Russell Tree Experts

LIVING SCULPTURES

2011-08-19T11:04:00.000-07:00

" I wonder if I can grow a chair," Artist Peter (Pook) Cook wondered over twenty years ago. Here he sits enjoying one of his many 'living sculptures' he has created with his partner, Becky Northy.

I can't get over how overly creative this is. With patience and a little knowledge on tree biology, Pook has been able to form very intricate structures out of willow. The couple, who reside in England, use wire to guide young trees into shape. In addition they have crafted mirrors and tables and other practical items.

So charming are the 'Tree People' who frankly make me feel like I'm right at home, in Oz. I would personally love to see something like this in Goodale Park in the Short North or at the Chadwick Arboretum on OSU's west campus. It is the perfect marriage of science and artistic expression.

Joe and I have often discussed what we could possibly fashion out of all this wood! We have kicked around the idea of custom tree swings and benches. Which reminds me of the time Joe brought home his very first chainsaw carved bear. He was all smiley and eager to put it on the front porch. Oh boy. I am truly inspired that Pook and Becky have created art out of living wood. What dedication as the finished product takes over a decade of commitment. Bonsai anyone? After staring at these for a while now, I wonder how well they would handle being transplanted or if we will ever see these on a commercial market. Let's hope.

For more information on the artists visit: Pooktre Tree Shapers.

Fall Webworm Outbreak

2011-08-12T07:57:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend Joe and I were in the eastern Ohio Valley and my goodness did we notice the fall webworm! Seen here nestled in a Sweetgum canopy, it is often found on walnut, hickory, ash, elm, maple and some fruit trees. They are active from July through September and are not to be confused with the Eastern Tent Caterpillar often seen in the spring. We saw huge populations of several nests in single trees. They were very obvious in the landscape, even while driving at 50 mph.

The insect feeds entirely inside its silky nest which it builds in a lush canopy of yummy leaves. The webworm feeds as a 'skeletonizer' on leaves, leaving just a backbone of veins. As food runs out, the caterpillar encases more leaves and the nest grows. There are two generations of webworm per season. The second generation is often more aggressive as the first generation moths lay their eggs and repopulate.

Although unsightly, these pests are often not a serious threat to the overall health of mature shade trees. However, younger trees usually lack the plethora of food reserves and ability to support large populations. Actions to eliminate the nests before they completely defoliate the canopy should be taken. There are many different control methods. If the nest is young and small, an arborist can mechanically prune the nest away. If the nest is very young, a strong shot of water or air may also destroy the pest community. Some chemical controls, such as Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) or systemic insecticides should be used when multiple nests are located very high in a canopy.

If you know your tree has suffered from the Fall Webworm (or Eastern Tent Caterpillar) in the past keep a good eye on the canopy early in the season. Getting to the nest while it's young and in the first generation is the best cultural control. If you are concerned about the aesthetics or health of your trees as a result of the Fall Webworm, call our office today for a consultation.

895.7000

Welcome Blog!

2011-07-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! We are excited to, finally, kick-start the Russell Tree Experts Blog. It has been sitting idle on the website for some time while we were busy doing things like: begging for a high speed Internet connection (or any connection at all), hiring, hiring some more, lettering new trucks, fertilizing, pruning, saving trees from the dreaded Emerald Ash Borer and responding to storm damage from recent storms like extreme super heroes. (Hey, do I sense a reality TV show calling?)

Watch a clip of our storm crew lifting a Bitternut Hickory off a home. It succumbed to strong winds earlier in the season and required a crane to safely remove it from the roof. Later inspection found significant rot at the base of the trunk due to construction from a few years back. If you're planning on repaving your driveway or doing any excavation/construction near the base of your trees, let us know - we have excellent tips on how to mitigate irreversible damage to the root system and vital trunk tissue saving you from the unfortunate fate below!

Russell Tree Experts - Storm Work from Shari Russell on Vimeo.