Recently one of my clients in Dublin ended up with three crabapple trees that had a heavy infestation of lecanium scale. We tried some treatments but the trees had declined and the client made the wise decision to remove and replace them.
Lecanium Scale (Part One)
If “Lecanium” is a new word for you, consider yourself lucky, or at worst, blissfully ignorant. If you have experienced species of this genus in your landscape you may know how devastating, unsightly, and generally… uncomfortable this insect can be. If you have ever stood under a tree covered in a scale population which is actively feeding and digesting you will know why the word “uncomfortable” came to mind. In this installment I will briefly describe Lecanium scale and its life cycle. In the next installment, I will share an unusual finding from last season, and stand out on a limb to make a forecast for this season.
♥ Happy Valentine's Day! ♥
Don’t you miss handing out Valentine’s Day cards at school? Did you make the shoe box and hope to get a card from that special someone? We’re feeling a little nostalgic this year so we decided to create some tree-inspired mini Valentine’s Day cards. You may not be in grade school anymore but take a moment and feel like a kid again by printing our Valentine’s Day cards below and give ‘em to your special someone!
Where’s the Fruit?
As an arborist, I often feel like I need to double as a detective. Trees, obviously, cannot tell us verbally how they are "feeling" or why they are behaving in a certain way. We have to look for clues as to what is possibly going on with them. When I am asked why a tree is performing poorly, oftentimes I need to swap out my helmet for a Sherlock Holmes cap and start digging around, asking questions of the tree's caretaker and standing back to observe the environment in which the tree exists.
Planting Trees for a Purpose
I think we all can agree that our TREE FOR A TREE® program is an awesome idea for replacing the trees that we remove, but as I set in the office watching nature happen outside my window, I started thinking of other reasons to plant trees. Trees provide countless benefits to our environment as well as providing food and shelter for a number of living organisms. Anytime that I am walking through a property I cannot help but notice the birds enjoying all that the trees are providing for them. I decided to write about planting trees that provide shelter and food for birds throughout the year.
Understanding Conifers
Understanding conifers should begin with a few simple definitions to clarify and classify. A conifer is a plant that bears its seeds in cones. When we hear the word cone, we likely think of pine and spruce trees, two types of coniferous trees that are widely found throughout Central Ohio and beyond. Their cones are obvious when they fall and scatter on the ground surrounding the tree. But did you know that yews (Taxus) and junipers are also conifers?
Putting the Year to Sleep
Today the light begins to increase again; days begin to lengthen. For the last 6 months or so each day has lost a minute or two of daylight, growing shorter as this part of the world approached the darkest day of the year. Earlier this week I was reading the musings of Henry David Thoreau once again, and came across a passage about the wonders of a milkweed seed, how each seed is carefully packed within its “light chest” attached to silk streamers, to be released when the time is right. Thoreau ends the thought with a quiet reflection on the faith of a milkweed plant which “matures its seeds” despite the prophecies of some men that the world would end.
How do you become a Certified Arborist?
Have you ever wanted to become a Certified Arborist? The first step is developing an interest in trees: species, habits, ideal growing conditions, diseases, pests, structure, life cycle. An inquisitive mind is a great asset for any arborist. Any question about trees is a good question! Now that your curiosity is piqued, the next step in developing your arboreal skills is finding the answers!
Free Trees! (Update: ALL GONE!)
5000 Trees Planted in One Day!
Last Friday all of our employees took the day off from their normal duties and came together to plant 5,000 trees at Pickerington Ponds Metro Park for our TREE FOR A TREE® program! The initial idea of this program was simple, plant a tree for every tree that we remove — Flash forward almost 3 years and we are very happy to see this program continue to grow as we have now planted over 12,000 trees at 16 different sites in central Ohio.
Leave Those Leaves!
Of all of our seasons, I’ve heard more people proclaim their love of fall than any of the others. It marks an end to the uncomfortable heat of summer and traditionally represents a time when we reap the gifts of the harvest and prepare for winter. And for several weeks, our trees also gift us with a wonderful display of color. Everyone has a favorite - the brilliant orange of our native sugar maples, the rich yellow of the non-native maidenhair tree (Ginkgo), the reds, purples, and browns of oaks.
What's Going on with My Oak? Part 2
Earlier this year, we shared an article that highlighted two issues that were tied to recent weather patterns and had many homeowners concerned about their oak trees - one was an insect (Oak Shothole Leafminer) and another was a fungal pathogen (Oak Anthracnose). Combined, they made for unsightly leaves that were riddled with holes and brown patches. Fortunately, both issues were more of an aesthetic concern than anything else, and neither of them required treatment or had any lasting effects on the overall health of the trees. In fact, they are both likely to occur each year to some degree and should not be reason for concern.
Best Practices for Watering Your Trees
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
By Enrique Arayata
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-7252A
May 6, 2020
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 Media Production Manager, Russell Tree Experts
Enrique is an ISA Certified Arborist® and FAA Certified Remote Pilot. In his free time, he enjoys working out, hanging out with his family and girlfriend, video production, photography, cars, technology, and cooking. Enrique has a BA in moving image production with a double minor in film studies and studio art specializing in photography from The Ohio State University, and an AA in web graphic design from DeVry University. His favorite tree is the Kwanzan cherry tree.
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: