Pruning for health
Trees
require pruning to preserve their health, appearance
and to prevent damage to human life and property. Dead,
diseased and broken branches are pruned to prevent pathogenic
organisms from penetrating adjacent parts of the tree.
Pruning is an effective control measure for black knot,
fire blight, several twig blights, some cankers and
dwarf mistletoe.
We
remove live branches to allow penetration of sun and
proper circulation of air through the canopy. Such preventive
treatment makes the tree a less favorable site for powdery
mildew and favors formation of flower buds.
Proper
pruning can prevent breakage by reducing wind resistance
and by increasing the structural stability of the tree.
We target branches that form an acute angle of attachment
because they are prone to breakage.
Pruning
for appeareance
Pruning can be used to:
1. Maintain or restore the desired, characteristic crown
form.
2. Maintain normally large shade or ornamental trees
within reasonable boundaries of
small properties.
3. Produce unusual shapes of the tree crown.
Pruning
for safety
Broken, split and dead branches must be removed to eliminate
constant hazard to property and human life. Low branches
in the area of pedestrian and vehicular traffic should
be removed to a height of 12'. It is also very important
to remove branches which obscure clear vision of warning
signs and traffic.
Stump
Grinding
Stump
grinding removes stumps below grade level with out disturbing
adjacent features. Our smaller, self propelled machine
can be walked through the 3' gate of your back yard
and is ideal for soft or steep lawns. The large machine
in our fleet is a tow-behind, used to pulverize the
biggest and toughest of hardwood stumps. Another application
of stump grinders is surface root pruning which can
prevent roots from uplifting driveways, sidewalks and
foundations.
Residential Services - Tree Care Myths & Facts
Myth: Filling cavities benefits trees.
Fact: Cavity filling can actually weaken
a hollow tree. A certified arborist should inspect the
tree and if necessary, a cable or guy wire can be professionally
installed to give additional support.
Myth: Pruning cuts
on trees have to be painted to seal out insects and
disease.
Fact: Painting pruning cuts is not
recommended. When the paint dries, it cracks, allowing
water to collect between the paint and the wood. This
promotes decay much more quickly than if the cuts were
simply left alone.
Myth: I see dead branches
in my tree; therefore, it’s dying.
Fact: Trees will often shed branches
as light and and the availability of nutrients changes.
There are conditions, however, which need to be addressed
when dieback occurs. Contact a Lucas tree care professional
if you have doubts.
Myth: Ants speed up
the decay in trees.
Fact: Ants live in trees and eat elsewhere.
Ants keep their galleries very clean and in doing so
they slow the decay process. It is true that the presence
of ants in a tree is an indicator that some decay may
exist.
Myth: Removing conks
will stop decay in trees.
Fact: The conk is the fruiting body
of the fungus associated with the rot. Removing the
conk will not stop or slow the decay process.
Myth: All insects and
fungi that live on or around trees are harmful.
Fact: Less than one percent of insects
and fungi are harmful to the trees that they live on
or around. The vast majority are beneficial to pollination
and nutrient absorption.
Myth: A tree’s
roots go half way to China.
Fact: In reality 90% of a tree’s
root system is within 12 to 18 inches of the surface.
Myth: Trees don’t
need fertilizer. They do fine in the forest.
Fact: Forest trees don’t fight
pavements, streets, drainage problems and competition
for food from lawns and shrubs. Fertilizer helps trees
to stay alive in our tough urban/suburban jungle.
Myth:
I treated for browntail moth last year, so I don‘t
have to treat this year.
Fact: Trees treated last year can easily
be re-infested from neighboring areas this year.
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