I was wondering if you had noticed an increase in problems and death of mature white oaks. We seem to be getting a lot of requests for white oak removals and judging from photos and site visits it's a real situation.
Don't get too comfortable in your Georgia back yard, because there are sometimes snakes afoot...or a-hand. A professional arborist in Atlanta was the victim of a venomous snake attack, apparently when the reptile became defensive as it was backed into corner at the base of a tree. The incident occurred in suburban Sandy Springs, a large city just north of Atlanta. It was on a mature residential half-acre lot. The back yard was covered in ivy and blackberry bushes, which make great cover for all sorts of fauna. The arborist was pulling thick ivy off the base of a large Tulip poplar when he was bitten. The snake sunk its teeth into the knuckle of his hand, and was able to dispense enough venom to make a nasty time of it. The arborist kept his wits about him, and was able to capture the snake and give him a complimentary ride to the hospital. The snake was initially believed to be a rattlesnake, but after recovery, the arborist positively identified it as a copperhead. Copperhe
Following Sunday night's strong winds across Atlanta , radio station WGST interviewed Susan Granberry of the Georgia Forestry Commission . The main question posed to Susan was: "what should people do if they are worried about their trees?" Susan's answer? Simple. "Homeowners should immediately inspect their trees following a storm." Excellent idea! We like that. In fact, we recommend regular tree inspections so that a property owner is prepared before any storms. If you have vary large trees, you should have them professionally inspected at least every 3 years. If you have never had your trees inspected, now is the time. A basic inspection costs less than the yearly maintenance inspections of your furnace - and a furnace is not likely to damage anything if it falls during a storm.
Puzzled by the staggering legions of oaks, hickories, and little shrubby things in Atlanta's forests, nature enthusiasts and professional arborists alike have been caught more than once scratching heads and cramping necks in an attempt to identify a favorite tree. Trees of Georgia and Adjacent States , by Brown and Kirkman, has been helping would-be- dendrologists solve this problem for decades. It is a well researched, crisp tome, that is also easily digested. The book succeeds because it has one major goal: to serve as a resource in identifying the species of native trees and woody plants in Georgia and the Southeastern US. Special features of the book: • Dichotomous key (although it is worded a bit too concisely) • Winter key to flowering trees • Leaf, leaf scar, bud, flower and fruit diagrams • Color photographs of leaves, flowers, fruit, and bark • Tree descriptions • Explanations of the difficulties in specific species recognition (is it Black willow or Coastal plain Wil
Comments
I was wondering if you had noticed an increase in problems and death of mature white oaks. We seem to be getting a lot of requests for white oak removals and judging from photos and site visits it's a real situation.
MikeB