The benefits of enlisting the help of an arborist in parks and forests are clear. However, in urban environments, you may overlook the advantages of partnering with a skilled arborist. Yet, in this environment, an arborist’s role can be even more crucial – benefitting the trees and city residents. What does a city arborist do?
Phytophthora Root Rot
Phytophthora root rot is caused by a soil-borne organism. When first infected, the coast redwood’s foliage may wilt, yellow and dry out but remain on the tree. The leaf damage is because of the slow death of the redwood’s roots, which limit its ability to absorb adequate amounts of water. Eventually, the entire tree will turn brown and is unlikely to recover. If caught early enough, phytophthora root rot’s presence in the soil may be managed, or at least reduced, with the application of a fungicide containing potassium phosphate. But this is not always successful.
One measurement we use in helping to determine overall soil health is soil pH. This is a common concept and important to understand, but is only one of many measurements we use to determine overall soil health. A good soil health recommendation will take many factors into consideration, but soil pH is the starting point, as it helps us determine nutrient availability, the tightness of soils, and the ability of soil biology to thrive or not. The wrong pH may encourage fungal pathogens, while the proper soil pH range will encourage good soil microbes.
The pH scale runs from 0 to 14. Any pH reading below 7 is acidic and any pH above 7 is alkaline. A pH of 7 indicates a neutral soil. Most trees will grow in soils having a pH between 6.5 (slightly acid) and 7.2 (slightly alkaline). Ideally, maintaining a soil close to 6.8 is perfect for most trees. There are a few plants that prefer a soil pH below 6.0. These “acid-loving” plants include azaleas, rhododendrons, and blueberries. The soil pH for these plants can be lowered by incorporating elemental sulfur (S) into the soil. Since the soil acidifying response to elemental sulfur is slow, it should be applied and incorporated a year before planting.
Recurring periods of drought seem to have become commonplace in the Western US in recent years. The effects on trees and shrubs can often be seen in both natural and man-made landscapes during the severest of droughts as leaves wilt, show marginal scorch, or prematurely drop from the plant. However, the long-term effects of drought on the health and survivability of woody plants are less obvious.
Keeping a watchful eye on tree wellness is crucial to preventing damage from common tree diseases in the Seattle area. What symptoms should you be on the lookout for in your Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Kent, Edmonds, or Bothell property’s trees?
Towering redwood trees make quite an impact and are beloved by residents and visitors alike. Robust and long-lived, these large trees suffer comparatively few issues, though they’re not problem-free. What are the challenges with caring for redwood trees on your San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, or Seattle property? Be on the lookout for these red flags.
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What causes Sudden Oak Death in trees and plant life? Sudden Oak Death, or SOD, is caused by the pathogenic fungus Phytophthora ramorum. This waterborne mold pathogen infiltrates plants and trees through contaminated irrigation water, wind-blown rain, infected plants, and contaminated pots and soil mixes. This fungus is also associated with other tree wellness issues like Ramorum leaf blight, Ramorum dieback, and Phytophthora canker.
Hayward, CA – January 13, 2020 – Arborwell Professional Tree Management, the west coast tree management experts, announced their merger with SavATree this week. SavATree, the industry leader in professional tree and shrub care, was founded in 1978 and has been providing outstanding tree & shrub care ever since. This merger will allow both companies to grow together through combined knowledge and resources.
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