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Home My WebLink About2005 05 11 Attached Distributed by Mike Mingea (2)Date: May 11, 2005 ATTACHED BOARD BY ARB ORI S T DISTRIBUTED TO THE MIKE MINGEA, CITY i Florida Arborist A Publication of the Florida Chapter ISA www.floridaisa.org ~ ~;n~~oas Storm damage prevention p In This issue: Storm DamagePrevention } PresidenYSMessage, 2 In the News 3 Education Schedule 3 Tree Fund Plans a Move 4 Tree Fund Update Next Stop: Nashville '' S Trees Florida is Cnmingl 5 Trees Do Silently Weep in Pain 1 A Comparison of Landscape Mulches 7 Florida Chapter Board of Directors Update 8 2005 TCC Entry Farm 9 Education'. Schedule 11 Book Order Form 13' Exam Schedule 14 "I feel. we ;rll need to take the apparcunity to show our expertise i~t the field of arboriculture and defend7he valrsc of trees in the land- crape as well as our knazul- <dg< in thelrliroper care;" Bruce Smith Florida Chapter laresident (plr~e sc;e article, l'ressulents Message, page 2) by maintaining- sound structure Edward F. Gilman, Professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, University ofFlorida Proper pruning and training of young, large- maturing trees has a significant impact on their future growth. Arborists and urban for- esters know that young trees properly trained in the nursery with a dominant leader survive storms better and are likely to live longer in the land- scape than trees that are not trained, or those that are improperly pruned. In ad- dition, trees with one domi- nant leader can be limbed up easily to create clearance for vehicles; whereas those with multiple leaders are difficult to prune. The nurs- ery industry recognized this with the publication Ameri- can Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI 260.1 1990) which calls for a dominant leader in large-maturing shade trees. Some states have adopted more detailed standards for nurs- ery trees that also call for a dominant leader (Grades and Standards for Nursery Plants, Florida Dept. of Agric.1998). Fora num- ber of years, leaders in the nursery industry have trained their large maturing shade trees to one trunk. There is now consensus among green industry leaders that a dominant leader is the most appropriate method of growing shade trees. Second to placing a tree in an appropriate location and planting it correctly, pruning has the biggest impact on longevity. Land- scape managers should know that planting well structured nursery trees makes it easier for them to complete the job begun in the nursery of developing structurally sound trees.) The. main objective of pruning in t e nurs- ery and landscape is to create stron struc- ture by guiding the tree's architectu e. You minimize the growth retarding of cts bf pruning by removing the smallest amount of living tissue at any one prun- ing, while producing a strong structured, healthy tree with a functional and pleasing form. For most trees, this is accomplished by developing and maintaining a leader early in the life of the tree (one year old is not too soon), and prun- ing at regular intervals when -the tcee is young. A regular pruning program prevents branches from growing too big too fast and outpacing the leader. Branches that grow too big too fast often de- velop into codominant stems, sometimes with included bark. These weakly attached stems can split from the tree as it grows- older. In addition, low codominant stems often have to be removed in the landscape as they droop too close to the ground. This leaves a huge pruning wound that can initiate trunk de- cay. Nursery and landscape managers can discourage lower branches from developing into codominant stems by pruning on these branches to slow their growth rite. Strive to keep branches less than about half the trunk diameter. Storm Damage Prevention, continued on page 8 Volume 8, Number 1 Florida Arborist ~ S tin 2005 Florida Once the position letter is approved, the Cha ter will take it Cha ter P p to the state legislature. The FNGLA kas expressed its su - P port on the issue and has volunteered to assist the Chapter Board : of Directors Updates during the legislative process. New Board Members 2005 has brought 3 new members to the Board of Direc- tors! Please join the Board in welcoming Chuck Lippi as Vice President, Patty Hoot-McLeod as Secretary, and Mike Robinson as the utility representative. The Board is excited to include these new members within their ranks and looks forward to their contributions to Chapter affairs. President Bruce Smith appointed Dr. Ed Gilman as the at-large board member. Strategic Plan in the Works The Board is set to develop an updated strategic plan for the Chapter that will include a new official mission state- ment along with long-term goals. Progress on the plan is expected to occur within the next several months, so check back in the fall newsletter for more details. Chapter Fee Increase A motion to increase the Chapter membership fee to $30 was passed unanimously by the Board, and will be effective as of 2006. This is only the second fee increase in Chapter history, with the last one occurring in 1999. The extra funds generated by the new fee will go towards funding the growing communication and certification needs of mem- bers. Board Shuffle The Board has decided to add an Allied Industry member to its ranks in an attempt to include a broader perspective to Chapter proceedings. The Chapter has also decided to merge the secretary and treasurer position into one to in- crease efficiency. Co-op Ad Program Making Strides The Board is developing a series of ads that emphasize the importance of hiring a certified arborist. The Board antici- pates placing these ads in key Florida newspapers at the beginning of hurricane season. Ads For company promo- tion will also be developed, and will be made available to all certified members. Prototypes of the ads will be presented in the summer newsletter. Arborist Licensing in the Future? The Board is currently working on a letter lobbying the state of Florida to require practicing arborist companies to carry a, license. This course of action originated as a means to increase safety and service quality within the industry. 8 Chapter Continues Public Communications Efforts The Chapter is exploring the possibility of collaborating with the FUFC in the production of public service announce- ments encouraging proper tree maintenance. A committee composed of 3 members from each organization met in early April 2005 to develop this idea and apply to funding agen- cies. i Storm Damage Prevention, continued from page 1 i There are three types of pruning cuts designed to dev~lop a strong structure in trees. A reduction cut removes an u right stem back to a live lateral branch no smaller than abo t half the diameter of the cut stem. A removal cut removes side branch back to the collar on the trunk. Cutting int the collar could slow growth sand slows closure over the wound. Correctly executed removal cuts close in a circle, not an oval. The third type, a heading cut, is made; back to a bud or between branches and, along with the reduction cut, is used. to slow growth on the cut branch. Heading cuts also initiate sprout growth from behind the cut. Heading cuts are not appropriate for trees in the landscape unless there are few other options such as during restoration pruning following storms. f It is never too early to begin pruning to subordinate or sup- press growth o~ dominant stems. Each time you subordi- nate astern or aggressive branch, growth rate is~slowed on the cut stem or branch. This allows the stem that was not cut to grow faster and dominate. More light reaches branches that were previously shaded above the cut, and these will grow to fill in the void created by the removed branches. It is important to remember that removal of small branch pans at a young age rarely leaves unsightly voids or gaps in the tree canopy. If you are leaving large gaps you waited too long to prune or you are removing too much of the stem or branch. In many cases, the reduction cut is the best choice for creat- ing sound structure in young. trees, although heeding cuts are sometimes appropriate on young trees in the nursery. It is important to learn this technique and to spends enough time with the pruning crews to ensure it is carried through. I find that it is easy for workers to revert back to old habits in a matter of hours following an initial instruction session. Once you have learned the technique, have your employees watch you, then have them prune trees while you; are present before sending them on their own. ~