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Emotions snap with treesAt times I feel that horticulturists should be required to take a few more psychology classes while they are in college. It is very difficult to look homeowners in the eye and tell them that their historical tree needs to be removed. There is so much emotion vested in these massive specimens. For some, it is the same as losing a family member. I have witnessed an array of emotions run across peoples faces when they get the news. Some are distrusting of me and want a second opinion, and I always encourage them to do so. Others are angry with the messenger. Some have seen it coming, but have been avoiding tackling the problem. Others simply cry. I have consoled people underneath the very tree they are grieving. I most recently recall an elderly woman who had lived at the same residence for several decades. The majestic American elm in the back yard was obviously sick, and undoubtedly Dutch Elm Disease was the culprit. I explained to her the problem that the tree was battling, and that it was inevitably a battle that the tree would lose. The reason for concern was that the limbs of the tree not only stretched directly over the top of her house, but could easily reach her neighbors houses' if it were to fall in either direction. I could tell that she wanted to cry and the news of losing the tree was breaking her heart. There was nothing else to do but give her a hug. So I did. Afterwards we must have walked around the tree ten times just looking up into the canopy. She was telling me all sorts of stories that stemmed back to that tree. It was obvious that when that tree left the yard, a part of her would go with it. This woman is not alone in her love for her tree. Many residents across the state of Oklahoma are now dealing with the same scenario. But not because of Dutch Elm Disease--it is because of this wretched ice storm. Yes it is part of life in Oklahoma that we get ice, and ice hurts the trees; but this batch was particularly bad for our landscapes. Part of the reason is because of our mild weather conditions up to this point. Many of our trees had not fully shed their leaves. The leaves served as sails to catch as much ice as possible and increase the amount of stress on the branches. Most commonly damaged by this is undoubtedly our Callery Pears. Not only did the pears hold onto their leaves, but these trees have extremely narrow branch angles. Picture the kind of strong branch that a tree swing would be tied to. It is one that has almost a 90 degree angle. Now, try and count how many tree swings you have seen tied to a pear tree. Not very many. These trees are usually the first to crack under pressure. The narrow branch angles make for a weak branch connection that is not able to support much weight. For other trees, the weight of the ice was simply more than they could bear. It is such an upsetting image and I imagine that thousands of people are dealing with so many emotions right now. The most important thing to do is not to panic. There is nothing that can be done to reverse the damage from the ice. But it is important not to make the damage worse by hiring an untrained person to prune the tree. I can see the chainsaws flying out of the stores and into the hands of people who are hungry to make some quick cash. While it is true that limbs on the ground can be cut up by anybody with a little chainsaw experience, it is imperative to leave the tree pruning to the professionals. Arborists in Oklahoma are not required to have any sort of license or certification to practice. There are several tree care professionals; however that have received training and certification from the International Society of Arboriculture or the American Society of Arborists. Be sure to get background information about the company and what sort of training the employees have had. Correcting storm damage the proper way will have a direct effect on how well the tree can recover. A trained arborist is able to give a correct diagnosis on whether the tree can recover or if it should be completely removed. The remnants left behind from a poor pruning job are aesthetically unpleasing and it is one haircut that the tree will never outgrow. After verifying the skill level of the arborist, ask to see proof of insurance. If work is being done on a tree by an uninsured individual and the tree falls on your house, YOU are responsible--not the person behind the chainsaw. It is important to be an educated consumer. Some 'opportunists' may be going door to door looking for damaged trees to work on. While this may sound enticing as they tell you about the waiting lists to get trees pruned and the special pricing they are giving--don't take the bait. The payoff will not be as big as the negative consequence when the tree is butchered. The wounds of the trees may seem far too fresh for some, but others are anxious to clean up the mess. My recommendation is to flip through the yellow pages under tree care or begin asking friends who they have had good experiences with. Make a few calls and investigate the previously mentioned items. By doing this you can get your name on the waiting list. And yes--there is going to be a bit of a wait. Thousands of trees have been damaged, and the trained arborists have a great deal of work ahead. However unfortunate and sickening it is to say goodbye to an old friend in the yard, we must look on the bright side and move on. We can be thankful that we had the opportunity to know that tree and honor it by planting a new one. I hear some say that I'll never be able to replace that tree, or it will never get that big again in my life. That may be true, but in the future someone will be able to enjoy that tree. We don't plant trees for ourselves; we plant them for the ones who will follow. It is our job to protect what was left to us. Date: 12/18/07
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