Tree News

On March 13, the Georgia Senate failed to pass a bill that had significant implications to local tree, landscape and stream buffer ordinances. Although it would not have affected the current state regulations for streambanks and buffers, it would have prevented municipalities from enacting more restrictive or protective streambank ordinances beyond the state minimum. It also would have precluded local governments from enacting or enforcing tree removal ordinances that affect individual homeowners, such as the City of Atlanta's tree ordinance. Conservation groups and supporters of tree ordinances are likely breathing a sigh of relief. SB294 was primarily authored by senator Chip Pearson, of Dawnsonville, and was strongly opposed by such groups as the Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club and Athens Grow Green Coalition.

Here is more information regarding the safety of tree mulch products shipped from the southern US.

If you know of a big tree, secretly growing in your backyard or in the corner of a neighborhood park, its time to get the word out to Atlanta. Trees Atlanta and the Arbor Day Partners are looking for the largest tree of each native species inside I-285. The Big Tree Search recognizes the trees, and publically maintains an updated list of the champions. The 2006 search appears to have wrapped up for this year (the deadline for entries was in February), so the new winners will likely be announced soon. If you missed your chance this year, submit a nomination form for 2007. The Big Tree Search was formerly administered by Park Pride .

An unsubstantiated warning is spreading throughout gardening and landscape circles, via a rediculous email - Mulch shipped from the Katrina areas of the US may contain the Formosan Termite and could damage your house and trees. While the Formosan Termite is a problem in the lower latitudes of the US, it does not threaten the Atlanta area. Atlanta is too far north and we have too many cold spells to allow the termite eggs to hatch. In addition, the adults are unlikely to survive the mulch shredding process. After the shredding, mulch begins to compost automatically. Composting creates very high temperatures, in excess of 120 F, at which no remaining termite could escape! The Houston Chronicle , and subsequently Snopes.com , have put this rumor to rest. Now what about regular termites here in Atlanta? Do they pose a threat? No. Termites need structure. Tree mulch does not provide the structure, such as a long wood beam or railroad tie, in which to build their galleries. Mulc...

Georgia's newest city is preparing to be a haven for tree-lovers. In keeping with the precedents of Atlanta and surrounding communities, Sandy Springs, the seventh-largest city in Georgia, also has a tree ordinance. The Sandy Springs Tree ordinance currently looks familiar - it is nearly identical to the Fulton County Tree Ordinance from which it was born. Aside from some different administrative guidelines, the ordinance is the same. But don't expect it to stay that way. On February 18, the City Council will hold a public meeting to solicit input for revisions to the ordinance. The City has hired Michael Barnett as the City Arborist. Barnett brings a wealth of practical experience to the adminsitration and enforcement of the City's tree ordinance. He was formerly an Arborist with Fulton County (working in the Sandy Springs area), and the Director of Horticulture at Zoo Atlanta. Sandy Springs has traditionally been a hotspot of concern for trees. Groups such as Keep ...

G winnett County, GA - A Lawrenceville man nearly chipped away $2,275 when his property was mis-diagnosed as having a Southern Pine Beetle infestation. Preferring to remain anonymous, the homeowner reported that a tree removal company visited his property and told him that two of his small pines died from pine beetles. The tree removal company explained that the insects were actively munching away in his live trees, and that he was on the verge of a terrible outbreak. Before hiring the tree cutter to proactively remove all 29 of his pines, the homeowner decided to check with a Consulting Arborist first for a thorough inspection and diagnosis of the problem. Onebark , a Consulting Arborist based in Atlanta, reviewing the entire property, found no recent evidence of any Pine Beetles and gave the homeowner's landscape a clean bill of health. Apparently, the two small pines were suppressed and unhealthy, and were not part of a large scale beetle infestation. The owner was relieved ...

What property owner doesn't want healthy trees? But is pruning an essential part of tree maintenance and health? Before going any further, I cannot find any evidence, other than anecdotal, that pruning live branches and limbs from a tree will make the tree healthier. In fact, overpruning a mature tree could significantly shorten its lifespan. Dr. Kim Coder has published a very informative article concerning this very subject. He notes that severe pruning could lead to a correspoding dieback of roots. Many research arborists believe that ANY live wood pruning may equate to some level of dieback in the root system. Larry Stouse, president of Horticulture Solutions correctly defines pruning as "The removal of plant parts to benefit the remaining parts." So before a saw is taken to a tree, there must be goal in mind first. What are we trying to achieve? Then the most important question must be answered: "is the pruning the correct solution to the problem?" I ha...