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Plant Health Care

Hamm's ArborCare, Inc. provides a number of Plant Health Care (PHC) services and can assist you in developing a plan to manage the health of your trees and shrubs of all ages.

Emerald Ash Borer Info Click Here

Selection and Planting: Plant health care actually begins before a tree is even planted in the ground.  Trees must be properly selected for the specific site they will be planted in.  Is the tree shade tolerant or does it prefer direct sunlight?  Does it do well in wet soil or does it require well drained areas?  Will the tree eventually outgrow its surroundings or become too tall? Trees must also be selected for resistance to pests and diseases that occur in the locale where it will be planted.  If these factors are ignored, a tree may be doomed to failure before it even reaches the planting site, or at best become a problem case requiring costly treatments.

Proper planting is also important to a tree’s long term survival.  Trees that are not planted properly or too deeply can develop girdling roots, which are roots that grow against or encircle the trunk.  Girdling roots that become too large may impact the trunk, essentially strangling portions of the tree and causing decline in the canopy.  Severe girdling could shorten the lifespan of an otherwise healthy tree. Hamm's ArborCare, Inc. will work with you to select and plant the proper tree for your specific site. Our goal at Hamm's ArborCare, Inc. is to plant as many trees as we remove each year.

Click here for a link to a woody landscape plant id database through the University of Illinois.

Root Crown Excavation: This is the process of removing the dirt from around the trunk to inspect the base of the tree. This can be done to investigate the extent of decay that is present or to view the structure of the roots to see if there may be a girdling root issue. Many trees (nearly all), that have been planted in the last 25 years have been planted too deeply. This allows the stem to be girdled by circling roots. This is very common in lindens, and maples, but can happen to any tree that is planted too deeply. If you have a tree that has been planted within the last 25 year and especially younger trees, they should be excavated to see if corrective measures can be taken.

Hamm's ArborCare, Inc. uses a new tool called an air spade which is powered by an industrial air compressor. The air spade directs pressurized air through a specialized nozzle, allowing the excavation of soil from the root crown of a tree while leaving the roots intact.  With the soil removed in this manner it is possible to inspect the root crown of the tree for girdling roots, which if found, can be removed before becoming a problem or before causing further damage.  The excavated area is then back filled with organic mulch. Please click on the pictures below. It is noted that Hamm's ArborCare, Inc. recommends the use of organic mulches vs. landscape rock.

The air spade is also used to reverse the effects of soil compaction after construction activities. Obviously, avoiding compaction is the best approach; however, correcting it can help trees survive.

Cabling: The installation of guy wires in a tree to enhance the strength of a potentially weak union between branches.

Systemic Injections: Trees are injected at the root flare with fungicides to protect trees from Dutch Elm Disease or Oak Wilt.

Cambistat Basal Drench: A growth regulator which slows above ground growth while enhancing other tree functions such as root growth, energy storage, and drought, insect, and disease resistance. Applications for Cambistat include the following: preconstruction treatment, situations where construction damage has taken place, and for trees in general decline or showing signs of chlorosis.

Fungicidal Sprays: This is spraying that is done primarily on ornamentals, oaks and ash trees for various foliar diseases. They are performed in the spring when these diseases are prominent. It is noted that there are usually 10-20 weather events per year conducive to fungal growth on leaves. We recommend three foliar spray applications to suppress this fungal activity. Short of spraying after every weather event, complete control is not practical. Hamm’s ArborCare, Inc. uses a combination of products applied appropriately, as determined by the weather, to achieve some control at a reasonable cost. It should be expected that results will vary from year to year.

Insecticidal Treatments: These treatments are timed for the most vulnerable stage of the insect life cycle. Many times when symptoms are visible the treatment is useless until the following year. Treatments are only recommended when there is potential for insects to harm your tree. The presence of insects or a few small holes in the leaves does not necessarily require treatment. Hamm's ArborCare does perform diagnostic services to help you know what may be bugging your tree.

Soil Injections: These may include specific nutrients or the injection of insecitides to control borer infestations. The bronze birch borer which attacks white birch and the two-lined chestnut borer which attacks and kills oak trees are two insect species that can be treated with soil injections.

Banding and Spraying: Used on trees to monitor and control the spread of gypsy moths. There may be an increased occurance of gypsy moth infestations in 2006.

A Note On Prescribed Treatments: Just because a tree has insects present on it or has some leaves that are discolored does not necessarily mean the tree is unhealthy or “sick”. Hamms ArborCare, Inc believes in the philosophy that a problem must be identified before a treatment can be prescribed. If you believe your tree or shrub may be unhealthy or showing problem signs of disease or insect infestation, please don't hesitate to call with any questions or for diagnostic services.

Links

For information on plant diseases:
UW Plant Pathology Department

For information on insect pests:
UW Department of Entomology