Is My Tree Safe?
All trees will fail at some point in their life, and all trees have some level of risk associated with them. Determining the likelihood of tree failure requires a significant level of experience and knowledge about how trees grow, how they fail, and what characteristics make a tree “risky.”
Salvaging the Bradford Pear
These trees were genetically selected for their perfect “lollypop” shaped crown, but it is that shape that is responsible for a shortened life span. The limited life of these trees is a function of structural failure, not “natural causes.”
Spongy Moth (formerly Gypsy Moth) in Georgia
In March 2022, the Entomological Society of America adopted the common name “spongy moth” as the common name for the invasive moth Lymantria dispar (formerly known as “gypsy moth”). We…
Proper Tree Mulching
Mulch is organic material placed on the soil’s surface around trees and plants to enhance their growing conditions. Mulch helps maintain soil temperature and moisture, reduce water loss from soil, reduce weed competition, improve soil structure, and give landscapes a clean appearance. Often overlooked, spreading mulch around your trees is one of the easiest and most beneficial techniques that can have great impact on the health and vitality of your trees.
Think safety before starting a burn.
* Georgia law no longer requires notification to the Georgia Forestry Commission by people planning to burn yard debris. Charges may apply if wildfire results from escaped burning and evidence…
Leaf Watch Report October 13th, 2021
…schedule compared to the previous year. Species highlights: Sourwood – mostly green but showing hints of red in higher elevation Sassafras – fading to yellow with hints of red Sweetgum…
Biology and Management of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in the Eastern U.S.
Hemlock trees in eastern forests are late successional tree species that provide shade for the forest understory. Globally, there are ten hemlock species, with populations located in Asia and eastern and western North America12. Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) grow in the eastern U.S. These trees have great ecological and cultural value in forests. However, the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae or HWA) is decimating hemlock populations throughout much of the trees’ native range, altering landscapes, and threatening these iconic tree species in both rural and urban areas.
GFC Launches Weekly Fall Foliage Updates
…featured on Saturday mornings with Ashley Frasca on WSB 95.5 FM’s Green and Growing program. For more information about Georgia’s forests and services of the Georgia Forestry Commission, visit GaTrees.org….
Mulch Appreciated! Mulch Obliged!
…trees! We’ve covered the watering topic in some depth on this blog site, and there are many more resources on our website at gatrees.org/urban-community-forestry/ask-the-arborist. In addition to water, there’s another…
Forest Inventory Analysis
…to make decisions on development, commerce, wildlife and much more. Nationally, collected data is electronically compiled and forwarded to the U.S. Forest Service FIA program office in Knoxville, Tennessee. Based…