Tree pest, Tree diseases and Tree Risk assessments.

Good day, I hope everybody had a nice relaxing Christmas. I hope 2017 will be everything that you hope and that your highs are greater than your lows. Landscape plants/trees can be injured by biotic and abiotic agents. Abiotic, or nonliving agents, include environmental factors such as drought, Wet, Snow, Physiological and other non-biological factors, such as insects, pathogens, nematodes, parasitic plants such as figs, Mistletoes and ivy and Viruses. Most of these problems are soil related: abiotic disorders such as water deficits, aeration deficits (Soil compaction) nutritional deficiencies, specific ion toxicities, pH related problems and herbicide injury. Whether the cause is biotic, abiotic or both an accurate diagnosis is almost always needed to remedy the ailment. Some Symptoms and signs could be twig die back, small or sparse leaf foliage and too much dropping of leaves, or small flowers. If left to late the tree will die. Now is the time to get your trees assessed for their health for tree Diseases and tree pests and also checking your tree for structural defects assessing the risk associated with the tree defects. Fred Janes - Arborist at Angophora Consulting Arborist is a level 5 arborist (AQF level 5). He is qualified in the latest techniques, using the International Arborist Associations’ ‘Tree Risk Assessments Qualifications’ (TRAQ). Fred can provide professional advice. While Derek can help identify tree pests and tree disease and recommend treatments to help the tree survive. Contact us at info@angophoraarborist.com.au or our office on 02 47 592075 or Fred on 0418 966 488 Derek on 0429 531 202

Tree reports inspection for the Christmas and New year 2016 2017

Merry Christmas to all our Friends and clients may it be a fun and enjoyable time for you and your families and friends. Angophora consulting Arborist will not be closing down over this period but will be operating on reduce staff, all day except for the 25, 26th and 27th December 2016 and the 1st and 2nd of January 2017 which are public holidays. Please contact out helpful friendly staff over this time in regards to tree risk assessments, Tree hazards assessments, Tree Health and Tree protection for development sites. :)

Tree disputes Land & Environment Court: Tree Disputes

With the increasing pressure on our residential communities; land sizes becoming smaller due to larger homes been built, the properties sizes becoming smaller, no longer the ¼ acre blocks, there are more changes that we will impact upon our amenity forest. When this occurs some of these conflicts are decided in the Land and Environment Court. When considering if you need to resolve your tree issues/disputes the first step many people take is to consult their local council and once this occurs councils will ask for more supporting evidence, this evidence is normally by a Consulting Arborist, AQF Level 5 Arborist. When you hire a consultant you should make sure they have this qualification; you can ask to see their certificate and also ask what method they will use to assess the tree/s. Two of the preferred methods are the International Arborist Associations’ ‘Tree risk Assessments Qualifications’ (TRAQ) and QTRA, this is normally called a Visible Tree Assessment and as stated is only a visible assessment i.e. what can be seen form the ground. The consultant should also have a minimum of 5 years’ experience. This is the minimum information you will need before going to the Land and Environment Court. Although, in most cases you will need more supporting evidence such as an aerial assessment of major limbs and the canopy, a soil analysis and/or identification of the type of decay i.e. white rot, brown rot or soft rot and how these affect the trees structure. It is possible that you may also need to determine the trees internal structure, how much solid timber there by using a Picus Sonic tomography test/s or a Resistograph test. When deciding to continue your case, the more information obtained to support the case the better and when you start the project inform your consultant so they can inform you what may be needed and an approximate cost for the project. The case will be decided on fact rather than emotion because a tree is large and any fear is not reason to remove the tree. However, if the tree is large leaning over your home, with several defects in the trunk and brown rot with only 10% solid timber then this maybe a reason to remove the tree. Also the consultant is there for the tree and not the client. An expert witness has an overriding duty to assist the court impartially on matters relevant to the expert witness’s area of expertise. When discussing issues with your consultant tell them all the information you have so they can decide on the best course of action and discuss with them that you are going to the Land and Environment Court to receive a ruling. Fred Janes - Arborist at Angophora Consulting Arborist is a level 5 arborist (AQF level 5). He is qualified in the latest techniques, using the International Arborist Associations’ ‘Tree Risk Assessments Qualifications’ (TRAQ). Fred can provide professional advice.

Tree pest of Eucalypt species.

How healthy are your trees is your tree showing signs of stress, have they been attacked by a pest/insect. Some tree Pests such as below can damaged and kill your trees if not treated.
Thaumastocoris peregrinus, Winter Bronzing Bug is a pest of Eucalytpus trees, especially narrow leafed Eucalytpus trees. It is a cytosol feeder of tree leaves, which means it feeds on the inside material of the leaf cells and the cell dies. The leaves cannot do their job of photosynthesis.
The symptoms of insect attack are that the tree leaves turn a silver, spotted yellow to bronze colour. This insect pest can be part of the cause of decline in the tree health of Eucalypts in the Sydney basin.
The infested trees will turn the reddish brown to bronze during winter. If the infestation is severe the trees will start to drop their leaves. Twig and branch dieback may also occur. If this continues it will lead to tree decline and possibly the death of the tree.
Chemical control
In Australia the chemical control option for T. peregrinus is tree injection.

• Thaumastocoris peregrinus, Winter Bronzing Bug can attack different species of trees:
  Corymbia citriodora
  C. henryi
  C. maculate
  E. agrophloia
  E. benthamii
  E. bicostata
  E. botryoides
  E. bridgesiana
  E. camaldulensis*
  E. cypellocarpa
  E. dorrigoensis
  E. dunnii
  E. globulus
  E. gomphocephola
  E. grandis
  E. largiflorens
  E. macarthurii
  E. maidenii
  E. microcorys
  E. nicholii
  E. nitens
  E. occidentalis
  E. ovata
  E. paniculata
  E. pauciflora
  E. pilularis
  E. pulverulenta
  E. punctate
  E. resinifera
  E. rudis
  E. robusta
  E. saligna
  E. scoparia*
  E. sideroxylan
  E. smithii
  E. tereticornis*
  E. urophylla
  E. viminalas*
  E. camaldulensis x E. biscostata
  E. grandis x E. camaldulensis
  E. grandis x E. nitens
  E. grandis x E. urophylla
  

  *Highly susceptible to T. peregrinus

• If you are concerned about your trees’ health please contact an Arborist such as Fred Janes at Angophora Consulting Arborist. A level 5 arborist (AQF level 5), qualified in the latest techniques using the International Arborist Associations’ Tree risk Assessments Qualifications (TRAQ). Fred and his team can provide professional advice on the problem, how to mitigate the risk and allay any fears that you may have.

Tree Risk Assessments

Winter is now over and our trees are starting to grow putting on new growth and increasing the weight on branches and trunks, having your trees checked out, by a Professional consulting arborist, although some failures are hard to judge, 90 % can be detected easily and action can be taken cheaply to resolve, it’s better than having your home or car damaged or worst still a love injured after a major failure.

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to managing trees on your property, you are responsible for any damage your trees cause to persons or surrounding property, so having trees on your property comes with the commitment of maintaining them in a safe and healthy condition in our current times.

Sometimes trees that may look damaged or structurally unsafe with a defect in their trunks may still be sound, with the trees sealing over the wound. This wood, called reaction wood, in some instances is stronger than the normal wood of the tree.

To determine the structural integrity of the tree advanced assessments may need to occur, such as an aerial assessment with an Arborist using an Elevated work platform (EWP a.k.a. cherry pickers) or a Picas Sonic tomography, to sound the tree.

For any or more information please contact me by phone, e-mail or leave a message on face book and I will contact you (If you do contact by Facebook please leave a Phone number and best time to call).

Tree risk assessments and safety audits around homes, offices and work sites need to be conducted by a Professional Independent Arborist; who understands the risk that trees pose to residents and workers. An Arborist such as Fred Janes at Angophora Consulting Arborist is a level 5 arborist (AQF level 5) qualified in the latest techniques using the international Arborist associations Tree risk Assessments qualifications (TRAQ). Fred can provide professional advice on how to mitigate the risk and allay fears that you may have of your tree/s.

For any or more information please contact me by phone 0418 966 488, e-mail info@angophoraarborist.com.au or leave a message on face book or web page and I will contact you (If you do contact by Facebook or webpage please leave a Phone number and best time to call). And also follow us on Instragram Instagram fred.janes

Tree disease of Cypress species.

How healthy are your trees, are your trees showing signs of stress, do your trees have dead branches, are your trees dying back, have your trees been attacked by a pest/insect or disease?

Some tree Pests and Diseases such as below can damage and kill your trees if not treated.

Cypress decline

A large number of dead and dying cypress trees have been observed in rural Victoria in recent years. Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) investigations in south and west Gippsland, the Mornington Peninsula and the Western District have found trees affected by various fungal pathogens, in particular cypress canker (Seiridium species), but also Botryosphaeria, Phomopsis and Pestalotiopsis species.

These fungi can all cause dieback symptoms, especially when environmental conditions have placed trees under stress. They are a mixture of primary pathogens (which can attack intact plants) and secondary pathogens (which usually attack plants at sites where another infection already exists).

DEDJTR believes that the last drought weakened the cypresses and left them vulnerable to infection. Disease development has also been favoured over the past 12-18 months by waterlogging and/or warm, humid conditions in some areas.

Cypress canker is the most significant of the pathogens currently affecting exotic conifers in Victoria. Unfortunately there is no proven cure for this disease. Cypress canker attacks at least 25 conifer species of the Cupressaceae family in many parts of the world, including Australia, the United States and Europe.

It is not known to affect other plant families.

Previously this disease was thought to be caused by a single Seiridium species, but scientists now believe that three species (S.cardinale, S.cupressi and S.unicorne) can cause the same symptoms.

These fungi have been present in Victoria for more than 50 years.

How does cypress canker infection occur?

Cypress canker infects a plant through spores (conidia) which are carried on the wind, in water droplets or by insects. Spores that land on healthy foliage can germinate under warm, moist conditions and infection occurs through natural fissures in the bark or through scars caused by mechanical damage (e.g. pruning, animals or falling branches).

The pathogen then girdles twigs, branches and the main trunk, interfering with the sap-conducting system and causing the foliage to die. Death may occur progressively from branch to branch.

New local infections can also develop when spores are washed down the tree or splashed from tree to tree by rain or overhead irrigation. They can also be transferred from plant to plant on pruning tools, or through the transport of infected cuttings or plants.

After the initial infection, the fungus kills the plant's vascular tissue, causing characteristic sunken, lens-shaped cankers and ringbarking. This interferes with the vascular system of the tree and eventually causes death above the wound. Generally, older trees are more susceptible but any tree is susceptible if in a stressed state (e.g. through drought, waterlogging or poor nutrient status).

Reddish cankers form at the infection site and resin often exudes from around the edges of the cankers or through cracks in the bark (Figure 1). Individual cankers can be elongated and there may be many along each infected branch.

The spore-producing structures of the fungus can be identified on the surface of the bark as small, circular, black dots on the canker surface.

Branches die rapidly, yellowing almost overnight as the foliage is starved of sap (Figure 2). If the infection is not managed, it can eventually lead to the death of the whole plant. Hot, humid weather, drought and insects (e.g. bark beetles) can hasten the decline of trees infected with cypress canker, due to splitting bark and poor wound responses from the tree.

Species susceptibility

More than 25 conifer species can be affected by cypress canker, but susceptibility varies between the species.

Susceptible species:

• Cupressus macrocarpa (Monterey cypress) (susceptible < 10 years old)

• x Cupressocyparis leylandii 'Castlewellan Gold'

• x Cupressocyparis leylandii 'Leighton Green'

• x Cupressocyparis leylandii 'Naylors Blue'

• Cupressus sempervirens 'Swanes Golden' and other cultivars

• Cupressus torulosa.

Less susceptible species:

• Cupressus lusitanica (variable susceptibility)

• Cupressus arizonica (Arizona cypress)

• Calocedrus decurrens

• Thuja plicata (western red cedar)

• Thuja occidentalis

• Juniperus virginiana.

If you are concerned about your trees’ health please contact an Arborist such as Fred Janes at Angophora Consulting Arborist. A level 5 arborist (AQF level 5), qualified in the latest techniques using the International Arborist Associations’ Tree risk Assessments Qualifications (TRAQ). Fred and his team can identify the species of tree, diagnose the disease or pest that is attacking the tree and provide professional advice on how to manage the problem, mitigate the risk and allay any fears that you may have.

Reference: Agriculture Victoria Feb 24, 2016

Further Reading

• Cunnington, J.H. (2007) Seiridium cupressi is the common cause of cypress canker in south-eastern Australia. Australasian Plant Disease Notes, 2, 5355

• Graniti A. (1998) Cypress canker: a pandemic in progress. Annual Review of Phytopathology 36, 91114. doi: 10.1146/annurev.phyto.36.1.91

• Hansen, E.M. and Lewis, K.J. (1997) Compendium of Conifer Diseases. APS Press. The American Phytopathological Society. Lunn, M. (2004) Fact Sheet: Cypress Canker ABC Gardening Australia

• Reid, A. (2004) Cypress Canker (caused by Seiridium spp.) Department of Agriculture and food. Government of Western Australia. Note: 13 Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens Trust Fact Sheet on Cypress Canker

Sponsoring the royal botanical gardens

Its nice to be recognised for supporting a organisation this is a thank you card from The Royal Botanical gardens & Domain trust, Foundation and friends after again supporting them as a silver sponsor for another year :)