Soil Compaction = Not Good for Trees
Soil compaction is a big no-no for trees. When soil is compacted (above left graphic), water and oxygen cannot get to the vital root system of the tree. Water will collect on the surface and evaporate since it is unable to penetrate the soil. Seeing as trees need water and oxygen to live, compacted soil can quickly and severely impact the health of a tree.
Soil compaction is a big no-no for trees. When soil is compacted (above left graphic), water and oxygen cannot get to the vital root system of the tree. Water will collect on the surface and evaporate since it is unable to penetrate the soil. Seeing as trees need water and oxygen to live, compacted soil can quickly and severely impact the health of a tree.
DID YOU KNOW?
80% of a tree’s absorption roots are in the top 12” of the soil. That is way soil compaction is so detrimental to a tree’s health.
AirSpade in Action
To treat this issue we often recommend a Root Zone Invigoration which is performed by using a supersonic air tilling tool (called an AirSpade) that infuses organic matter into the soil and alleviates compaction around mature trees and shrubs. The result (above right graphic) is a greatly improved environment for your trees to thrive - beautifully tilled soil with all critical fibrous roots still intact.
Check out the below animations which illustrate how water interacts with soil before and after a Root Zone Invigoration:
BEFORE
AFTER
Kenny Greer | Marketing Director, Russell Tree Experts
Kenny graduated from The Ohio State University with a BFA in Photography. He enjoys photography, graphic design, improv comedy, movies (except for the scary ones), and spending time with his wife and 2 kids.
Tree ID Quizzes
We’re always looking for fun and exciting ways to educate our employees and customers. Below are two quizzes we initially made for our crews to improve their tree identification skills — now we’re making them available to you! Don’t worry if you get a question wrong, you’ll be informed of the correct answer right after each question! The quizzes feature over 40 common trees to central Ohio so you’ll be able to walk outside and quickly apply what you’ve learned.
TREE ID QUIZZES
We’re always looking for fun and exciting ways to educate our employees and customers. Below are two quizzes we initially made for our crews to improve their tree identification skills — now we’re making them available to you! Don’t worry if you get a question wrong, you’ll be informed of the correct answer right after each question! The quizzes feature over 40 common trees to central Ohio so you’ll be able to walk outside and quickly apply what you’ve learned. Feel free to take the quizzes over-and-over again until you’re a tree ID master! :)
Kenny Greer | Marketing Director, Russell Tree Experts
Kenny graduated from The Ohio State University with a BFA in Photography. He enjoys photography, graphic design, improv comedy, movies (except for the scary ones), and spending time with his wife and 2 kids.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side (no, really!)
When people in Japan coined the term ‘shinrin-yoku’ in 1982, they likely weren’t inspired by Lou Reed’s now classic 1972 hit. But shinrin-yoku, which translates in english to ‘forest bathing’, is a practice that takes us back to our wild side, back to experiencing the calming and healing qualities of the forest and all of the plants and animals that reside there.
Please note: This article was originally published on 5/13/2019 and was republished on 5/20/2021.
When people in Japan coined the term ‘shinrin-yoku’ in 1982, they likely weren’t inspired by Lou Reed’s now classic 1972 hit. But shinrin-yoku, which translates in english to ‘forest bathing’, is a practice that takes us back to our wild side, back to experiencing the calming and healing qualities of the forest and all of the plants and animals that reside there.
Forest bathing, also commonly called forest therapy or nature therapy, is a practice that involves spending time in a natural setting like a forest, and allowing our minds to slow down and set aside the “to do” list. We’re not literally bathing, but instead “soaking” in all of our surroundings. Scientific research has shown significant and remarkable health benefits from this practice, and some research suggests that the compounds and essential oils that are released by trees contribute to these benefits. These include decreased blood pressure, lower levels of cortisol (stress hormone) and an increased ability to focus.
Have you ever heard the expression “spend more time being, not doing”? In forest bathing, we look to spend time being - being present to all that’s around us, and taking in the forest and nature through all of our senses. The sights, sounds, smells, and tactile experiences we find in the forest are uniquely wild. Even our sense of taste can be entertained with many edible wild foods.
While forest bathing as a growing trend is joining the ranks of other mindfulness practices like yoga, tai chi, and meditation, the concept of reconnecting to the natural world is anything but new. Over a hundred years ago, Henry David Thoreau wrote in his essay titled ‘Walking’:
“At present, in this vicinity, the best part of the land is not private property; the landscape is not owned, and the walker enjoys comparative freedom. But possibly the day will come when it will be partitioned off into so-called pleasure-grounds, in which a few will take a narrow and exclusive pleasure only--when fences shall be multiplied, and man-traps and other engines invented to confine men to the public road, and walking over the surface of God's earth shall be construed to mean trespassing on some gentleman's grounds. To enjoy a thing exclusively is commonly to exclude yourself from the true enjoyment of it. Let us improve our opportunities, then, before the evil days come.”
Consider that Thoreau wrote this in the mid 1800s and was already compelled to express his view on the ill-effect of urban settings and a loss of connection to the natural world. Fast forward to present day, where the natural places seem less and less, and technology and the pace it requires of us becomes more and more. Stepping away from our phones and computers and into natural surroundings - even for just a short time - gives us the chance to reconnect with a simpler, slower and more peaceful world.
In central Ohio, we are fortunate to have so many wonderful Metro Parks that offer up natural settings and scenery. Take advantage of this time of year, when the forests and fields are filled with plants bursting with new foliage and eager to impress with showy and fragrant flowers. And before you set out on your trek into the woods, consider this bit of advice: silence your phone when you get there and commit to not using it, especially for pictures. There’s a good chance that when you pull out your phone to capture a photo of that patch of moss, red-tailed hawk, or a peculiar mushroom growing on a stump, an email, text or some notification is waiting to take you away from that present, mindful moment.
To quote Thoreau in ‘Walking’ once more,
“What business have I in the woods, if I am thinking of something out of the woods?”
Walter Reins | Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
Walter has been an ISA Certified Arborist since 2003. He graduated from Montgomery College in Maryland with a degree in Landscape Horticulture, and has called Columbus, OH his home for nearly 20 years. Walter appreciates trees for their majesty and the critical role they play in our world.
A New Favorite: Blackhaw Viburnum
My palette of favorite trees is always changing. This spring, while I was hiking in Noble county’s Wolf Run State park another woody plant found its way onto my list: Blackhaw viburnum, Viburnum prunifolium. I have admired this plant for years for being native, for its adaptability, ease of establishment, its ability to easily naturalize into new areas, and because it provides forage for birds, bees and butterflies. I have observed Blackhaw viburnum in arboreta, gardens, and native area across the state but this past weekend it really stood out to me in the woods amongst the redbuds, dogwoods and other spring flowering plants.
A New Favorite: Blackhaw Viburnum
By TJ Nagel
My palette of favorite trees is always changing. This spring, while I was hiking in Noble county’s Wolf Run State park another woody plant found its way onto my list: Blackhaw viburnum, Viburnum prunifolium. I have admired this plant for years for being native, for its adaptability, ease of establishment, its ability to easily naturalize into new areas, and because it provides forage for birds, bees and butterflies. I have observed Blackhaw viburnum in arboreta, gardens, and native area across the state but this past weekend it really stood out to me in the woods amongst the redbuds, dogwoods and other spring flowering plants.
I observed some that were shrubbier in appearance like typical viburnum and others that had grown into small trees, reminiscent of Hawthorn (as pictured). The flowers were a beautiful creamy white, the foliage a lustrous green and the bark stood out with interesting characteristics that reminded me of mature Black Tupelo or Persimmon. The sun was shining, and the pollinators were out - it was a perfect afternoon in the woods.
I think this is an important plant to consider for those of you with wooded sites and for folks looking for native plants to add to their landscape. Blackhaw viburnum can be used as a specimen tree, in shrub borders or in groupings. I see it thriving in full sun to full shade and it could make a great replacement plant for anyone working to eradicate amur honeysuckle, privet, burning bush or autumn olive from native areas. The flowers give way to a pinkish fruit that matures in late summer to a bluish black edible drupe that can be appreciated by both wildlife and humans. This fall I’m going to try my hand at viburnum pie - I’ll let you know how it comes out.
On a separate note - check out this small garter snake I found sunbathing in my weeping Serbian spruce. It was about four feet off the ground and sat in this spot for several hours while I worked around it in the garden.
Weeping Serbian Spruce (with guest)
TJ Nagel | Production Manager, Russell Tree Experts
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-6298A // Graduated from The Ohio State University in 2012, Earned B.S. in Agriculture with a major in Landscape Horticulture and minor in Entomology // Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) // Russell Tree Experts Arborist Since 2010
5,000 Trees Planted!
Last Friday (April 26th, 2019) was Arbor Day and to celebrate, all of us at Russell Tree Experts teamed up to give back to the central Ohio environment by planting 5,000 trees (via our TREE FOR A TREE® program) at Scioto Grove Metro Park. The section at Scioto Grove Metro Park that received the trees is a donated addition that park managers are actively working to reforest. For decades the land was used for farming crops; in the future, the area will be a lush forest to be enjoyed by the community.
Last Friday (April 26th, 2019) was Arbor Day and to celebrate, all of us at Russell Tree Experts teamed up to give back to the central Ohio environment by planting 5,000 trees (via our TREE FOR A TREE® program) at Scioto Grove Metro Park. The section of Scioto Grove Metro Park that received the trees is a donated addition that park managers are actively working to reforest. For decades the land was used for farming crops; in the future, the area will be a lush forest to be enjoyed by the community.
A breakdown of the 5,000 trees planted at Scioto Grove Metro Park on April 26, 2019 (Arbor Day)
It was an awesome experience seeing our team come together on Arbor Day. Our typical work days consist of operating in small teams of 2-3 people while on Arbor Day we had the majority of our employees (including our field and office staff) working together at one location! #TeamBuilding!
We created the TREE FOR A TREE© program in the winter of 2017 — as a result of our company wanting to offset the many trees we remove each year. It’s an unfortunate but necessary part of the tree service industry that many trees need to be removed each year, therefore, we decided that creating this program where we plant a tree for every tree we remove would be a great way to “KEEP OHIO GREEN” (see t-shirt).
Visit treeforatree.com to learn more about the program. You can nominate a planting location, sign-up to be a planting volunteer, see an interactive map of our planting locations, and more!
Thank you! Comment below with any questions you may have!
Kenny Greer | Marketing Director, Russell Tree Experts
Kenny graduated from The Ohio State University with a BFA in Photography. He enjoys photography, graphic design, improv comedy, movies (except for the scary ones), and spending time with his wife and 2 kids.
Floral Designs with Flowering Trees
Spring! We made it through the monochrome silence of winter and now, suddenly, spring clashes with a crescendo of color and I just can’t wait to get my hands on the proof, the promise of life - flowers. I love watching while tree and flower friends wake up from their long, quiet naps. Every year I am sure I am the first to greet them. Hello, my beautiful friends!
Floral Designs with Flowering Trees
By Shari Russell
Spring! We made it through the monochrome silence of winter and now, suddenly, spring clashes with a crescendo of color and I just can’t wait to get my hands on the proof, the promise of life - flowers. I love watching while tree and flower friends wake up from their long, quiet naps. Every year I am sure I am the first to greet them. Hello, my beautiful friends!
My true love for flowers officially began in 2001 when I started working in a busy flower shop in downtown Boston. The concept of creating art with living materials was and is so exciting to me. Creating a flower arrangement is like building a mini garden in its prime. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful. Say it again, It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful! A flower arrangement (much like a garden) is fleeting, ephemeral, a snapshot of existence. Just enjoy it while it lasts, it will be different tomorrow.
Below is a step-by-step tutorial on how to create a centerpiece with spring flowering tree branches as a base. This poem by E.E. Cummings fits so well in my arborist/florist's heart. I hope it inspires you to gather some flower friends this spring and say hello. I would love to see your creations!
Spring is like a perhaps hand
by E. E. Cummings, 1894 - 1962
III
spring is like a perhaps
Hand in a window
(carefully to
and fro moving New and
Old things, while
people stare carefully
moving a perhaps
fraction of flower here placing
an inch of air there) andwithout breaking anything.
Spring is like a perhaps hand
(which comes carefully
out of Nowhere)arranging
a window, into which people look(while
people stare
arranging and changing placing
carefully there a strange
thing and a known thing here)andchanging everything carefully
Step 1
Tips Before We Begin
Floral Design is a Living Sculpture
As you go through the process of creating your floral sculpture keep these tips in mind:
Work in clusters
Create layers of blooms to build depth of field
Odd number groupings are pleasing to the eye
Negative space is important to let the eye rest
Helpful tools
A lazy susan similar to this one can be very helpful in accessing your arrangement as you build.
My favorite hand pruners for floral design and light yard work are the Japanese made Saboten 1210 Thinning Shear.
Green chicken wire or a floral frog and adhesive. I personally try to avoid floral foam while designing as most foam products are not environmentally friendly.
Step 2
Gather
Collect blooms and branches that complement each other. Working with one or two tones of the same color is an easy way to define the mood of your design. All of the plant materials I used I collected from our family farm.
Included in this design: Honeysuckle foliage, Crabapple, Korean Spice Viburnum, Redbud, Yellow dogwood, Flowering quince, Lenten rose, Ostrich fern, Solomons seal, and Daffodil
Step 3
Find Your Vessel/Vase
Secure it with a wire frame, preferably a floral frog (adhered with floral putty) or chicken wire rolled in a loose ball and add water.
Step 4
“Green Up” your vessel
Add large woody stems of foliage first to create a backbone for the design and to provide structure for more delicate blooms to rest. Keep turning your arrangement as you build to maintain balance. It’s easy to get focused on one side.
Included in this step: Honeysuckle
Step 5
Line Flowers: Work from the outside in
Leaving space in the center of the arrangement helps the design stay light and airy, like an actual garden. Use the branches that are most linear to create the structure of the design.
Included in this step: Crabapple + Flowering Quince
Step 6
Add focal blooms
Focal blooms are the heavy hitters of the design. It’s where the eye will be drawn first. Place these blooms at varying heights, creating high points and low points.
Included in this step: Korean Spice Viburnum (Its scent rivals the lilac in deliciousness!) + Lenten rose - my all time favorite flower
Step 7
Layer in filler flowers
Filler flowers are more delicate and tend to offer the texture a design seeks. Fuller, multi-stemmed blooms (such as or single, smaller blooms (such as ranunculus or sweet pea) are excellent filler flowers.
Included in this step: Solomon seal + Daffodil
** TIPS **
For hellebores (aka the Lenten Rose): to prevent the flowers from wilting slice lengthwise along the stem. This will allow more water to flow to the flower and your bloom will last significantly longer.
For daffodils: when cut, daffodils secrete a sap that can shorten the lifespan of other flower types in the same vase. To avoid this problem, place the cut daffodils in a separate vase for 30 minutes before adding them to the mixed arrangement.
Step 8
Add Some Magic
Small touches like a perfectly blooming redbud stem help make the arrangement extra special.
Included in this step: Redbud
Step 9
ENJOY!
Look at your arrangement from all angles. Check for balance and harmony. Ask yourself if each flower is being seen.
Remember - it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.
Books to Inspire
I would love to see some of your spring arrangements by posting your photo on Instagram/Facebook and tag @RussellTreeExperts! Here are some of my favorite floral design books to further help inspire:
Flower House Detroit by Heather Saunders
Flowers Every Day by Florence Kennedy
Foraged Flora by Louesa Roebuck & Sarah Lonsdale
In Full Flower by Gemma & Andrew Ingalls
Bringing Nature Home by Ngoc Minh Ngo
Foraged Flower Arranging by Rebekah Clark Moody
Shari Russell | Managing Member & Co-Owner, Russell Tree Experts
Shari Russell graduated magna cum laude from The Ohio State University with a Bachelors in Landscape Horticulture and Cultural Anthropology. She is a member of the International Society of Arboriculture and has been a Certified Arborist since 2008. She is currently preparing for the June 2019 LSAT.
Mulch Mounds! Oh My!
Two days ago I stopped by the local gas station/grocery store compound around sunrise to replenish my truck’s fuel tank. As I drove on the service road passing the commercial property I felt something strange tugging at my peripheral vision, like large chocolate chips dotting the edge of my field of view. I took my eyes off the road for a moment, and sure enough, seemingly overnight the landscape had changed. It was as if a very large community of rodents had decided to move in and dig burrows in the landscape, leaving all the soil in regular mounds, perfectly spaced on the lawn. The next moment I saw that each mound had a tree growing out of it. Then the colors of breaking dawn also brought the light of knowledge to me as I realized “It’s spring, and the mulch mounders are at it again”.
WATCH OUT FOR MULCH MOUNDS
By José Fernández
Please note: This article was originally published on 4/15/2019 and was republished on 4/8/2021.
Two days ago I stopped by the local gas station/grocery store compound around sunrise to replenish my truck’s fuel tank. As I drove on the service road passing the commercial property I felt something strange tugging at my peripheral vision, like large chocolate chips dotting the edge of my field of view. I took my eyes off the road for a moment, and sure enough, seemingly overnight the landscape had changed. It was as if a very large community of rodents had decided to move in and dig burrows in the landscape, leaving all the soil in regular mounds, perfectly spaced on the lawn. The next moment I saw that each mound had a tree growing out of it. Then the colors of breaking dawn also brought the light of knowledge to me as I realized “It’s spring, and the mulch mounders are at it again”.
You know when these mysterious beings have been in your neighborhood because all of a sudden trees look like they decided to burst fully formed out of the soil, shouldering through the earth’s crust, leaving it mounded up at the base of their trunk. You know you have been visited by a very dedicated contingent of mounders when even telephone poles or street signs are enjoying the benefits of multiplying mulch. (Yes, though this sight was unrecorded, I have heard eyewitnesses testify to it).
Please forgive my attempts at humor. It really is light-hearted, and I bear no ill will to the people who deliver the mulch so generously. As an arborist, I do take issue with the practice itself though, for three main reasons that perhaps are not immediately evident to those trying to do a good deed:
The mulch mound around the base of this tree has caused new roots to grow around the root flare. These new roots are now girdling (choking) the tree causing it to decline (see lack of leaves/growth in the crown of the tree).
Mulch can create a hardened hydrophobic layer that actually sheds water. This effect is made worse when the mulch is mounded in a way that directs water away from the root crown of a tree, where all the roots are on a newly planted tree.
When the root crown is buried in such thick mulch, new roots start forming, trying to grow up to a more favorable place (the surface), where water and oxygen are more readily available. While they grow, they will likely stay contained within the mulch ring, which can contribute to a circular pattern of growth, causing girdling of the stem in later years. (See photo).
When enough water is provided to saturate the mulch, moisture will persist for longer periods of time around the trunk tissue. This, combined with warm temperatures from the composting process, provides a favorable environment for pathogens like bacteria and fungi to develop and cause disease.
Bad vs. Good mulching techniques // Proper mulching around a tree keeps the root flare visible while having about 2 inches of mulch depth on the root zone.
Why do we mulch anyway? For very good reasons. Established mulch rings help keep weeds away, help maintain moisture levels, provide organic matter for the soil (improving both chemistry and structure), and maintain a clear zone where mowers will not enter and cause soil compaction or mechanical damage to the tree. Like anything else in life, any good thing carried to an extreme usually ceases being a good thing. Overmulching actually defeats some of the reasons for mulching to begin with!
There you have it. Even the topic of mulch leads to a basic principle in life: Too much of a good thing… can lead away from what is good.
Here’s another one: Mulch mounders are people too, and I can live alongside them in peace as fellow human beings. But the practice of mounding mulch makes life difficult for trees. They can’t run away, they can’t open up their mouth and bawl for help. So I have to speak up for them if I can.
And I can.
Thank you for reading! I appreciate your comments and your thoughts.
Your friendly neighborhood arborist,
José Fernández | Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
José became an ISA Certified Arborist® in 2004, and a Board-Certified Master Arborist® in 2015. Currently he is enrolled at The Ohio State University pursuing a Master’s Degree in Plant Health Management. José likes working around trees because he is still filled with wonder every time he walks in the woods. José has worked at Russell Tree Experts since 2012.
Welcome Back, Walter!
I want to take a moment to share a couple exciting things with you that are happening at Russell Tree Experts this spring. As of April 1, 2019, I am proud to be the new Production Manager of Russell Tree Experts. I now will be working with clients to schedule jobs, and working with all of our crews to ensure an efficient, safe, educational, fun and productive work environment. I look forward to continuing to answer your questions and hearing your feedback…
I want to take a moment to share a couple exciting things with you that are happening at Russell Tree Experts this spring. As of April 1, 2019, I am proud to be the new Production Manager of Russell Tree Experts. I now will be working with clients to schedule jobs, and working with all of our crews to ensure an efficient, safe, educational, fun and productive work environment. I look forward to continuing to answer your questions and hearing your feedback. While I transition into this new position, the newest member of our team, Walter Reins, will be taking over my former position as Regional manager. Many of you have worked with Walter in the past as he helped build our Tree Wellness program from 2011 - 2012 and worked with many of our clients in the downtown area to manage their tree needs.
For those of you have not had the pleasure, Walter has been an ISA Certified Arborist since 2003. He loves all things outdoors and is an avid fisherman and plant enthusiast. Walter appreciates trees for their beauty and the critical role they play in our world, and he believes that the greatest lesson trees have to teach us (which is also one of his favorite quotes) is that “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” Walter is also a lifelong student of movement arts and teaches Yoga and Tai Chi.
We are very fortunate to be able to add him to our roster of rockstars.
TJ Nagel | Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-6298A // Graduated from The Ohio State University in 2012, Earned B.S. in Agriculture with a major in Landscape Horticulture and minor in Entomology // Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) // Russell Tree Experts Arborist Since 2010
Tree Law: "Who Owns This Tree?"
First and most importantly, I am not an attorney. What I am is a concerned business owner who has an interest in the law. Having recently read Arboriculture and the Law co-authored by Victor D. Merullo and Michael J. Valentine, I am inclined to share my findings in hopes of answering a few common questions we receive every year dealing with liability basics and the general risks associated with tree ownership.
Boundary Line Tree: Neither of the property owners is at liberty to cut the [boundary line] tree without the consent of the other.
First and most importantly, I am not an attorney. What I am is a concerned business owner who has an interest in the law. Having recently read Arboriculture and the Law co-authored by Victor D. Merullo and Michael J. Valentine, I am inclined to share my findings in hopes of answering a few common questions we receive every year dealing with liability basics and the general risks associated with tree ownership.
“Who, in fact, owns this tree?” is a question our company is faced with each and every day. Tree ownership is a big deal. Owning a tree makes one responsible for the potential (and actual) damage caused by that tree if it fails, but when? What about when trees fail in severe weather events or the most baffling, when a tree that shows no signs of stress or decay uproots and fails anyway? All these questions are even more challenging when a tree grows directly on a property line or is encroaching on a neighbor’s property. If undesirable limbs, which originate from an adjoining neighbor’s tree, hang over your property line, what rights do you have in removing them? According to the authors’ research, some. “May I treat an ash tree to protect against the Emerald Ash Borer if the majority of the tree is located on my neighbor's property?” Good question. The answer: yes, and no.
Trees that grow directly on a property line (split directly down the middle) are called boundary line trees and are owned by both property owners as “tenants in common.” According to the authors, “neither of the property owners is at liberty to cut the [boundary line] tree without the consent of the other, nor to cut away the part which extends into the property owner’s land if the injury would result to the common property in the tree” (Merullo, Valentine, 1992, p. 24). For instance, if one of the tenants in common is to perform work to the tree which results in death to the tree, that may lead to legal consequences initiated by the other tenant. So although it may be tempting, one cannot simply cut the tree down the middle without expecting one fierce legal headache. Often times property lines are not clearly defined and it can be difficult for arborists to determine if a tree exists between two properties. When in doubt, before signing a tree contractor’s contract accepting full ownership, speak to your neighbor(s) and get written permission prior to any work to a boundary line tree. Maybe offer them warm chocolate chip cookies first.
Tenants in common of boundary line trees must respect the joint ownership of the tree completely whereas a tree that is not directly on the property line has different implications. “It is generally held that when a neighboring landowner’s tree limb hangs over an adjoining landowner’s property, the adjoining property owner has an absolute right to cut the tree limbs off the tree up to the property line” (Merullo, Valentine, 1992, p. 33). We often tell clients to imagine an imaginary vertical line (as if Luke Skywalker was pointing his lightsaber directly to the stars) running along the property line. All plant material that is on the client's side of the lightsaber, may be removed with confidence. However, a challenging issue we often face is the practicality of performing the tree work without the necessity of accessing the neighbor’s (non-client's) property. This can be especially hard when said neighbor may or may not be that into Star Wars if you know what I mean. We must respect private property and avoid trespassing at all times; as a result, there have been a handful of jobs we have not been able to commit to because the work could not be safely done without gaining access (and permission) to the adjoining property.
The Luke Skywalker property line pruning method
The issue of trespassing also weighs heavily in regards to Tree Wellness applications. As mentioned earlier, trees that are close to property lines can be difficult to treat properly without consent from both property owners. Perhaps the health of a beautiful ash tree that hangs over a property line is extremely important to one neighbor and not at all to the other - our arborists may only be able to treat the tree with trunk injections from one side, which means the tree may not be getting the best preventative care. The same goes for deep root fertilization which is ultimately beneficial if applied around the entire drip line of the tree canopy. Again, possibly improving one’s baking skills may lead to healthier, happier trees? It’s worth a try.
Our American beech tree that recently succumbed to high winds
Even if one crosses every t and dots every i, some things are beyond all control. I have seen it first hand in my own woods; large mature trees which look perfectly healthy one day are lying on the forest floor the next (see photo). Two certified arborists in one house, taking every precaution to protect family, property and the public and yet massive winds or sudden soil erosion uproot trees around us. Nature is unpredictable even to the trained eye, however what I read in chapter ten of the book was reassuring: “the landowner is exempt from liability for injuries caused by trees resulting from natural conditions, but the landowner will be responsible for injuries which the landowner could have taken measures to prevent” (Merullo, Valentine, 1992, p. 91). This is important because although some tree failures cannot be predicted, just like the weather, many are avoidable with the help of an educated, experienced arborist. Simply planting a tree properly in the right location can be the difference between long-lasting health and increased liability.
I can recall a serious tree failure in a Worthington neighborhood a few years ago. A very large, mature Siberian Elm tree suddenly uprooted and slammed to the street blocking traffic in both directions. This was and is a street children ride their bikes up and down and that I pushed a stroller along nearly every day. The reason the tree most likely failed? A paved driveway was installed too close to the trunk of the tree, cutting off and smothering the vital root system that exists in the top twelve inches of soil. It may take years before the compression from asphalt and the lack of water to roots from construction projects lead to catastrophe, which is a daunting reality for the unsuspecting homeowner. On a warm summer day after a night of heavy rain, the elm tree totally failed. By sheer luck (or perhaps a bi-conditional “act of God” ?), no one was injured.
Our team has collectively seen many unfortunate tree related situations which have helped us communicate the importance of knowing what it really means to own a tree. There are a few simple measures a homeowner can take to demonstrate an awareness of the risks associated with tree ownership and by doing so hopefully eliminate a great deal of legal stress. For instance, learning how to properly protect trees during construction or if installing a cabling system may mitigate the potential for tree failure under increased stress (from wind and/or ice) can be determined through a discussion with an experienced arborist.
Lastly, it may seem obvious that we begin all tree work with a signed contract from the person, company or municipality that hired us which states the client(s) have sole ownership of all trees listed on the quote however language clarifying this responsibility is not only to release Russell Tree Experts from liability, but because we recognize the work we do cannot be reversed. I hear Joe Russell often saying, “the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.” As avid tree lovers, we recognize and appreciate that adage more than most. Mature, healthy trees are highly valuable and hard to come by. A personal goal of mine is for each of our clients to be able to look out their windows, gaze at their gorgeous trees and smile, big. If that isn’t possible yet, again with the cookies.
Shari Russell | Managing Member & Co-Owner, Russell Tree Experts
Shari Russell graduated magna cum laude from The Ohio State University with a Bachelors in Landscape Horticulture and Cultural Anthropology. She is a member of the International Society of Arboriculture and has been a Certified Arborist since 2008. She is currently preparing for the June 2019 LSAT.
Watch Out for Girdled Trees!
Quite regularly I encounter trees that are being girdled by some sort of material, mostly guy wires or straps installed during planting, and subsequently forgotten. Sometimes there are other things that catch me by surprise. Usually these are things placed by people and never maintained. For this article I will start with the most common girdling issue and then mention some of the other items.
Quite regularly I encounter trees that are being girdled by some sort of material, mostly guy wires or straps installed during planting, and subsequently forgotten. Sometimes there are other things that catch me by surprise. Usually these are things placed by people and never maintained. For this article I will start with the most common girdling issue and then mention some of the other items.
Illustration of a tree being girdled by a guy wire. ©Russell Tree Experts
Support Systems
There are various methods in use for supporting newly planted trees. From nylon webbing straps to wire run through hose, or just plain wire, it seems folks will reach for what is at hand to tie around a tree stem after planting to help support a tree. For this article I am not going to discuss proper guying methods. The most important thing to remember is that whatever guying system you, or someone else, has installed on your newly planted tree(s), the system should be checked periodically to make sure it is still functional without causing damage to the tree stem. Usually one season is all that is required for a tree support system installed at planting. Sometimes guying is not needed. This largely depends on whether the new tree is planted bare root or balled and burlapped.
At any rate, several times I have been called to investigate a strange phenomenon: A tree looks healthy in the lower part of the canopy, but the upper part is turning yellow and dying. On closer inspection, I will find the remains of a guy wire (or two, or three) buried into the tree stem, clearly marking the boundary between healthy tree below and strangled tree above. If I can remove the material the recovery of the tree is quite dramatic. If the material is too buried to be reached, tree survival is a question of whether the tree is able to bridge over the girdling with new stem growth or not. In rarer cases I have seen trees snap off at the place where a guy wire was buried in the stem causing a structural weakness.
I see this type of injury far more often than I would like, and far too often considering how easy it is to loosen a guy wire that is still needed or remove it if it has fulfilled its function. For support systems that need to be permanent, bolts drilled into the tree are a preferable option since the tree can easily grow around the bolt indefinitely.
Other Stem Girdling Culprits
The following list is made up of other things I have seen noticeably girdling tree trunks or branches, sometimes with negative effects on tree health:
Bird feeder hooks
Swings attached with rope, wire, or chain
Nylon twine on a root ball left in place after planting
Zip lines
Christmas lights installed and never removed
Ribbon
Tree identification tags attached at the nursery
Pictured above is an Emerald Green Arborvitae that is being girdled by a fabric ribbon used to help promote proper growth of the tree when it was much younger.
Some of these might come as a surprise since one would think that the material would degrade quickly and not cause a girdling problem. With ribbon in particular, I have seen ribbon so old the color has faded away, yet there is a noticeable groove in the trunk where the tree is beginning to be girdled. When I cut the ribbon with my knife it gives way with an audible tearing or snapping sound, showing there is still a lot of strength left in it. Granted, the ribbon might actually decompose before the tree begins to suffer irreparable damage, but I left it on my list simply to illustrate that anything attached to a tree should be maintained or removed if its purpose is fulfilled.
Trees lend themselves for usefulness, decoration, and personal expression. Sometimes trees need to be supported for a time, or indefinitely. Take a walk outside and look at your trees. Is there any girdling going on? Is it time to replace or remove a guy wire? Should you use a larger hook for your bird feeder? Is there burlap or twine strangling the base of the tree? Make the adjustments! Believe me, every little thing you can do in favor of the tree counts.
Thanks for caring about your trees!
PS - Read Chris’ great article about girdling roots by clicking here!
José Fernández | Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
José became an ISA Certified Arborist® in 2004, and a Board-Certified Master Arborist® in 2015. Currently he is enrolled at The Ohio State University pursuing a Master’s Degree in Plant Health Management. José likes working around trees because he is still filled with wonder every time he walks in the woods. José has worked at Russell Tree Experts since 2012.
TJ's Top 10 Natural Bird Feeders (in Winter)
I happened across a Hawthorn downtown this past weekend who’s dormant canopy was alive with several dozen robins gorging themselves with its fruit. The birds seemed so happily preoccupied in their feast that they hardly took notice of me. When I arrived home a few minutes later, I noticed a Mockingbird cleaning out the last of the fruit on our holly outside the kitchen window. Later, when I shared these details with my wife, she informed that February is National Bird Feeding Month. Shame on me - I had no idea.
Please note: This article was originally published on 2/28/2019 and was republished on 2/4/2021.
I happened across a hawthorn downtown this past weekend whose dormant canopy was alive with several dozen robins gorging themselves with its fruit. The birds seemed so happily preoccupied in their feast that they hardly took notice of me. When I arrived home a few minutes later, I noticed a mockingbird cleaning out the last of the fruit on our holly outside the kitchen window. Later, when I shared these details with my wife, she informed that February is National Bird Feeding Month. Shame on me - I had no idea.
So in honor of our feathered friends, the following is a list of my top 10 native trees, shrubs, and vines that help to provide birds with nutrition during the winter months when food is scarce.
Thanks for reading my article. I hope to see you at my winter walk, March 16th at Jeffrey Mansion Park. Tickets are going fast so get yours before they’re sold out!
Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis
This large urban tolerant shade tree produces a small dark red to purple rounded fruit with a date-like flavor that ripens late summer/fall but is also winter persistent. The fruit is is sought after by sapsuckers, mockingbirds, cedar waxwings, robins, and bluebirds as well as small mammals. In more rural areas hackberry fruit can attract pheasant, quail, grouse and wild turkey.
American Holly
Ilex opaca
This large shrub to small/medium sized tree produces showy red fruit on female plants that are sought after by mockingbirds, thrashers, robins, wrens, warblers and woodpeckers.
Bayberry
Myrica pensylvanica
This medium sized semi-evergreen shrub produces silvery-gray berries that persist year around and that are cherished by chickadees, bluebirds, catbirds, red bellied woodpeckers and warblers.
Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana
The female of this tough and under utilized evergreen species produces a small berry-like cone that lasts late into the winter and early spring. I have observed mockingbirds, blue birds, robins and cedar waxwings taking advantage of this fruit when most other food resources are exhausted.
Oak
Quercus spp.
This stately group of trees provide winter persistent acorns feeding bluejays, woodpeckers, nuthatches, pigeons, ducks, grouse and wild turkey. Also a great food source for small mammals and white tailed deer.
Staghorn Sumac
Rhus typhina
This shrub/small tree produces spikey clusters of red berries in the fall that persist into the winter and early spring and are relished by chickadees, bluebirds, cardinal, flickers, towhees and many others
Viburnum
Viburnum spp.
Most species of viburnum produce edible fruit for birds. Our Ohio native Viburnum prunifolium, Viburnum acerifolium and Viburnum lentago have tasty fruit in the fall that is winter persistent and sought after by many overwintering birds and a early spring migrants.
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Virginia creeper is vigorous, adaptable and urban tolerant vine with winter persistent fruit that attracts thrushes, robins, catbirds, cardinals, warblers woodpeckers and many other bird species. Also has great scarlet fall color in the foliage.
Winterberry Holly
Ilex verticillata
This female of this medium sized shrub produces dense clusters of scarlet fruit that are irresistible to woodpeckers, robins, bluebirds and cedar waxwings.
Hawthorn
Crataegus spp.
This small to medium sized ornamental produces ¼” - ½” edible red fruits late summer/early fall that persist through the winter. Is a favorite late winter food source to robins, chickadees, mockingbirds and titmice.
TJ Nagel | Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-6298A // Graduated from The Ohio State University in 2012, Earned B.S. in Agriculture with a major in Landscape Horticulture and minor in Entomology // Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) // Russell Tree Experts Arborist Since 2010
Photos Credits: John Flannery / Northern Birds / Jim Stasz / Indiana Gardening / Birds and Blooms / Accents on Natural Landscapes / ODNR
New Research: Boxwood Blight Update
If you read my first installment on this relatively new disease, you will know the major difficulty of this pathogen (Calonectria pseudonaviculata) is that it infects otherwise healthy plants, and once it is at a site, removal and destruction of the infected plants is recommended, with no plant replacement for 3-5 years. This is because the spores remain in and on the soil to infect new plants. Existing asymptomatic plants were to be sprayed with fungicides to help prevent infection.
Boxwood Blight Update
By José Fernández
If you have boxwood plants, please read the following!
Last week I read an article about a new research project that tested the hypothesis that use of mulch may reduce the incidence of boxwood blight at previously infected sites.
Close-up of a boxwood (click to enlarge photo)
If you read my first installment on this relatively new disease, you will know the major difficulty of this pathogen (Calonectria pseudonaviculata) is that it infects otherwise healthy plants, and once it is at a site, removal and destruction of the infected plants is recommended, with no plant replacement for 3-5 years. This is because the spores remain in and on the soil to infect new plants. Existing asymptomatic plants were to be sprayed with fungicides to help prevent infection.
In this new study, two sites (field planting site and existing residential landscape site) were used to test the mulching hypothesis. The results at the residential site were particularly encouraging. At this site, infected plants were cut down, leaving stumps at around 15 cm in height (5.9 inches), similar to a rejuvenation or coppicing pruning. The pruned material was destroyed, but the stumps were freshly mulched to a depth of 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) in an area 2 x 2 m around the stump. Result? Complete protection (no infection) was observed the first season, and “excellent” protection the following season (low infection rate).
The authors of the study stated that the pathogen “primarily attacks leaves and stems”, and “there is no evidence to date of natural infection of boxwood roots” by this pathogen in the soil. Based on this information, recommendations for managing this disease will be summarized by the following steps, representing an integrated approach:
Above all else, do not allow new boxwood plants onto your property that are not guaranteed to be free of this pathogen by the supplier.
Any person/company working on your boxwoods must be able to guarantee that all equipment being used on the property has been cleaned and disinfected prior to entering your property to do work. Under no circumstances should debris from other properties be allowed to enter your property.
If a plant is deemed to have boxwood blight, remove the plant (bagged and dumped in trash or burned), clean away surface mulch and leaf litter, and add new mulch around the stump, periodically checking to maintain at about 3” in depth.
Remaining healthy plants should be put onto a fungicide spray program to provide topical protection for the next several seasons. Hopefully the coppiced plants will sprout vigorously and remain uninfected.
Surface irrigation (sprinklers) should be avoided near boxwood, since water splashing is one of the primary ways the spores are spread. Also, there is a positive correlation between inoculation rates and length of time foliage remains wet.
Exclusion of the pathogen will be the most important step in this program, and the more people become aware of this, the less the disease will be able to spread. Exclusion is maintained by the first two steps shown above. The mulching depth is rather more than normally recommended for plant health, but in this case the idea is to keep fungal spores from landing on stems and leaves.
Please pass this information along to anyone you know that has boxwood plants. The more people we have following exclusion principles, the less this disease will be able to spread.
Reference: Likins, T. M., Kong, P., Avenot, H. F., Marine, S. C., Baudoin, A., and Hong, C. X. 2018. Preventing soil inoculum of Calonectria pseudonaviculata from splashing onto healthy boxwood foliage by mulching. Plant Dis. 103: 357-363.
Your friendly neighborhood arborist,
José Fernández | Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
José became an ISA Certified Arborist® in 2004, and a Board-Certified Master Arborist® in 2015. Currently he is enrolled at The Ohio State University pursuing a Master’s Degree in Plant Health Management. José likes working around trees because he is still filled with wonder every time he walks in the woods. José has worked at Russell Tree Experts since 2012.
Winter Tree Walking
There is something special about the Winter season that helps me to slow down and notice the details in plants that I have overlooked before. If you had the fortune of catching José Fernández’s beautifully poetic article last week, you’ll understand my choice for brevity and pictures 😄.
There is something special about the winter season that helps me to slow down and notice the details in plants that I have overlooked before. If you had the fortune of catching José Fernández’s beautifully poetic article last week, you’ll understand my choice for brevity and pictures 😄.
Below are some high points of a walk I took this weekend in the near east side neighborhood of Woodland Park. If you enjoyed this (digital) walk today, join me in person for a winter identification walk at Jeffrey Mansion on Saturday March 16th at 11AM. Click here to learn more and get your ticket(s)!
Witchhazel
The snow-covered flowers of the Winter blooming Jelena Witchhazel, Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena.’
Horstmann’s Silberlocke Korean Fir
The upside-down new growth of Horstmann’s Silberlocke Korean Fir, Abies koreana ‘Horstmann’s Silberlocke.’
Lacebark Pine
The camo-pattern in the bark of Lacebark pine, Pinus bungeana.
Golden Rain Tree
The seed pods of Golden rain tree, Koelreuteria paniculata.
Sapsucker Damage
Yellow-bellied sapsucker damage on the trunk of Cucumber magnolia, Magnolia acuminata.
Persian Parrotia
The bark of Persian parrotia, Parrotia persica, a member of the Witchhazel family, native to the Middle-East, and an excellent four-season tree that deserves more use in the landscape.
Lichen
Lichen (that stuff on trees) on the bark of Shagbark Hickory, Carya ovata.
Japanese Stewartia & Echo
The beautiful apricot underbark of Japanese stewartia, Stewartia pseduocamellia (framing my best friend Echo).
English Boxwood
The variegated foliage of English boxwood, Buxus sempervirens ‘Variegata.’
Holly & Birch
The bright fruit of Red Sprite winterberry holly, Ilex verticillata ‘Red Sprite’ and the silvery white stems of Royal Frost birch, Betula x ‘Royal Frost.’
Paperbark Maple
The magnificent exfoliating bark of Paperbark maple, Acer griseum.
Shelf Fungi
Shelf fungi on the buttress roots of White Ash, Fraxinus americana.
Skylands Oriental Spruce
The green and yellow variegated foliage of Skylands Oriental spruce, Picea orientalis ‘Skylands.’
Coral Bark Japanese Maple
The red bark of the Coral bark Japanese maple, Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku.’ I couldn’t get the sunlight to cooperate with me for this picture but this tree is a looker and the bright young stems really stand out on a grey winter day.
American Holly
The glossy green leaves and bright red fruit of American Holly, Ilex opaca.
Hackberry
The close-up view of Hackberry bark, Celtis occidentalis. This picture reminds me of the Grand Canyon. When I look at it, I can imagine tiny people on little pack mules traveling along the ridges.
Click here to learn more and get your ticket(s) for my upcoming winter identification walk at Jeffrey Mansion on Saturday March 16th at 11AM.
TJ Nagel | Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-6298A // Graduated from The Ohio State University in 2012, Earned B.S. in Agriculture with a major in Landscape Horticulture and minor in Entomology // Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) // Russell Tree Experts Arborist Since 2010
Trees: Links to the Past and Messages into the Future
Last year my wife and I spent a week or so vacationing with family, visiting Civil War Battlefields. The time was well spent, although sobering to be on the actual soil where so many people died, not that long ago, locked in a struggle that is difficult to understand, at least for me. This article is not about the Civil War, but about two things I found there that came back to me early this year and reminded me a little bit of why I do what I do. I would like to share a bit with you. I know you are busy… Will you stop and sit with me for a moment?
Please note: This article was originally published on 1/22/2019 and was republished on 1/28/2020.
Last year my wife and I spent a week or so vacationing with family, visiting Civil War Battlefields. The time was well spent, although sobering to be on the actual soil where so many people died, not that long ago.
This article is not about the Civil War, but about two things I found there that came back to me early this year and reminded me a little bit of why I do what I do. I would like to share a bit with you. I know you are busy… Will you stop and sit with me for a moment?
Cannon shot and metal shrapnel from the Battle of Gettysburg buried in the tree trunk
The first is an object I saw in a glass case at a museum at Gettysburg. It was a portion of a tree five or six feet tall that forked into two limbs. Buried in the tree at regular intervals, all along its surface, were round cannon shot, pieces of metal shrapnel, and musket shot. It was an actual piece of a tree preserved from the battle site. I had already seen some split rail fence sections with musket balls buried in the wood, but for some reason seeing the tree riddled with metal, so much metal, hurled through the air so randomly, and with such force, made the reality of the battle crystallize in my mind. How would it have been possible for anything living to survive under such conditions? The glass case was in the middle of a walkway between two galleries, and people streamed past me, some going one way, some going the other way. I stood, transfixed by this portion of tree so full of metal. It meant something to me, many things perhaps, but thinking this through would have to happen later.
A couple of days later I found myself in one of my favorite places to be: an old house that had been repurposed into a book store. Used books upstairs, new books downstairs. I did what must be done in such a place and began to meander. Eventually I found myself looking at two books very near to each other on the same shelf: Thoreau and the Language of Trees, by Richard Higgins, and The Hidden Life of Trees, by Peter Wollheben. I flipped through the two of them. I only wanted to spend money on one, and they both beckoned to be read. Finally a page from the first book turned open and my eye channeled down to a sentence. I read it, backed up for a bit of context, and stood, transfixed once more, but in a different way than before. I am amazed that the written word can travel forward through time and show that people have always been people, and some will see what others do not while those others also see what someone else has missed. How will the world be known unless we are willing to receive from one another that which only another can give? We all live in the same world, yet we each have a truly unique and precious perspective.
Here is one such perspective, quoted from page 103, a section titled “I Recover My Spirits”:
Ah, if I could so live that there should be no desultory moment in all my life! That in the trivial season, when small fruits are ripe, my fruits might be ripe also. That I could match nature always with my moods! That in each season when some part of nature especially flourishes, then a corresponding part of me may not fail to flourish. Ah, I would walk, I would sit and sleep, with natural piety. What if I could pray aloud or to myself as I went along by the brooksides a cheerful prayer like the birds! For joy I could embrace the earth; I shall delight to be buried in it… I thank you God. I do not deserve anything. I am unworthy of the least regard, and yet I am made to rejoice. I am impure and worthless, and yet the world is gilded for my delight, holidays are prepared for me, and my path is strewn with flowers.
Journal, AUGUST 17, 1851
According to the author, it was “the sound of wind in the trees one summer day” that led Thoreau to this exalted state of mind/spirit.
On the one hand, a tree preserved in a glass case spoke to me out of the past to powerfully illustrate the (to me) previously unimaginable conditions of the battle of Gettysburg. On the other hand, a breeze blowing through a forest canopy caused Thoreau’s mind to be filled with the undeserved beauty of life on this earth and to write words that echoed within me in a hopeful way. Perhaps part of what I am trying to express for you today is that as I visit your properties looking at your trees, every now and then I come across a specimen of magnificence that has passed through several of my lifetimes and more, and yet is still there, alive, breathing, eating, drinking. In a way, living in hope that the world will remain as it has been since the tree was a seedling. As an arborist I can see how it has been battered by ice, wind, and possible disease, but it is still standing despite the scar tissue. I also know there is a very good chance it will be there long after we are gone.
In the same way, a newly planted tree stretching out eagerly to get closer to the sun has the potential to be there 200 years from now, and maybe some other person will hear the breeze moving above, catch the shifting sunlight from below, and wonder about life, and purpose; joy, peace.
Even when a tree is removed the wood is repurposed by people to make useful or beautiful things, some of which can last for centuries. Either way, whether in natural settings or not, trees live and die, taking and giving, eventually giving back all without complaint, having made the world better for their being in it.
This is why I do what I do.
We all have deadlines, and sometimes mistakes are made. We deal with the negatives with as much grace as we know to give. But sometimes as we trudge along we come to a clearing along the way, and something urges us to stop, to rest, to look about us. Conflicting thoughts appear: “this was not on the schedule”, “I have to…”.
I hope you are able to find an old tree somewhere to stop under. Breathe. Fill your lungs with life, hang onto it for a moment, and be thankful. Then smile at the next few people you run into.
Wishing you the best for 2019.
Your friendly neighborhood arborist,
José Fernández | Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
José became an ISA Certified Arborist® in 2004, and a Board-Certified Master Arborist® in 2015. Currently he is enrolled at The Ohio State University pursuing a Master’s Degree in Plant Health Management. José likes working around trees because he is still filled with wonder every time he walks in the woods. José has worked at Russell Tree Experts since 2012.
That "Stuff" Growing on Bark
As Central Ohio moves further into winter, and the majority of deciduous trees have dropped their leaves, bark becomes increasingly visible. Bark is an interesting and important characteristic for trees and tree identification. It doesn’t take long for a novice naturalist to distinguish certain tree species based almost entirely on the bark of a specimen (Beech, Hackberry, River Birch, etc.). Upon further inspection of a tree’s bark an observer might notice organisms growing on the trees bark. A large variety of fungi can be seen on the bark of deadwood in trees and is usually associated with poor health of that particular branch or the entire tree. However, fungi are not the only organism to inhabit the bark of trees.
That “stuff” growing on bark
by ISA Certified Arborist® Chris Gill
As Central Ohio moves further into winter, and the majority of deciduous trees have dropped their leaves, bark becomes increasingly visible. Bark is an interesting and important characteristic for trees and tree identification. It doesn’t take long for a novice naturalist to distinguish certain tree species based almost entirely on the bark of a specimen (Beech, Hackberry, River Birch, etc.). Upon further inspection of a tree’s bark an observer might notice organisms growing on the trees bark. A large variety of fungi can be seen on the bark of deadwood in trees and is usually associated with poor health of that particular branch or the entire tree. However, fungi are not the only organisms to inhabit the bark of trees.
Lichen (pronounced “Like-N”) is frequently seen on trees in Central Ohio and is often mistaken as a sign of a tree’s poor health. Lichen is the result of at least two different organisms living in a symbiotic relationship on the exterior of a tree’s bark. This symbiotic relationship usually consists of a fungus and green alga and/or a cyanobacterium with the filaments of the fungus making up the majority of the lichen. Lichen do not have the typical plant parts (roots, stems, leaves, cuticle, etc..) but instead attach themselves to the outer layer of a trees bark with rhizines. The rhizines are tiny hair like structures that do not penetrate into the inner bark and are harmless to the tree. The Lichen is able to photosynthesize its own food and gather moisture from the air, fog, dew drip or rain. In the vast majority of cases the lichen and tree relationship is viewed as being one of “commensalism,” where the Lichen benefit from the tree with the tree neither benefiting nor being adversely impacted by the Lichen. Lichen benefit from attaching itself to the bark of trees due to the increased availability of sunlight and it is this need for sunlight that makes Lichen really thrive on dead trees (no leaves, more light). The casual observer might infer that the cause of death was due to the Lichen; however, it’s just lichen taking advantage of the sunlight provided by the dead tree.
Lichen are an interesting organism and can grow even in the most extreme conditions. Next time you find yourself looking at a tree, keep your eye out for lichen!
Chris Gill | Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-6416A // Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) // ODA COMM. PESTICIDE LIC. #104040 // Russell Tree Experts Arborist Since 2015
A Boxwood Bummer
I wanted to dedicate this installment to Boxwood Blight, since this is a disease which has the potential to disrupt formal landscapes all across the state. The disease is fungal, and affects boxwood, especially the cultivated varieties ‘American’ and ‘Suffruticosa’. It is relatively recent in the United States, and was found in Ohio nurseries in 2011.
I wanted to dedicate this installment to Boxwood Blight, since this is a disease which has the potential to disrupt formal landscapes all across the state. The disease is fungal, and affects boxwood, especially the cultivated varieties ‘American’ and ‘Suffruticosa’. It is relatively recent in the United States, and was found in Ohio nurseries in 2011. The Ohio State University has been expecting this disease to crop up in residential landscapes, and now is beginning to see this happen. The disease is a new one for me, and I have not personally found it in any of my landscape inspections. To date, Russell Tree Experts has not applied any fungicide preventively for this issue, but we will have a plan in place for the 2019 season. My main goal in writing this article is to begin to raise awareness about this serious disease, and that it is out there.
Boxwood is a plant that many would consider to be overused in landscape design, but perhaps this is because few plants offer the characteristics that Boxwood does. It is evergreen, takes shearing well, and comes in many sizes and forms. Therefore this plant is an exceptional choice for hedges, both formal and informal, for screening or for outlining borders in a garden or landscape. The difficulty with hedges, or with mass plantings of any size, is that the loss of one plant is much more significant than in an informal grouping of trees or plants of varying species where the loss of 1-2 single plants goes unnoticed.
Years ago I helped take care of the landscape at a large private residence that had many formal plantings incorporated into its design, along with less formal groupings of trees. My stress levels were much higher when one of the formal tree arrangements was threatened by the loss of a single tree. Imagine a formal circle of mature shade trees missing one of its members due to disease or storm damage. The effect is similar to missing one tooth out of an otherwise healthy smile. Somehow the overall result of a missing tooth is not helped by the fact that there are 31 other teeth still remaining. And replacing a mature tree to fill in the gap is arguably much more difficult than replacing a missing tooth.
This is the effect Boxwood Blight could have on many, many landscapes we serve. I imagine that 8 out of 10 readers have at least one row of boxwoods somewhere in their landscape. Some of you have massive formal plantings of hundreds of boxwoods. What makes this disease different than others that have been affecting boxwood for years?
In September of this year I attended the 2018 Urban Landscape Pest Management Workshop at The Ohio State University. There, Dr. Francesca Peduto Hand introduced me to this disease with several main points that raised concern:
The disease can infect otherwise healthy plants.
When climate conditions are favorable, the disease can progress very quickly.
Infected plants must be removed and destroyed, and it is not recommended that boxwood be replanted for 3-5 years from the time the last infected plant was removed.
This is like saying you have to pull the infected tooth, and you can’t get a new tooth implanted for 3-5 years. The best defense is knowing what the symptoms are:
First there are dark spots on leaf surface and white sporulation (fungal spores) on the underside of the leaf.
These spots spread on the leaf, eventually causing defoliation.
Black, elongated cankers are evident on defoliated stems.
Unfortunately, once symptoms are found, the plant must be destroyed. The best preventive measure is to make sure any new plants coming into the landscape from the nursery are carefully inspected and approved as symptom free.
Another preventive defense is a regimen of fungicide applications. These can be costly depending on the size of the hedge and the frequency of applications. Also consider that since the applications are preventive, they need to be repeated on a seasonal basis and would have to become part of a permanent landscape budget.
A pdf with good photos and symptom descriptions authored by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station can be found here:
I leave you, dear reader, with the heartfelt wish that your landscape may remain disease free! May you draw nothing but pleasure and peace from the plants which surround you. Be wary of what may be hitching a ride into your landscape on new plants.
Your friendly neighborhood arborist,
José Fernández | Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
José became an ISA Certified Arborist® in 2004, and a Board-Certified Master Arborist® in 2015. Currently he is enrolled at The Ohio State University pursuing a Master’s Degree in Plant Health Management. José likes working around trees because he is still filled with wonder every time he walks in the woods. José has worked at Russell Tree Experts since 2012.
Blooming in the fall?!
One of my favorite things about the fall season are the flowers of our native Witchhazel. If you look carefully you may still be fortunate enough to see them. On the cold grey days of fall, when other plants have lost their color, our native Witchhazel bursts into a show of yellow flowers brightening up the landscape around them.
Blooming in the fall?!
An Often Overlooked Fall Color
One of my favorite things about the fall season are the flowers of our native Witchhazel. If you look carefully you may still be fortunate enough to see them. On the cold grey days of fall, when other plants have lost their color, our native Witchhazel bursts into a show of yellow flowers brightening up the landscape around them.
Common Witchhazel, Hamamelis virginiana, is a native small wide spreading tree (or large shrub) native to central Ohio and much of the midwest and eastern United States. It grows naturally on dry woodland slopes, in moist woods and along the banks of streams. It has a high tolerance to shade and clay soils making it a useful plant for the urban landscape. Witchhazel can be used as a focal point, shrub border, or for the wildlife garden as it provides food for birds, honeybees and the spring azure butterfly (the juvenile form feeds on the foliage).
Witchhazel will often go unnoticed by most folks until mid October when it produces its fragrant yellow strap like flowers. The flowers will normally last 4 - 6 weeks fading by December. This week, I’ve observed Witchhazel still in peak flower in client’s yards and in parks and woods around central Ohio. There is nice stand at Jeffrey Park in Bexley just North of the tennis courts I recommend checking out.
If you’ve been looking for a small tree to add to your property - consider the Common Witchhazel.
Side note: Vernal Witchhazel, Hamamelis vernalis is a native Witch Hazel of Southern Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana that flowers late winter/early spring. The nursery industry has made this plant commercially available as well as two Asian species, Hamamelis japonica and Hamamelis mollis. There are also dozens of cultivated varieties and hybrids of these species so you or someone you know may have Witchhazel that flowers at a different time or in a different color.
TJ Nagel | Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-6298A // Graduated from The Ohio State University in 2012, Earned B.S. in Agriculture with a major in Landscape Horticulture and minor in Entomology // Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) // Russell Tree Experts Arborist Since 2010
Don’t Get Fooled by the Fall Color of Conifers!
Every fall I get calls from folks concerned about yellow needles on their evergreen trees. Often times I’m told that the trees are sick or that they appear to be dying from the inside out. There are some disease and insect problems that can cause yellowing and premature loss of needles in conifers but most often what people are reporting is just normal fall color.
By TJ Nagel
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist® OH-6298B
November 13, 2025
Every fall I get calls from folks concerned about yellow needles on their evergreen trees. Often times I’m told that the trees are sick or that they appear to be dying from the inside out. There are some disease and insect problems that can cause yellowing and premature loss of needles in conifers but most often what people are reporting is just normal fall color.
Yellowing and the loss of old needles in the fall is normal for pine, spruce, arborvitae, hemlock and most evergreen conifers in the midwest. Most conifers shed their needles each year starting in late August and continue through November. Older interior needles will turn yellow while needles further out in the canopy and at the tips of branches will stay green. The yellow needles eventually drop off starting at the top of the tree and working their way to the bottom in a uniform fashion. Taxus (also called Yew) is the exception showing it’s “fall color” in mid to late spring.
Most folks understand and look forward to the fall color change in our maples, oaks, hickories and other hardwood trees — fall needle drop in conifers is as normal as leaf drop in deciduous trees.
The change in color and eventual drop of foliage is simply a physiological response to the shorter days and cooler temperatures as trees (both evergreen and deciduous) prepare themselves for the winter.
Pictured below are some of my favorite conifers showing fall color:
Please note: This article was revised on 11/12/25 and originally published on 11/28/18.
ADDITIONAL ARBOR ED™ ARTICLES!
TJ Nagel I Scheduling Production Manager, Russell Tree Experts
TJ joined Russell Tree Experts in 2012 and loves trees. He is an avid gardener and plant collector. TJ graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Agriculture with a major in Landscape Horticulture and minor in Entomology. TJ is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist® and well versed in plant pathology and tree ID.
Test Before Treatment: Soil & Tissue Testing
I find it interesting that test procedures recommended in the medical field for human health have become part of the expected methodology, but not so much in arboriculture, for tree health. As arborists, we are trained that a soil test should be done prior to recommending fertilization, for example, but I don’t know of many outfits that make soil sampling a part of their modus operandi.
Test Before Treatment
I find it interesting that test procedures recommended in the medical field for human health have become part of the expected methodology, but not so much in arboriculture, for tree health. As arborists, we are trained that a soil test should be done prior to recommending fertilization, for example, but I don’t know of many outfits that make soil sampling a part of their modus operandi. On the other side of the equation, many clients will choose not to do a soil or tissue sample when presented with the option, perhaps because of budgetary reasons. I think it is time this started to change, because knowledge of a problem is the first step toward the solution. Given an unhealthy tree, I might suspect what the problem is, but unless it is one that is readily identifiable in the field, I would rather start with the sampling than attempt a treatment.
Click here to see the 9-step soil testing process!
Fertilization is one instance where a soil sample, at minimum, should be taken. For fertilization, a tissue sample would also be good, for reasons I will get into shortly. Another instance when plant samples are usually taken is when a problem is not readily identifiable in the field, and the problem is not so developed that treatment is still a viable option. A third instance where sampling is necessary is to rule out the possibility of a disease which could spread to neighboring healthy trees. In this case even dead plants may be sampled to detect the presence of one of these pathogens if possible, and to know how to dispose of the dead plants properly.
Fertilization
In general, “tame” trees and shrubs in finished landscapes benefit from fertilization because they are growing in conditions that do not resemble where they would be growing if they were “wild”. I may not need to sample the soil in an urban landscape to know that usually the addition of organic matter is going to benefit the trees, along with the nitrogen that composted organic matter provides for growth. Also, I know that most of the soil we find in the Columbus area is a limestone based, heavy clay soil. This particular bit of knowledge has led to some confusion in particular tree treatments I am about to discuss. (If you have Pin Oak, River Birch, Maple, Sweetgum, or Sweetbay Magnolia on your property, read this section if nothing else!!) Arborists have traditionally been taught that chlorosis (yellowing foliage) in these trees is due to either a deficiency of iron or manganese in our heavy clay soils. If the tree is a Pin, Red, Shingle, or Sawtooth Oak, you treat it with iron. If the tree is a Maple or a Sweetgum, treat it with manganese. At this point in my life I don’t recall what the recommendation was for the other trees. Why not?
Chlorosis in a Red Maple
Chlorosis in a River Birch
After years of treating trees this way with very mixed results, I had the good fortune of meeting Dr. Darrah at CLC LABS. His findings over the years for our Columbus soils, related to chlorosis in these trees, have been that the problem is nearly always a manganese deficiency. To make matters even worse, giving iron to a tree that has a manganese deficiency appears to make the manganese deficiency even more pronounced. To this day I continue to be filled with satisfaction when I drive past a tree that was not responding to year after year of iron treatments, in the soil and with trunk injections and implants, to no avail, by someone else. Then, after sending soil and tissue samples to the lab, we found a surplus of iron and a dearth of manganese. The remedy? Treat aggressively with manganese. Sometimes the result is immediate, most times we see a turnaround after 2-3 seasons of treating appropriately. But what a satisfying feeling to know that we have figured out what the problem was, and now the symptoms are being reversed! To be clear, the satisfaction does not come from knowing we were right and someone else was wrong! It comes from seeing a tree that was in decline start to come back to life.
Click here to see Dr. Darrah at CLC LABS perform soil testing!
When I encounter chlorotic foliage in trees now, my top suspect for nutrient deficiency is manganese. If a tree is only beginning to show symptoms, I may recommend manganese to see if it turns around. If it does not turn around, we can sample to see what the issue is. Why take this backward approach? Maybe because I have a subconscious fear that a client may feel that I am just trying to sell additional services that are not needed. Especially if the other two arborists (from other companies) she spoke to “never recommended sampling”. And in her mind she may be thinking “Why does this arborist need to take samples? Can’t he tell what the problem is? And anyway, the other arborists said the issue was iron, not manganese.” So, since I know there is a very high chance the problem is manganese, that’s what I will recommend.
BUT, there have been a very small number of samples that came back showing some other micronutrient deficiency (or surplus), that was critical for knowing what the best treatment approach was. And this is why sampling should always take place first. I pledge to offer that as the first step in a treatment plan to each client with a sickly tree. At least then I will have done my due diligence.
As a final note for fertilization, if the time of year is right, a tissue sample is great for getting a more complete picture of what is happening in the tree. By comparing soil to tissue, we can see what is available to the tree and what is actually inside the tree. This helps with diagnosing the cause for symptoms.
Sampling for disease diagnosis, live or dying trees
There are many diseases arborists can positively identify in the field if properly trained, and they should be able and willing to show the client what they are seeing, and why it needs to be treated (or not). I still find insects that pop up sporadically that I have never seen before. Usually I can pull out the reference books back at the office and find the pest or pathogen, but if I fail at that, it is time to take a sample to the clinic. Even if an arborist had exhaustive knowledge for field identification of diseases (which is a tall order), there are certain diseases that require a specialized lab for a positive identification. In the case of live trees, one may decide that sampling is not needed due to how advanced the symptoms are. If the tree is not salvageable, perhaps sampling is not the best use of funds. But if the symptoms are those that could be of an infectious nature, threatening other live trees, sampling is paramount, and should be done promptly. Let’s look at Oak Wilt, for example.
Several years ago, Russell Tree Experts submitted the first positively identifiable sample of this disease taken from a tree in Franklin County. The year prior, a consulting arborist had turned in a positive sample from a tree in Delaware County. Oak Wilt is a disease that was known in the northeastern counties, and we were sad to see it moving into our neighborhood. However, had we not taken the samples, we would not have known the steps to take to properly dispose of the dead trees, inoculate the surrounding live trees at high risk of infection, and try to get the word out to the local arborist community. That was several years ago. Since then, more and more arborists have had positive samples, but to my chagrin, I still run into trees that I am fairly certain died of Oak Wilt but were removed willy nilly by “arborists” who maybe never even thought why the Red Oak went from live to dead in a matter of days. It takes time for word to get around, and it takes tree owners who are concerned about their trees.
I am happy to say there are several reputable, trustworthy tree care companies in the Columbus area whom I am proud to count as colleagues (and I hope they feel the same way about us!). This provides discerning clientele with plenty of good options to choose from. I am also very happy that more and more people are realizing how important the care of trees and plants is – not just for the love of their own back yard, but for the good of their neighbors. How do I know you are out there? Because you take the time to read these thoughts that flow out of my fingers into the keyboard. As I write this, early evening is coming on. I am looking out my window across a field divided by a small stream. Green grass in the foreground flows to the border of the stream, outlined in buckthorn turning yellowish green, brilliant yellow Maple on the left, defoliated Cottonwoods against the sky. Anchoring the scene on the right is a large Pin Oak turning an orange bronze. When the sun shines it lights up like fire. Across the stream a recently harvested soybean field, the color of straw. In the background, all across the window frame, stretches a native woods made up of what appears to be mostly Oak and Hickory: rusty, ruddy, yellow, gold. Above the green grass, tan straw, and tree line made of fire a sheet of sky in light gray is spread, with a hint of pink peeking through here and there.
Stop for a moment. Look around. Let peace find you, and give thanks for it. The more we notice it, the less we can take it for granted.
Your friendly neighborhood arborist,
José Fernández
José Fernández | Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
José became an ISA Certified Arborist® in 2004, and a Board-Certified Master Arborist® in 2015. Currently he is enrolled at The Ohio State University pursuing a Master’s Degree in Plant Health Management. José likes working around trees because he is still filled with wonder every time he walks in the woods.
Fear no Weevil (With Fall Systemic Insecticide)
As we prepare for another season of Fall Tree Wellness, another important insect pest to take note of is the White Pine Weevil. White Pine Weevil is a damaging pest to a broad range of conifers, including White, Scotch, Red and Austrian pine as well as Colorado blue, Norway, and Serbian spruce. Douglas-fir can also be attacked.
As we prepare for another season of Fall Tree Wellness, another important insect to take note of is White Pine Weevil. White Pine Weevil is a damaging pest to a broad range of conifers, including White, Scotch, Red and Austrian pine as well as Colorado blue, Norway, and Serbian spruce. Douglas-fir can also be attacked. White pine Weevil does the bulk of its damage to trees in the later part of the Spring, but I mention it now because we get the most successful management of this pest with a Fall application of systemic insecticide. If you have had damage from White pine weevil in the past - now is the time to take corrective action.
Adult white pine weevil spends the winter underneath dropped needles and debris, generally very close to previously infested trees. On warm days in early Spring, the adults travel to the terminal leaders of host trees and begin feeding on terminal branches. Later in Spring the adult females will mate and deposit eggs into feeding wounds. Dozens to hundreds of eggs can be deposited into one terminal leader. Eggs hatch one to two weeks later with larvae feeding downward on the inner bark of the terminal stems. Feeding continues through mid-July at which point larvae pupate in hollowed out chambers inside the stem. New adults emerge in late July - August and feed intermittently on small twigs throughout the canopy of the tree until they move to the base of the tree for overwintering shelter.
The most destructive stage of white pine weevil is the larval feeding stage which produces a conspicuous injury to the host tree by causing the new growth of the tree to wilt and die back. The affected terminal shoots wilt into a “shepherd’s crook” (see below photo) and the needles turn lighter in color before turning brown and eventually falling off. In most cases host trees are not killed. However, feeding injury stunts the growth of the tree and can also cause trees to develop poor structure with multiple new leaders forming beneath damaged areas.
Injury to white pine is generally confined to the previous season’s growth. Damage on Scotch pine and spruce will often extend downward through two or three year’s growth.
Examples of the “shepherd’s crook”
Managing The White Pine Weevil
Host plants are most attractive to White pine weevil between 3’ and 20’ in height. In June - July, look for curled or dead terminal leaders that have the appearance of a “shepherd’s crook.” These infested leaders should be pruned out of the tree and destroyed or removed from the site to attempt to eradicate the pest from the host plant.
If you have had infestations of white pine weevil in the past or have host plants in the preferred size range, a well-timed soil drench with an appropriately labeled systemic insecticide works really well at controlling this pest. This application is recommended in the Fall to allow sufficient time for uptake of the insecticide to the terminal shoots of the tree by Spring when larval feeding resumes.
TJ Nagel | Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-6298A // Graduated from The Ohio State University in 2012, Earned B.S. in Agriculture with a major in Landscape Horticulture and minor in Entomology // Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) // Russell Tree Experts Arborist Since 2010