Teo Trunk Climbing Trees ((EXCLUSIVE))
Vines can look attractive when they grow up your taller trees. Should you let vines grow on trees? The answer is generally no, but it depends on the particular trees and vines involved. For information about the risks of vines on trees, and tips on removing vines from trees, read on.
Teo Trunk Climbing Trees
Do vines harm trees? Should you let vines grow on trees? As a general rule, trees and vines should grow separately. Certainly, evergreen vines and fast-growing vines should not be allowed to take over your trees. Generally, all evergreen and most vines that grow rapidly will damage trees. Slow growing deciduous vines are sometimes okay.
When the trunk is at an angle or is on a slope, the trunk is measured at right angles to the trunk 4.5 feet along the center of the trunk axis, so the height is the average of the shortest and the longest sides of the trunk; see Figure 80-5.
When the trunk branches or splits less than 4.5 feet from the ground, measure the smallest circumference below the lowest branch. See Figure 80-6. If the tree has a branch or a bump at 4.5 feet, it is better to measure the diameter slightly below or above the branch/bump.
For multi-stemmed trees, the size is determined by measuring all the trunks, and then adding the total diameter of the largest trunk to one-half the diameter of each additional trunk (see Figure 80-7). A multi-stemmed tree has trunks that are connected above the ground and does not include individual trees growing close together or from a common rootstock that do not have trunks connected above the ground.
Our article, "Reading a Tree for Risks and Hazards," shows some of the more obvious signs of a tree with problems. These are easy to understand and can be seen with the naked eye. Some conditions we describe indicate that your tree has a problem that should addressed by a professional arborist immediately. We also show you some trees where the "problems" aren't problems at all, but rather normal and natural occurrences that don't pose a threat to the tree.
Leaning Tree This tree has a "severe" lean. When it falls, it will probably split the house in two. Dying Trees Notice how thin the leaves are at the top of the front trees, while all the other trees have a full canopy of leaves. There may be clues at the base of the trees that tell you why they are dying. Dead Trees When all the leaves turn brown during the growing season, the tree is dead. Tree too close to house The limited area for roots and for trunk growth can create problems for the tree and the house. Lightning strikes a big tree Sometimes lightning kills a tree, but not always. Wait about six weeks to see if the leaves start to turn brown. If they do, your tree is a "goner." If the leaves stay green, have the tree checked carefully for structural damage. Two pine trees Which tree is dead? The one on the left does not have green needles. It is dead. Dead top in oak tree A tree has a serious problem when it starts to die from the top down. Have it checked out immediately.
Split trunk It is important to pull back ivy on double-trunk trees to look for splits or cracks. Crack in trunk This vertical split is about 6 feet high from the base of the tree. This chestnut tree could fall at any time. Decayed base The base of this tree is rotting, and the tree should be removed. Frass (sawdust) Sawdust (frass) on the trunk or the base tells you that borer beetles are attacking the tree. Termites Termites are not frequently seen in healthy trees. Notice the wings that the insects have shed (wispy things to the right of the insects). Mushrooms that attack trees - 1 Ganoderma sessile shows up on hardwood trees and is a sure sign of decay.
Fungus on upper trunk When fungus grows where two trunks meet, there is usually weakness below the surface. This situation requires immediate professional attention. Trunk cavity The hole created by an old pruning cut like this one sometimes allows decay to enter the trunk. Even if the hole is small, the cavity could be big. This tree required an "aerial" inspection to find out. Trunk splitting apart This massive Southern red oak splits into two trunks at about 20 feet above the ground. The arrows point to a new crack where the two trunks meet. Scary!! This problem qualifies the tree for an emergency removal before it hits three houses! Burl A burl is an abnormal groth usually found on the trunk. In general it doesn't hurt the tree or indicate weakness. Burls are often confused with mushroom activity. Slime flux Sometimes trees "bleed" something other than sap. Slime flux is a surface infection that is usually harmless. If the stain is extensive, call a Certified Arborist. Lightning scar on hardwood Sometimes a tree can recover from a lightning strike like this. Call a certified arborist immediately to assess it. Lightning scar on pine Lightning strikes on pine trees usually attract pine bark beetles, which will probably kill the tree if the strike didn't. Call a professional if you see a scar like this on your tree. Fusiform canker Fusiform canker is a common fungus on pine trees that, if deep enough, can cause them to break. Pitch tubes Pine trees try to drown attacking beetles with pitch tubes made of sap. Pitch tubes can be different colors (rose on left, amber on right). If you see these on your tree trunk, it usually means the attack is extensive and the tree needs to be removed. Bulge This pine tree is trying to strengthen a weakened area with extra wood. If you see this on your pine tree, there will most likely be a fusiform canker on the other side. Woodpecker damage These trees are showing the work of a pileated woodpecker (left) and a yellow-bellied sapsucker (right). The pileated woodpecker is going after insects in decayed or dead wood; this tree is probably hazardous, but if it's not within range of the house, it might be perfect wildlife habitat. The sapsucker is opening a drainage hole for sap in live wood; the tree is probably okay.
Sparse leaf cover We showed this image as an illustration for a Zone 1 (the tree as a whole) inspection. Sparse leaf cover also falls into a Zone 4 inspection. Broken pine branch This broken branch is easy to spot because of the differently-colored (brown, dead) needles. Cracked branch This branch was loaded with mulberries. The weight of the fruit caused it to break. Branch breakage from heavy fruit and nuts is also common in brittle nut trees like pecans. Weak branch union This branch was decayed where it attaches to the tree. The branch should be removed before it hurts someone or something. Dead branch (with detail) The brown crust fungus on this dead branch over the street tells us that the branch can break at any time. Nests You might not realize that a nest is in a tree until whatever built it lets you know it's there. Here, a hornet's nest was hidden by big magnolia leaves. Listen as you inspect your tree! Doing so often reveals what you didn't see! Widow maker A widow maker is a branch that is broken but hasn't fallen to the ground. It can come down at any time. We know this pine branch is broken because of the brown (dead) needles.
Joe, we live on the Texas coast and the house we bought has 3 sweet gum trees that are all well over 120 ft high. I just had tree trimmers come cut them below the rotton spots so now they are About 50 to 75 ft high. Will they grow new limbs again? Hated to cut but scared of storms bringing down through roof.
Joe,We put in 10ft. Black cherry two years ago, sunny spot, no competing large trees. It is growing well and looks very healthy. The problem is HOW it is growing. The few lower branches are doing fine, but the main stem is bare, no branches for about five feet up. There are only three other branches about midway down and they are doing fine. One cherry this year. Lol I read that it takes about five years for these trees to really begin to produce. Should I prune back the lower branches in the fall, now, at all? I would love to see some new branch growth on the upper half. Thank you.
As an alternative to removing the tree, I was told by a certified arborist that my Redwood could withstand being topped as they are resistant to disease etc. He said they do not recommend topping trees but in this situation it might be better to take off 50 feet than remove all 150 feet.Do you have any opinion about this?
I cut my Australian bottle old and diseased below ground level and to my surprise it not only grew back it now has 3 trunks and about 20 feet high . Question what can I expect in the future for the tree , I want to keep it .
I googled your site to find out info about planting tall hemlocks, about 15 ft. in place of any area which now has 40 ft. white pines. I can have the pines removed completely. The landscaper says he can bull doze them over because we have the room to drop them into a field. My concern is can we plant hemlock in their place. I know that we will need to water them. I plan to run a drip system through the run of new hemlock. They will be staked so that they do not blow over. I plan to mulch them heavy. My question is, the soil is acidic with a thick layer of pine needle which has been there for 40 years. Is it O.K. to dig the holes for the hemlocks in this soil or will I need to bring in compost and additional soil to plant around the new hemlocks? My second question is, I have read that hemlocks are now getting infested by an aphid of some sort. How often will I have to spray the trees or do I wait to see if they catch the bug?
Hi Nash. While controlling vertical growth is certainly a reason for pruning, there is still a difference in simply topping a tree and being more methodical about it. Taking a chain saw strait across a tree canopy is not the best practice for the look or health of any tree. Observing where new branching emerges from parent branches and cutting at the right place, using the right technique will go much further in protecting the health and promoting the proper and future growth of any tree.I believe one of the main reasons people think they need to come back and top their trees each year is because they do it wrong a first time and that just starts a vicious cycle of having to come back each year and take back the new growth. 041b061a72