Are Your Birch Trees Suffering or Dying? Could be a Bronze Birch Borer Infestation

We've noticed quite a few Birch trees around Seattle beginning to die. Often the top of the tree will dye first, and before you know it, the whole tree looks like it's in decline.

The major culprit: Bronze Birch Borer

Prevention:
- deeply water your Birches once per month in dry weather
- mulch around the roots
- have a professional drench the roots with a pesticide once a year

If your Birch tree shows 30%+ dead, it is unlikely to recover and should be removed.

To read all about this bronze birch borer, check out this well-researched article by Kim Pokorny of The Oregonian:  Birch trees losing ground

Tree Climber / Tree Pruner Wanted; Pruning Experience Required

North Seattle-area tree service company seeking an experienced tree service worker for a full-time position to start right away. This position is for a second climber. The majority of the work is in pruning of ornamentals and fruit trees (we do not use spurs when pruning).

Qualifications:
- Exceptional pruning skills
- Minimum 2 years' experience in climbing and pruning
- ISA Certification or working toward that goal
- Strong enough to lift rounds of wood, drag large piles of brush
- Drug free
- Non smoker
- Valid WA drivers license
- Good communication skills
- Ability to work on a team
- Reliable
- 2 years' experience

Benefits:
- Full medical insurance paid
- Workers compensation
- Thanksgiving bonus
- Annual bonus
- Opportunities for further tree care education paid for, such as enrollment in classes, training videos, etc.

Please email your resume and references to Martin@BloomaTree.com

• Location: Greater Seattle Area
• Compensation: $20 - $30/hour based on expertise level

#treepruner, #treeclimber, #arborist, #arboristwanted, #treeservice

Tree on House in Ravenna, Seattle: Emergency Tree Removal

Ouch! Blooma Tree Experts rushes to remove this large Maple stem from Seattle house.

We received the phone call about 7:00 pm--a huge Maple tree stem, the size of a tree itself, had crashed onto a roof of a home in the Ravenna neighborhood of Seattle, WA. We assembled our crew, and off we raced.

Here is the raw, broken stem where the large stem used to be.

 

The base of the stem was rotten, so it was only a matter of time until it failed. The homeowners were fortunate that their strong balcony took the brunt of the fall.

Martin Macauley coordinates the stem removal from the house, ensuring it doesn't crash into neighbors' garage.

Infested Cherry Trees in the Seattle, WA Area

Seattle residents LOVE their cherry trees, from the beautiful pink blossoms that welcome spring each year to the delicious fruit that signals summer. But have you noticed how many cherry trees are looking sickly and dying?

Cherry bark tortrix (CBT), a winged insect, has infested 75% - 80% of the Seattle area cherry trees, according to Washington State Department of Agriculture. 


How does it damage the cherry trees?
The initial larvae feed on the bark and outer sapwood, while the later larvae tunnel between the bark and cambium.

What does it look like on the tree?
Infestations are easily recognized by reddish-orange colored frass accumulations or frass tubes near gallery entrances.

Will CBT kill my cherry tree?
Yes. Along infested sides of the tree, dieback of new and old growth can occur. Indirect damage occurs through the formation of habitats for secondary pests such as bark beetles, fungi, and increasing susceptibility of infested trees to successive years of freezing damage, which can result in the death of the tree.

Can I save my cherry tree?
If you catch the infestation early, yes. Early fall is the most successful time for pesticide applications. Synthetic pyrethroids are the longest-lasting pesticides, but to get an up-to-date list of suggestions, please consult the most recent PNW Insect Management Handbook, your local Cooperative Extension office, or the Hortsense website (http://pep.wsu.edu/hortsense).

If your cherry tree is dead or dying, it needs to be removed. Call Blooma Tree Experts for a free removal estimate: (206) 714-9835.

For more information on CBT, read this WSU report: http://puyallup.wsu.edu/plantclinic/resources/pdf/pls67cherrybarktortrix.pdf

Hemlock Infestation? Act NOW to Save Your Trees

Hemlock woolly adelgid in the Seattle area.

If you've seen little white spots on the tips of your Hemlock branches, your tree has the dreaded hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) Adelges tsugae. 

This insect damages trees quickly and weakens hemlocks, so if you value your hemlocks, you should act to kill the HWA and prevent their spread to other hemlock trees.




Here are 6 steps you can take to protect your hemlocks from HWA and reduce infestation:

- remove dead and dying branches (this pruning can be done by Blooma Tree Experts);
- discourage birds and squirrels from visiting your hemlocks, since they spread HWA;
- during drought, water your Hemlock roots at dripline, slowly, 1" per week;
- do NOT apply nitrogen fertilizer during infestation; after the insects are under control, apply fertilizer;
- direct a water spray to the eggs to help dislodge them; and/or
- apply a pesticide (see the next section).

The "woolly" evidence of HWA infestation

What about pesticides?
According to the US Forest Service, if you want to save an eastern hemlock, you must use chemicals. However, you must be committed to treating your trees for several years--until all trees in the vicinity infested with HWA are dead. You may want to consider the cost and effort of that compared to removing your tree now. You might want to just save a particular hemlock tree or trees that you value.

There are two methods of applying insecticide:
1) thoroughly drench infested trees with horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, or any one of several petrochemical insecticides (this usually is best done by a professional); or
2) in April to May, inject a systemic insecticide, such as imidacloprid or acephate, into the roots of infested hemlocks with a hydraulic injection needle. This works on healthy hemlocks only; if the tree is in decline, the first method will work best. (Call Martin at Blooma for a referral in the Seattle area: 206-714-9835)

A healthy hemlock is a beautiful tree.

An excellent, thorough article about HWA can be found here: http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/hwa/control/mcclure.pdf

If you live in the Seattle, WA area and need a professional pruning or removal of a hemlock tree, please call Blooma Tree Experts for a free quote: 

(206) 714-9835.

Jefferson's Monticello Tree Being Smothered by English Ivy

Last week we visited Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and admired hundreds of beautiful old trees, most barren for the winter. Then we saw the most substantial ivy vine/tree that we've ever witnessed. Take a look at these stunning photos:

This thick vine with its grasping tentacles is embracing the tree -- to death.

 

 

In the left photo, you see the ivy, green and vibrant, as the tree itself lies dormant and leafless. The photo on the right shows the top of the tree, rising above the ivy. It's surprising to us that this English ivy has been allowed to grow so vigorously on the Monticello estate. It should be removed to ensure a long, healthy life for the tree.

5 Reasons to Remove English Ivy From Your Tree

Sometimes we are called to a home to inspect a tree with ivy climbing on it. The homeowner will ask, "Should we remove the ivy?" The answer, always, is "YES!" (And yes, we offer to remove the ivy for the homeowner.)

A Lombardy Poplar (Populus nigra being smothered by Ivy.

The same Lombardy Poplar after we cleared out the all the Ivy. It will now live.

 English ivy harms a tree in 5 ways:

1. Weight: ivy is very heavy, putting a tremendous burden on a tree. Because the ivy is evergreen, it remains vibrant and growing even while the tree is dormant. This can add strain to a tree from its weight and by catching the wind (dynamic load) during its most vulnerable months.
2. Suffocation: where there is ivy, there is little to no light getting through to the tree's leaves. Since photosynthesis is one of the primary ways a tree receives nutrients, and sunlight hitting a tree's leaves is how photosynthesis occurs, it's easy to see how ivy will prevent this process. For more info on photosynthesis, go here.
3. Constriction: like a boa constrictor, ivy grafts to itself, creating a constrictive blanket, like a sock. This prevents the tree's ability to increase its girth, a requirement a tree to support itself.
4. Nutrient Theft: at the root level, the ivy's roots will lay above a tree's roots, competing for water and other nutrients. In addition, the ivy prevents leaves and other debris from landing around the base of the tree; these organic materials provide nutrition to the tree.
5. Pore blocking: Lenticils are tree pores on the bark that allow the exchange of gases. The ivy blocks this, which interferes with a tree's basic function. For more info on lenticils, click here.

Removing English ivy is a time-intensive, challenging project. The Blooma Tree Experts can remove ivy efficiently and thoroughly, thus giving new life to a formerly constricted tree.

Here is the same Lombardy Poplar today; photo is courtesy of Google Earth:

Beautiful!