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Garden Column for the Salisbury Post Darrell Blackwelder January 19, 2006
High winds that downed a large tree and destroyed a home in Charlotte headlined television news for two days earlier this week. Constant news of this type creates a certain degree of paranoia about trees with anyone that has large trees. Closer observation of the downed tree revealed what looked like a hollow trunk, a hazardous tree condition that has probably existed for years. The news is a reminder that those with large trees should periodically take time determines the health and physical condition of your trees. Broken limbs, trees in decline, unstable or leaning trees are hazards that need to be evaluated and acted upon before harsh climatic conditions complete the task. Stormy weather experience earlier should not create undo panic with those that have trees. In the stormy spring season, I get many calls concerning large trees. Their primary concern of course is safety. Because a tree is “over grown”, as often stated, the tree needs to be pruned or limbed back to keep it from falling. Stormy spring weather creates many a sleepless night for some tree owners. Topping or “horning back” shade trees is not a recommended arboricultural practice to reduce hazards. Actually, it’s probably the number one cause of death of large shade trees in the county. Not only does it ruin the natural beauty of the tree, it induces significant stress through water loss, lack of foliage, and insects and disease. It’s expensive and reduces the value of your property. A dogwood or Japanese maple may grow from 10 to 30 feet in its life as compared to an oak or an ash that may grow up to 90 feet. You can't stop tree growth with topping. If you succeed, you have killed them. However, judicious pruning is recommended. Pruning out weak, dead or decaying limbs is a recommended practice. Removing water sprouts, limbs that hang over a roof or gutter, branches that interferes with mowing, etc. will generally not impede growth as well as judicious pruning to shape a tree. Chain sawing limbs off a tree that result more in a “Gumby” than a shade tree is not what arborists recommend. Contact a certified arborist to evaluate your trees if you are somewhat skeptical of your tree knowledge. The National Arbor Day Foundation site, http://www.arborday.org/trees/NineNum1.cfm provides more detailed information about topping.
Darrell Blackwelder is an agricultural agent in charge of horticulture with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County. For archived garden columns or other information, visit the Rowan County Master Gardener web site at www.rowanmastergardener.com , e-mail Darrell_Blackwelder@ncsu.edu
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