The Cupertino Courier

Gardening

Easy Cover: Photinia can be grown as hedges, shrubs or small trees. They appreciate full sun and moderate water. New leaves emerge a shiny, bronze-red color and later turn green.

Using the wrong tree service can leave you out on a limb

By Tony Tomeo

Because mature trees are the most substantial features of the garden, they deserve the best. Compromised health, stability or structural integrity of even small trees present certain risks that are unique to trees. If damaged and unable to recover, trees are not as easily replaced as annuals, perennials or other less substantial features. There is, of course, no replacement for the many decades or even centuries that many trees needed to mature.

Proper arboriculture, or maintenance of trees, is, therefore, very important. It is certainly not something that should be trusted to unprofessional "hackers" who think a pickup truck and a chain saw qualify them to perform tree work. Improper tree maintenance can cause more problems than it corrects. In fact, hackers sometimes inflict damage too severe to be corrected and can even necessitate removal of trees that are rendered hazardous by the damage.

Hackers are sometimes easy to identify by advertisements of their willingness to perform one of the most destructive of procedures that can be inflicted upon a tree: topping. (This procedure compromises structural integrity and causes development of severe structural deficiencies.) Those who advertise services that are not relevant to arboriculture, such as demolition, decking or fencing, unfortunately may not be specialized enough to care for trees. Their services may be relatively inexpensive, but repair or removal of victimized trees can be very expensive.

The most qualified arborists and the most reputable of tree-service establishments are easy to identify by their affiliation with the International Society of Arboriculture. To quote its mission statement, "The ISA is a worldwide professional organization dedicated to fostering a greater appreciation for trees and to promoting research, technology and the professional practice of arboriculture." It is an excellent resource for us professional arborists, as well as those who need our services.

Arborists certified by the ISA have passed an exam of their arboricultural expertise. Certification must be maintained by continued involvement with the ISA, such as attendance at seminars, workshops or horticultural classes. Such involvement demonstrates a serious commitment to arboriculture.

The ISA has compiled a publicly accessible list of certified arborists on its website, www.isaarbor.com. Local arborists can be identified by name or found within any particular ZIP code. I happen to be listed with my first name, Jerald Tomeo. Most of the arborists are also listed with the tree service they are affiliated with. All listings include contact information.

Incidentally, the ISA website also includes a link to its tree-consumer website, "Trees Are Good." Brochures about the selection, planting, care, pruning, benefits and hazards of trees, and many other related topics, can be purchased at this site. It also explains in more detail why it is important to procure the services of qualified arborists for arboricultural concerns.

Tree of the Week: Photinia

Photinia X fraseri, which is popular for large shorn hedges, can actually become densely foliated trees that get only about 12 feet tall and fit nicely into confined spaces. They are good street trees for driveways or narrow streets, if their naturally low canopies are pruned high. Larger trees may also need to be pruned back (confined to the space above parked cars) for clearance from large trucks. Photinia's complaisant roots will not likely damage pavement.

Photinia that are originally grown as trees are typically staked with single trunks. With pruning to remove lower growth, overgrown shrubs can also become trees with several irregular trunks. Any necessary pruning of the outer canopy should be performed after spring bloom. The abundant flat clusters of small white flowers appear only on mature stems.

Unlike trees, hedges should be shorn in late winter, just before new spring growth appears. They do not bloom, but instead produce abundant, shiny, bronzy-red new foliage that later turns green. The leaves are about 4 inches long.

Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408.358.2574 or at LGHORTICULTURE@aol.com.