Tree News

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.

Prior to making the decision to remove a tree, it is critical to determine whether the tree presents any kind of risk to your home or property. These steps are recommended to assure you are spending your money wisely and not wasting a valuable natural resource: Have your entire property inspected by an unbiased arborist. You should pay to have this service completed. A consulting arborist is going to be concerned with assessing risk, and not selling you tree removal services. It is worth every penny. Evaluate the impact the tree removal will have on your property. How will it change your landscape? Will it increase sunlight, open views, or create erosion problems? Will you need to spend additional resources in cleanup, landscaping, or replanting? Investigate the local laws concerning tree removal. The Atlanta area has many municipal ordinances that regulate tree removal on private property. Contact your local office of Community Development or City Manager. Don't forget to refer ...

The risk is high when heavy, wet snow accumulates on the tree, the snow has a snow-water equivalent ratio of between 6:1 and 12:1, and weighs in excess of 10 pounds per square foot. This risk is greater when the trees have full leaves or are not adapted to snow. Light powdery stuff is much less likely to cause problems. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow

From the Georgia Urban Forest Council - The City of Atlanta is the latest community to join a prestigious group of municipalities to be accredited by the Society of Municipal Arborists . SMA Accreditation is the highest national honor for municipal urban forestry programs. SMA Accredited programs have a certified municipal specialist on staff, have an approved Local Forest Master Plan, are Tree City USA growth award recipients, show private contract preference for accredited tree care companies, adhere to industry standards for safety and performance, and adhere to SMA’s Code of Ethics. “The SMA accreditation is yet another example of the City of Atlanta’s commitment to excellence,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “I commend the members of the city’s Arborist Division and the Office of Parks for their dedication and willingness to sharpen their skills and achieve the highest professional standards for the benefit of the citizens of Atlanta.” The City of Atlanta is the first municipality to b...

This map is current as of September 2, 2010 NW: Michael Franklin, 404.330.6079 NE: David Tachon, 404.330.6077 SW & SE: Stan Domengeaux, 404.330.6078

An interesting chart regarding the April windstorms has been posted at the OnebarkBlog .

I've begun a series of short articles regarding the recent Atlanta storms on the Onebark Blog . Check it out; I'll be posting installments over the next week.

This morning, the metro residents were awakened to several hours of falling trees and limbs. Although the weather system did not look particularly ominous, I struck out for my morning appointments. In northwest Atlanta, I was greeted by residential streets blocked by both dead and live trees that had toppled across the roadways. In one instance, as I backed away from a fallen tree in the Margaret Mitchell neighborhood, I caught a glimpse of a pine falling across the street behind me. I was now actually blocked on both sides! I was able to get out of my Jeep, and quickly pull back enough of the tree top to create an escape route. This is one of the few times in storm history that I was afraid to be in my vehicle. I drove down the street to a cul-de-sac, where no tall trees existed, until the winds died down. This windstorm was caused by intermittent downdrafts, creating wave-like patterns across the landscape. These waves are very forceful and can cause trees to fail in unexpected...

The eastern tent caterpillar was seen in full force yesterday. Mostly a pest of Black cherry Prunus serrata here in the Southeast, it can sometimes be seen in several other common trees as well. The caterpillar forms a dense, white 'tent' in the crotches of tree branches, where the caterpillar rests. While it is not a particularly damaging insect, it can weaken already stressed trees by causing the host tree to sprout new leaves. This resprouting leaves the tree with a short energy deficeit in the early spring. It is rarely worth trying to control this insect unless they are active in a high-value tree. Broadcast sprays of insecticides work well but are environmentally risky; professional systemic control with Acephate is confined and effective.

Keep Cobb Beautiful ’s program "Cobb Trees" is hosting its season finale tree planting on Saturday, March 21, at the walking trails of Al Bishop Park, 1082 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta. This comes on the heels of Marietta' s recent mass, citywide tree replacement program . Volunteers are needed to help preserve and beautify this area. Check-in and refreshments begin at 8:30 a.m. with a demonstration and planting at 9 a.m. To celebrate the successful season, a cookout will follow the tree planting. Pre-registration is required to ensure adequate food, supplies and planting materials for volunteers. To volunteer, visit Keep Cobb Beautiful , or call (770) 528-1135 and ask for the Cobb Trees program.

The dreaded Asian Ambrosia Beetle has made its seasonal appearance. Asian ambrosia beetle damage was found at two Georgia nurseries [names withheld], attacking an October Glory red maple and some other woody plant material. The Asian Ambrosia beetle is a minute ambrosia beetle of Asian origin that was first detected in the continental United States near Charleston, South Carolina. It apparently has spread along the lower Piedmont region and coastal plain to North Carolina, Louisiana, Florida, and East Texas. Xylosandrus crassiusculus adult beetles and larva bore into the trunks of trees, excavating a system of tunnels and introduce a fungus on which they feed. The fungus clogs the xylem, killing the plant. Beetle damage can be seen as spines of boring dust, with the appearance of a broken toothpick, protruding from tiny holes. Unlike other ambrosia beetles, which normally attack only stressed or damaged plants, Asian ambrosia beetles can attack reasonably healthy plants. Preventat...

The Georgia Urban Forestry Council is offering an advanced skills course in tree appraisal: Location : Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences, 4182 Forsyth Road, Macon, GA. Participants will review the common methodologies available to tree appraisers, and delve into how these methodologies apply to real-world scenarios. Topics will include tree appraisal theory, review of common alternative methods, unusual circumstances, and development of the value premise. Both beginners and more advanced students will benefit. Instructors: Jesse Milton, President, Onebark, Board Certified Master Arborist; Rob Swanson, President, Specimen Tree, Certified Arborist February 11, 8:30 a.m to 4 p.m. $100 members, $110 non-members Lunch provided. 6 ISA CEUs and 7 SAF contact hours will be offered. Certificates of attendance are available for all. Click here for a registration form (PDF).

Palms are not just for warm climates. The Windmill Palm Trachycarpus fortunei is the most cold hardy Palm 'tree' that you can grow in the Piedmont, tolerating temperatures as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit. The trunk of this tree can mature between 20 and 40 feet, depending on soil and sunlight conditions. Full, blazing sun is the key to growing this palm. This tree, er...grass, can fit well into small areas like courtyards and entries. It is often seen as a framing accent near Mediterranean-influenced architecture. One of my favorite contexts is the Windmill palm planted in a group, especially when palms of different heights are staggered in irregular patterns. The trick to finding a palm species to grow in Atlanta is finding one that will tolerate the cold, heat, AND humidity.

Several patches of urban-planted Red maples were seen to have flower blooms as recently as Tuesday, January 6. This is one of the earliest Atlanta sightings in recent memory. It appears the early bloomers are primarily cultivated varieties, most of which are near parking lots or landscaped areas.

Alicia Lindsey, of Mansfield Elementary near Covington, has secured a new resource for the her school: she won a $5,000 tree planting grant from the Georgia Forestry Commission. After talking with GFC forester Beryl Budd, Lindsey decided to apply for the grant hoping to gain more shade for the school grounds and provide new educational tools for students. The Georgia Forestry Commission has provided this grant since 2005, and since awarded it to more than a dozen schools throughout Georgia. Over the holiday break, volunteers from school staff, parents, city and county workers, the Service Guild of Covington, and Hands on Newton, all banded together to install 40 new trees. Species include a variety of oaks, maples, myrtle, cherry and elm trees. The diverse mix will produce an array of colors and blooms, with a mature canopy height of 60 to 80 feet. Lindsey is looking forward to a cooler playground. The equipment sometimes gets so hot that the school has actually closed the playgrou...

Norwegian photographer Eirik Solheim: ...I started shooting images...from the same spot each time, but not through my window. I found a spot outside that gave more or less the same framing each time I placed my camera. So, I went out on our balcony snapping some images at pretty irregular intervals all through 2008 . One year in 40 seconds from Eirik Solheim on Vimeo .

The City of Marietta has begun the first phase of its 500 tree planting project. This week alone, 230 trees were installed in the downtown district of the Cobb County seat. Marietta's tree committee, city staff, and some outside experts banded together to determine where the trees would be planted. The city identified approximately 10 general locations in Marietta that were lacking in adequate canopy cover. The current plantings are part of a greater master plan the city and community developed two years ago. The master plan targets the main entrance corridors to Marietta, such as the 120 loop where there aren't many existing trees in proximity to the road. The second phase includes installing replacement trees where there are already over-mature trees, such as Church and Cherokee streets, and Kennesaw Avenue. The city was ready to move forward two years ago, but with the rain deficit and waning water resources Marietta officials decided to wait until the region's rainfal...

Our poll ends with Hickory receiving the most votes for best fall color in Atlanta. Second place is awarded to Sugar maples for their yellow and orange displays. Red maple came in third, noted for its variety of reds, purples, and golds.

Stoke up your outdoor experience with these autumnal tree links Planting is the most rewarding time to plant trees, and these guys agree with me: • Augusta Chronicle planting article • Bill Lamson-Scribner of the Charleston Courier - article meanders a bit, just read the last paragraph • Lee Reisch at the Hickory Record. • Even the Canadians agree . Walter Reeves answers a question about planting Japanese maple seeds. Fall color is soon to reach its peak here in Atlanta, judging from this article at The Franklin Press Online (NC).

The Georgia Arborist Association has announced a new workshop for municipal government staff: Tree Maintenance for Local Governments. The course will be taught by Connie Head of Technical Forestry Services, and is scheduled for Friday, October 24, 2008 . This offering will be for municipal staff only. Topics will include: Tree Biology, Tree Protection, Pruning, Tree Planting, and basic hazard evaluation. Lunch included! Venue: White Oak Park , Dallas GA 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM Contact the GAA for more information or call 770-749-0444.