Urban forestry a growing concern for homeowners

By By steve strong / area horticulture extension agent
March 14, 2004
East Central Mississippi is often referred to as "Tornado Alley," and with good reason.
Although our area is not hit as hard on a regular basis as some parts of the state, Meridian and other nearby towns have had their share of severe storms lately, and residents are well aware of the havoc they can wreak.
Much of the injury and property loss resulting from these storms is caused by falling trees, and local officials concerned with public safety have implemented a plan to address this issue.
Anyone traveling city streets and county roads during the past few weeks has obviously noticed the bucket trucks and logging crews, and some folks are having a hard time seeing their prized shade trees get whacked.
Citizens have every right to be concerned about their urban forests and the valuable assets they are to the community, but it is important to understand that safety comes first. Like people, trees do not live forever. And like other living things, they wear down and decline in a natural cycle.
Sometimes other factors like weather stress and pest attack hasten the process, and it is not always easy to tell when the time has come to crank up the chainsaw. However, homeowners can observe a few simple symptoms that signal a favorite shade tree may have health problems.
First, check the new growth that occurs in early spring to see if the branch tips have leafed out like normal. This is easiest to see in the top growth or "canopy" edge of the tree; dead branch tips are a telltale symptom that the root system may be in trouble.
Another indicator of plant stress is a large population of mistletoe along the branches (mistletoe also occurs in healthy trees, but seems to be more rampant in water oaks and other species with weak or soft wood). Lichens, which are a colony of fuzzy grayish-green mossy growths on the bark, are an additional sign that tree health is in decline (very common on apple, peach, and other fruit trees).
Folks that see lichens on the trunk and main branches are often convinced that this flaky fungal-algae complex is killing their trees. Actually, about 99 percent of the time the problem results from an "unhappy" root system, caused either by soil compaction, poor drainage, improper fertility or a combination of these factors that can possibly lead to root disease.
One final symptom that does not always mean the death of a tree is the presence of "wet wood." Wet wood is characterized by a dark water-soaked area, usually located somewhere down the main trunk or close to where larger branches are connected to each other. Again, water oak is the prime victim, and just happens to be the main species being cut down along city streets.
Homeowners who are not sure whether their trees require removal should consult a tree expert that is licensed and bonded. The yellow pages has an extensive listing of tree service companies, and to find out for sure if a business has the proper certification and insurance coverage, contact the Bureau of Plant Industry at Mississippi State University at (666) 325-3390.
Folks with trees growing into power lines should contact local electric company personnel about pruning or removal issues. City and county public works offices are responsible for trees along streets and right-of-way areas, and they are also listed in the phone book. Seeing stately shade trees being cut is never a pleasant sight, but sometimes it just has to be done.
Steve Strong is the area
horticulturist with Mississippi State University Extension Service.