Pests and Disease No Match for New Jersey Trees
Woodland Park, New Jersey, is celebrating after winning the war against tree pests this summer. The gypsy moth, Asian long-horned beetle, and a tree fungus sweeping its way across Pennsylvania are no match for pest and disease control efforts in the city. In 2008, more than 340,000 acres of trees were affected by gypsy moths, but this year only 1068 acres seem to be infested. Of course, the egg masses that have been spotted are quite healthy, cautions Carl P Schulze Jr., director of the state Department of Agriculture’s Division of Plant Industry. “It’s below the radar but it’s not gone.” The Asian long-horned beetle may have also been eradicated after a 10-year battle with the pest thanks to massive quarantine efforts made by agricultural officials. The dreaded emerald ash borer beetle also hasn’t yet appeared in New Jersey, which is another big win. Tree services had put up more than 680 sticky traps in preparation, but they came up with nothing. Since peak pest and disease season is over, officials are now looking ahead to next season.
Source:
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/NJ-trees-winning-wars-against-bugs-disease-3834899.php
Residents Upset Over Excessive Tree Pruning
The residents of Kooyong Road in Toorak are upset by the trees on public and private land by Stonnington council and CitiPower contractor Vemco. The residents were shocked to find that strangers were cutting their private trees, and that similar pruning had left council trees looking in bad shape. Resident Lynette Stewart said: “We understand the safety precautions. However, some of them have been cut back as far as five metres.” Simon Thomas, Stonnington acting Chief Executive, said that it was done to keep the trees healthy and out of danger. “Pruning is required to maintain the health and structure of street trees; to clear them from electricity lines, private buildings and dwellings; to remove deadwood; and uplift the trees over the roadway and footpath,” he said. Proper tree care and pruning was especially necessary after the high amount of rain the community had in the past year, and the pruning helps to reduce the risk of fire and power outages.
Source:
http://www.melbourneweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/kooyong-road-tree-lop-raises-resident-ire/2657398.aspx
UK Trees Under Threat of Pests and Disease
Recently, the Forestry Commission in the UK has warned that their trees there are facing an “unprecedented level of threat” from pests and diseases. UK Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman launched the Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Action Plan in October 2011, warning that millions of trees could be lost in the next few years as a result of invasive species, pathogens such as Phytophthora ramorum, and pests such as the great spruce bark beetle. Since the UK is an island, the trees are even more vulnerable: “If pests do get through, then they arrive without the spectrum of natural enemies and that is one element that can make the effect within the arrival country much worse than in the country of origin,” explained Hugh Evans, head of Forest Research in Wales. There are current control measures in the UK, explains John Morgan, head of the Forestry Commission’s Plant Health Service. “We try to prevent pest and diseases entering the country; then, if they have arrived, we switch to a policy of eradication and try to stop them becoming established.” Failing that, they try to contain the spread of the pest or disease and practise other tree care efforts.
Source:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19167307
Using Established Trees as a Landscaping Focal Point
Using well-established trees as focal points has become an increasingly popular approach in modern landscaping, as apart from being a lot of work to remove a large tree, the effect of keeping your design focus on those beautiful trees can be absolutely stunning. The following is a look at why using established trees as landscaping focal points can be such a marvellous idea, as well as how to make your established trees a bigger focus at your place.
Enjoy the benefits
If you are lucky enough to have large and well-established trees in an area you are planning on landscaping, don’t make the mistake of getting rid of them, because there are many benefits to be had. A large tree will provide shade, protection from the wind, and help to clean the air, and some people believe large trees also do a lot for the positive energy of an area.
Designer Trees — the Best of Both Worlds
The following is a look at some of the main reasons why designer trees have become an extremely popular choice in modern design.
Tree research
Before you even consider planting anything on your property, ensure you know all there is to know about it — whether it is a tree, a bush or a plant — and look to what others are doing with their gardens and outdoor areas as a way to get inspired. Once you have a pretty good idea of what you want to do, it is well worth talking to your local tree services and getting some professional advice, as this way you are sure to come up with the best possible plan for your space.
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
This amazing Queensland festival will celebrate its 63rd year in 2012, and as Australia’s longest running floral festival, it has only gotten better with age. From September 21-30, Toowoomba will celebrate food, wine, flower culture, entertainment and absolutely everything to do with spring. If you are stuck for a place to get away to this spring, head to Queensland and relax at one of the best Australian festivals of the year. The following is a look at some of the major highlights.
Grand Central Floral Parade
This great parade is always one of the most popular events of the festival, and consists of floral floats, stilt walkers, live music and the opportunity for young artists to make their mark via the pavement chalk art extravaganza. Whether you are a florist or just an average family looking for a fun family holiday option, there is no better place to be than lining the streets of Toowoomba when this fantastic parade rolls by.
Enjoying Australia’s Open Gardens in 2012
Australians love their gardening, and with ideal growing conditions almost all year round, it is no surprise that there are some pretty impressive gardens. When the idea came up to organise a way to show some of Australia’s public and private gardens, it was always going to be a winner.
Open Gardens Australia
Back in 1987, Victoria’s Open Garden Scheme began as a way to open up both public and private gardens for public viewing, for even just a day or two. The idea behind it was to help encourage Australians to get into their gardening by showcasing some of what people are doing already. The Open Garden Scheme proved so successful in Victoria that it grew to become Australia’s Open Garden Scheme, and was then renamed Open Gardens Australia.
Celebrating Grafton’s Jacaranda Festival
In 2012, the Jacaranda Festival will take place between October 19 and November 4, and will be the 78th consecutive running of what is one of Australia’s best flower festivals.
The festival is described by the organisers as being “thanksgiving for the generosity with which nature blesses this part of the globe.”
The Jacaranda, the festival’s namesake is a huge, beautiful tree with purple coloured blooms, which line the streets of Grafton. Given the sunny summer followed by good rains and the recent cold snap it is highly likely the bevi deciduous Jacaranda trees will produce an arrange of vivid colours. Basically the sugars generated by good growing conditions put extra pigments into the cells and the more sugars produced and the colder it is, the more pigements produced. So as you drive into Grafton you will see the wonderful crisp greens of the natives along the river and open pastures, then you come into the town, where there are the contrasting colours which are fantastic. The Jacarandas were planted in Grafton during the 1880s and are now a definite highlight of the area.
How to Deal With Trees When Carrying Out Construction
When considering any kind of construction close to trees, it is imperative that care be taken to avoid causing any damage, especially to the tree root system. That doesn’t mean construction can’t be undertaken; just that it needs to be done in a way that does everything possible to safeguard the tree. Some trees are even protected by the law, so make sure you do everything you can to look out for the health of any trees near anything you attempt to build. The following takes a brief look at some of the things you can do to deal with trees located near sites that need to undergo construction work.
Morris Versus Valuer-General
On December 20, 2011, the Land Court of Queensland dismissed an appeal by Roma Morris against the Valuer General’s July 20, 2010 valuation of her Brisbane home.
The appeal marked the latest in a series of legal battles between Morris and the Valuer General over the value of the Brisbane property, with a central factor being the role of a protected fig tree and its impact on the potential to build on the property.
