Last winter’s extreme weather took a toll on many trees and shrubs. This summer we have seen the decline or death of even well-established mature trees. Here are a few suggestions to promote tree and shrub health and to protect them from what may be another year of temperature extremes:

Apply and maintain a 2-4 inch layer of organic mulch. Wood chips are one of the best materials to use. The combination of leaves, twigs, bark and wood is similar to the natural mulch found in a forest setting. This layer of mulch allows water penetration and decreases evaporation, protecting roots from extreme temperature changes.

Watering during drought. Trees and shrubs, especially evergreens, are at a great disadvantage going into the winter suffering drought stress. Therefore,

Preparing your trees and shrubs for winter

if normal rainfall dries up, continue irrigation until cold temperatures arrive.

Ask your Arborist Representative to sample your soil for nutrient content and pH level. Fertilize if your soils are nutrient deficient. And, remember that problems with the pH level can also

adversely affect nutrient uptake. If your soil pH needs adjustment, multiple treatments may be needed. Fall is the perfect time to begin either of these services.

Wood chips make great mulch - its similar to natural mulch found in a forest setting.

Fall is the perfect time to fertilize and/or adjust pH levels in soil.

Bartlett regularly tests arboricultural skills and reinforces safety practices

Tree care involves some dangerous work; at Bartlett Tree Experts safety is always a top priority. In addition to regular safety meetings, Bartlett conducts hands-on training sessions to reinforce arboricultural skills and safety practices.

We recently held one of our training sessions at a Kenmore, Washington site for local arborists and crew to practice knot tying, crown rigging and various arboricultural techniques. Pictured above is the Kenmore local office staff in action; supervised by Safety Coordinators Robert Case, Gareth Tudor-Jones and Vaughn Chandler.

Practice, and more practice, improves skills and leads to safer work situations.

TREE & SHRUB CARE FROM BARTLETT TREE EXPERTSTREE TIPS

Biological control is about using “good bugs”, the natural enemies of “bad bugs”, to reduce damage that certain insects cause to trees and shrubs. There are three types of biological control using: Predators (such as spiders, mites, and lady bugs); predators capture and eat prey.Parasites (such as wasps); parasites infest prey. Pathogens; pathogens are microbes that are lethal to their hosts.

Bartlett supports the practical use of biological control to manage damaging tree pests. This includes the protection of naturally occurring beneficial insects as well as ways to augment their populations. Simply

adding different plants and flowers to your landscape can help to increase populations of useful predators.

Benefits of releasing additional useful insects into a landscape Bartlett has found that releasing commercially available beneficial predators and parasites can be successful in controlling certain pests. The release of predatory mites to control spider mites is just one area where Bartlett has had great success in reducing pesticide use. In fact, in some cases, biological control can be used as the sole treatment for management.

Remember, while pesticides serve an important function in managing pests they should be used with a purpose. They can impact useful predators. Reducing the use of pesticides on your property can help populations of useful predators thrive. Ask us about the use of biological control on your landscape and how it can keep the “bad bugs” away from your trees and shrubs.

Fun with treesOn top of all the other benefits trees provide, they also produce the raw material for fun projects.

Ideas for pine cones are endless! Here’s one - turn some pine cones into cute owls by gluing on shapes cut from felt. Try different eyebrow shapes to give your owls their own personality.

SEPTEMBER

Early September: monitor magnolia and tulip trees for scale crawlers (tulip tree scale), treat if crawlers are observed

Check for organic mulch depth around all trees and shrubs and add as needed for a depth of 2 to 4 inches

Deep water all native trees once this month and non-native trees and shrubs weekly; provide enough water to moisten root zone soil to a depth of 10-12 inches

Apply Phosphite 30 soil treatment to stressed plant material

Preventative applications for bark beetles on oaks and pines

OCTOBER

Inspect structure of large mature trees in preparation for coming winter storms

Dependent on soil moisture: Start of window for conducting Root Invigoration treatments

Soil application of plant growth regulators

Check newly planted trees and shrubs to ensure that no guywires, rope or burlap girdle the stem

Soil sample and fertilize according to soil nutrient analysis

Good time to plant woody species

Systemic treatments for prevention of sycamore anthracnose next season

NOVEMBER

Continue Root Invigoration for appropriate candidate trees and apply fertilizer

Soil applications of tree growth regulators

Soil applications of systemic insecticides for management next season (Borers, aphids, scales, etc.)

Inspect trees for dead branches and decline

Monitor and treat for Phytophthora canker and root diseases

TREE & SHRUB MAINTENANCE CALENDAR

Good bugs, bad bugs

We have been able to reduce pesticide use by using predatory mites to control spider mites.

HistoryThe Douglas fir is one of the most predominant trees found in the forests of western Canada. It is native from British Columbia south to northern Mexico. The Douglas fir is a valuable timber species, and can be distinguished from ‘true’ fir or spruce by the tassels, ‘beards’, or ‘mousetails’ on each cone scale. This tree is often in homeowners’ landscapes as a remnant of the pre-development forest.

Culture77 Performs best with moist, organic-rich, acidic soils. 77 May develop multiple leads due to top-death from drought,

storms, or lightning. 77 Often topped in an attempt to reduce size and risk, but

over time topped trees become more hazardous.

Concerns77 Large branch failure in wind or with snow and ice loading. 77 Armillaria root decay or Phaeolus schweinitzii (called

‘Schweinitzii root rot’) often lead to whole tree failure. 77 Minor concerns with aphids, needle gall midge. Stressed

trees often attacked by bark beetles.

Bartlett management practices77 If reducing wind resistance is desired, prune to shorten

extended branches. (We do not create ‘windows’ in the canopy to reduce wind resistance as this increases likelihood of large branch failure.)

77 Inspect base of tree following early fall rains for mushrooms of Armillaria or conks of P. schweinitzii. Evidence of infection often appears as a flattened side of the trunk, or resinous oozing from the lower 5 feet of trunk. Oozing from higher up is usually an indication of overall stress, or is coming from pruning wounds.

77 Treat aphids and needle midge as warranted with systemic insecticide options.

TREE FOCUS:Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

Lichens are often seen growing on the bark of trees. They don’t harm trees and they serve an interesting purpose one might not suspect. Lichens are bioindicators for air pollution.

Since they get their water and nutrients mainly from the atmosphere, lichens react to air pollution, especially sulfur dioxide pollution. For environmental scientists, tracking the amount of lichens on trees is an inexpensive way to monitor air pollution – reduced amounts are a sign of polluted air.

WONDERS OF NATURE Lichens respond to air pollution

We are honored that this year the tour will start and finish at the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories in Charlotte, North Carolina. Eighteen Bartlett employees have been training and fundraising for this annual weeklong, 600 mile tour that supports the educational mission of the TREE Fund. In October they will ride as Team Bartlett.

We are proud to support

Douglas firs on people’s property were often left there by developers

when the land was cleared.

published by THE F. A. BARTLETT TREE EXPERT COMPANY(877) BARTLETT (877-227-8538) in U.S. and Canada • www.bartlett.com

For Tree Tips information contact smurdock@bartlett.com© 2016 The F. A. Bartlett Tree Expert CompanyPWN3

Honoring influential arborist Terrill Collier

Fall foliage is a beautiful reminder that your trees are preparing for winter - Bartlett can help them!

Compliments of

Your Arborist Representative

Employees of Collier/Bartlett and friends of Terrill Collier arranged for a memorial tree to be planted at the Collier Arboretum at Clackamas Community College.

The tree selected was a favorite of Terrill Collier’s, Franklinia alatamaha. Clackamas crew leader Vaughn Chandler prepared the tree planting site with biochar. Assisting in the planting were Terry Flanagan, Bruce Nelson, John Dale, Phil Wich and Lyle Feilmeier. These arborists and crew members worked the closest with Terrill. His legacy as an arborist and as an advocate for the tree care industry will be remembered.