Last Fall I planted a Nikko maple (Acer maximowiczianum) for one of my neighbors. Somewhat uncommon, Nikko maple is a small statured, 20 - 30’ at maturity, trifoliate, hardy tree with nice fall color. It has good urban tolerance and was a good fit for its location with overhead utilities. I have been watering this tree somewhat regularly with a large watering can that I can easily carry across the street and have been pleased with the healthy appearance and good amount of new growth that has emerged this year. As far as I could tell the tree looked great so you can imagine my surprise when I came home recently from a long weekend getaway and discovered that the top half of the tree’s canopy had turned brown.
Time Passing By
I pause for a moment and take a photo of the weeping beech. Its leaves have just fully expanded and are hardening off. What is striking about it is the tender new growth at the branch tips. Almost rubbery in quality, like licorice, it grows in an unusual zig-zag pattern repeated throughout the whole tree. Unusual for other trees, but not for this one, so I think that I want to write an article about new growth emerging in trees, and how some trees grow much faster than others.
Summer Update
Roots are Dry. Water your Trees!
Don’t let the extremely wet spring and recent rains fool you. It is already drying out more than you may think. With the recent hot temperatures and quick thunderstorms most of the water tends to run off. Most recommendations for watering trees and plants call for the equivalent of 1 inch of rain per week. I have already witnessed plant material struggling due to lack of moisture.
Worms by the Bagful
Worms by the bagful. Bagworms, that is. This interesting insect is not really what we would usually call a worm, but is considered a caterpillar instead. While most caterpillars pupate into a flying adult (moth or butterfly), the female of this species never emerges from her mobile home. The male does, and he flies to the female so they can engage in activities that ensure the species does not die out.
What’s Wrong with My Oak?
Each year around this time, as yards come alive at an unstoppable pace, we receive calls from customers and concerned tree owners all around town with questions about trees. As arborists receiving all of those calls, we’re fortunate to see patterns that help us quickly determine if an issue is an isolated occurrence or if it’s happening on numerous trees. When we receive multiple calls that describe the same concerns, we immediately consider weather patterns and how they may play into it.
A Virtual Tour: Chadwick Arboretum
Dear Reader,
As a current student at The Ohio State University who was enrolled in HCS 2200: The World of Plants last Spring 2020 semester, I was disappointed to hear that the tour to Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens was canceled, understandably so, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its place, my professor assigned a virtual tour of the area. Today, I would like to share some of the interesting aspects of Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens to encourage you to go on a socially distanced walk to explore the area and take your mind off of everything currently going on in the world. We will be visiting Howlett Hall and its green roof, the Phenology Research Garden, the Lois B. Small and Gladys B. Hamilton Labyrinth Garden, the Monarch Butterfly Waystation, and the Andy Geiger Buckeye Collection at Buckeye Grove.
“Gather around! The tour is starting!”
Howlett Hall’s green roof
Within Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens is the green roof housed on top of Howlett Hall, a retrofitted roof containing living, breathing vegetation over a bed of sedum spanning across 12,000 square feet. The benefits of this green roof, apart from taking advantage of what would otherwise be a vacant and empty roof, is that it will prevent over 200,000 gallons of polluted water from entering the Olentangy River and will save over $10,000 annually through reduced energy costs and roof maintenance. (1) The green roof adds insulation to Howlett Hall, thus reducing summer air conditioning costs, and with the collected rainwater, it will also reduce, delay, and filter stormwater runoff. Overall, this green roof increases green space, biodiversity, urban food production, and food security, all while efficiently using urban space that will actually lengthen the lifespan of the roof.
“Let’s visit our next location!”
Annabelle the Praying Mantis at Phenology Research Garden
Also within Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens is the Phenology Research Garden. Phenology involves the study of the seasonal cycle of natural phenomena in relation to animal, climate, and plant life. Located outside of the Agricultural Engineering Building, the Phenology Research Garden contains 17 woody plant species and 15 perennial species that are closely observed during bloom time to more accurately predict regional insect emergence, allowing for better pest control. Our Board Certified Master Arborist José Fernández actually wrote an article about growing degree days which further explains how this concept works; I will link it down below for your reading pleasures! One of the most useful indicator plants in the Phenology Research Garden is the Chinese lilac (Syringa x Chinensis ‘Red Rothomagensis’) which aids in observing changes in plant and animal behavior and predicting the risk of biological invasions, the spread of disease, and drought. On top of that, it is a beautiful perennial, deciduous shrub that features tiny, reddish-purple flowers that can grow up to 12 to 16 feet tall! The biggest elephant in the room when talking about the Phenology Research Garden, or should I say the biggest praying mantis in the room, is Annabelle, a 15 by 11-foot tall steel praying mantis sculpture that is housed in the Phenology Research Garden. Since praying mantises are a seasonally appearing insect, Anabelle’s presence is very fitting and appropriate.
Chinese Lilac (Syringa x Chinensis ‘Red Rothomagensis’)
“now to our next stop on the tour!”
Lois B. Small and Gladys B. Hamilton Labyrinth Garden
Another must-see area of Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens is the Lois B. Small and Gladys B. Hamilton Labyrinth Garden located on the corner of Lane Avenue and Fyffe Road. This labyrinth takes approximately 20 minutes to walk through, but you may spend even more time as this is a common place to practice meditation or prayer on campus. The labyrinth can also be used as a tool of discernment during difficult decision-making times. It is said that following the path within the labyrinth can bring increased balance and well being to one’s self. Encircling the labyrinth is the White Blooming Garden filled primarily with white redbud trees (Cercis canadensis ‘Alba’). These trees provide a calming and quiet atmosphere as the color white is said to be restful and restorative. The use of a single color helps to minimize distractions and enhance meditation.
“Let’s flap our wings to our next location!”
Monarch Butterfly Waystation
Next on the list of areas to visit in Chadwick Arboretum is the Monarch Butterfly Waystation located in Chadwick Arboretum North between Ohio State Route 315 and Chadwick Lake. The garden contains many necessary resources for monarchs to reproduce and sustain their migration such as coneflowers, asters, prairie dock, and most importantly, milkweed. Milkweed is important for the breeding process during the spring and summer for monarchs. Without the nectar from these flowers, monarch butterflies would be unable to travel to Mexico during fall migration. This beautiful area in and around the prairie plant research site in Chadwick Arboretum is one of many monarch butterfly waystations that help millions of monarch butterflies migrate from Canada and the United States to California and Mexico during the winter.
“…And now to our final stop!”
Buckeye Grove
Lastly, the Andy Geiger Buckeye Collection, dedicated to Andy Geiger, the former Director of Athletics at Ohio State who retired in 2005, features numerous native buckeye trees such as the Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra), yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava), red buckeye (Aesculus pavia), bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora), and Autumn Splendor buckeye (Aesculus x arnoldiana). This collection of buckeye trees is planted in Buckeye Grove, located on west campus between the football stadium and Morrill Tower. Fun fact, the Aesculus genus includes both buckeye trees and horse chestnut trees. While there are many native Buckeye trees in Ohio, there are no native horse chestnut trees in Ohio. If you would like to show your Ohio State pride, Buckeye Grove is a must-see!
Yellow Buckeye (Aesculus flava)
“THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME!”
Thank you for taking your time in reading this article, hopefully I was able to inform you about this wonderful place and even persuade you to take a visit sometime in the future. These five stations are just five of many different areas to explore within Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens. I hope you all are staying safe and healthy. Times are in no doubt difficult and my goal for this article was to inform you about a place where you may hopefully meditate and find peace. We will all make it through this together.
—
Visit in Person!
Address: 152 Howlett Hall 2021, Fyffe Rd, Columbus, OH 43210
Map Courtesy of Chadwick Arboretum
References
Howlett Hall: https://chadwickarboretum.osu.edu/our-gardens/learning-gardens/green-roof-howlett-hall-0
Phenology Research Garden: https://chadwickarboretum.osu.edu/our-gardens/lane-avenue-gardens/phenology-research-garden
Lois B. Small and Gladys B. Hamilton Labyrinth Garden: https://chadwickarboretum.osu.edu/our-gardens/lane-avenue-gardens/labyrinth-garden
Monarch Butterfly Waystation: https://chadwickarboretum.osu.edu/our-gardens/arboretum-north/prairie-plants-monarch-waystation
Buckeye Grove: https://chadwickarboretum.osu.edu/our-gardens/arboretum-north/geiger-buckeye-collection
Growing Degree Day by José Fernández: https://www.russelltreeexperts.com/arbor-ed/2020/2/4/growing-degree-days
Footnotes
(1) From “Green Roof on Howlett Hall,” by Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens, 2020, para. 5. Copyright 2020 by The Ohio State University. Retrieved from https://chadwickarboretum.osu.edu/our-gardens/learning-gardens/green-roof-howlett-hall-0
Sincerely,
Enrique Arayata I Video Production Assistant, Russell Tree Experts
Enrique is a second year student at The Ohio State University majoring in moving image production with a double minor in photography and film studies. In his free time, he enjoys running, spending time with his girlfriend and family, photography, and creating YouTube videos.
A Word of Caution
Earlier this year I attended a talk on plant disease diagnostics as part of my continuing education as an ISA Certified Arborist. The talk was given by a highly respected individual whom I have had the pleasure of learning from since my early days as an arborist in central Ohio. This time, one of the first statements spoken caught my attention immediately. I paraphrase it into something like this:
Trees that Love Wet "Feet"
Happy Arbor Day!
Iron and Manganese Deficiency
Dear Reader,
Nutrient deficiency such as with iron or manganese, is no joke for trees. It can lead to reduced growth, wilted leaves, and with enough time, death of the tree. One common symptom of iron or manganese deficiency is chlorotic leaves: the pale yellowish green discoloration of leaves. Today, I would like to talk about the who, what, when, where, and whys of nutrient deficiencies along with how to resolve this issue.
Iron or manganese deficiency in trees occurs when a tree’s roots are unable to take up these minerals from the soil. Some may believe that this is due to a lack of said nutrients in the soil, but in most cases, it is due to the high pH of the soil. pH is used to measure how basic or acidic a solution is. 0 is highly acidic, 14 is highly basic, and 7 is considered neutral. When the soil is too alkaline (basic) for the plant, the mineral nutrients are in a difficult form for roots to take up.
Many parts of Ohio contain highly alkaline pH soil. This is due to the parent material deep below the surface. Starting from the surface of the ground to the bottom, there are four horizon layers: O, A, B, and C. Each horizon is deeper than the next and there are less and less organic materials and clay. Below horizon C is the parent material that makes up the content of the soil above it. The parent material around much of Ohio, mostly in northwestern Ohio, contains limestone, which has a high pH. Marble, a high pH metamorphic rock, along with limestone, is heavily present in the parent material around Columbus and central Ohio. Would it come as a surprise that Marble Cliffs, Ohio has a lot of marble (and limestone) or that the soil in central Ohio has a high pH? Some studies have also shown that soils near freshly poured concrete have a high pH due to leaching of limestone from the concrete to the soil.
Trees with iron or manganese deficiency may have chlorotic leaves due to chlorosis. Chlorosis is a condition where leaves produce insufficient chlorophyll which leads to a yellow, white, or pale discoloration. If you look at the images below, one may argue that chlorotic leaves look visually appealing, but what cannot be argued is that it is a sign of poor tree health. Without treatment, a tree’s growth will be stunted and its leaves will begin to wilt or develop spots. With enough time, the tree will eventually die. Although chlorosis is a result of iron or manganese deficiency, it may also be a result of insect problems, disease, drought, soil compaction, or poor drainage. Before treating your tree for nutrient deficiency, it is important to identify that it is indeed your tree’s issue. If unclear, the best solution would be to send a soil sample to a lab to determine the issue. In central Ohio, trees to watch out for include pin oak, red oak, shingle oak, sawtooth oak, maple, sweetgum, river birch, holly, and sweetbay magnolia. I have also been told in my World of Plants class at The Ohio State University that people in central Ohio should avoid planting rhododendrons because they too do not survive well in highly alkaline soils.
Chlorosis in a pin oak tree
Chlorosis in a river birch tree
So let’s talk about how to resolve iron or manganese deficiency. The best solution is to avoid plants that favor acidic soils, such as the trees mentioned earlier. When selecting trees and plants, favor locally sourced when possible since they will be adapted to local soils. If a tree is chlorotic due to high soil pH, seasonal fertilization with iron and/or manganese supplements will be necessary. There are various ways that this can be done. Remember that the parent soil will continue to raise pH over time, so treating the soil with aluminum sulfate or elemental sulfur seasonally will help lower soil pH, making existing iron and manganese more available to plants.
Hopefully you enjoyed reading this article and learned a fact or two as I did in my World of Plants class at The Ohio State University and while researching more on this topic. Thank you for reading! For more information about soil, leaves, and fertilization, I will share two links to similar articles written by TJ Nagel and José Fernández.
The Importance of Green Leaves by TJ Nagel: https://www.russelltreeexperts.com/arbor-ed/2018/7/17/d686ziqwja9frp132ba4btg8owmtsk?rq=Chlorosis
Test Before Treatment: Soil & Tissue Testing by José Fernández: https://www.russelltreeexperts.com/arbor-ed/2018/11/5/tree-science-soil-amp-tissue-sampling?rq=Chlorosis
Sincerely,
Enrique Arayata I Video Production Assistant, Russell Tree Experts
Enrique is a second year student at The Ohio State University majoring in moving image production with a double minor in photography and film studies. In his free time, he enjoys running, spending time with his girlfriend and family, photography, and creating YouTube videos.
When and How to Prune Lilacs
Common lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) are a favorite landscape shrub here in Ohio and beyond, with flowers that provide beauty and an unmistakable fragrance every spring. Other cultivars of lilacs offer different habits and uses in the landscape, but provide the same display of flowers that we all love. In order to ensure you get the most flowers on your lilac year after year, it’s important to know when and how to prune them.
At home on the Blue Ridge Parkway
If you asked any of my colleagues why they like working at Russell Tree Experts, you might expect to hear answers about our great equipment, our camaraderie, or the training we provide and knowledge, etc. These things are all true. It may surprise you though that one of the most interesting and exciting things we offer as a tree care company is the unique opportunity for our employees to travel and work on out of town projects. Over the last year our crews have mobilized to…
The Small Hours
Welcome to the no man’s land that is the front line between a winter that does not want to surrender and a spring that is determined to break through. Two weekends ago on the 13th I did some late winter camping in reasonably mild weather with a forecast that promised no precipitation on the 14th. I spent the day in the woods with my father, clearing some paths and just enjoying being outside. I noticed buds on a spicebush (pictured below) that were getting a little excited and were starting to swell. Things are waking up! I love seeing the first signs of spring that remind me life is flowing beneath the surface.
My Experience as a Video Production Intern
Over the course of 12 weeks from late-May to mid-August of 2019, I was a full-time video production intern at Russell Tree Experts. During my time as an intern, I created service videos summarizing many of the various services that Russell Tree Experts offers such as pruning, stump grinding, and insect and disease management. I also created “video shorts” highlighting a specific job site or aspect of tree care.
How to Beat the Winter Blues
I look out the window gazing upon the barren winter landscape. I miss the vibrant green leaves on my fragrant viburnums. I miss the beautiful red flowers on my roses. I even miss watching the bees in search of nectar dancing from one pesky dandelion to the next. Most of all I miss the sun and spending my evenings cultivating a new season’s garden. I feel safe to say I have succumbed to the winter blues…
Planting Trees is Easy... Right?
Bend So You Don’t Break
Last summer, I had the opportunity to introduce our field staff to the practice of yoga. In heavy work boots and on a hard concrete floor, we made our way through Triangle Pose, Downward Facing Dog, and even a few Sun Salutations. Practicing yoga for 20 years and teaching it for the last 10, I’ve learned that the stretches and postures of yoga can help keep the joints and soft tissues of our body, like muscles and tendons, healthy and functional.
Growing Degree Days
This semester I am enrolled in a class called Integrated Pest Management, taught by Dr. Luis Cañas at The Ohio State University. One of the first lectures we had was centered around the effects that the environment has on insect populations. As we explored this theme we soon came across the concept of “growing degree days”, and I was reminded of how useful this idea is to increase awareness of what is happening in the natural world around us and to be aware of when potentially damaging insect pests are about to emerge.
Oak pruning, fascinating tree facts, and other thoughts
Here we are, fresh out of the holiday season, and the end of January is in sight! I wanted to reach out to you with some timely advice concerning trees, some reminders of why trees are so essential to life as we know it, and perhaps some other thoughts that might sneak out through my fingers as I type.