Page 88 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2023 - Online Magazine

SENIOR RESOURCES

DO YOUR TREES

Deserve a "D"?

by Sam A. Foncham, PhD

ou are the best judge when it comes to
taking care of your trees or making a
Ydecision with the help of an arborist.
Here are a few things to guide you through is important. If you need an explanation, talk to your
your decision. It’s easier than you may imagine: Dead, arborist.
disease, dangerous, distorted, displaced, discolored,
disliked. Let us briefly discuss them: DISLIKE:
What was once a beautiful tree may become unwanted
DEAD: for several reasons. It may have outgrown its space
A dead tree means that it’s gone for good. That means or has grown into a utility line, for example. It is not
there is no more growth. The bark may be peeled off, and recommended to cut roots of trees as this may create other
other infections may follow, like bores in the trunk or problems such as diseases. Talk to your arborist.
mushrooms at the base. If in doubt, wait until spring to be
sure that the tree is not just dormant but really dead. You For any questions about your trees and landscape, call
may need the help of a professional to evaluate. Sam at 806-786-5284 or email him at Samuelfoncham@
yahoo.com
DISEASED:
The tree may have an infection but is not dead. Watch Sam is the owner of Sam and Co. Trees and Landscape,
out for leaf exudates (secretions), discoloration, or other established in 1995.
abnormalities. A whitish sap may be a fungus which at It has a 5-star rating, the best of its class. Sam earned a
times is a secondary infection. The primary pest is a bug, PhD in Family and Consumer Science Education (FCSE)
creating wounds in the leaf, which becomes a substrate and holds graduate degrees in Plant and Soil Science
for the fungus. from Texas Tech. He was named Arborist of the Year in
Lubbock (2022).
DANGEROUS:
Some trees are a time bomb. Some have broken
branches just waiting to fall. Others may be tilted to one
side. The soil below the tree may not be able to bear the
weight, and the whole tree or a large branch can come
crashing down during a storm or without any notice at
all.

DISTORTED:
Ideally, trees are supposed to be symmetrical. As a
result of competition, trees may grow to one side. Also,
tree topping distorts the natural conformation of a tree.
We shape bushes, but we trim trees. The difference

88 Lubbock Senior Link