NIELSON, D.G. 1981. Alternate strategy for arborists — treat the tree, not the customer. Weeds, Trees & Turf 20(7): 40-42.
I am issuing a challenge to change. My perspective is based on eight years of home ownership and studying insects on trees and shrubs since 1968. Although I’m not a practicing arborist responsible for managing a business operation that must turn a profit, I am a consulting entomologist and have become intimately acquainted during the past several years with arboricultural practices and problems. This article is intended to provide food for thought. It is not intended to criticize current practices or to suggest there is only one way to think about or implement pest control as part of an arboricultural service. In this article, I will suggest a strategy for tree care that you may not have considered and your clients may not be ready to accept. However, client acceptance is part of the challenge.
SMITH, E.M. 1981. Fertilizing Malus ‘Snowdrift’ in the landscape. Arboric. Journal 5: 137-142.
Many, if not the majority of, trees including flowering crabapples planted around newly constructed residences and commercial buildings are located in soils which are less than desirable for plant growth. Trees in the landscape must be fertilized regularly to survive in the poor soils. Also, well fertilized trees will be more resistant to insect and disease problems and more tolerant of winter conditions. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the growth of Malus ‘Snowdrift’ in sites similar to many home landscapes, as a function of four nitrogen levels and two methods of placement. Nearly all nitrogen treatments resulted in trunk caliper and diameter of branch spread increases, with 6 Ib N/1000 sq ft treatments every three years the most effective. Significant growth increases were observed from drilled-hole treatments without fertilizer after six years but this difference was not apparent after nine years. The growth of Malus ‘Snowdrift’ was not affected by fertilizer placement over a nine year period.
- © 1982, International Society of Arboriculture. All rights reserved.
