Plant Health Care and Diagnostics

This second article about wood decay by Christine Balk, Chelsi Abbott, and A.D. Ali focuses on identification and management of wood decay fungi encountered in urban settings. Learn the three types of wood decay fungi that can cause damage, and the role that decay plays in increasing tree risk. (A,T,L,Bs)

One biotic problem for trees is wood decay fungi. This article by Christine Balk, Chelsi Abbott, and A.D. Ali, the first of a two-part series, provides an overview of the complexities of fungi, explains the general life cycle of a fungus, and describes what to look for when identifying fungal fruiting bodies. (A,T,L,Bs)

The survival of tree-dependent wildlife species is influenced by how arborists manage trees, even in urban areas. In this article, Brian French explores wildlife considerations when making care decisions about trees. (A,M,Bp)

Learn about conducting tree inventories in this issue’s CEU article by Jerry Bond. This article explores setting tree inventory objectives, the benefits and costs of tree inventories, and the resources needed to be successful. (A,M, Bm)

Learn more about palms in this second part of Palms: Woody Giants of the Monocots. This article explores symptoms of nutrient deficiency and other abiotic and biotic factors, including insects and diseases. (A,T,M,L,Bp)

Are palms considered trees? That depends on whether you’re asking a botanist, ecologist, or forester. But no matter the specific definition used; as an arborist you may have to deal with palms. In part one A.D. Ali and Leonard Burkhart Jr. examine palm identification and pruning.(A,T,M,L,Bs)

In this second podcast on Root Pruning, the authors look into selective versus non-selective pruning, dealing with stem-girdling roots, and how pruning can effect a tree’s long term health and stability.(A, Bs)

Roots are a vital component to any tree’s health. Recognizing and understanding the types of roots, and how they function is the first step in good root management. Original story by Larry Costello, Gary Watson, and E. Thomas Smiley (A, Bs)

PHC-Plant Health Care, is a holistic approach to evaluating a tree’s condition, taking into consideration both the plant, and its environment instead of focusing on any single component such as insect pests or disease causing organisms. (Original story by Chelsi Abbot and A.D. Ali) (A, Bs)

The idea that rapidly growing trees are the most pest resistant and stress tolerant is highly ingrained. But is that always true? Trees face both abiotic and biotic attacks daily, and studies are beginning to question just how resistant, and whether cultural practices generally thought to help a growing tree, may in fact increase the stresses it faces. (A, Bs)