thickness with an increment borerincrement borer

Other easily observed indicators of advanced decay include cavities, open cracks, and holes in the wood.

Systematically InspectSystematically InspectIndividual TreesIndividual Trees

Diagnostic toolsDiagnostic tools

Measuring shell Measuring shell thickness with a thickness with a portable drill and ⅛ portable drill and ⅛ inch drill bitinch drill bit

Advanced decay is always present when fungal fruiting bodies are found (mushrooms, shelf fungi, bracket fungi, and conks).

Tree Volcanoes Tree Volcanoes - - Too much mulch or soilToo much mulch or soil

banked up on the trunkbanked up on the trunk

Will cause collar rot asWill cause collar rot as

well as root rot well as root rot

Tree Risk CategoriesTree Risk Categories

Cankers -

Areas where bark and/or cambium are dead.

Cankers are caused by insects, diseases, and by mowers, equipment, vehicles and vandalism.

Systematically InspectSystematically InspectIndividual TreesIndividual Trees

Diagnostic toolsDiagnostic tools - -

Root collar examinations Root collar examinations using a metal probeusing a metal probe

Tree Risk CategoriesTree Risk Categories

Cracks -

Separation of the wood or a deep split through the bark and into the wood. Vertical cracks Horizontal cracks

Tree Risk CategoriesTree Risk Categories

Lightening StrikeLightening Strike

Cracks are caused by improper wound closure, splitting of branch unions or flush-cut pruning.

Horizontal cracks indicate that the tree is already failing and the tree is in imminent danger.

Tree Risk CategoriesTree Risk Categories

Root Problems -

Inadequate anchoring by root systems, damaged roots or restricted roots including stem girdling roots.

Damaged roots are caused by excavating, trenching, paving, re-grading, or soil compaction.

Symptoms of root problems include crown decline, soil/root disturbance, leaning tree or roots confined.

Tree Risk CategoriesTree Risk Categories

Weak Branch Unions

A branch union with included bark or an epicormic branch.

Large epicormic branches on a decaying stem.

Lodged branches are particularly problematic. They have already failed and only wait to be dislodged by the wind or the failure of the supporting branch.

Bugs, disease and other pestilenceBugs, disease and other pestilence

Wood BorersWood Borers

Bugs, disease and other pestilenBugs, disease and other pestilencece

WormsWorms

Bugs, disease and other pestilenceBugs, disease and other pestilence

AphidsAphids, , scalesscales & & mitesmites

Bugs, disease and other pestilenceBugs, disease and other pestilence

BirdsBirds