First, I would like to thank all of your for a busy and exciting Spring 2010 Season! We started with an early Spring which turned very wet, then straight into a 6 week dry spell! The Winter Moth populations were incredible this year, and we drove around like crazy people making sure everyone was as protected as possible! The Winter Moth season extended itself by 2 plus weeks because of the dense populations, weather, and increased spraying requirements. Thanks to all for your support during this time.

Now that Summer is in full swing and drought conditions are in effect, we all need to keep a diligent watch over our trees, shrubs, and planting beds. Please write us if you have any questions or concerns about the reaction of you plants to the dry conditions.

Finally, we will be winding down the Spring/Summer program over the next several weeks and we will begin reaching out to you regarding Fall best practices for your properties. Again thanks for a great start to the year!

Kind Regards,

Jonathan

ALB Watch

Beetle Alert

On July 6th, 2010, the first Asian Longhorned Beetle infestation outside of the Worcester County quarantine zone was confirmed in Jamaica Plain. This development portends profound consequences for the arbor of the Greater Boston area. It is what we have all dreaded, but also felt was inevitable given that the Worcester infestation went undetected and unchecked for over 15 years. I believe it is naive to think that more infestation sites won't be found in the coming months and years, and it is time to to get proactive about protecting our cherished trees from this destructive pest.

There are a few steps we can take now: Inspection, Observation, and Treatment. Inspection: for a fully accurate inspection, tress must be climbed by a trained arborist and looked over closely and completely. The beetles tend to focus on the upper crown where branches are 2 - 8 inches in diameter. Trying to do this diagnosis from the ground with binoculars has proven rife with inaccuracies.

Observation: The importance of homeowner awareness cannot be overstated. Look for the novel adult leaf eating patterns (image above), and unusually course piles of saw dust at the base of host tree species. All Maples, Birch, Elm, Horsechestnut, & Willow species are the key hosts to focus upon. Omit concern for Oaks and Pines.

Treatment: The same systemic material we use to control Hemlock Adelgid will also kill ALB larvae that attempt to tunnel into our trees. Getting key specimens a prophylactic application is a prudent course of action.

Vine Weevil Damage

90% of our tech visits this year have spotted Vine Weevil damage on Rhododendron and other garden plants. The adult, nocturnal beetles feed on the leafy material of your plants while laying 1200-1600 eggs in the soil around the plants. The leaf damage is not deadly to the plant (just unsightly), however, the larvae (grubs) that live in the soil under the plants feed on the root systems and will cause plant failure.

Vine Weevil Grub

Vine Weevil Adult

We have a mult-application soil treatment that works on the eggs and grubs in the soil, and is also taken up into the plant causing the beetles to succumb after they feed on leaves. We will begin treatments as early as late August through November.

Drought Conditions

The last six weeks have brought a host of plant issues to bear in terms of heat, dryness, and hydration. Needle blight, leaf wilt, dieback, and even death are occurring everywhere! Some tips:

Aerate soil and mulch around plants and shrubs so the water will penetrate when we do get rain and or watering.

In addition to deep root watering, mist the foliage the same as you would a house plant. The foliar structures will take in moisture right away. This is not a replacement for deep root watering but will help soften the stress on the plants.

Ant-desiccant: Evergreen trees and shrubs that suffered chronic water shortage during the growing season are more vulnerable to winter burn and winter kill. Sealing up the foliage this fall will reduce that risk.

Fall/Winter Tree Removal and Pruning

Our expert tree crew is in full swing and we are starting to book business for late Summer/Fall 2010. If you have been thinking about removing declining trees or opening up your property to increased sunlight. Get ahead of the usual September rush and call us now so we can work out a plan for you!

Ornamental Pruning

We have recently added an (additional) expert ornamental pruner to our Plant Health Care staff. If you have some lower-height ornamentals you would like to have pruned please call or write. We can set you up to have "Jim for a day". His work is excellent!

Organic Fertilizing

After surveying dozens of long term customer properties this year, we discovered (no surprise to us) the remarkable result of twice annual organic feedings of trees, plants, and shrubs. Spring/Summer, then once in the fall creates a health and vigor with fantastic results. Use of pesticides and fungicides is greatly reduced, creating environmentally responsible properties we can proudly give that "Green" label.

Compost Tea

Our Tea Brewer is in full production and those of you who ordered your Spring/Summer batches have noticed our truck delivering our bio-rich Tea. Our brew is formulated as an inoculate that creates a biological barrier against bad bacterial and fungal infestations. We use a blend of traditional composted materials and magical worm castings from our indoor worm farm.

Fall Plant health Care Programs

Although many of us don't want to start thinking about Fall and Winter approaching, they are! Our Fall program will focus on Health and Vigor, protection against disease and pest, and winterizing evergreens that are susceptible to Winter Burn. During July and August you will begin to find our recommendations for you Fall treatments in your In-box or mailbox. help us plan time and materials prudently by viewing the recommendations and getting back to us as quickly as you can!

Jonathan Bransfield
Bransfield Tree Company
781-237-2446
Jonathan@bransfieldtree.com