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 :)

Tree pest of Gum trees

How healthy are your trees is your trees showing signs of stress are they been attached by a pest/insect. Some tree Pest such as below can damaged and kill your trees if not treated. Thaumastocoris peregrinus, Winter Bronzing Bug is a pest of narrow leafed Eucalytpus trees. It is a cytosol feeder of tree leaves, which means it feeds on the inside material of the tree’s leaves. The symptoms of insect attack are that the tree leaves turn a bronze colour. This tree insect pest can be part of the cause of decline in the tree health of Eucalytpus scoparia a tree in the Sydney basin. Hymenoptera Perga dorsalis, Sawfly larvae If you're out in the bush or a local park during winter, you're likely to happen across a group of 'spitfires' clinging to the branch of a gum tree in the cold. These insects are technically called sawflies, a group of insects closely related to wasps. There are more than 200 species of sawfly in Australia, but the local species is the Steel Blue Sawfly (Perga dorsalis). The name 'sawfly' derives from a 'sawbench' under the abdomen of the female with which she lays eggs. Female wasps, in contrast, use a pointed ovipositor to lay eggs and in some species this doubles as a sting – adult sawflies do not sting and both adults and larvae are completely harmless. Female sawflies use the sawbench to cut the upper surface of a tree leaf and deposit 60-70 eggs into the leaf tissue. The larvae hatch and feed on gum leaves, grouping together for protection in a rosette pattern, similar to the head-outwards stance adopted by Bison when under attack. This is known as a 'ring defence', or cycloalexy. As the larvae grow, they collect in larger groups around branches during the day and spread out to feed at night. Like their cousins, the ants, bees and wasps, sawflies show some social behaviour but only in a primitive way. When feeding at night, larvae tap the branch to keep in constant communication with each other. If an individual becomes lost, it will tap more rapidly until it receives an answer from the rest of the group – if an individual becomes completely separated it will not survive long on its own. The activities of a group of sawfly larvae are governed by a few select individuals that become in effect the leaders of the group. They lead the rest out to feed at night and, if they run out of food, lead the group across the ground to other trees. When large numbers of sawfly larvae are present they are able to defoliate small gum trees, but in general are not a major pest. When ready to pupate, the larvae leave the host tree and burrow down to make mass cocoons in the soil. Here they sit through spring and summer to emerge in early autumn. Adults have no mouthparts and do not feed, living only for a week or so. Not all emerge, however, as many succumb to parasitic flies. These flies, about the size of a blowfly, will lay eggs in the sawfly larvae and the fly maggot literally eats its host from the inside out, eventually emerging from the sawfly's cocoon. . Sawfly larvae have an unusual defensive mechanism that has given them the name 'spitfires'. They store eucalyptus oil in a small sac in their gut, and regurgitate this oil when under threat. Despite their nickname, they are unable to actually spit this fluid and the oil itself is harmless unless eaten (like all eucalyptus oil). In fact it has a very pleasant eucalytpusy smell. Australia is one of the main strongholds of Symphyta, the suborder of insects to which sawflies belong. The Steel Blue Sawfly is one of the few insect species active in Victoria abd NSW during winter, so next time you're in the bush take the time to stop and smell the sawflies. References: Museum Victoria 2012 https://museumvictoria.com.au/about/mv-blog/.../bug-of-the-month-steel-blue-sawfly/ 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 how to mitigate the risk and allay any fears that you may have.

Trees and developments

DA Development Applications and Trees: when many people are submitting a Development Application (DA) most consider building plans, site survey and maybe a Landscape plan. Many builders, architect owners forget about their trees and trees in neighbouring properties. If you’re new construction is going to impact on any trees roots root zone either on your property a Neighbouring property including council nature strip you will be required to submit an Arboricutural report/Tree Impact statement prepared by a AQF level 5 Arborist. The development as proposed appears to impact on the root zone of a large canopy tree. Where trees are located within 5 metres of the proposed works, a report from a qualified AQF5 arborist is required which assesses all trees and determines their health, condition and Safe Useful Life Expectancy and specifies tree protection measures where applicable. Reference should be made to retention and management of vegetation provisions in Clause 53 of LEP 2005.” (BMCC) The Arborist/Tree report for Development Application, DA will need to look at the tree Species its health and structural condition, its age, its dimensions the trees Safe Useful Life Expectancy (S.U.L.E) and the Tree Protection Zones (TPZ). The TPZ should be based on the Australian Standard Protection of Trees on Development sites AS 4970-2009. This standard describes the best practice for the planning and protection of trees on development sites. This is based on plant/tree biology and current best practices. Fred Janes AQF level 5 at angophora Consulting Arborist has assisted many Architect builders and home owners in developing a Tree Management Plan for their construction sites. For any or more information please contact me by phone 0418 966 488, e-mail info@angophoraarborist.com.au or leave 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).

Development applications (DA) consent and trees

Before buying a property to live in or to develop etc make sure you get a Consulting arborist to advise you on what trees Council will and won't let you take out, I've recently had to tell a few clients it's not a given you will get permission off Council to remove trees, they will make you redesign etc Today in some Councils we are dealing with officers who will fight tooth and nail to keep any tree no matter how bad the condition or what damage it is causing, all appropriate tree management theory and practically is thrown out the door with these very green politically motivated officers who take their politics to work I've had clients who had to expend great amounts or lose money having to resell properties because of the above I'm a great believer in the right tree in the right spot and that trees do outlive or outgrow sites were removal and replacement with more suitable species is the better way to grow and considered appropriate tree management The urban environment is a planned environment and therefore tree planting and maintenance has to be well designed , planned and managed to be a success in such an environment Trying to put a forest environment into a urban environment without the above is recipe for disaster

Tree health

Good day the past 3 days have been enjoyable as I have been attending 5 practical for the first semester on Biology as part of the environmental management degree. This will help in gaining more knowledge to better diagnose tree health for our clients.

Advanced or Level 3 Tree Risk assessment aerial or Piuc Sonic Tomography

When we are contracted to assess trees most people want a Level 2 Tree risk/hazard assessment this assessment is done from the ground and we visibly assess each tree for their health and more importantly their structure. This is done using our eyes and our Knowledge and experience looking for potential and obvious defects, we also use a steel probe (safer than hands and arms) so we can determine how much if any decay is present and also how deep the cavity may be. We also conduct a percussion test using a rubber mallet to Sound the tree to determine if the tree is hollow or solid. But what we do not have x-ray eyes so cannot see for the trunk or can we see defect’s up high in the tree and many times we recommend an Advanced assessment or Level 3 this could be an aerial assessment of the scaffold upper branch junctions, damaged along the trunk or the tree assessed may need to have the trunk assessed by a Picus Sonic Tomography to determine the amount of solid timber to decayed or hollow sections unable to be seen visibly and or a soil or tissue test to determine the course of the trees ill health. On most occasions clients decide not to do these tests as the cost is to high yes there is extra expense for these advanced assessments but what is the cost if you don’t do these test and the trees fails and causes damage or worst kills someone. Recently I conducted an Aerial inspection using a 24 meter Elevated Work Platform (EWP) to assess 2 trees both from the ground raised a concern the second tree defect was superficial all was good but the first on inspection had a large Hollow 600mm deep with at this section a Diameter of 700mm leaving a wall thickness off 100mm As this was a hollow used by birds we did some weight reduction and left the trunk as a habitat leaving the tree safe but also able to continue functioning Another client rang me up and asked if I can come an assess a tree that I had assessed 10 months ago and recommended a advanced assessment as this tree had a branch fail damaging a roof of 1 of their buildings and they were lucky that no one was using the path below when the branch failed. The cost of replacing the damaged roof and then now have to remove the tree loosing valuable shade and then replacing that tree is a far more expensive than hiring an Elevated work platform EWP (cherry picker) and myself for 2 hours when the defect could have been identified the limb removed. International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) recommends different levels of assessment from a walk/drive by a visible tree assessment and advanced assessment. When you are a manager/owner of an amenity tree it is your duty to maintain this tree and minimise risk that it poses to you your family, your home or buildings. To determine the structural integrity of the tree advanced assessments may need to occur, such as an aerial assessment with an Arborist using a Elevated work platform (EWP a.k.a. cherry pickers) or a Picus 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).