Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 22, 1994 TAG: 9402220231
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By JOANNE ANDERSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It's a pretty "subjective judgment," according to Jay Stipes, professor of plant pathology at Virginia Tech and known as the "tree doctor" throughout the state.
You need to consider the species of tree, condition of the remaining trunk and limbs and location, among other things.
A tree with "a badly split trunk, the top mostly gone and major branches destroyed should probably be removed," said Stipes.
If a heavily damaged tree is not taken down, it might be blown over in subsequent storms and create more damage than if it were removed safely now.
Homeowners who are going to prune their own trees should never cut off the top of a healthy tree or make a flush cut where a limb extends from the trunk. However, since many trees have been "topped" by nature, two courses of action are available.
Joe Hunnings, extension service agent in Montgomery County, advises that homeowners evaluate the newly topped tree to determine if they want to keep it in their overall landscape plan. Its appeal and shape are going to be different for the next few years.
If you do decide to keep a topped tree, Hunnings said to make a clean cut below all the splintered wood. Cut on an angle, so water will run off the trunk. In a year or two, prune out weak growth in new branches.
"On every branch of a tree, you can see a slight swelling," explained Stipes. "This is called the shoulder or collar and contains chemicals that prevent heart rot and wood decay from developing" after the branch is removed. Limbs should be sliced off the tree beyond that swelling point.
While painting or sealing a fresh branch cut is neither beneficial nor harmful to a tree, it provides an aesthetic enhancement some homeowners prefer to the open wound.
Uprooted trees should be cut and removed, and the remaining space can be filled with a good topsoil and used for another tree planting, a shrub, flower bed or grass. Because soil settles, it should be heaped above ground level, then planted or seeded.
Serious questions about tree species, plant surgery and damage maintenance should be referred to a tree specialist, one who is certified by the International Society of Arboriculture or the National Arborist Association.
Hiring Tree Specialists
There are two kinds of tree care people you can hire: the certified specialists and the tree morticians. The real specialists are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture or the National Arborist Association. They have passed written and practical examinations and are trained and certified in tree care, storm damage and safety.
The tree morticians, as Jay Stipes, professor of plant pathology at Virginia Tech, refers to them, are chain saw wielders who simply cut down trees. They are much less expensive than the professionals, and it's fine to use them if you just want trees cut down in an area where it's safe for a tree to fall. They also do a good job of cutting up trees on the ground.
Major concerns that need to be addressed when hiring someone for tree work are insurance, business license and payment terms. And it's a good idea to get references.
by CNB