Caller:

• Ann – She has a wood pecker attacking her mesquite tree…

Recommendation – It sounds like a Gila Wood Pecker and can damage trees trying to eat sap. They look like insect holes, but they are from birds. She can wrap the branches to protect the bark and some people use cd’s or other reflective materials to deter birds from using your trees.

*We talk about frost and ways to use frost cloth so it protects your trees and other landscape in your yard.

• Tips on hanging Christmas lights the proper way so you won’t damage your trees.
• Be safe using ladders!
• Setting the record straight on deciduous and evergreens

Caller:

• Brad – He took out 3 sissou trees in his yard and now the root system is pushing out shoots all over his yard. What can he do?

Recommendation – Unfortunately, there is not an easy solution. John talks about the root system underground and how the soil contains new shoots that can be a very long battle. Spot treating can be a never-ending process and soil removal is a last resort.

• John answers a question from a listener who had a bad connection on how to transplant a tree from the alley to her yard.  Make sure she understands the weight of a root ball and how difficult it can be to correctly transplant larger trees.

• Dave from Gardener’s Touch Landscape called in to give his advice on treating for sissou trees. He recommends increasing the frequency for treatments for killing it underground.

Caller:

• Charlie – A woodpecker is damaging his 25 year old apple tree and wants to know if he can save it with damaged branches.

Recommendation – He can cut back the dead wood and try to save it. Improve the irrigation and fertilization to try to stimulate new growth. *Remember the lifespan of many fruit trees is only 15 years or so.

If you’d like John to care for your trees or have questions, stop by Integrity Tree Service.