Greetings!
Total Tree Care arborists are delighted to have this opportunity to share their knowledge and experience with you.
You will be receiving seasonal and topical information every month. |
 Geoff Harris - Tip of The Month 
According to Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station scientists, there are key reasons for the decline of Black Pines in our area.
Diplodia Tip Blight is a fungal condition. Turpentine and Sawyer Timber Beetles and a species of Nematode block the fir's vascular system. These conditions result in the browning of tip ends or of entire branches and the tree can die rapidly. The recent dry spell has exacerbated the problem.
Black Pines over 20 years old and living in a stressed environment are most susceptible. Watering is the first step that should be taken, but feeding with a good fertilizer in a 3-1-1 formulation and mulching out to the tree's drip line will increase its health and alleviate stress.
Trees with severe die-back or dead trees should be removed immediately and stumps ground out. Replanting of similar tree species is not recommended. |
 Mike Kennedy - Tip of the Month Before pruning, please consider the diameter of each branch being removed. In general it is not wise practice to prune large branches (10 inch diameter or more) back to the main trunk of a tree.
A wound of that size will have difficulty covering over with callus tissue before it starts to decay back into the tree thereby creating an access for carpenter ants and or disease. For the removal of smaller branches the 1/3 rule is appropriate: the branch being removed should not be any larger than 1/3 the diameter of the branch you are cutting back to. |
 Paul Bowery - Tip of the Month Crabapple trees may suffer severe summer defoliation caused by apple scab disease. Although timely springtime fungicidal applications will help control this problem, fall fertilization and root zone aeration are essential for crabapple tree recovery from this damaging stress. We recommend regular fertilization and aeration by liquid injection for all of your lawn area trees. Also, since apple scab is a foliar disease that overwinters primarily in the fallen leaves, you should periodically rake up and discard the crabapple leaves when they fall. |
 Luke Williams - Tip of the Month
Why are we constantly encouraging you to mulch your trees and shrubs? Because the plants around your house are generally in poor soil and will benefit tremendously (see our mulching tip from fall 2005) from the addition of a blended and composted organic mulch.
Now what about mulching your lawn? Fall is the perfect time to do this. Consider mulching up your tree and shrub leaves into your lawn (except for crabapple leaves infected with apple scab disease) this fall instead of removing them and thus the benefits they would have for the quality of your soil. It's a shame to waste them when they can actually help nourish your lawn and it's easier than you think to accomplish.
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