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The Arbor Advisor
FALL 2010 		> Warning Signs of a Hazardous Tree
> Christmas Trees: Top Choices
> Sustainability with Solar Panels

Selecting a Christmas Tree

By Terrill Collier

Christmas Tree

The annual ritual of selecting the perfect Christmas or holiday tree will soon be upon us. You may be asking the question; shall I do a fresh cut, living or fake tree this year? Being a tree aficionado, I refuse to entertain the notion of a fake tree. Nothing sparks the memories of Christmases past like the fresh scent of evergreens wafting throughout the house. My family has the tradition of going out and cutting our Christmas tree. We enjoy the ritual of selecting the perfect tree after much debate and comparison. Plus I don’t think fake trees are really sustainable (what are they really made of?) and when thrown away end up in a land fill. Real trees are recyclable and biodegradable.

So the real question is live or fresh cut? While live trees win out as being the most sustainable option, you need a place to plant it after the holidays. Also the inside house is a harsh environment for a live tree. Typically it is too warm, dry for evergreens and likely the root ball will dry out while indoors causing your live tree to expire. The following is a list of the most popular choices for Christmas trees and tips on how to care for them.

Noble Fir

The Noble Fir is deep green in color and has unusually lovely branch shape. Boughs of this tree are often made into fresh wreaths. Its branches are sturdy yet the needles are not too sharp to decorate easily. Noble's branches have good spacing between branches so it's easy to hang ornaments on them.

Douglas Fir

A Douglas Fir is beautiful Christmas tree with soft shiny green needles. It is the most common tree in our area. Sheared trees are very thick and may be hard to hang large ornaments. If you like the “Charlie Brown” type tree choose a non-sheared form.

Grand Fir

The Grand Fir has a glossy dark green color with needles that are 1 to 1 1/2 inches long. This tree is soft to the touch and may not be able to hold heavier ornaments. It is often sheared but I like them more open and natural.

Fraser Fir

The Fraser Fir has attractive 1" needles are silvery-green and soft to the touch. The Fraser is easy to decorate because of good spacing between branches and hold heavier ornaments. The trees grow to almost perfect shapes and have excellent needle retention. Not as widely grown as the above trees.

Other varieties

Other Christmas tree varieties more infrequently found include: Scotch pine, blue spruce and Nordmann fir.


Caring for Your Fresh Cut Christmas Tree

  • Watering is most important. Cool temperatures also prevent needle loss. Not bringing your tree in right away? Set it in a bucket of water outdoors or in a cool place inside.

  • Keep it away from direct sunlight, winds and sources of heat like heaters, stoves or appliances.

  • Trees that have sat for more than a day need a fresh cut at least 1 inch above the original cut. This helps the tree absorb water more readily.

  • Trees begin losing water right after cutting. In a heated room, a tree can absorb up to a quart of water a day, so check and fill the reservoir often. Once a tree loses 20% of its moisture content, it won’t recover.

  • Christmas trees become fire hazards when their moisture content falls below 50%, able to ignite from contact with hot lights.

  • Use LED lights on your tree. They are much cooler and less of a fire hazard than older incandescent bulbs.

  • Recycle your tree after the Holidays.
One of the eight warning signs of a hazard tree is a tree that has begun to lean. Pay close attention to trees that have recently moved from a vertical position.
One of the eight warning signs of a hazard tree is a tree that has begun to lean. Pay close attention to trees that have recently moved from a vertical position.

8 Warning Signs of Hazard Trees

(What every property owner should know)

Every year, especially during wind or ice storms, trees will fall or break, causing property damage, power outages, and injury. While some tree failures are unpredictable, many can be prevented. By inspecting your trees for warning signs, many potential problems can be corrected before problems arise.

Trees should be inspected on a regular basis especially before and after storms. Larger trees have a greater hazard potential than smaller trees. A hazardous tree is a tree that has significant structural defects that are likely to lead to failure and possibly cause injury or damage.

If a tree is deemed hazardous, keep people, pets, and vehicles out of the area until the hazardous condition has been corrected.

Seek Professional help from one of our certified arborists to evaluate the potential hazards before the next storm hits. We can recommend the proper course of action to keep you trees safe and healthy. The following guidelines can help you recognize the warning signs of hazard trees.

1 — HISTORY

Past tree care, construction and landscape activities can affect the health of your trees. Construction, trenches, and tree topping can all have adverse effects on your tree. If roots have been cut or disturbed, the tree may become unstable.

2 — LEAN

Trees do not necessarily grow straight up. However, trees with a significant lean may indicate a problem. Look for cracked soil and exposed roots around the base of the tree which may indicate the tree has recently begun to lean.

3 — MULTIPLE TRUNKS

Some trees develop multiple trunks. Trees with multiple trunks can break if the trunks are weakly attached. Trees with large trunks with splits or cracks have a high failure potential. Inspect these trees for cracks or splits where the trunks meet.

4 — WEAKLY ATTACHED BRANCHES

Inspect branches where they attach to the trunk. Tight V-shaped forks are more prone to break than open U-shaped unions. Trees with splits, cracks, and/or several branches arising from the same point on the trunk may also present problems.

5 — CAVITIES & DECAY POCKETS

Inspect the trunk or branches for peeling bark and hollow or decayed areas. Large decay pockets and decay where branches meet the trunk can indicate serious structural problems. Mushrooms or conks growing on or at the base of a tree are signs of decay-causing fungus.

6 — TRUNK & BRANCH CRACKS

Inspect the trunk and large branches for cracks. Deep, large cracks indicate structural weakness in the tree and
need careful evaluation.
This oak tree with a large trunk wound is one example of a decay pocket.
This oak tree with a large trunk wound is one example of a decay pocket

7 — HANGERS

Hangers are broken branches still lodged in the tree. Whether partially attached or separated completely from the trunk, hangers are likely to fall and should be removed. Stubs left by broken branches should be removed to prevent spread of decay.

8 — DEADWOOD

Dead branches, or deadwood, will eventually fall. Branches over two inches in diameter can cause serious damage when they fall. Removal of small diameter (less than 1 inch) deadwood may not be critical, but large deadwood should not be ignored.

What can you do to make your trees safer?

  • Learn to spot the eight warning signs of structural tree defects.
  • Inspect your trees regularly, and particularly during storm season, for warning signs.
  • Remove anything (whether people, pets or a picnic table) away from a potentially hazardous tree immediately.
  • Contact a Certified Arborist from Collier Arbor Care to examine the tree for remedy or removal.

What can Collier Arbor Care Certified Arborists do for you?

Depending on your tree care needs, a Collier Arborist might…
  • Thin crown-thick trees by removing 10-20% of the branches and foliage to reduce weight and wind resistance.
  • Crown-clean trees to remove deadwood and hangers.
  • Remove large leaning trees with cracked soil and exposed root balls.
  • Remove or cable branches with V-crotches or weak branch attachments.
  • Evaluate trees with large cavities, structural problems, or extensive trunk or root decay; remove if deemed hazardous.
  • Recommend actions for long term tree care and health.
Trees are alive. Their integrity and stability change over time. Inspect your trees regularly to ensure their longevity and health.
Multiple Trunks
Multiple trunks are susceptible to splitting. 		Trunk cracks are not always obvious as in this tree. Be sure to inspect both the trunk and large branches.
Trunk cracks are not always obvious as in this tree. Be sure to inspect both the trunk and large branches.		 Hanging dead branches in this Douglas-fir are likely to fall and should be removed immediately.
Hanging dead branches in this Douglas-fir are likely to fall and should be removed immediately.


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Going Solar, Staying Sustainable

During sunny weather, this 15kw solar system provides all the power that Collier Arbor Care’s office needs — plus extra that it sends back to the electric grid.During sunny weather, this 15kw solar system provides all the power that Collier Arbor Care’s office needs — plus extra that it sends back to the electric grid.

The new solar panels at the office became operational this July just in time to take advantage of the sunny summer weather. We have a 15kw system that supplies 100% of our power needs during sunny weather. At times, it exceeds the amount of power we use and sends the extra electricity back to the grid.

Power generated by the array also charges our battery-powered lawn mower that we use to cut our eco-lawn. This practice is part of our sustainable landscape maintenance plan.

Our solar electric system is only one element of our sustainability initiative at Collier Arbor Care. Our goal is to maintain our business property as well as our client’s properties using sustainable methods. An example is our 100% organic soil health care program for plant nutrition and enhancing soil biology featuring compost tea and organic fertilizer.

Join us in our ongoing efforts to promote sustainability — both indoors and in your landscape.





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