March 2014

Caring for Trees After Fire

In spite of countless resources andvolunteers, the nearly month long battle to

contain the Beaver Creek fire west of theWood River Valley last summer consumed111,490 acres at a price of over $25 million.After the toxic smoke finally cleared, theextent of the damage was evident. Throughthe heroic efforts of over 1,000 firefighters andsome unlikely wet weather, we dodged abullet. Our beloved valley was saved withoutloss of life and minimal structural damage.One of the biggest impacts of this fire todeveloped areas was damage toresidential landscapes located alongthe wildland urban interface. Manytrees and landscapes in these areassuffered irreversible loss and damage.The damage included leaf and needlescorch, root damage, trunk and branchdamage, bud death, and soildesiccation. Many trees can surviveafter fire depending on the intensityand duration of the burn, but treesdamaged by fire are more prone toattacks by insects and diseasesbecause of their weakened state.Due to the intense heat of wildfires,soils can become extremely dry,and therefore the most importantstep in caring for trees after fire isestablishing irrigation. Furthermore,trunks and large branches may need to

be protected from sunburn while theirdamaged canopy recovers.Before completing any fire restoration work,determine whether or not your landscape isinsured. Your home owner’s insurance policymay cover damage to your landscape undercertain circumstances. Next, it is essential toestablish which trees may recover and whichwill need to be removed immediately.Sometimes a wait and see approach is

appropriate, while other times it is clear thatcertain trees will not survive. Thisdetermination is best made by an ISACertified Arborist or other professional as theoutcome can vary depending on a variety offactors. In addition an appraisal may berequired for insurance purposes.See Page 2 for information on how to prepareyour landscape and home for fire.

Is Your Property Firewise?Arboricultural Trends in the WRV

Trees and Turf: Can They Coexist?

Tree Profile: Japanese Tree LilacWood River Valley Tree Guide

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In This Issue… Images clockwise from top left: heavy smoke in downtown Ketchum, Beaver creek fire map, active fire behavior westof Hwy 75, melted irrigation box in landscape, sky crane filling up with water, heat scorch damaged landscape trees.

Serving Sun Valley and Beyond Since 1997Plant Health Care, Trim Department, Pest & Disease Management,

Lawn Care, Soil Health, and Consulting. See our website for acomplete listing of all of our services and much more.

Is Your Property Firewise?

Arboricultural Trends in the Wood River Valley

Idaho’s many environments offer beauty and rec-reation to those fortunate to live or vacation here.

Along with the many benefits we enjoy from livingand playing in a wildland urban interface, comeincreased risks and responsibilities. A natural partof the forest and rangeland ecosystems of Idaho,fire is an important element of healthy ecosystems.When wildfire destroys homes and threatens lives,this natural agent of renewal becomes an agent ofdisaster. As a property owner, there are things youshould know and do to ensure that the area aroundyou is firewise.

The materials that your home and structures aremade of, where flammable materials are stored,and the amount of defensible space around yourhome are all major factors that can help preventcatastrophic damage to your property in the eventof a fire. For example, we recommend clearingtrees and other plants at least 5 feet away frombuildings as a starting point for fire prevention. Theproximity to the wildland areas, local geography

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and types of plant materials at each site will deter-mine individual firewise recommendations. Contactus to complete a firewise assessment of the land-scape surrounding your home. We have the toolsand expertise to help protect your investment. Formore detailed information about the Idaho Firewiseprogram, check out their website.

Flaming brands and embers can travel as far as 5miles ahead of the active front of a wildfire.

Defensible space is the area thatincludes your home and its immediate

surrounding landscape.

The greenbelt of well-watered andmaintained plant materials surrounding

this homesite prevented fire fromspreading beyond the native area.

When observed from a tree and landscape perspective, the WoodRiver Valley is much different today than it was in earlier times.

Before wells were drilled and the irrigation was turned on, sage andgrasses dominated the valley landscape. Native trees were foundhigher in the mountains and close to natural water sources.Residential landscape installation has become a big part of thedeveloping valley, which is a far cry from the “Coffee Can Trees” thatwere once transplanted from the Galena area. Homeowners andprofessionals quickly learned that the Wood River Valley is a harshplace to grow plants due to issues of water, soil, elevation, humidity,temperature, and wildlife. Tree species that had high survival rates andcoexisted with wildlife were heavily planted. As a result of this trend,free space in the valley is shrinking. Densely landscapedneighborhoods and subdivisions have emerged; the existing treeshave grown, and volunteer trees have increased due to additionalirrigated areas.This has left us with unique management challenges as thearboriculture trends in the valley evolve. Due to growing populations ofaspen and non-native spruce and the lack of natural controls such asbeneficial insects, we have witnessed serious insect and diseaseoutbreaks. Each of these epidemics tend to decline or stabilize after afew years, but they never truly disappear and eventually resurfacewhen conditions are favorable. So far most of these issues have beenmanageable. Some are mainly nuisance pests, while others causeserious damage or tree mortality.What can you expect?Pine needle scale infestations on spruce and pines continue to be themost persistent pest we are currently dealing with. Fortunately ourcustomers’ trees are faring well due to our unwavering dedication toproper timing and management programs that achieve the best

possible results. We expect to continue to battle this voracious pest formany years to come. Secondly, we foresee mountain pine beetle andother bark beetles attacking alternate species of pine as well as otherevergreens in the future. Mountain pine beetle has already killed mostof the large lodgepole pines and numerous scotch pines that were leftuntreated within the valley. Another forest pest, spruce bud worm, hasbeen found in Baker Creek, Galena, Fox Peak, and within the valley.We will maintain a close eye on its progression in order to protect ourclients’ trees. The Idaho Department of Agriculture also keeps usinformed and on the lookout for non-native exotic pests like emeraldash borer, Asian long-horned beetle, and Japanese beetle when theymove into the region.What does this all mean?Based on past trends, it is safe to say some other pest or disease willbe next. Until then, relax and allow our skilled and professional staff totake the helm. The best way we can assist you is through our PlantHealth Care Programs that are designed to oversee your landscapeand limit potential damage. If we aren’t regularly monitoring yourlandscape, it will be difficult to predict and address these complexissues in a cost effective and timely manner. We pride ourselves inimplementing the most proactive and effective programs using theindustry’s best management practices balanced with environmentalconcerns. Contact us today to set up a site inspection with one of oursix ISA Certified Arborists!

Bill JoseyBill JoseyPresident, ArborCare Resources, Inc.

Trees and Turf: Can They Coexist?

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Old mower injury

Recent mower injury

Stunted turf growth from Tree canopyshade and root interference

Separate areas for trees and turf leads tohealthier plants

Tree wells can be installed aroundnew or existing trees

Turf Department UpdateOur lawn department continues to expand and advance to represent the best in the industry. Ourcustom programs use ArborCare Special-T®, a compost tea combined with nutrients (nitrogen, iron,etc.) and other additives as needed, for each site. Weed control is client-driven with options including100% herbicide free, spot-spraying, and more extensive applications when necessary. We continueto emphasize sustainable soil health practices such as aeration and top-dressing with organiccompost. Furthermore, we have partnered with the Certified Trout Friendly program launched by theWood River Land Trust. The Program promotes simple steps residents can take in their yards toconserve water and protect water quality and local fisheries. We can assist you with sustainable lawncare services in order to obtain Trout Friendly certification for your property. For more informationabout Trout Friendly programs give us a call or check out their website, TroutFriendly.org

Trees and turfgrass are commonly plantedtogether in today's landscapes even

though they tend to be incompatible andinterfere with one another above and belowground. Alternatively, there are many aestheticdesign advantages to mixing trees and turf inlandscapes. Architectural designs must becarefully planned to reduce the amount ofcompetition so that both elements can thrive.As woody plants increase in size each year,they require additional space; and thereforedesigns should provide adequate space forplants to mature. Unfortunately the landscapeindustry has been reluctant to challenge thepublic's expectation of landscape designs withmanicured lawns right up to the base of everytree. The most common and concerning issuewe observe when trees and turfgrass aregrowing too closely is trunk damage caused bymowers or string trimmers. This practicegirdles and kills many trees throughout ourvalley annually. Young trees that struggle toestablish, surface tree roots in lawns, and

sparse grass in tree canopy shaded areas canalso be the consequence of competition.Both trees and turfgrass require sunlight,water, fertility, and rooting space for growth;and the battle for these resources causesproblems. Because sunlight is a key elementfor survival, shade from tree canopies is amajor stress factor for turf and can causereduced turf density and vigor and increasedsusceptibility to pest and weed problems.

Proper irrigation is also vital for healthy treesand turf. Contrary to popular belief, trees andturf prefer deep, infrequent watering. Frequent,shallow watering can lead to reduced roothealth, particularly in poorly drained soils. Theamount of soil moisture can cause both treesand turf to become stressed and thereforepredisposed to pest and disease problems.Fertility is another resource where competitionarises when trees and turf exist in the samearea. It is nearly impossible to fertilize onewithout the other. Since turf roots tend torespond more rapidly to soil fertility, they takeup the majority of fertilizer when sharing soilspace with tree roots. In well maintained turfareas such as home lawns and sports fields,tree roots benefit from the excess supply ofnitrogen. However, trees need other mineralsand nutrients aside from nitrogen. Excessivenitrogen fertilization can predispose trees toinsect problems in addition to stimulating

surplus vegetative growth which directs fewerreserves to defense and storage. The rootsystems of trees and turfgrass also competefor space underground. It is a commonmisconception that trees have a deep rootsystem, when in fact most of the roots are inthe upper few inches of soil. Roots grow nearthe soil surface where the conditions are bestfor growth. Oxygen, nutrients, and moistureare usually most plentiful; and as a result rootsof trees, turf, and other plants share thisspace.What is the best solution when managinglandscapes with both trees and turfgrass? Theoptimal plan is to have separate areas foreach and create mulched landscape beds withdrip irrigation for trees. Trees growing in amulched environment have better growth andless stress than those growing together withturf. Where mulch is not acceptable, plantingsof shrubs and perennial groundcovers wouldbe a less competitive option than turfgrass. Iftrees are located within lawn areas, we highlyrecommend installing tree wells around the

trunks to reduce competition and preventinjury from lawn mowing equipment. A treewell is a grass-free area within the drip-line ofthe tree covered with a 2-4 inch layer of soil,mulch, or other organic material. Providingyour trees and turfgrass with their own spaceto flourish will lead to a healthier landscape.

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The Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) is an ornamentalflowering tree native to Northern Japan and introduced to North

America in 1876. It is a small/medium oval-shaped deciduous treethat grows 15-30 feet tall in our area. It has creamy white, fragrantflowers that bloom in spring and smooth decorative bark thatlooks similar to a cherry tree. Japanese lilacs prefer full sun foroptimal flowering but can alsosurvive in part shade. It is a hardyand low-maintenance tree that ismostly disease and insectresistant, unappealing to deer andelk, and attractive to birds andbutterflies. Because of itsresistance to fire blight, it’s asuperior alternative to floweringcrabapples and other ornamentalfruit trees. It’s a great choice todiversify your landscape!

Wood River Valley Tree GuideThis guide has been prepared by the Hailey Tree Committee forthe purpose of helping you make better choices when preparingto select, plant and maintain trees. It includes the most up-to-dateinformation specific to our location and climate from industryleaders. One of the most useful features is a comprehensivesuggested species list of proven varieties. It is not meant toreplace the advice of professionals but to help you identify someoptions and better understand the outcome of your choicesbeforehand. Access the PDF version on our website under theNews and Information tab. Also available on the websites for Cityof Hailey and City of Ketchum.

ISA Qualified Tree Risk AssessorsBill JoseyJeff BeachamMark Ryskiewicz

PO Box 397, Hailey, ID 83333Tel: (208) 788-1611Fax: (208) 788-1610SunValleyTree.com

ISA Certified ArboristsBill Josey RM-0715ATJeff Beacham PN-5864ANick Chickrell PN-6472ALiz Conrod PN-5912AMark Ryskiewicz WI-0922AManny Austin PN-7705A

Tree Profile: Japanese Tree Lilac

Congratulations are in order for our team membersManny Austin and Mark Ryskiewicz!

Manny Austin is now an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist!We have six ISA Certified Arborists on staff. ISA Certified Arborists are professionals whohave achieved a high level of education and on-the-job experience in the tree care industryand who have successfully completed an extensive exam developed by ISA.

Mark Ryskiewicz is now ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified!We have three ISA Qualified Tree Risk Assessors on staff. This qualification promotes thesafety of people and property by providing a standardized and systematic process forassessing tree risk. Tree risk assessments provide tree owners and risk managers with theinformation to make informed decisions to enhance tree benefits, health, and longevity.

We are always proud to recognize the achievements of our staff. Our mission to be the best isongoing, and our employees’ personal and professional development is a big part of theequation. Industry credentials and continuing education opportunities are encouraged toensure all staff members are skilled, knowledgeable, and professional, while promoting safeand sound arboriculture practices.