Seminar #76 from Online Seminars for Municipal Arborists
October - December 2017
Sections Go directly to the section by clicking on the title below
October - December 2017
Sections Go directly to the section by clicking on the title below
Note: Click on green text in each section for more information and photos.
Stockholm Tree Pits & Biochar
Edited by Len Phillips
If you recall a few Seminars ago, Björn Embrén and his colleagues started helping city trees in Stockholm, Sweden, by placing rock and broken sidewalk pieces in the root zone of the trees, with a sandy loam, clay, and peat mix washed in between the rocks. The soil and rock helped the trees grow better by creating voids in the compacted soil and the ground was more able to absorb stormwater, creating an urban soil management process that became known as the Stockholm Tree Pits. See the previous article.
While Embrén was improving urban tree growth, the city’s waste department was having problems with what to do with the plant debris or green waste collected from the city’s gardens and tree trimmings. After communications among the various department heads, the result was the development of a biochar project.
When he heard about this, Embrén started applying biochar, a type of charcoal made from green waste, as a variant to his rock/soil mix, with dramatic results. Over the course of a two-week period, a patch of lawn had biochar mixed into the soil and the grass grew with an almost alarming speed. Valuable fungus, bacteria, and microorganisms started to flourish, creating a real concentration of organisms useful for creating healthy soil. The biochar held nutrients and moisture in the earth until the surrounding plants were able to take it up.
In the end, the waste department created a biochar production facility and the by-product of heat was also useful for providing warmth and hot water to nearby homes on the city's heat distribution network. Björn Embrén got the biochar to use in his tree planting and existing tree improvement projects.
Pyrolysis
Biochar is made by pyrolysis, which is created by heating organic biomass in a low oxygen environment at very high temperatures that often reach 1,472° F (800° C ). Half of the garden waste becomes a very stable, porous, carbon-rich, durable biochar, while the other half becomes a gas that is burned to create more biochar. Adding biochar to the soil at the time of planting, or incorporating at the base of established trees makes the soil a more desirable environment for root growth and may also alleviate some of the environmental stress experienced by city trees such as drought, water-logging, and high levels of salinity.
The pyrolysis gas being burned to create more biochar has a surplus heat that creates steam for use by the city's heat distribution network. Using the gas this way does release some of the carbon dioxide that the plants absorbed when they were alive, but it’s far less than what would be released if the plant waste was just incinerated by conventional means or other fuels were used to provide heat. The biochar process is a carbon-neutral process, releasing no more carbon than the plants absorbed during their lifetimes.
During the trials of making biochar, the city saw spectacular results. The pilot plant burned 1,200 tons of green waste, trapping a carbon equivalent to the annual emissions of 700 cars. The heat and hot water that was created was enough to supply 80 apartments. When this process begins to operate at full capacity, the emissions from an equivalent of 3,500 cars will be taken away from the streets and the process will supply heat and hot water for 400 apartments.
Stockholm expects much of the biochar will be used on the city's trees. However, they also plan to encourage garden owners to pick up bags of the biochar and reintroduce it into the soil of their gardens. Other final destinations include the city’s many public green areas. The demand for the biochar is expected to far exceed the actual supply. The biochar production facility could provide ultra-clean green power using the green waste products of agriculture and forestry to provide a biochar that could be plowed into fields to boost fertility.
Already the concept has spread beyond Sweden and across the Atlantic. California officials have been in touch with the Stockholm project staff and have bought the equipment necessary to make their own biochar. In a region vulnerable to droughts, Californians seem to be especially interested in biochar’s ability to lock slow-release moisture into the soil, reducing the need for irrigation.
California’s different tack shows how the combined biochar and energy production process could prove influential far beyond the confines of the Swedish capital. Stockholm biochar may be starting small by freeing the city sidewalks of sad-looking Christmas trees, but the future possibilities are so much greater.
Additional Information
Trees and Stormwater Management – manual and specification details, By Britt-Marie Alvem and Björn Embrén, IKT 2014
Biochar: A Game Changer for Soils - Bartlett Tree Experts
Sources
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Edited by Len Phillips
If you recall a few Seminars ago, Björn Embrén and his colleagues started helping city trees in Stockholm, Sweden, by placing rock and broken sidewalk pieces in the root zone of the trees, with a sandy loam, clay, and peat mix washed in between the rocks. The soil and rock helped the trees grow better by creating voids in the compacted soil and the ground was more able to absorb stormwater, creating an urban soil management process that became known as the Stockholm Tree Pits. See the previous article.
While Embrén was improving urban tree growth, the city’s waste department was having problems with what to do with the plant debris or green waste collected from the city’s gardens and tree trimmings. After communications among the various department heads, the result was the development of a biochar project.
When he heard about this, Embrén started applying biochar, a type of charcoal made from green waste, as a variant to his rock/soil mix, with dramatic results. Over the course of a two-week period, a patch of lawn had biochar mixed into the soil and the grass grew with an almost alarming speed. Valuable fungus, bacteria, and microorganisms started to flourish, creating a real concentration of organisms useful for creating healthy soil. The biochar held nutrients and moisture in the earth until the surrounding plants were able to take it up.
In the end, the waste department created a biochar production facility and the by-product of heat was also useful for providing warmth and hot water to nearby homes on the city's heat distribution network. Björn Embrén got the biochar to use in his tree planting and existing tree improvement projects.
Pyrolysis
Biochar is made by pyrolysis, which is created by heating organic biomass in a low oxygen environment at very high temperatures that often reach 1,472° F (800° C ). Half of the garden waste becomes a very stable, porous, carbon-rich, durable biochar, while the other half becomes a gas that is burned to create more biochar. Adding biochar to the soil at the time of planting, or incorporating at the base of established trees makes the soil a more desirable environment for root growth and may also alleviate some of the environmental stress experienced by city trees such as drought, water-logging, and high levels of salinity.
The pyrolysis gas being burned to create more biochar has a surplus heat that creates steam for use by the city's heat distribution network. Using the gas this way does release some of the carbon dioxide that the plants absorbed when they were alive, but it’s far less than what would be released if the plant waste was just incinerated by conventional means or other fuels were used to provide heat. The biochar process is a carbon-neutral process, releasing no more carbon than the plants absorbed during their lifetimes.
During the trials of making biochar, the city saw spectacular results. The pilot plant burned 1,200 tons of green waste, trapping a carbon equivalent to the annual emissions of 700 cars. The heat and hot water that was created was enough to supply 80 apartments. When this process begins to operate at full capacity, the emissions from an equivalent of 3,500 cars will be taken away from the streets and the process will supply heat and hot water for 400 apartments.
Stockholm expects much of the biochar will be used on the city's trees. However, they also plan to encourage garden owners to pick up bags of the biochar and reintroduce it into the soil of their gardens. Other final destinations include the city’s many public green areas. The demand for the biochar is expected to far exceed the actual supply. The biochar production facility could provide ultra-clean green power using the green waste products of agriculture and forestry to provide a biochar that could be plowed into fields to boost fertility.
Already the concept has spread beyond Sweden and across the Atlantic. California officials have been in touch with the Stockholm project staff and have bought the equipment necessary to make their own biochar. In a region vulnerable to droughts, Californians seem to be especially interested in biochar’s ability to lock slow-release moisture into the soil, reducing the need for irrigation.
California’s different tack shows how the combined biochar and energy production process could prove influential far beyond the confines of the Swedish capital. Stockholm biochar may be starting small by freeing the city sidewalks of sad-looking Christmas trees, but the future possibilities are so much greater.
Additional Information
Trees and Stormwater Management – manual and specification details, By Britt-Marie Alvem and Björn Embrén, IKT 2014
Biochar: A Game Changer for Soils - Bartlett Tree Experts
Sources
- Schaffert, Emma and Dr. Glynn C. Percival, “New Soil Amendments to Help Improve Tree Health”, Bartlett Tree Research Library.
- O'Sullivan, Feargus, “Stockholm's Ingenious Plan to Recycle Yard Waste”, The Atlantic CityLab, Dec 20, 2016.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
New Trees at the Navy Pier
By Shane Carpani
The Navy Pier on Lake Michigan has been a part of Chicago's history since 1916. The time for the city's highly visited lake front playground to receive a much needed makeover had arrived. To revitalize 50 acres of downtown waterfront, a model of sustainability for the park was created which improved the health and vitality of the local community.
To minimize the time that the Navy Pier would be closed to the public, the renovation plans were produced quickly and construction crews worked around the clock in preparation for the Navy Pier’s one hundredth birthday. A magnificent centennial celebration took place in the summer of 2016. The Navy Pier is already a spectacular tourist destination enjoyed by millions of visitors every year.
The renovation and construction at the South Dock of Chicago's Navy Pier included adding 59 large precast concrete tree pits in eight sizes, the largest being 28 feet (8 meters) long. The tree root balls measured more than 8 feet (2.4 meters) in diameter. The city specified 12 cubic yards (9.2 cubic meters) of uncompacted, root-able soil for each tree pit, which is not ideal, given that mature tree roots frequently occupy 40 cubic yards (30 cubic meters) of soil. However, by using soil cells, the tree roots were able to share the soil in the soil cells and grow beyond in the uncompacted soil. The soil cells create a forest floor environment for the trees, and are always installed with adequate drainage and soil ventilation to allow the roots to breathe.
Designed by an award-winning landscape architectural firm, the plan incorporated the latest in ecological design principles and environmental best practices. This included the planting of mature trees with root balls up to eight feet (2.4 meters) in diameter, creating a tree grove promenade of healthy Marmo maples – Acer × freemanii 'Marmo' and American sycamores - Platanus occidentalis. The mature 'Marmo' maples, a resilient variety of the Freeman maples were originally developed at the nearby Morton Arboretum. The American sycamores, one of the largest hardwood trees of the Eastern U.S. forests, were locally-sourced from within 50 miles and are native to the Chicago region.
With the high volume of traffic endured by the area each year, it was critical to install an engineered surface that would withstand the extremely heavy pedestrian movement and the weight of occasional vehicular traffic. To accomplish this structural stability and still provide healthy soil and growing conditions for the trees that would be creating the focal point of the pier, soil cells were the only solution that made sense at this location. It’s important to note that not all soil cells are rated for use under roadways and other vehicular trafficked areas. In this case, high-strength soil cells that have been approved for use under highway traffic areas with only minimal sub-base were specified.
Another concern at the site was dealing with stormwater runoff. Ideally, the stormwater would be captured through the landscape plantings and the permeable pavements made of recycled content and locally-sourced aggregate. The stormwater was designed to go into bio-infiltration basins, then to underground storage facilities for reuse as irrigation. For a specification on bio-retention soils see Item #11 in our planting spec.
The soil cells selected for this project, provided 95% of the underground space for uncompacted soil that would be used by the tree roots. The slab-on-slab pier made these tree pits completely man-made with no natural earth below. The landscape architect specified a soil blend that filled the soil cells and met the specific needs for the highly mature maples and sycamores. The soil mix created a forest-like subsurface environment with tree-friendly soil volumes for the already mature trees to flourish for many more years. And with the structural capabilities of the soil cell, able to withstand surface weights of up to 9 tons per 20” x 20” soil cell module, the landscape architects and engineers were assured that the underground growing medium was not affecting the structural stability of the surface.
The waterfront transformation has turned the Navy Pier’s outdoor landscape into an even more vibrant setting for recreation and social life. Through this sustainable design, the Navy Pier has made a very positive environmental impact on the local area. The planting of these large trees resulted in a green oasis that invited visitors to escape the concrete of the downtown and enjoy unfettered views of the Lake Michigan water in a more natural setting. With the help of stainless steel tree grates and built-in LED lighting, the Navy Pier is now used for many more hours beyond daylight.
Project Photo courtesy of GreenBlue Urban
Author Shane Carpani is the Program Development Manager at GreenBlue Urban, a global manufacturer of urban tree planting systems.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
By Shane Carpani
The Navy Pier on Lake Michigan has been a part of Chicago's history since 1916. The time for the city's highly visited lake front playground to receive a much needed makeover had arrived. To revitalize 50 acres of downtown waterfront, a model of sustainability for the park was created which improved the health and vitality of the local community.
To minimize the time that the Navy Pier would be closed to the public, the renovation plans were produced quickly and construction crews worked around the clock in preparation for the Navy Pier’s one hundredth birthday. A magnificent centennial celebration took place in the summer of 2016. The Navy Pier is already a spectacular tourist destination enjoyed by millions of visitors every year.
The renovation and construction at the South Dock of Chicago's Navy Pier included adding 59 large precast concrete tree pits in eight sizes, the largest being 28 feet (8 meters) long. The tree root balls measured more than 8 feet (2.4 meters) in diameter. The city specified 12 cubic yards (9.2 cubic meters) of uncompacted, root-able soil for each tree pit, which is not ideal, given that mature tree roots frequently occupy 40 cubic yards (30 cubic meters) of soil. However, by using soil cells, the tree roots were able to share the soil in the soil cells and grow beyond in the uncompacted soil. The soil cells create a forest floor environment for the trees, and are always installed with adequate drainage and soil ventilation to allow the roots to breathe.
Designed by an award-winning landscape architectural firm, the plan incorporated the latest in ecological design principles and environmental best practices. This included the planting of mature trees with root balls up to eight feet (2.4 meters) in diameter, creating a tree grove promenade of healthy Marmo maples – Acer × freemanii 'Marmo' and American sycamores - Platanus occidentalis. The mature 'Marmo' maples, a resilient variety of the Freeman maples were originally developed at the nearby Morton Arboretum. The American sycamores, one of the largest hardwood trees of the Eastern U.S. forests, were locally-sourced from within 50 miles and are native to the Chicago region.
With the high volume of traffic endured by the area each year, it was critical to install an engineered surface that would withstand the extremely heavy pedestrian movement and the weight of occasional vehicular traffic. To accomplish this structural stability and still provide healthy soil and growing conditions for the trees that would be creating the focal point of the pier, soil cells were the only solution that made sense at this location. It’s important to note that not all soil cells are rated for use under roadways and other vehicular trafficked areas. In this case, high-strength soil cells that have been approved for use under highway traffic areas with only minimal sub-base were specified.
Another concern at the site was dealing with stormwater runoff. Ideally, the stormwater would be captured through the landscape plantings and the permeable pavements made of recycled content and locally-sourced aggregate. The stormwater was designed to go into bio-infiltration basins, then to underground storage facilities for reuse as irrigation. For a specification on bio-retention soils see Item #11 in our planting spec.
The soil cells selected for this project, provided 95% of the underground space for uncompacted soil that would be used by the tree roots. The slab-on-slab pier made these tree pits completely man-made with no natural earth below. The landscape architect specified a soil blend that filled the soil cells and met the specific needs for the highly mature maples and sycamores. The soil mix created a forest-like subsurface environment with tree-friendly soil volumes for the already mature trees to flourish for many more years. And with the structural capabilities of the soil cell, able to withstand surface weights of up to 9 tons per 20” x 20” soil cell module, the landscape architects and engineers were assured that the underground growing medium was not affecting the structural stability of the surface.
The waterfront transformation has turned the Navy Pier’s outdoor landscape into an even more vibrant setting for recreation and social life. Through this sustainable design, the Navy Pier has made a very positive environmental impact on the local area. The planting of these large trees resulted in a green oasis that invited visitors to escape the concrete of the downtown and enjoy unfettered views of the Lake Michigan water in a more natural setting. With the help of stainless steel tree grates and built-in LED lighting, the Navy Pier is now used for many more hours beyond daylight.
Project Photo courtesy of GreenBlue Urban
Author Shane Carpani is the Program Development Manager at GreenBlue Urban, a global manufacturer of urban tree planting systems.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Tree of the Seminar #76
By Len Phillips
An Amelanchier street tree? This Schmidt introduction has exceptional tree form that exceeds 30 feet in height instead of the usual Amelanchier shrub form. The dominant central leader supports the strongly upward-oriented scaffold branches. Pure white blooms smother a delicate latticework of twigs in spring. These give way to healthy green foliage that turns orange in the fall.
Botanical Name: Amelanchier laevis ‘JFS-Arb’
Common Name: Serviceberry (Shadblow)
Cultivar Name: Spring Flurry® Serviceberry
Plant Patent: #15304
Parentage: Selection by J. Frank Schmidt
Family: Rosaceae
Height: 35'
Spread: 20'
Form: Upright oval
Bloom Period: Early spring
Flower: White, in clusters
Fruit: Purplish blue, edible, 3/8"
Summer Foliage: Medium green
Autumn Foliage: Persistent brilliant orange
Winter Color: Multi-stem thicket of shrubs form large mass
Bark: Light gray
Habitat: Native in most of the east coast states, west to the Mississippi River
Culture: Somewhat sensitive to drought, soil compaction and air pollution, likes well
drained moist sites, acidic soil is best, tolerates full sun or partial shade
Hardiness Zone: 4 – 9
Growth Rate: Vigorous, full size in less than 30 years
Pest Problems: Resistant to leaf spot and somewhat to fireblight, some leaf insects
Storm Resistance: Good
Salt Resistance: Somewhat sensitive
Planting: Slow recovery after transplanting, over 1½" diameter should be transplanted B&B
Pruning: Rarely needs pruning
Propagating: Tissue culture seems to have the best results
Design Uses: Useful as a street tree or in a garden
Companions: Use with blueberries, ferns, and other woodland plants, pines make an excellent
background to show off the white blooms and fall color
Other Comments: Heavily branched, suitable for most sites, good for streets and park use
Photo
Sources
This information has been gathered from personal observations of the author, living in Massachusetts, Zone 6 and information provided by J. Frank Schmidt & Son.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA practice credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
By Len Phillips
An Amelanchier street tree? This Schmidt introduction has exceptional tree form that exceeds 30 feet in height instead of the usual Amelanchier shrub form. The dominant central leader supports the strongly upward-oriented scaffold branches. Pure white blooms smother a delicate latticework of twigs in spring. These give way to healthy green foliage that turns orange in the fall.
Botanical Name: Amelanchier laevis ‘JFS-Arb’
Common Name: Serviceberry (Shadblow)
Cultivar Name: Spring Flurry® Serviceberry
Plant Patent: #15304
Parentage: Selection by J. Frank Schmidt
Family: Rosaceae
Height: 35'
Spread: 20'
Form: Upright oval
Bloom Period: Early spring
Flower: White, in clusters
Fruit: Purplish blue, edible, 3/8"
Summer Foliage: Medium green
Autumn Foliage: Persistent brilliant orange
Winter Color: Multi-stem thicket of shrubs form large mass
Bark: Light gray
Habitat: Native in most of the east coast states, west to the Mississippi River
Culture: Somewhat sensitive to drought, soil compaction and air pollution, likes well
drained moist sites, acidic soil is best, tolerates full sun or partial shade
Hardiness Zone: 4 – 9
Growth Rate: Vigorous, full size in less than 30 years
Pest Problems: Resistant to leaf spot and somewhat to fireblight, some leaf insects
Storm Resistance: Good
Salt Resistance: Somewhat sensitive
Planting: Slow recovery after transplanting, over 1½" diameter should be transplanted B&B
Pruning: Rarely needs pruning
Propagating: Tissue culture seems to have the best results
Design Uses: Useful as a street tree or in a garden
Companions: Use with blueberries, ferns, and other woodland plants, pines make an excellent
background to show off the white blooms and fall color
Other Comments: Heavily branched, suitable for most sites, good for streets and park use
Photo
Sources
This information has been gathered from personal observations of the author, living in Massachusetts, Zone 6 and information provided by J. Frank Schmidt & Son.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA practice credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Understanding Body Language
Edited by Len Phillips
As arborists, municipal arborists, and foresters, we sometimes have to talk to others about some aspect of our jobs. Verbal communication works well most of the time, but often we are in a situation where our body language is also communicating with the resident or client. The more you understand about what your body is saying, often without your knowledge, the more you can see how often it gets in your way especially when you are dealing with a difficult person.
Your body's impression
Most people don’t even realize when their bodies are communicating, so the first thing to do is to simply notice your body position. Practice talking in front of a large mirror or be aware of your mannerisms during a casual conversation.
For example, notice your arms. Are they hanging down and motionless in a non-caring manner, or do they move occasionally, or do you cross your arms unconsciously? Study your shoulders to notice if you slouch (in a non-caring manner). Do you stand up straight and present the impression of sincere interest in the situation. Again, stand sideways in front of the mirror and study yourself. Are you straight or are your shoulders back giving the impression that you are trying to distance yourself from the person you are communicating with. Instead, lean forward just a bit to appear friendly. It is subtle, but it keeps you from leaning backward, which shows a negative attitude.
Ways to improve your body language
Now that you have studied where you are at the present time, how do you improve so you can resolve conflicts or get your point made using this very subtle manner?
Smile
The most important improvement you can make is your smile. A smile is your best tool to get someone to like you, and when you don’t smile, it’s the quickest way to turn someone off.
While you are standing in front of the mirror, practice your smile. Study what looks best – a slight subtle smile or a full grin with all your teeth showing – or something in between. Practice what you like best, practice until it becomes automatic.
Posture
Next, study your posture. If you are slouching, lift the flat bone at the front center of your chest (the sternum). This straightens your posture and allows more oxygen into your lungs which results in your shoulders becoming more relaxed when engaging strangers and it makes you look better and more friendly.
Eyes
We like people who look at us, so return the favor and look into their eyes. However, be aware that too much eye contact and it can make people feel threatened, and by contrast too little makes you appear insincere. Once again, stand in front of your mirror or a good friend and see how long it takes for you to become uncomfortable staring at your eyes.
Standing and Gestures
If you are outside talking about trees, stand side-by-side, not face-to-face. Standing side-by-side is not considered threatening. This also allows you to do a sideways lean, which is friendly and non-threatening. Point directly at the tree or other feature and look at it together. People will follow your gesture, and so will their eyes as you describe the situation. Use an open hand or two fingers together when you point at something. Two fingers are perceived as more open and friendly than a single finger.
When the discussion reaches the point of face - to - face talks, hold your arms open and loose to show a welcoming attitude and an interest in what the other person has to say.
Conversation Tips
During the discussions, it is acceptable to copy the other person's body posture and gestures. For example, if they use their hands a lot, you should do the same. If their arms are open, so are yours.
It does take practice, but once you’re aware of your own body communication, you want to be a student of the other person’s body communication, too.
Ending the Conversation
When things go wrong, be very aware that arms crossed or folded over the chest indicates no sympathy, agreement, or any further negotiations. Addressing it with something like, “Did I just say something to put you off?” is a good way to bring them back. No conversation should end with crossed or folded arms.
When a decision has been reached, bring out the smiles and handshakes. This is usually followed by a promise of action within so many days, and other promises that must be kept.
Hopefully these few tips will help you better understand what your body language is saying or not saying. You should always be positive if you want to be successful in your relationships with others.
Source
Phibbs, Bob, “Ways to Improve your Non-verbal Selling Skills, Tree Care Industry, June 2017.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, Utility Specialist, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Edited by Len Phillips
As arborists, municipal arborists, and foresters, we sometimes have to talk to others about some aspect of our jobs. Verbal communication works well most of the time, but often we are in a situation where our body language is also communicating with the resident or client. The more you understand about what your body is saying, often without your knowledge, the more you can see how often it gets in your way especially when you are dealing with a difficult person.
Your body's impression
Most people don’t even realize when their bodies are communicating, so the first thing to do is to simply notice your body position. Practice talking in front of a large mirror or be aware of your mannerisms during a casual conversation.
For example, notice your arms. Are they hanging down and motionless in a non-caring manner, or do they move occasionally, or do you cross your arms unconsciously? Study your shoulders to notice if you slouch (in a non-caring manner). Do you stand up straight and present the impression of sincere interest in the situation. Again, stand sideways in front of the mirror and study yourself. Are you straight or are your shoulders back giving the impression that you are trying to distance yourself from the person you are communicating with. Instead, lean forward just a bit to appear friendly. It is subtle, but it keeps you from leaning backward, which shows a negative attitude.
Ways to improve your body language
Now that you have studied where you are at the present time, how do you improve so you can resolve conflicts or get your point made using this very subtle manner?
Smile
The most important improvement you can make is your smile. A smile is your best tool to get someone to like you, and when you don’t smile, it’s the quickest way to turn someone off.
While you are standing in front of the mirror, practice your smile. Study what looks best – a slight subtle smile or a full grin with all your teeth showing – or something in between. Practice what you like best, practice until it becomes automatic.
Posture
Next, study your posture. If you are slouching, lift the flat bone at the front center of your chest (the sternum). This straightens your posture and allows more oxygen into your lungs which results in your shoulders becoming more relaxed when engaging strangers and it makes you look better and more friendly.
Eyes
We like people who look at us, so return the favor and look into their eyes. However, be aware that too much eye contact and it can make people feel threatened, and by contrast too little makes you appear insincere. Once again, stand in front of your mirror or a good friend and see how long it takes for you to become uncomfortable staring at your eyes.
Standing and Gestures
If you are outside talking about trees, stand side-by-side, not face-to-face. Standing side-by-side is not considered threatening. This also allows you to do a sideways lean, which is friendly and non-threatening. Point directly at the tree or other feature and look at it together. People will follow your gesture, and so will their eyes as you describe the situation. Use an open hand or two fingers together when you point at something. Two fingers are perceived as more open and friendly than a single finger.
When the discussion reaches the point of face - to - face talks, hold your arms open and loose to show a welcoming attitude and an interest in what the other person has to say.
Conversation Tips
During the discussions, it is acceptable to copy the other person's body posture and gestures. For example, if they use their hands a lot, you should do the same. If their arms are open, so are yours.
It does take practice, but once you’re aware of your own body communication, you want to be a student of the other person’s body communication, too.
Ending the Conversation
When things go wrong, be very aware that arms crossed or folded over the chest indicates no sympathy, agreement, or any further negotiations. Addressing it with something like, “Did I just say something to put you off?” is a good way to bring them back. No conversation should end with crossed or folded arms.
When a decision has been reached, bring out the smiles and handshakes. This is usually followed by a promise of action within so many days, and other promises that must be kept.
Hopefully these few tips will help you better understand what your body language is saying or not saying. You should always be positive if you want to be successful in your relationships with others.
Source
Phibbs, Bob, “Ways to Improve your Non-verbal Selling Skills, Tree Care Industry, June 2017.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, Utility Specialist, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
New Trees for the City
By Len Phillips
Every year many new tree species become available to municipal arborists. Tree care professionals should learn more about the trees and do some experimenting to check them out. It doesn’t hurt to have a plant list that contains 50% of your tried-and-true species and 50% new species or cultivars to try out. It may be worthwhile to conduct some trials on your own city streets even if you only plant six new trees. I can personally attest to the fact that I have found some great new trees for my city that have replaced some of my tried-and-true. I have been very surprised at how some unknown trees have been remarkable new additions to our tree planting list. I have also had a few failures that I will not plant again. The failures are easily replaced next year with the tried-and-true.
This article contains descriptions of recent introductions from just one nursery that might be worth trying in your city. While all of them should do well in the city, not all of them will be good as a street tree. If you try them, let me know how they do. I have added links to fact sheets about these trees where you may find some great photos and a bit more information about these new trees.
Acer campestre ‘JFS Shichtel2’ Streetside™ Maple
Zone: 5; Height: 35'; Spread: 18'; Shape: upright narrow oval; Foliage: dark green; Fall Color: yellow;
Insect Resistance: Japanese beetle. Branches give this vigorous growing selection of hedge maple its distinctive form. Heat resistant leaves stay fresh all through the heat of summer. Fact Sheet
Acer griseum ‘JFS KW8AGRI’ Fireburst™ Paperbark Maple
Zone: 5; Height: 25'; Spread: 18'; Shape: upright oval; Foliage: dark green, trifoliate; Fall Color: brilliant red;
Bark: reddish-brown, smooth with exfoliating papery curls. Superior branch structure, uniform shape, predictable performance and speedy growth are among attributes of this paperbark maple cultivar. Bark coloration and exfoliating character are outstanding, as is the quality of foliage. Fact Sheet
Acer griseum x A. maximowiczianum ‘Molly Fordham’ Cinnamon Girl™ Maple
Zone: 5; Height: 25'; Spread: 20'; Shape: upright oval; Foliage: dark green, trifoliate; Fall Color: dark red
This vigorous and heat tolerant hybrid develops a wonderful cinnamon colored bark that flakes with age. Trifoliate leaves maintain their rich color through the heat of summer. Fact Sheet
Carpinus caroliniana ‘Uxbridge’ Rising Fire™ American Hornbeam
Zone: 4; Height: 30'; Spread: 15'; Shape: upright, narrow; Foliage: medium green; Fall Color: red to orange
A lively mix of bright fall colors and distinctive shape combine to offer a new look for a popular and widely adaptable North American native hornbeam. Arborists will appreciate its vigorous yet mannerly growth habit and ease of care in the city. Ontario, Canada origin promises good cold hardiness. Fact Sheet
Cornus mas ‘JFS PN4Legacy’ Saffron Sentinel™ Cornelian Cherry
Zone: 4; Height: 22'; Spread: 12'; Shape: columnar; Foliage: dark green; Fall Color: dark reddish purple;
Flower: bright yellow; Fruit: bright red Flowers emerge in early spring along winter-bare branches of this vigorous, symmetrical, columnar form. Foliage follows the blooms, remaining clean and dark green through the summer months before turning purple in autumn. Tart and tasty fruit ripens in late summer to early fall. Attractive dark brown bark exfoliates with age. Fact Sheet
Magnolia ‘NCMX1’ P.A.F. Mercury™ Magnolia
Zone: 5; Height: 25'; Spread: 15'; Shape: upright pyramidal; Foliage: dark green; Fall Color: yellow; Flower: bright lavender pink, fragrant.
Deep pink buds open to very large blooms. Flowering up to a month later than other M. soulangeana cultivars greatly reduces risk of frost damage to blooms. A strong central leader and upright branching result in a tree with excellent form. Developed by Dr. Tom Ranney of NCSU. Fact Sheet
Malus ‘JFS KW213MX’ Raspberry Spear™ Crabapple
Zone: 4; Height: 20'; Spread: 8'; Shape: upright oval; Foliage: dark green, trifoliate; Fall Color: rich dark red;
Shape: narrow upright column; Foliage: purple; Flower: magenta pink; Fruit: maroon to deep red, ½".
Disease Resistance: Scab: excellent; Fireblight: excellent; Cedar-Apple Rust: excellent; Mildew: excellent
Deep pink buds open to bright flowers on this crabapple. Clean and disease-free summer foliage holds its color; bronzing on the older leaves in late summer and early fall, when orange tints appear. Fruits ripen to deep bright red and persist into late autumn or early winter. Fact Sheet
Malus ‘JFS KW214MX’ Ivory Spear™ Crabapple
Zone: 4; Height: 18'; Spread: 7'; Shape: narrow, tightly columnar; Foliage: dark green; Flower: white; Fruit: bright red, ½".
Disease Resistance: Scab: excellent; Fireblight: excellent; Cedar-Apple Rust: excellent; Mildew: excellent.
Deep pink buds open to white flowers on this densely upright crabapple. Leaves stay clean and disease free throughout the growing season, forming a uniform column of foliage in the landscape. Fruits contrast well with the leaves and persist into late autumn, when a touch of yellow fall color adds seasonal interest. Fact Sheet
Populus sargentii ‘Jeronimus’ Jeronimus Cottonwood
Zone: 3; Height: 60'; Spread: 40'; Shape: upright oval, rounded with age; Foliage: light green; Fall Color: yellow; Seed: none (cotton-less).
Selected for its more uniform growth and branch habit, this male form of Sargent Cottonwood grows well in the western plains states. Distinctly upright in younger years, trees can become more rounded with age. Triangle-shaped light green leaves are rather glossy and remain clean through the growing season. Older trees develop a thick rough bark. Fact Sheet
Quercus montana (formerly Q. prinus) Chestnut Oak
Zone: 4; Height: 50'; Spread: 40'; Shape: pyramidal in youth, irregularly rounded at maturity; Foliage: green with wavy margins; Fall Color: orange yellow to reddish brown
Tolerance to dry, rocky alkaline soils and periods of drought recommend this adaptable native of eastern U.S. forests for urban use. Freedom from major pests and diseases, a relatively fast growth rate and reported tolerance of urban salts are additional attributes. Fact Sheet
Syringa pekinensis ‘WFH2’ P.A.F Great Wall™ Tree Lilac
Zone: 3; Height: 20'; Spread: 12'; Shape: upright oval; Foliage: dark green, glossy; Fall Color: golden yellow; Flower: bright white, in clusters in late spring
Cherry-like, exfoliating bark make this compact beauty an all-season ornamental. Pest and disease resistant, adaptability and small stature merit its inclusion in a program for planting under the wires. Fact Sheet
Ulmus davidiana ‘JFS KW2UD’ Greenstone™ Elm
Zone: 4; Height: 60'; Spread: 40'; Shape: upright vase shaped; Foliage: medium green; Fall Color: yellow;
Disease Tolerance: Dutch elm disease and phloem necrosis
Through years of testing, this vigorous grower has proven to be the top performer among elms. It has been grown from seed collected at the northern edge of its native range in China. Its strong branches with open angles develop into a shape resembling that of the classic American elm. Fact Sheet
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, BCMA management credits. 0.25 CEUs may be applied toward Utility Specialists certification.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
By Len Phillips
Every year many new tree species become available to municipal arborists. Tree care professionals should learn more about the trees and do some experimenting to check them out. It doesn’t hurt to have a plant list that contains 50% of your tried-and-true species and 50% new species or cultivars to try out. It may be worthwhile to conduct some trials on your own city streets even if you only plant six new trees. I can personally attest to the fact that I have found some great new trees for my city that have replaced some of my tried-and-true. I have been very surprised at how some unknown trees have been remarkable new additions to our tree planting list. I have also had a few failures that I will not plant again. The failures are easily replaced next year with the tried-and-true.
This article contains descriptions of recent introductions from just one nursery that might be worth trying in your city. While all of them should do well in the city, not all of them will be good as a street tree. If you try them, let me know how they do. I have added links to fact sheets about these trees where you may find some great photos and a bit more information about these new trees.
Acer campestre ‘JFS Shichtel2’ Streetside™ Maple
Zone: 5; Height: 35'; Spread: 18'; Shape: upright narrow oval; Foliage: dark green; Fall Color: yellow;
Insect Resistance: Japanese beetle. Branches give this vigorous growing selection of hedge maple its distinctive form. Heat resistant leaves stay fresh all through the heat of summer. Fact Sheet
Acer griseum ‘JFS KW8AGRI’ Fireburst™ Paperbark Maple
Zone: 5; Height: 25'; Spread: 18'; Shape: upright oval; Foliage: dark green, trifoliate; Fall Color: brilliant red;
Bark: reddish-brown, smooth with exfoliating papery curls. Superior branch structure, uniform shape, predictable performance and speedy growth are among attributes of this paperbark maple cultivar. Bark coloration and exfoliating character are outstanding, as is the quality of foliage. Fact Sheet
Acer griseum x A. maximowiczianum ‘Molly Fordham’ Cinnamon Girl™ Maple
Zone: 5; Height: 25'; Spread: 20'; Shape: upright oval; Foliage: dark green, trifoliate; Fall Color: dark red
This vigorous and heat tolerant hybrid develops a wonderful cinnamon colored bark that flakes with age. Trifoliate leaves maintain their rich color through the heat of summer. Fact Sheet
Carpinus caroliniana ‘Uxbridge’ Rising Fire™ American Hornbeam
Zone: 4; Height: 30'; Spread: 15'; Shape: upright, narrow; Foliage: medium green; Fall Color: red to orange
A lively mix of bright fall colors and distinctive shape combine to offer a new look for a popular and widely adaptable North American native hornbeam. Arborists will appreciate its vigorous yet mannerly growth habit and ease of care in the city. Ontario, Canada origin promises good cold hardiness. Fact Sheet
Cornus mas ‘JFS PN4Legacy’ Saffron Sentinel™ Cornelian Cherry
Zone: 4; Height: 22'; Spread: 12'; Shape: columnar; Foliage: dark green; Fall Color: dark reddish purple;
Flower: bright yellow; Fruit: bright red Flowers emerge in early spring along winter-bare branches of this vigorous, symmetrical, columnar form. Foliage follows the blooms, remaining clean and dark green through the summer months before turning purple in autumn. Tart and tasty fruit ripens in late summer to early fall. Attractive dark brown bark exfoliates with age. Fact Sheet
Magnolia ‘NCMX1’ P.A.F. Mercury™ Magnolia
Zone: 5; Height: 25'; Spread: 15'; Shape: upright pyramidal; Foliage: dark green; Fall Color: yellow; Flower: bright lavender pink, fragrant.
Deep pink buds open to very large blooms. Flowering up to a month later than other M. soulangeana cultivars greatly reduces risk of frost damage to blooms. A strong central leader and upright branching result in a tree with excellent form. Developed by Dr. Tom Ranney of NCSU. Fact Sheet
Malus ‘JFS KW213MX’ Raspberry Spear™ Crabapple
Zone: 4; Height: 20'; Spread: 8'; Shape: upright oval; Foliage: dark green, trifoliate; Fall Color: rich dark red;
Shape: narrow upright column; Foliage: purple; Flower: magenta pink; Fruit: maroon to deep red, ½".
Disease Resistance: Scab: excellent; Fireblight: excellent; Cedar-Apple Rust: excellent; Mildew: excellent
Deep pink buds open to bright flowers on this crabapple. Clean and disease-free summer foliage holds its color; bronzing on the older leaves in late summer and early fall, when orange tints appear. Fruits ripen to deep bright red and persist into late autumn or early winter. Fact Sheet
Malus ‘JFS KW214MX’ Ivory Spear™ Crabapple
Zone: 4; Height: 18'; Spread: 7'; Shape: narrow, tightly columnar; Foliage: dark green; Flower: white; Fruit: bright red, ½".
Disease Resistance: Scab: excellent; Fireblight: excellent; Cedar-Apple Rust: excellent; Mildew: excellent.
Deep pink buds open to white flowers on this densely upright crabapple. Leaves stay clean and disease free throughout the growing season, forming a uniform column of foliage in the landscape. Fruits contrast well with the leaves and persist into late autumn, when a touch of yellow fall color adds seasonal interest. Fact Sheet
Populus sargentii ‘Jeronimus’ Jeronimus Cottonwood
Zone: 3; Height: 60'; Spread: 40'; Shape: upright oval, rounded with age; Foliage: light green; Fall Color: yellow; Seed: none (cotton-less).
Selected for its more uniform growth and branch habit, this male form of Sargent Cottonwood grows well in the western plains states. Distinctly upright in younger years, trees can become more rounded with age. Triangle-shaped light green leaves are rather glossy and remain clean through the growing season. Older trees develop a thick rough bark. Fact Sheet
Quercus montana (formerly Q. prinus) Chestnut Oak
Zone: 4; Height: 50'; Spread: 40'; Shape: pyramidal in youth, irregularly rounded at maturity; Foliage: green with wavy margins; Fall Color: orange yellow to reddish brown
Tolerance to dry, rocky alkaline soils and periods of drought recommend this adaptable native of eastern U.S. forests for urban use. Freedom from major pests and diseases, a relatively fast growth rate and reported tolerance of urban salts are additional attributes. Fact Sheet
Syringa pekinensis ‘WFH2’ P.A.F Great Wall™ Tree Lilac
Zone: 3; Height: 20'; Spread: 12'; Shape: upright oval; Foliage: dark green, glossy; Fall Color: golden yellow; Flower: bright white, in clusters in late spring
Cherry-like, exfoliating bark make this compact beauty an all-season ornamental. Pest and disease resistant, adaptability and small stature merit its inclusion in a program for planting under the wires. Fact Sheet
Ulmus davidiana ‘JFS KW2UD’ Greenstone™ Elm
Zone: 4; Height: 60'; Spread: 40'; Shape: upright vase shaped; Foliage: medium green; Fall Color: yellow;
Disease Tolerance: Dutch elm disease and phloem necrosis
Through years of testing, this vigorous grower has proven to be the top performer among elms. It has been grown from seed collected at the northern edge of its native range in China. Its strong branches with open angles develop into a shape resembling that of the classic American elm. Fact Sheet
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, BCMA management credits. 0.25 CEUs may be applied toward Utility Specialists certification.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Forest Bathing
Edited by Len Phillips
Forest bathing is not taking a bath in a babbling forest brook or a pine scented bath bomb. It is about bathing your mind and soul in the forest environment.
Forest bathing was developed in Japan about 30 years ago where it is called “shinrin-yoku”. It has become a tool for preventative healthcare and healing in Japanese medicine. It is intended to invigorate your senses, boost immunity and good mood, help reduce stress, and clear your mind without strenuous physical activity.
What is required is a walk in the forest. Not a brisk walk, but a slow walk with an open mind and enhancement of your senses. For example, take a few deep breaths and then close your eyes and feel your footsteps on the forest floor, listen to the birds chirping in the trees, smell the clean fresh air, feel the warmth change as the sun comes out and goes behind some clouds or the shadows of some thick branches, and feel the forest breezes on your skin.
Open your eyes and touch the bark on a tree or some moss growing on a rock. Touch different leaves and smell the earth. Look at all the different trees and plants growing on the forest floor. (Note to arborists: just look, do not try to identify them all.) See the breezes gently blowing on the leaves and the sway of young trees. Look at all the different textures from bark, rocks, leaves, and water. Examine how the topography undulates with hills, flat land, rock outcrops, bodies of water, etc.
This is when the phytonicides or oils, of the tree's immune systems are emitted by all the forest trees and enhance the human body's immune system as they also enhance the plant's immune system. Deep natural breaths in and out will remove toxins and enhance the paralytic nervous system. Meaning – no stress.
Really paying attention to all the details of nature has enhanced the senses, calmed the brain, and put your body in a very slow moving and relaxed mode. The forest is providing physiological and psychological benefits to your body.
The Japanese have determined that this process has to be repeated for three or four days to be beneficial. That gives the body time for white blood cells to elevate and able to guard against tumors and infections. This elevated white blood cell count can last for a month before it has to be repeated.
A walk in the forest is also good for lowering cortisol levels (which is the stress hormone), as well as lower blood pressure and heart rate when compared to the same length walk in the city. Recent research is reporting that forest bathing may help alleviate depression. As people begin to relax, parasympathetic nerve activity increases, which can lead to a drop in blood pressure. Medical research is finally coming to realize what we already know, that people feel better after spending time with nature. After all, most of human evolutionary history was spent in environments that lack buildings and walls.
You can do all this with a guide or on your own. Guides are available at a scattering of mountain houses and lodges that offer forest bathing. For more information on forest bathing and places to go, contact the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy Guides.
This is way better than yoga!
Sources
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Edited by Len Phillips
Forest bathing is not taking a bath in a babbling forest brook or a pine scented bath bomb. It is about bathing your mind and soul in the forest environment.
Forest bathing was developed in Japan about 30 years ago where it is called “shinrin-yoku”. It has become a tool for preventative healthcare and healing in Japanese medicine. It is intended to invigorate your senses, boost immunity and good mood, help reduce stress, and clear your mind without strenuous physical activity.
What is required is a walk in the forest. Not a brisk walk, but a slow walk with an open mind and enhancement of your senses. For example, take a few deep breaths and then close your eyes and feel your footsteps on the forest floor, listen to the birds chirping in the trees, smell the clean fresh air, feel the warmth change as the sun comes out and goes behind some clouds or the shadows of some thick branches, and feel the forest breezes on your skin.
Open your eyes and touch the bark on a tree or some moss growing on a rock. Touch different leaves and smell the earth. Look at all the different trees and plants growing on the forest floor. (Note to arborists: just look, do not try to identify them all.) See the breezes gently blowing on the leaves and the sway of young trees. Look at all the different textures from bark, rocks, leaves, and water. Examine how the topography undulates with hills, flat land, rock outcrops, bodies of water, etc.
This is when the phytonicides or oils, of the tree's immune systems are emitted by all the forest trees and enhance the human body's immune system as they also enhance the plant's immune system. Deep natural breaths in and out will remove toxins and enhance the paralytic nervous system. Meaning – no stress.
Really paying attention to all the details of nature has enhanced the senses, calmed the brain, and put your body in a very slow moving and relaxed mode. The forest is providing physiological and psychological benefits to your body.
The Japanese have determined that this process has to be repeated for three or four days to be beneficial. That gives the body time for white blood cells to elevate and able to guard against tumors and infections. This elevated white blood cell count can last for a month before it has to be repeated.
A walk in the forest is also good for lowering cortisol levels (which is the stress hormone), as well as lower blood pressure and heart rate when compared to the same length walk in the city. Recent research is reporting that forest bathing may help alleviate depression. As people begin to relax, parasympathetic nerve activity increases, which can lead to a drop in blood pressure. Medical research is finally coming to realize what we already know, that people feel better after spending time with nature. After all, most of human evolutionary history was spent in environments that lack buildings and walls.
You can do all this with a guide or on your own. Guides are available at a scattering of mountain houses and lodges that offer forest bathing. For more information on forest bathing and places to go, contact the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy Guides.
This is way better than yoga!
Sources
- Association of Nature & Forest Therapy, “Guides and Programs”, 2016.
- Bair, Diane and Pamela “Wright, “For the health of it, try the un-hike”, Boston Globe, June 18, 2017.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Why Evergreens Smell Nice
Edited by Len Phillips
As a follow up to the previous article about forest bathing, why do evergreens smell so nice? People enjoy the smell of pine, spruce, and fir trees. Whether it is a Christmas tree in your home or a grove of conifer trees in the forest, they all have a sharp, sweet, and refreshing smell. The evergreen favorites of pine, spruce, and fir trees all produce chemicals called terpenes, which give them their special, distinctive scent.
Terpenes are found in the essential oils of plants, especially conifers and citrus tree sap, and help to defend the trees from herbivores like bark beetles and fungal pathogens by attracting predators and parasites of herbivores. Terpenes are volatile unsaturated hydrocarbons composed of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms, and they are built from different numbers of isoprene molecules, which have a chemical formula of C5H8. Small terpenes, known as monoterpenes, contain two isoprene units and have a chemical formula of C10H16. Pinene, which is the scent of pine, is a monoterpene. Limonene, which has citrus odor, is also a monoterpene. These two molecules, among others, give conifer trees their distinctive scent. Larger terpenes are known as diterpenes, and triterpenes, and they can take the shape of long chains or rings. Many diverse types of organisms such as termites or swallowtail butterflies produce terpenes.
Terpenes are abundant in conifer resin and when a tree’s bark is damaged, the resin flows out, hardens, and protects the tree. The terpenes in this resin act as deterrents to herbivores and as fungal growth inhibitors.
In warmer weather, terpenes are released into the atmosphere surrounding conifer forests on hot summer days, where they act as a natural form of cloud seeding. Scientists now realize that the resulting clouds that form, help to block sunlight and cool the forest, allowing the forest to regulate its temperature. This function is similar to the way people sweat when they become overheated and the evaporating moisture on the skin, cools the body down.
Several consumer products are made from terpenes. One of the most widely known products is turpentine, which is used as a solvent to thin out oil-based paints. Another is resin which is used as shellac and lacquer. Terpenes are also used as fragrances in cleaning products and in medicines such as anti-malaria and anti-cancer drugs.
Recently, scientists have begun to explore the use of terpenes as replacements for petroleum-based chemicals in things such as plastics and fuels. Terpenes are hydrocarbons much like petroleum products, but unlike petroleum they could be a potentially renewable resource. Unfortunately, conifers and insects do not produce enough terpenes to meet the demand, so it may not be economically feasible to do this. However, scientists may be able to genetically engineer microorganisms to produce large quantities of terpenes in the future, and this is currently an active area of research.
Just something to think about as you gaze at your Christmas tree. Bottom line: pine, spruce, and fir trees – favored trees for decorating during Christmas – produce terpenes, which give them a distinctive and refreshing scent and put us humans in a pleasant frame of mind.
Sources
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Edited by Len Phillips
As a follow up to the previous article about forest bathing, why do evergreens smell so nice? People enjoy the smell of pine, spruce, and fir trees. Whether it is a Christmas tree in your home or a grove of conifer trees in the forest, they all have a sharp, sweet, and refreshing smell. The evergreen favorites of pine, spruce, and fir trees all produce chemicals called terpenes, which give them their special, distinctive scent.
Terpenes are found in the essential oils of plants, especially conifers and citrus tree sap, and help to defend the trees from herbivores like bark beetles and fungal pathogens by attracting predators and parasites of herbivores. Terpenes are volatile unsaturated hydrocarbons composed of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms, and they are built from different numbers of isoprene molecules, which have a chemical formula of C5H8. Small terpenes, known as monoterpenes, contain two isoprene units and have a chemical formula of C10H16. Pinene, which is the scent of pine, is a monoterpene. Limonene, which has citrus odor, is also a monoterpene. These two molecules, among others, give conifer trees their distinctive scent. Larger terpenes are known as diterpenes, and triterpenes, and they can take the shape of long chains or rings. Many diverse types of organisms such as termites or swallowtail butterflies produce terpenes.
Terpenes are abundant in conifer resin and when a tree’s bark is damaged, the resin flows out, hardens, and protects the tree. The terpenes in this resin act as deterrents to herbivores and as fungal growth inhibitors.
In warmer weather, terpenes are released into the atmosphere surrounding conifer forests on hot summer days, where they act as a natural form of cloud seeding. Scientists now realize that the resulting clouds that form, help to block sunlight and cool the forest, allowing the forest to regulate its temperature. This function is similar to the way people sweat when they become overheated and the evaporating moisture on the skin, cools the body down.
Several consumer products are made from terpenes. One of the most widely known products is turpentine, which is used as a solvent to thin out oil-based paints. Another is resin which is used as shellac and lacquer. Terpenes are also used as fragrances in cleaning products and in medicines such as anti-malaria and anti-cancer drugs.
Recently, scientists have begun to explore the use of terpenes as replacements for petroleum-based chemicals in things such as plastics and fuels. Terpenes are hydrocarbons much like petroleum products, but unlike petroleum they could be a potentially renewable resource. Unfortunately, conifers and insects do not produce enough terpenes to meet the demand, so it may not be economically feasible to do this. However, scientists may be able to genetically engineer microorganisms to produce large quantities of terpenes in the future, and this is currently an active area of research.
Just something to think about as you gaze at your Christmas tree. Bottom line: pine, spruce, and fir trees – favored trees for decorating during Christmas – produce terpenes, which give them a distinctive and refreshing scent and put us humans in a pleasant frame of mind.
Sources
- Conners, Deanna, “Why pine trees smell so good”, Earth, December 22, 2016
- Wikipedia, “Turpine”, 19 June 2017
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Trees with Tales - Balsam fir
By Len Phillips
Abies balsamea, Balsam fir is a North American fir, native to most of Canada and the northeastern United States from Minnesota to Maine, and south to West Virginia along the Appalachian Mountains. What makes this tree special is its very popular role as a favorite Christmas tree.
This is an aromatic, narrow, conical evergreen with a crown consisting of dense, green needles. It is a small to medium-size evergreen tree typically growing to 50 – 70 ft (14 to 20m) high with a maximum of 90 ft (27m) tall and 15 – 25 ft (5 – 7.5 m) wide spread. Balsam fir tends to grow in cool climates with consistent moisture at its roots. The further north it is growing the smaller it gets until it appears as a shrub at the Arctic timber line.
In swamps, balsam fir grow densely and slowly, and are slender. In flat areas balsam fir grow fast, tall, and large, often growing with red spruce. On hardwood slopes ground rot is a common problem for balsam fir in this well drained area. Leaf litter that covers the forest floor encourage balsam fir to grow fast, tall, and large. On mountain tops, stands of balsam fir occasionally grow in waves that flow with the topography and soil types. The development on mountains is similar to that in swamps with slow growth resulting in slender, short trees. The trees all grow poorly in heavy clay soils.
The balsam fir bark is smooth and greenish when young but brown and becoming rough and fissured on older trees.
The leaves are flat and needle-like. They are usually dark green above with a small patch of stomata near a slightly notched tip, and two white stomatal bands on the underside. They are arranged spirally on the shoot, but with the leaf bases twisted so that the needles appear to be in two horizontal rows on either side of the shoot.
The seed cones are 2 to 4 in. (40 to 80 mm.) long and dark purple in summer. The female cones are full of resin, are brown when mature, and shatter readily when dry. These disintegrating cones release the winged seeds in September. A distinctive feature of the fir are the cones standing upright on the branches.
Most balsam fir used for Christmas are grown on plantations or tree farms. In these situations, the soil is rich, consistently moist, slightly acidic, well-drained, and in full sun to part shade. Balsam fir are native to cool climates, and are not recommended for planting in the hot and humid summer conditions south of USDA Zone 5. They do best in Zones 3 – 5 and Heat Zones 6 – 1.
Balsam fir are bothered by a few insect pests, but none are serious. Spider mites may occur in hot conditions. Disease problems include cankers, heart rot, root rot, needle rust, and twig blight. Balsam fir trees are generally intolerant of urban pollution.
This tree offers year round interest and provides habitat to wildlife, including foliage eaten by deer.
Balsam fir does very well as a specimen tree in a residential landscape provided the tree can grow in cool soil. It also makes a very tall privacy screen or dense windbreak.
Uses
Appreciate the Balsam fir during the winter holiday celebrations for its beauty and fragrance.
Sources
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA practice credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
By Len Phillips
Abies balsamea, Balsam fir is a North American fir, native to most of Canada and the northeastern United States from Minnesota to Maine, and south to West Virginia along the Appalachian Mountains. What makes this tree special is its very popular role as a favorite Christmas tree.
This is an aromatic, narrow, conical evergreen with a crown consisting of dense, green needles. It is a small to medium-size evergreen tree typically growing to 50 – 70 ft (14 to 20m) high with a maximum of 90 ft (27m) tall and 15 – 25 ft (5 – 7.5 m) wide spread. Balsam fir tends to grow in cool climates with consistent moisture at its roots. The further north it is growing the smaller it gets until it appears as a shrub at the Arctic timber line.
In swamps, balsam fir grow densely and slowly, and are slender. In flat areas balsam fir grow fast, tall, and large, often growing with red spruce. On hardwood slopes ground rot is a common problem for balsam fir in this well drained area. Leaf litter that covers the forest floor encourage balsam fir to grow fast, tall, and large. On mountain tops, stands of balsam fir occasionally grow in waves that flow with the topography and soil types. The development on mountains is similar to that in swamps with slow growth resulting in slender, short trees. The trees all grow poorly in heavy clay soils.
The balsam fir bark is smooth and greenish when young but brown and becoming rough and fissured on older trees.
The leaves are flat and needle-like. They are usually dark green above with a small patch of stomata near a slightly notched tip, and two white stomatal bands on the underside. They are arranged spirally on the shoot, but with the leaf bases twisted so that the needles appear to be in two horizontal rows on either side of the shoot.
The seed cones are 2 to 4 in. (40 to 80 mm.) long and dark purple in summer. The female cones are full of resin, are brown when mature, and shatter readily when dry. These disintegrating cones release the winged seeds in September. A distinctive feature of the fir are the cones standing upright on the branches.
Most balsam fir used for Christmas are grown on plantations or tree farms. In these situations, the soil is rich, consistently moist, slightly acidic, well-drained, and in full sun to part shade. Balsam fir are native to cool climates, and are not recommended for planting in the hot and humid summer conditions south of USDA Zone 5. They do best in Zones 3 – 5 and Heat Zones 6 – 1.
Balsam fir are bothered by a few insect pests, but none are serious. Spider mites may occur in hot conditions. Disease problems include cankers, heart rot, root rot, needle rust, and twig blight. Balsam fir trees are generally intolerant of urban pollution.
This tree offers year round interest and provides habitat to wildlife, including foliage eaten by deer.
Balsam fir does very well as a specimen tree in a residential landscape provided the tree can grow in cool soil. It also makes a very tall privacy screen or dense windbreak.
Uses
- Balsam fir are very popular as a Christmas tree, particularly in the northeastern United States.
- Balsam fir produce a resin that is used for making Canada balsam fir, which was traditionally used as a cold remedy. Balsam fir resin is also made into a glue for optical instrument components, and for preparing permanent mounts of microscope specimens.
- The wood is milled for framing lumber (part of SPF lumber), building siding, and pulped for paper manufacture.
- The Balsam fir resin oil is an EPA approved nontoxic rodent repellent.
- Balsam fir is also the provincial tree of New Brunswick.
Appreciate the Balsam fir during the winter holiday celebrations for its beauty and fragrance.
Sources
- Learn 2 Grow, “Abies balsamea”, 2016-2017
- Missouri Botanical Garden, Abies balsamea, Plant Finder
- Wikipedia, “Abies balsamea”, 3 July 2017
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA practice credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Trees & Ice Storms
Edited by Len Phillips
Severe ice storms occur every year in the United States and Canada, particularly in the Midwestern and Eastern regions of the United States. These storms are responsible for deaths and injuries to people and result in losses in the millions of dollars. Damage to electric distribution systems, blocked roadways, and property damage from fallen trees and limbs pose safety concerns and disrupt normal community functions.
Storm Development
Ice storm damages result from the accumulation of freezing rain on surfaces like tree branches and electrical wires. The U.S. National Weather Service defines ice storms as the accumulation of at least ¼” (0.625 cm) of ice on exposed surfaces. Typically ice storms can develop when a moist winter warm front passes over a colder surface-air layer. Rain falls from a warmer layer (above the freezing point of 32ºF/0ºC) through layers of cooler air without freezing but becomes super-cooled. Ice accumulates when super-cooled rain freezes on contact with surfaces that are at or below the freezing point.
The severity of damage increases with greater accumulations of ice. Accumulations between ¼ and ½ inch can cause small branches and weak limbs to break and ½ inch (1.25 cm) or greater of ice can cause large branches to break.
Most ice storms last only a few hours, but some storms may occur over several days depending on weather patterns. Strong winds substantially increase the potential for damage from ice accumulation. Ice storms occur from October through April. Ninety percent occur between December and March with most occurring in January.
Monetary losses to forests, individual trees, utility lines, agriculture, commerce, and property can be extensive after an ice storm. As an example, losses from a 1998 ice storm covering the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada were estimated at $6.2 billion (USD) with less than one-half of this amount insured. Other impacts included more than four million people without power and more than 40 deaths attributed to this storm.
Storm Damage Categories
Storm damage to trees can be placed into five categories:
1. broken branches,
2. trunk bending,
3. splitting of main or co-dominant stems,
4. complete trunk failure,
5. tipping or up-rooting.
Damage Factors
The damage to trees from ice storms depends on many factors:
Branch breaking is the most common form of ice-induced damage and generally is the most easily mitigated. You can not repair broken branches, but you can alleviate the damage. Trees that have been uprooted, sustained trunk failure or have broken branches over more than 50% of the crown, should be removed immediately.
The remarkable resiliency of trees may become a problem for municipal arborists and property owners as they struggle with the decision to repair or remove trees damaged by ice storms. Removing a tree when it can be repaired with an equal investment of time and resources represents a net loss in benefits to the community and property owners. Conversely, failure to remove a tree that cannot be restored to a safe and sound condition increases both the likelihood of future failure with potential property damage and personal injury.
The long-term impact on tree survivability and structural integrity is related to the total number of branches lost relative to the entire canopy and the size of the branches lost. Generally, damaged trees can be managed if fewer than 50% of the branches are affected and the loss is predominantly lateral branches or the tips of scaffold branches. Corrective pruning cuts should follow natural pruning targets with the intent to promote balanced crown development over time.
The accumulation of ice can often produce damage to a branch that is not immediately evident. This hidden damage manifests itself in the formation of longitudinal cracks that run parallel along the branch and originate at or near the point of attachment. These branches must be removed as soon as they are identified as they possess a high potential to fail.
Excessive ice loads can also induce branch splitting at the point of attachment. Repair typically involves pruning the ends of one or more of the affected branches to reduce load and the installation of cables and braces to provide additional mechanical support. Branches that have structural support systems installed in them must be monitored on an annual basis. In some cases, particularly on large, older trees, if the extent of the split is too severe, the affected branch must be removed.
Trees that bend under the load of accumulated ice will, in most cases, return to their pre-storm form, once the load has melted. The fact that the tree did not break under the tremendous load suggests good structural integrity.
Resistance to Damage
Trees that have characteristics that impart resistance to ice storm damage include:
Reduce Tree Damage
Planting a diverse urban forest that includes trees resistant to ice storms and performing regular tree maintenance to avoid or remove structural weaknesses will reduce damage caused by severe ice storms.
Depending upon the level of damage, forest trees such as pin cherry, quaking aspen, jack pine, and sugar maple will likely die within a few years if canopy damage exceeds 50 percent. In contrast, tree species such as pitch pine and American beech have an excellent sprouting ability with the potential to develop new branches and survive.
Urban Forest Management Plan
Steps should be taken to manage and minimize ice storm damage to urban forests through tree selection, maintenance, and recovery plans. As a first step, select and plant tree species resistant to ice damage. Ice storm susceptibility should not be the sole criterion but the numbers of trees susceptible to damage should be limited.
Proper tree placement and pruning on a regular cycle will reduce the potential for ice storm damage. Trees located near homes and other structures should be evaluated regularly for tree risk failure potential. Trees pruned appropriately from a young age should be more resistant to ice storms.
Regular utility right-of-way inspection is important to minimize outages. Public education about the need to manage trees near utility lines should be encouraged, because it is in the best interests of utility companies, communities, and electricity consumers.
Ice storm frequency and severity within the eastern United States necessitates the incorporation of ice storm information into the urban forestry planning process. While we cannot stop ice storms from occurring, we can take steps to reduce the impact of this major forest disturbance on urban forests and the interface between forests, buildings, and infrastructure.
Source
Hauer, Richard J., Jeffrey O. Dawson, and Les P. Werner, “Trees and Ice Storms: The Development of Ice Storm-Resistant Urban Tree Populations”, Joint Publication 06-1, University of Wisconsin, and the University of Illinois, 2006.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, Utility Specialist. 0.25 CEUs may be applied toward Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA practice or management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Edited by Len Phillips
Severe ice storms occur every year in the United States and Canada, particularly in the Midwestern and Eastern regions of the United States. These storms are responsible for deaths and injuries to people and result in losses in the millions of dollars. Damage to electric distribution systems, blocked roadways, and property damage from fallen trees and limbs pose safety concerns and disrupt normal community functions.
Storm Development
Ice storm damages result from the accumulation of freezing rain on surfaces like tree branches and electrical wires. The U.S. National Weather Service defines ice storms as the accumulation of at least ¼” (0.625 cm) of ice on exposed surfaces. Typically ice storms can develop when a moist winter warm front passes over a colder surface-air layer. Rain falls from a warmer layer (above the freezing point of 32ºF/0ºC) through layers of cooler air without freezing but becomes super-cooled. Ice accumulates when super-cooled rain freezes on contact with surfaces that are at or below the freezing point.
The severity of damage increases with greater accumulations of ice. Accumulations between ¼ and ½ inch can cause small branches and weak limbs to break and ½ inch (1.25 cm) or greater of ice can cause large branches to break.
Most ice storms last only a few hours, but some storms may occur over several days depending on weather patterns. Strong winds substantially increase the potential for damage from ice accumulation. Ice storms occur from October through April. Ninety percent occur between December and March with most occurring in January.
Monetary losses to forests, individual trees, utility lines, agriculture, commerce, and property can be extensive after an ice storm. As an example, losses from a 1998 ice storm covering the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada were estimated at $6.2 billion (USD) with less than one-half of this amount insured. Other impacts included more than four million people without power and more than 40 deaths attributed to this storm.
Storm Damage Categories
Storm damage to trees can be placed into five categories:
1. broken branches,
2. trunk bending,
3. splitting of main or co-dominant stems,
4. complete trunk failure,
5. tipping or up-rooting.
Damage Factors
The damage to trees from ice storms depends on many factors:
- amount and duration of accumulated ice,
- exposure to wind,
- wood resistance to failure,
- weak branch junctures indicated by included bark,
- decaying or dead branches,
- tree height and diameter,
- increased surface area of lateral branches,
- broad and unbalanced crowns,
- shallow, restricted, and unbalanced root systems,
- susceptibility to tree pathogens.
Branch breaking is the most common form of ice-induced damage and generally is the most easily mitigated. You can not repair broken branches, but you can alleviate the damage. Trees that have been uprooted, sustained trunk failure or have broken branches over more than 50% of the crown, should be removed immediately.
The remarkable resiliency of trees may become a problem for municipal arborists and property owners as they struggle with the decision to repair or remove trees damaged by ice storms. Removing a tree when it can be repaired with an equal investment of time and resources represents a net loss in benefits to the community and property owners. Conversely, failure to remove a tree that cannot be restored to a safe and sound condition increases both the likelihood of future failure with potential property damage and personal injury.
The long-term impact on tree survivability and structural integrity is related to the total number of branches lost relative to the entire canopy and the size of the branches lost. Generally, damaged trees can be managed if fewer than 50% of the branches are affected and the loss is predominantly lateral branches or the tips of scaffold branches. Corrective pruning cuts should follow natural pruning targets with the intent to promote balanced crown development over time.
The accumulation of ice can often produce damage to a branch that is not immediately evident. This hidden damage manifests itself in the formation of longitudinal cracks that run parallel along the branch and originate at or near the point of attachment. These branches must be removed as soon as they are identified as they possess a high potential to fail.
Excessive ice loads can also induce branch splitting at the point of attachment. Repair typically involves pruning the ends of one or more of the affected branches to reduce load and the installation of cables and braces to provide additional mechanical support. Branches that have structural support systems installed in them must be monitored on an annual basis. In some cases, particularly on large, older trees, if the extent of the split is too severe, the affected branch must be removed.
Trees that bend under the load of accumulated ice will, in most cases, return to their pre-storm form, once the load has melted. The fact that the tree did not break under the tremendous load suggests good structural integrity.
Resistance to Damage
Trees that have characteristics that impart resistance to ice storm damage include:
- Juvenile and mature trees that have excurrent (conical) branching patterns, strong branch attachments, flexible branches, and low surface area of lateral branches are generally resistant to ice storms. Species such as sweet gum and tulip poplar have an excurrent growth habit when young but develop a decurrent growth habit later in life. As a result, these species are more resistant to breakage when young.
- Tree species with strong branch attachments have greater resistance to breakage than those with weak branch junctures indicated by included bark.
- Trees with coarse branching patterns and, as a consequence, lateral branches with reduced surface area, such as Kentucky coffee tree, black walnut, and ginkgo, accumulate less ice and typically have little breakage from ice storms. ‘Bradford’ pear branches on the other hand, often break during ice storms because there is included bark in branch junctures. In contrast, the ‘Aristocrat’ cultivar of the same pear species has few branches with included bark and sustains much less damage during ice storms.
- Forest understory tree species, such as hophornbeam, blue beech, amur maple, and serviceberry, are relatively resistant to ice storm damage when situated in the understory. Younger trees and those with greater flexibility or elasticity of branches have greater resistance. American elm expresses resistance as a member of the lower canopy, yet becomes more susceptible to damage as an upper canopy tree as it grows above the competing canopy in the forest.
- Trees that develop a greater taper of the main trunk or with buttresses can support more mass and tend to have greater resistance to failure than spindly trees with less taper.
- Seed source of trees also influences ice storm resistance. A tree species indigenous to areas subject to severe ice storms seem to have greater resistance than those not from such areas. For example, loblolly pine trees from more northern latitudes experience less ice storm damage than those from more southerly locations.
- Forest edge trees tend to have large, unbalanced crowns with longer, lower and more branches on the open side. Interior trees, the crowns of which must compete for light, have small crowns with shorter main branches and fewer lower limbs and typically show less damage than edge trees.
- Trees on slopes, and especially those facing north and east, tend to have greater ice storm damage because of imbalances in the crowns and roots, due to growth patterns on north and east aspects.
- Vine growth on forest trees can increase susceptibility to ice storm damage by increasing the surface area that accumulates ice.
- Species with shallow root systems, such as red oak, are more prone to tipping during ice storms than deep-rooted species, such as white oak and bur oak, especially if the ground is unfrozen and the soil is saturated.
- Trees such as river birch, bald cypress, and arborvitae will naturally bend with the weight of ice and often return to natural habit after melting of ice.
Reduce Tree Damage
Planting a diverse urban forest that includes trees resistant to ice storms and performing regular tree maintenance to avoid or remove structural weaknesses will reduce damage caused by severe ice storms.
Depending upon the level of damage, forest trees such as pin cherry, quaking aspen, jack pine, and sugar maple will likely die within a few years if canopy damage exceeds 50 percent. In contrast, tree species such as pitch pine and American beech have an excellent sprouting ability with the potential to develop new branches and survive.
Urban Forest Management Plan
Steps should be taken to manage and minimize ice storm damage to urban forests through tree selection, maintenance, and recovery plans. As a first step, select and plant tree species resistant to ice damage. Ice storm susceptibility should not be the sole criterion but the numbers of trees susceptible to damage should be limited.
Proper tree placement and pruning on a regular cycle will reduce the potential for ice storm damage. Trees located near homes and other structures should be evaluated regularly for tree risk failure potential. Trees pruned appropriately from a young age should be more resistant to ice storms.
Regular utility right-of-way inspection is important to minimize outages. Public education about the need to manage trees near utility lines should be encouraged, because it is in the best interests of utility companies, communities, and electricity consumers.
Ice storm frequency and severity within the eastern United States necessitates the incorporation of ice storm information into the urban forestry planning process. While we cannot stop ice storms from occurring, we can take steps to reduce the impact of this major forest disturbance on urban forests and the interface between forests, buildings, and infrastructure.
Source
Hauer, Richard J., Jeffrey O. Dawson, and Les P. Werner, “Trees and Ice Storms: The Development of Ice Storm-Resistant Urban Tree Populations”, Joint Publication 06-1, University of Wisconsin, and the University of Illinois, 2006.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, Utility Specialist. 0.25 CEUs may be applied toward Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA practice or management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Salt Tolerant Trees
Edited by Len Phillips
Many trees can be disfigured and killed by sodium chloride. The worst damage occurs to sensitive species planted near heavily salted roads. Looking for "witch's brooms" on deciduous trees and yellow, brown, or fallen needles on evergreens that can identify winter salt damage.
Foliar damage from salt spray normally occurs on the windward side of the tree, but in severe cases the whole tree may be coated. Yew, arborvitae, and hemlock are most susceptible, but winter browning can affect all evergreens. New transplants or trees with succulent, late season growth are also sensitive.
Trees Tolerant to Salt Spray
Scientific name Common name
Abies concolor White Fir
Acer campestre Hedge maple
Acer platanoides Norway maple
Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore maple
Acer saccharinum Silver maple
Aesculus spp. Buckeye
Aesculus hippocastanum Horsechestnut
Ailanthus altissima Tree of heaven, Ailanthus
Amelanchier spp. Shadblow, serviceberry
Asimina triloba Pawpaw
Betula spp. Birch
Carya spp. Hickory/pecan
Casuarina equisetifolia Australian pine
Catalpa spp. Catalpa
Cercidphyllum japonicum Katsura tree
Chionanthus virginicus White fringe tree
Cladrastris lutea American yellowwood
Clusia rosea Pitch apple
Cocos nucifera Coconut palm
Conocarpus erecta Buttonwood
Cornus florida Flowering dogwood
Cupaniopsis anacardioides Carrotwood
Diospyros virginiana Common persimmon
Elaeagnus angustifolia Russian olive
Fraxinus spp. Ash
Fraxinus quadrangulata Blue ash
Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo, maidenhair tree
Gleditsia triacanthos Common honey locust
Gymnocladus dioicus Kentucky coffeetree
Ilex opaca American holly
Jacaranda mimosaefolia Jacaranda
Juglans spp. Walnut/butternut
Juniperus spp. Juniper
Koelreuteria paniculata Goldenraintree
Laburnum x watereri Goldenchain tree
Larix deciduas European larch
Liquidambar styraciflua Sweetgum
Maclura pomifera Osage orange
Magnolia spp Magnolia
Malus spp. Apple, crabapple
Morus spp. Mulberry
Nyssa sylvatica Tupelo, black gum, sour gum
Ostrya virginiana Hophornbeam, ironwood
Oxydendrum arboreum Sourwood
Paulownia tomentosa Paulownia
Persea borbonia Redbay
Phellodendron spp. Cork tree
Picea glauca White spruce
Picea pungens Colorado spruce
Pinus nigra Austrian pine
Platanus spp. Plane tree / sycamore
Populus spp. Poplar
Prunus spp. Cherry/plum
Pseudolarix amabilis Golden larch
Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas fir
Pyrus calleryana Callery pear
Quercus alba White oak
Quercus bicolor Swamp white oak
Quercus imbricaria Shingle oak
Quercus macrocarpa Bur oak
Quercus palustris Pin oak
Quercus phellos Willow oak
Quercus robur English oak
Quercus rubra Red oak
Quercus velutina Black oak
Quercus virginiana Live oak
Rhamnus cathartica Common buckthorn
Robinia spp. Locust
Sabal palmetto Cabbage palm
Salix spp. Willow
Sassafras albidum Sassafras
Sophora japonica Japanese pagoda tree
Sorbus spp. Mountain ash
Syringa pekinensis Pekin lilac
Taxodium spp. Cypress
Taxus spp. Yew
Ulmus spp. Elm
Ulmus pumila Siberian elm
Trees Tolerant to Salt in Soil
Scientific name Common name
Acer campestre Hedge maple
Acer platanoides Norway maple
Acer saccharinum Silver maple
Aesculus hippocastanum Horsechestnut
Ailanthus altissima Tree of heaven, Ailanthus
Clusia rosea Pitch apple
Cocos nucifera Coconut palm
Conocarpus erecta Buttonwood
Cornus florida Flowering dogwood
Crataegus spp. Hawthorn
Cupaniopsis anacardioides Carrotwood
Elaeagnus angustifolia Russian olive
Fraxinus spp. Ash
Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo, maidenhair tree
Gleditsia triacanthos Common honey locust
Juglans spp. Walnut/butternut
Juniperus spp. Juniper
Koelreuteria paniculata Goldenraintree
Laburnum x watereri Goldenchain tree
Larix decidua European larch
Morus spp. Mulberry
Persea borbonia Redbay
Picea pungens Colorado spruce
Pinus nigra Austrian pine
Pinus thunbergiana Japanese black pine
Populus spp. Poplar
Quercus alba White oak
Quercus robur English oak
Quercus rubra Red oak
Quercus virginiana Live oak
Rhamnus cathartica Common buckthorn
Robinia spp. Locust
Sabal palmetto Cabbage palm
Salix spp. Willow
Syringa pekinensis Pekin lilac
Taxodium spp. Cypress
Ulmus pumila Siberian elm
Sources
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award 0.5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA practice credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
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Edited by Len Phillips
Many trees can be disfigured and killed by sodium chloride. The worst damage occurs to sensitive species planted near heavily salted roads. Looking for "witch's brooms" on deciduous trees and yellow, brown, or fallen needles on evergreens that can identify winter salt damage.
Foliar damage from salt spray normally occurs on the windward side of the tree, but in severe cases the whole tree may be coated. Yew, arborvitae, and hemlock are most susceptible, but winter browning can affect all evergreens. New transplants or trees with succulent, late season growth are also sensitive.
Trees Tolerant to Salt Spray
Scientific name Common name
Abies concolor White Fir
Acer campestre Hedge maple
Acer platanoides Norway maple
Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore maple
Acer saccharinum Silver maple
Aesculus spp. Buckeye
Aesculus hippocastanum Horsechestnut
Ailanthus altissima Tree of heaven, Ailanthus
Amelanchier spp. Shadblow, serviceberry
Asimina triloba Pawpaw
Betula spp. Birch
Carya spp. Hickory/pecan
Casuarina equisetifolia Australian pine
Catalpa spp. Catalpa
Cercidphyllum japonicum Katsura tree
Chionanthus virginicus White fringe tree
Cladrastris lutea American yellowwood
Clusia rosea Pitch apple
Cocos nucifera Coconut palm
Conocarpus erecta Buttonwood
Cornus florida Flowering dogwood
Cupaniopsis anacardioides Carrotwood
Diospyros virginiana Common persimmon
Elaeagnus angustifolia Russian olive
Fraxinus spp. Ash
Fraxinus quadrangulata Blue ash
Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo, maidenhair tree
Gleditsia triacanthos Common honey locust
Gymnocladus dioicus Kentucky coffeetree
Ilex opaca American holly
Jacaranda mimosaefolia Jacaranda
Juglans spp. Walnut/butternut
Juniperus spp. Juniper
Koelreuteria paniculata Goldenraintree
Laburnum x watereri Goldenchain tree
Larix deciduas European larch
Liquidambar styraciflua Sweetgum
Maclura pomifera Osage orange
Magnolia spp Magnolia
Malus spp. Apple, crabapple
Morus spp. Mulberry
Nyssa sylvatica Tupelo, black gum, sour gum
Ostrya virginiana Hophornbeam, ironwood
Oxydendrum arboreum Sourwood
Paulownia tomentosa Paulownia
Persea borbonia Redbay
Phellodendron spp. Cork tree
Picea glauca White spruce
Picea pungens Colorado spruce
Pinus nigra Austrian pine
Platanus spp. Plane tree / sycamore
Populus spp. Poplar
Prunus spp. Cherry/plum
Pseudolarix amabilis Golden larch
Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas fir
Pyrus calleryana Callery pear
Quercus alba White oak
Quercus bicolor Swamp white oak
Quercus imbricaria Shingle oak
Quercus macrocarpa Bur oak
Quercus palustris Pin oak
Quercus phellos Willow oak
Quercus robur English oak
Quercus rubra Red oak
Quercus velutina Black oak
Quercus virginiana Live oak
Rhamnus cathartica Common buckthorn
Robinia spp. Locust
Sabal palmetto Cabbage palm
Salix spp. Willow
Sassafras albidum Sassafras
Sophora japonica Japanese pagoda tree
Sorbus spp. Mountain ash
Syringa pekinensis Pekin lilac
Taxodium spp. Cypress
Taxus spp. Yew
Ulmus spp. Elm
Ulmus pumila Siberian elm
Trees Tolerant to Salt in Soil
Scientific name Common name
Acer campestre Hedge maple
Acer platanoides Norway maple
Acer saccharinum Silver maple
Aesculus hippocastanum Horsechestnut
Ailanthus altissima Tree of heaven, Ailanthus
Clusia rosea Pitch apple
Cocos nucifera Coconut palm
Conocarpus erecta Buttonwood
Cornus florida Flowering dogwood
Crataegus spp. Hawthorn
Cupaniopsis anacardioides Carrotwood
Elaeagnus angustifolia Russian olive
Fraxinus spp. Ash
Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo, maidenhair tree
Gleditsia triacanthos Common honey locust
Juglans spp. Walnut/butternut
Juniperus spp. Juniper
Koelreuteria paniculata Goldenraintree
Laburnum x watereri Goldenchain tree
Larix decidua European larch
Morus spp. Mulberry
Persea borbonia Redbay
Picea pungens Colorado spruce
Pinus nigra Austrian pine
Pinus thunbergiana Japanese black pine
Populus spp. Poplar
Quercus alba White oak
Quercus robur English oak
Quercus rubra Red oak
Quercus virginiana Live oak
Rhamnus cathartica Common buckthorn
Robinia spp. Locust
Sabal palmetto Cabbage palm
Salix spp. Willow
Syringa pekinensis Pekin lilac
Taxodium spp. Cypress
Ulmus pumila Siberian elm
Sources
- Cornell Fact Sheets, "Tree Root Damage", http://www.cce.cornell.edu/monroe/cfep/factsheets, 2011.
- University of Minnesota Extension Service, "Protecting Trees & Shrubs Against Winter Damage", Advocate, Winter 2004.
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Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.