Tree News and Resource Links

The greatest of plans sometimes come adrift, don't they?

After busting a gut to get all these tree resources online for you before we go away, we got almost to the finishing line when somethng on the hosting company broke.

So the next instalment is sitting on our hard drive ready to go. But we can't deliver.

Never mind, at least it is ready, so when we return the problem should be fixed, and we can get it up smartly.

In the meantime, here are the direct addresses for the stuff we put up last week:

The four tree resources pages:
Tree resources
Tree care resources
Tree and forestry gear
Tree industry activities

Plus there's an entire new tree news section which is automatically updated as news breaks. It looks a bit different until I can figure out how to adjust the pages, but the information it contains couldn't wait.

So ... Enjoy! :)

More than 40 Tree Resources Categories Online

Wow, doesn't time fly?

We've been working feverishly to prepare another batch of tree resources for you, and - with a great sense of relief! - they went online just minutes ago.

That makes over 40 categories of tree resources and forestry information on the Go-Trees site now. You can access them here.

We've grouped them into major themes to make it easier to find what you're looking for.

The key zones, then, are Trees, Tree Care, Tree Equipment, and for want of a better term, Tree Activities.

We'll get a bit more online tomorrow - with luck - and then it will be off interstate for a couople of weeks to attend my cousin's wedding. And have a holiday of course!

I hope the information we've posted is just what you need!

Top Source of Live Trees

When you buy live trees - particularly from somewhere that you can't fondle the samples and choose exactly which one you want - people can get a little worried.

So although the choice of correct species for your environment and needs is the first challenge, many people find that an even bigger one is actually committing to a purchase.

With that in mind, we've done quite a bit of checking to find nurseries that can be trusted - not only to supply sound advice and healthy trees, but also to deliver promptly and in good condition.

Garden Value tree supplies seems to be a very workable solution.

The site is full of wonderful photographs and information about more than 150 tree species ... well worth a look.

Tree Resources a Hit

Well, our new tree resources pages certainly hit a nerve. Thank you for all the kind comments!

And yes, there is plenty more where they came from. We just have to find the time to get them online. But rest assured ... they're coming!

Sorry for the snag in announcing them. The Blogger site seemed to hit some turbulence just when we were trying to publish the announcement. First it wouldn't publish, then it double-published. Hopefully now the duplication has been deleted, and you can happily start digging into all those wonderful new tree resource pages.

New Tree Resources Online

Today I created a live tree resources link on my go-trees website.

It even amazes me how much information there is in this wonderful cyberworld to do with one topic.

I've managed to put 500 new pages on site, with all manner of tree resource information, like DIY tree care, help for sticky tree situations and the list goes on.

I'm planning on adding heaps more over the next few weeks. Hopefully you'll find you can't get enough of tree resources, like myself at the moment.

Fruit Tree Care Starts With Rolling Your Own

Thomas Leo Ogren flat out loves growing fruit trees. He says he's been crazy about them all his life. Or at least, as much of his life as he can remember.

Which is pretty important when it comes to fruit tree care.

"Actually," he says, "the very first thing I can clearly recall involved fruit trees. I was about three, possibly four years old.

"It was a warm, lazy spring weekend and my older sisters were gone somewhere with my mom, but my dad was home, working in the garage.

"I wasn’t allowed to cross the street by myself, but down the block, across the street, was a beautiful pineapple guava tree growing in the middle of some grouchy old man’s lawn..."

Now where do you think that fruit tree care started? Read on...

Tree risk management consulting

Tree risk management consulting may be a field you've never considered, but sometimes it's just what the doctor ordered.

Defective trees can be hazardous to the health of anyone who comes near them, and that can be more expensive than you'd like.

Risk assessment guidelines can give you a starting point to work out just how exposed you might be , but if it is borderline, or you're just not sure, tree risk management consulting might be an excellent investment.

Anyway, to get you started, here are the types of things covered in the risk assessment guidelines from Minnesota DNR-Forestry ...

Storm Trees Can Change Your Outlook

After a major storm, a community is instantly changed. Buildings may be damaged or destroyed, power lines down, and trees broken and torn.

In the wake of this loss, neighborhoods and entire cities may experience a sense of devastation they have never known before.

"Because trees are such a large part of a city's visual landscape, damage to them from a severe storm can be a major shock to residents," says John Rosenow, president of The National Arbor Day Foundation, an organization that helps people plant and care for trees.

"Seeing a favorite tree down or badly damaged in the front yard can be a traumatic experience almost like losing an old friend."

But even in the wake of this shock, Rosenow says there are ways of coping with the loss. Among other things, he counsels patience in dealing with the storm trees' consequences...

Get Ready to Spring into Tree Care Tree Web

As spring approaches, your trees may be starting to display some unwelcome symptoms of root decay.

Many homeowners and farmers find that mushrooms on or near trees often signal problems.

It’s a good idea to inspect your trees completely from the ground up to be sure they are healthy and strong.

You also want to be sure your tree does not pose a risk to yourself or your property.

Have a poke around, and find out whether any of these conditions exist:

• Loose bark, open cavities or cracks
• Mushrooms or conks near base of tree
• Depressions or swelling near roots

If they do, have a qualified arborist “sound” or probe the trunk and/or roots to detect possible decay.

Read on for more information about tree care tree web advice ...

Foster Tree Care Thriving

Most people regard trees as something that look beautiful, provide shade and bear fruit.

Trees are more than just aesthetically pleasing, however— they have a dollar value.

Well-maintained, mature, healthy trees can increase the value of your property by up to 25%, depending on their size, species and location.

Realtors recognize this value, stressing “well-landscaped yard” or “shaded patio” or “great view of trees.”

A tree can be valued from $300, based on the going price of firewood, up to $10,000 for its appraised value for all benefits it provides, or regarded as priceless for the beautiful memories attached to it.

Here's how a little foster tree care can enhance the returns even more...

Lawnmower Parts Need This Sort of Attention

Trying to start your lawnmower after a long winter can be very frustrating - as many people will discover in the coming weeks.

Here's a guide to the sort of attention you should pay your lawnmower parts if you want them to perform cheaply and efficiently.

Performing a few routine maintenance tasks before you store your lawn mower for the winter can save you time in the spring, prolong the life of your lawn mower, and save you money over the long run.

At this time of year, let's start with a few simple maintenance tasks you can do before starting your lawnmower this season. They can be very beneficial.

Read on for your lawnmower parts maintenance and preparation ...

Enhance Your Tree Care Education - And Earn Cash!

One of the features of tree care education that is fundamental - yet overlooked far too often - is the role that trees play as Nature’s Air Conditioners.

If you have ever escaped from blazing hot sun in a shady spot under a tree, you know how these natural air conditioners can make you feel more comfortable.

In fact, trees in a parking lot can reduce air temperatures by up to 25 degrees when compared to nearby blacktop.

But beyond comfort, planting trees around your home is a great way to lower summer energy bills, beautify your yard and increase your home’s value.

Here's your chance ... enhance your tree care education for free with more about this topic here ...

Mulch Rings Improve Tree Health Care

Homeowners and professional arborists depend on mulch in landscapes for several reasons.

Functionally, mulches discourage weeds from growing, conserve moisture during drought periods, and allow better use of water by controlling runoff and increasing water-holding capacity of light, sandy soils.

Mulches help maintain a uniform soil temperature. A 2 to 4-inch layer of mulch can add to the aesthetic value of a garden while protecting the base of trees from being injured by mechanical equipment.

Mulch rings also decrease competition from lawn grass. Lawn grass, especially when well-maintained, robs trees of valuable nutrients and moisture.

Many organic materials can be used as a mulch. Here are some others that will help you to improve your tree health care ...

Plant and Tree Care Tips

Plant and tree care makes for a safer landscape - but many people don't know what to look for to protect themselves.

Hazardous trees pose a danger to people and property.

When storms or high winds hit, limbs – and often whole trees – fall to the ground.

“Many fatal accidents and millions of dollars in property damage can be averted if homeowners heed the warning signs of a hazardous tree,” explains Robert Rouse, staff arborist for the National Arborist Association.

“By not paying attention to your trees, you are potentially placing your property - even your life - in jeopardy.

Here's his list of plant and tree care tips and defect clues...

Arborist Tree Care Needs Your Help

Here's your chance - help arborists stop hemlock woolly adelgid and save hemlock trees!

Hemlock woolly adelgids - nasty little sap-sucking insects - invaded the United States in the 1920s when they were somehow imported from Japan into the Pacific Northwest.

Since then, adelgids have spread rapidly and are found in most regions of the U.S. where hemlock and spruce grow. Adelgids prefer Canadian (eastern) hemlocks.

If you live in New England and have hemlocks on your property you need to be concerned. Adelgids have already defoliated and killed large numbers of native Canadian hemlock trees throughout American forests.

Adelgids cause hemlocks trees to become weak and eventually die.

Here's what to look for, and what to do about it. This arborist tree care is something you can do to help your local environment.

3 Parts of a Tree

In case you ever wondered - or were challenged - to really consider what constitutes a tree, Paul Curran has prepared this guide:

Trees can be broken down into three main parts: the roots, the leaves and the woody structure between them.

The roots' function is to bring raw materials - water and mineral salt dissolved in water - to the tree.

The leaves absorb carbon dioxide from the air and use the sun's light energy to combine this gas with the moisture from the roots, thus making the simple sugars that are the basic nutrients of the tree.

The trunk, limbs, branches and twigs hold the leaves in position to receive the life-giving sunlight and air; they also act as transportation, carrying raw materials between roots and leaves.

The materials absorbed by the roots are pulled up by capillary attraction and the osmotic action induced by evaporation of water from the leaves.

Read on for more about the parts of a tree...

Chain Saw Review

US Forestry has issued specific guidelines for using chainsaws in trees.

They give some indication of the points anyone should be aware of before they take a chain saw aloft, and make required reading for anyone considering a chain saw review.

In addition to the normal risks of personal injury from a chain saw, a climber has the additional risk of severing climbing lines or lanyards.

Because of this danger, any use of chain saws in trees must be thoroughly justified and be done with the smallest saw that can efficiently do the job.

Read on for more of this chain saw review...

OK, Here Are The 12 Worst Trees and Lawn Combinations

Well, we couldn't get away with giving you just the 12 best trees to plant in your lawn, so here they are ... the 12 Worst Trees to Plant in Your Lawn

Thomas Leo Ogren goes through them, one by one, naming and identifying them, and explaining why they've made this list.

Here are his top three:

1. Fruitless mulberry trees: roots break lawnmowers and these trees really pump out the allergenic pollen. Shade is also too deep for lawns.

2. Sweetgum trees: big roots that poke out of the lawn.

3. Pine trees: root problems and pollen too.

Read on to find out more about the other eight worst trees and lawn matches ...

The 25 Best Lawn Trees

Many people complain about it, but very few do anything about it.

'It' being inappropriate trees planted in lawns. Where they create real and imagined problems beyond any rational discussion.

Some of these 'situations' are inherited, but many others can be avoided - sometimes as easily as by giving the situation a flicker of thought in the first place.

Thomas Ogden outlines Step 1 - identifying the 25 best trees for growing in lawns. His list will make your task very easy ...