Dear Tree Care Industry Association press release:
I think my new neighbor is an ax
murderer. It’s just a hunch I have, given that he’s kind of secretive,
twitches a lot and recently killed a guy with an axe the other night in
front of me. What should I do?
-Concerned in Carson
Dear Carson:
You may think that the approach of the end of the growing season
means you can stop worrying about the trees in your landscape. Think
again! Fall is one of the best times to examine the safety and health
of your trees, say experts in tree care. Why? With the leaves off,
cracks, defects and deadwood are easier to see. Also, with winter
storms approaching, hazards should be removed now—before they damage
property.
Dear Tree Care Industry Association press release:
I’ve been dating this guy for a year
now, and I’m really over it. He never speaks to me anymore, sex is
practically non-existent and he hasn’t bathed in I don’t know how long.
I want to break it off, but he’s been in a coma for the past six weeks
and I don’t know if he can hear me. What do I do?
-Perplexed in Pacoima
Dear Perplexed:
“Most trees can be pruned year-round,” says Peter Gerstenberger, senior
advisor for safety, standards & compliance for the Tree Care
Industry Association, “And certain operations are easier to do in the
fall, when dead branches are easily seen and removed.”
Some homeowners worry that arborists will not be able to determine
deadwood on a tree when the leaves are off. “On the contrary,” says
Gerstenberger, “This is the best time for an arborist to locate
deadwood by looking for changes in color, fungus growth, cracks, and
other symptoms that can help them make this determination. Since the
leaves are off, the view of the entire tree’s architecture is clear and
a thorough check can be performed.”
Dear Tree Care Industry Association press release:
You’re not really a human being, right? And please hurry with your answer, because I’ve got money riding on it.
-Skeptical in Skokie
Dear Skeptical:
Pruning is much more than the simple act of sawing off limbs. Proper
pruning is an art based on scientific principles of plant physiology.
At its most basic level, pruning trees involves removing damaged, dead
or structurally weak limbs, which will improve a tree’s health and
reduce the chances of personal or property damage caused by falling
limbs.
Professional arborists have the capability to make the tree safer
and more attractive by pruning live growth as well. Proper pruning
encourages growth, increases flower and fruit production, improves
plant health, repairs damage and helps add aesthetic appeal to a tree.
Pruning at the right time and in the right way is critical, since it is
possible to kill a tree through neglect or over-pruning. MTW