CANKER. A canker is a defined area on the stem or branch 

 of a tree where the bark is sunken or missing. Cankers are 

 usually caused by fungi or other biological organisms and 

 indicate disease in the tree. Stem or branch breakage is a 

 concern when the canker size encompasses more than half 

 the circumference of the tree. 



ROOT PROBLEMS. An uprooted tree is often the result 

 of failure of the anchoring root system. There are many 

 conditions that cause root problems. Root severing, 

 paving over, adding fill or lowering grade, parking or 

 driving over roots, and extensive root decay can lead to 

 root failure. Sometimes there is evidence above ground 

 that reflects root system problems. Dead wood in the 

 tree crown, off-colored or stunted leaves, and twig die- 

 back can indicate root problems. Soil mounding or 

 movement around the tree is a good indicator of poten- 

 tial root failure. 



POOR TREE ARCHITECTURE. Growth patterns that are 

 abnormal can indicate a weakness or structural imbal- 

 ance. Understanding typical growth patterns of a tree 

 species is helpful in recognizing poor tree architecture. 

 Abnormal architecture can be the result of repeated 

 long-term injury from improper pruning, storm damage, 

 or unusual growth conditions. Leaning trees may or may 

 not be dangerous. 



Recognizing these defects early is crucial when evaluat- 

 ing the hazard potential of a tree. Single defects on a 

 tree may not be a problem unless the defect is severe. 

 Multiple defects, however, can be serious. If more than 

 one defect is touching or is close to another, the poten- 

 tial for failure can increase tremendously. Also, it is im- 

 portant to check trees regularly. A careful, systematic 

 approach of scanning the entire tree and all sides of it 

 is crucial. Extra inspections are recommended after re- 

 cent storms — what may have been reasonably sound 

 before a storm may not be afterwards. 



Prevention can be a matter of planting the right tree 

 in the right place, early and proper pruning, and regular 

 tree maintenance throughout the tree's life. Making cor- 

 rections does not mean automatic removal of a tree. 

 You may wish to consider wildlife before deciding which 

 corrective action to take, since it is often dead or dete- 

 riorating trees, or trees with cavities that wildlife de- 

 pends on for habitat. However, wildlife considerations 

 should never compromise safety. 



There are three basic corrective actions which can be 

 taken to alleviate a hazardous situation. First, decide if 

 it is reasonable to move the target. If not, then con- 

 sider blocking off the area until another corrective ac- 

 tion is taken. A second course of action can be partial 

 removal or pruning if a branch is the problem. "Natural 

 target pruning" is a procedure that promotes the tree's 

 natural ability to seal its wounds and is less likely to 

 cause future hazards. The practice of "flush" cuts (leav- 

 ing behind a stub after the cut) is not recommended 

 and will ultimately lead to decay, poor architecture and 

 weak unions between the sprouts and the stem. If nei- 



ther moving the target or pruning eliminates the prob- 

 lem, then consider tree removal. Tree removal should 

 be considered the final option and should be done by 

 a professional arborist. 



Trees are an integral part of the New England land- 

 scape, and healthy trees add beauty and value as well 

 as cooling summer shade to property. They are worth 

 the investment of keeping them in good, and safe, con- 

 dition. Evaluating trees for their hazard potential re- 

 quires knowledge, expertise and experience. If you 

 question the hazard potential of a tree, it is best to 

 seek professional help from a certified arborist. 

 Mary Torsello is a forest pathologist and Florence Peterson is a 

 forest health specialist, both with the forest health protection staff 

 of the USDA Fores! Service in Durham, NH. For more informa- 

 tion contact the USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box 640, Durham, 

 NH 03824 or call 603-868-7709. 



y/Notes 



Spring crops bring an entire "to-do" list. Don't 

 forget to put taking a water sample on that list. A 

 good rule of thumb Is to take a water sample once a 

 year — especially If you are on town or cHy water. Com- 

 munities often have a number of water sources they 

 pull from and at times ad|ust the water differently. 



Ideally, you should send your sample to a horti- 

 cultural lab. The Information towns send Is usually 

 Incomplete and vague. A sample should be analyzed 

 In parts per million, not as "high," "medium," or 

 "low." The test should cover all the major and mi- 

 nor components that affect plant nutrition. It should 

 also check for pH and alkalinity. 



The water you use will have an Impact on your fin- 

 ished crop. In most cases, there Is no "good" or "bad" 

 water. But each water may need to be amended with 

 the proper fertilizer or fertilizer combinations 



In some Instances In which there's a very high 

 soil pH (alkalinity), acid may need to be added to 

 your water. Remember — pH Is simply the degree of 

 acidity or alkalinity measured on a 14-polnt scale (0- 

 7: acidity; 7-14: alkalinity). And the amount of these 

 two things dictate how well plants will root, whether 

 or not certain nutrients are made available, and 

 whether. In some circumstances, the plant Is prone 

 to certain types of disease. 



If you're using a new water source and putting 

 together a new feed program. It may be beneficial to 

 do a media and tissue sample after two or three 

 waterings with your new fertilizer solution. This will 

 Insure that your solution is working properly with 

 your water and media. 



lim Zablocki, Territory Manager, The Scotts Company, 

 Northeast, can be reached at 603-224-5583. 



THE PIANTSMAN 



