Tree Care Common Mistakes

Sherri Harrah:
So what killed this beautiful oak tree that’s laying in pieces on the ground that was removed yesterday? I’m Sherri with HomeShow Garden Pros, and I’m joined today with Ed Dolphin, he’s an ISA certified arborist. So Ed, what happened to this poor baby?

Ed Dolphin:
Well, Sherri, you’ve got two handfuls of sawdust.

Sherri Harrah:
Yes.

Ed Dolphin:
This is very fine. This came from insects that were inside the tree. This came from the saw that cut down the tree. And how do I know that? Literally, look, this is almost as fine as sand, and this, there’s a distinct difference. The sawdust that was created by the insects, insects are attracted to the tree because it was under stress. It was under stress from the summer.

Sherri Harrah:
Right.

Ed Dolphin:
From the two previous droughts, or the two previous winters, the drought from this summer. Heck, even the stress from Harvey five years ago.

Sherri Harrah:
Wow, it’s still affecting them?

Ed Dolphin:
It’s still affecting them, right.

Sherri Harrah:
Wow.

Ed Dolphin:
It also had the insects, but it also has a disease on it. This is called hypoxylon canker, and a lot of people will ask me what the difference between this is, and this. This is lichen.

Sherri Harrah:
This stuff right here?

Ed Dolphin:
Yeah, this is lichen. But unfortunately a lot of people in my industry will tell somebody that their tree that has lichen on it has got Hypoxylon canker.

Sherri Harrah:
Because they just don’t know.

Ed Dolphin:
And there’s a big difference.

Sherri Harrah:
Yeah.

Ed Dolphin:
Hypoxylon canker is to your tree like if you went to your doctor, and your doctor told you that your cholesterol level was at 800, you got some serious vascular problems. And unfortunately for this tree, it was under stress. The insects hit it, the hypoxylon came, and literally it’s the one, two punch. It’s dead.

Sherri Harrah:
Right. So it just goes to show the importance of having a trained eye. You are a doctor to the trees, just like we go to the doctor. So we really need to protect our investments, call a trained eye out, and really get the best…

Ed Dolphin:
I would say annually.

Sherri Harrah:
Annually would be the best. Especially we think this year was a problem with the drought. Trees take many, many years to get over these stresses, so next summer could be really…

Ed Dolphin:
A whole lot worse.

Sherri Harrah:
A whole lot worse, especially if we have a hard winter this year, right?

Ed Dolphin:
Yes, yes. No doubt.

Sherri Harrah:
Okay. So everybody needs to get a trained eye in their yard this year to protect your trees. To learn more, join us on HomeShow Garden Pro Saturday mornings from 7:00 to 9:00.