Tree News

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...

Tree News is a local weblog based in Atlanta, feeding relevant articles about Georgia's urban forests and green places. Tree News is authored by Board Certified Master Arborist, Jesse Milton.