Wachtel Tree Science

Storms cause tremendous stress and severe damage to trees in the urban forest.  Obviously, a snapped or downed tree should be removed.  What about a tree that suffers minor damage?   How can a homeowner tell if a tree is safe?

Assessing the damage

Minor damage – with only the smallest branches of the tree being injured – usually results in little or no permanent injury to the tree.  All that is required is cleanup of the broken twigs and branches and perhaps a crown cleaning to restore a pleasing shape.

More severe damage – large broken branches, split crotches, removal of bark and splitting or splintering of the trunk – can be caused by strong winds and heavy ice storms.  When a tree is severely damaged, the first question that must be answered is: “Is the condition of the tree such that keeping it is worthwhile?”  A tree care professional should be consulted to answer this question.

“Most arborists will take the time and effort to save a tree only if the tree will still be healthy, attractive and of value to the property owner after repairs,” Explains Tchukki Andersen, BCMA and staff arborist for the Tree Care Industry Association.  “A tree care expert may recommend removal of a tree that has brittle wood and a branch structure that makes it vulnerable to additional damage from future storms.  Trees that have been topped by storms can be prime candidates for removal,” says Andersen.

Other factors to consider when determining if a tree is worth saving:

• Species – Is this type of tree prone to pests and other problems?
• Age – Is the tree mature or over-mature?
• Vigor – What health condition was the tree in before the damage?
• Value it adds to the property – Does the tree still have value, even if partially damaged?
• Sentimental value – Is the tree a living monument?

If a tree is not worth saving, remove it as soon as possible.  If it is not removed and the tree dies, it could become a hazard tree.  Removal of hazard trees is dangerous to the tree care crew and requires special techniques, adding to the cost.

Call your Wachtel Certified Arborist t0 determine the best course of action

Hiring the right pruning professional is critical for the health of your trees and safety of your home, according to industry experts and highly rated Angie’s List tree service companies.  Both the Tree Care Industry Association and the International Society of Arboriculture educate and oversee tree care experts, albeit in different capacities.

ISA certification recognizes individuals who have years of experience, passed a comprehensive exam, and continue their education every three years. “Certification is an assurance for the homeowner that the person they hired knows what’s best for their trees,” says ISA spokeswoman Sonia Garth, The group also offers professional memberships (not to be confused with certification) for an annual fee to keep affiliates informed of industry news.

TCIA accreditation is awarded to companies that adhere to a checklist of items that include ethical business practices, consumer satisfaction and maintaining an ISA-certified arborist on staff.  “TCIA requires companies to meet industry standards for performance of tree care and safety.” says spokeswoman Amy Tetreault. “it’s a national program that has routine on-site inspections and a complaint response system.”

ISA-certified arborists and TCIA accredited companies must also follow a code of ethics. Tree topping violates national pruning standards, therefore even advertising topping services could be considered an unethical practice, according to Garth. “If a customer files a complaint, there’s an arbitration process and if it’s a true violation of ethics, that professional’s certification could be revoked,” she says.

Prune in Winter, Reduce the Spread of Oak Wilt

Winter is a food time for tree pruning, according to state forestry specialists, who say winter pruning greatly reduces the likelihood of spreading oak wilt and other tree diseases, and it also minimizes pruning stress on trees.

“The best time to prune trees in Wisconsin is during winter when a tree is dormant,” according to Don Kissinger, an urban forester with the Department of Natural Resources. “Insects and diseases that could attack an open wound on a pruned tree aren’t active in winter. And without leaves, broken, cracked or hanging limbs and branch structure are easy to see and prune.”

Timing is especially critical for pruning oak trees in order to limit the spread of oak wilt, a devastating fungal disease of oaks that has been present in the state for probably a century or longer. Oak wilt fungus spreads from tree to tree by “hitchhiking” on sap-feeding beetles that are attracted to freshly pruned or injured trees and root grafts between neighboring trees.

“Oak wilt causes the water-and nutrient conducting channels in the tree to plug up and fail,” explains Kyoko Scanlon, DNR forest health specialists. “Once a tree is infected, water and stored nutrients can’t move upward from the root system, and that causes the tree’s leaves to wilt and fall.  The tree dies shortly afterward in some species of oak.

“Red oaks, which include red, pin, and black oak, are particularly vulnerable to oak wilt. Once wilting symptoms appear, trees in the red oak group die very quickly, often within a month.”

Oak wilt is found mainly in the southern two-thirds of Wisconsin. It has also been found in Barron, Burnett, Florence, Langlade, Marinette, and Polk Counties.

Both Kissinger and Scanlon said prevention is the best defense against this disease.  The only other treatment options are costly fungicide applications or trenching between healthy and infested trees in order to sever connected roots.

DNR foresters recommend people stop pruning, wounding, or cutting oak trees in urban setting from April through July. A more cautious approach limits pruning in urban areas until October 1.

“The most critical time for oak wilt infection being spread by insects is the spring and early summer,” Scanlon said. “On some years, spring comes much earlier than we expect.  If daytime temperatures begin to reach the 50-degree Fahrenheit mark, stop pruning oaks at that time, even if it’s still the middle of March.”

Co,,unities where oak wilt disease is a problem include Adams, Baraboo, Black River Falls, Durand, Eau Claire, Fort McCoy, Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Menomonee, Mosinee, Onalasks, Richland Center, Shawano, Stevens Point, and Waupaca.

More importantly, dormant pruning is preventive health care for your trees.  It can improve tree structure and helps to protect you and your property from safety concerns.  The dormant season (late Fall and Winter) is also the only time Oaks and Elms can be pruned due to the possibility of transmission of Oak Wilt and Dutch Elm disease in the other seasons.

Our Certified Arborists are experts in pruning for tree health and beauty.  Call our office at 262-538-1900 (or reply to this email) to schedule pruning for the coming months.

by Jean Ferdinandsen, Certified Arborist WI-0149A

Since the spring of 2008, Wachtel has been performing the duties of Village Forester for the Village of Fox Point.

John Gall is using his 20 years of municipal experience to work with the village four to six hours per week.

We are able to provide technical skills without the village having to hire a full-time person.

As a result, Fox Point can save money and still have years of experience at work.

John is using his skills to keep the street trees healthy and to protect the sensitive bluff areas running through the Village.

By Jeff Wilson

Wachtel Tree Science

Certified Arborist #IL0099a

It is not to late to mulch. If your mulch is thin at the base of plants, top dress before winter. Mulch will insulate the roots, moderating temperature extremes; maintain soil moisture and control weeds next season. Long term as mulches biodegrade they add organic matter to the soil, building better soils. Proper mulching is one of the best things we can do for our trees. Keep mulch about two inches away from the trunks and stems, mulch the soil and root system – not the trunk!

By Bill Reichenbach

Wachtel Tree Science

Certified Arborist WI-0188