Touch Trees!
Written by: Jake Kubisiak, Certified Arborist IL-1392A
Posted: 2017 | Plant Health Care | Tree and Shrub Care | Winter
Human beings are emotionally connected to nature, and for our sake; Trees. At the recent Wisconsin Arborist Association conference two researchers provided details of this connection between trees and people. Many interesting facts were shared including the improved health and recovery of patients exposed to trees and nature.
Over the years many clients’ have shared versions of this connection. Trees planted to commemorate a birth or as memorials to loved ones. Several clients have even given names to their trees! A long-time client of Wachtel Tree Science; Kate recently commented “I’m the type of person who needs trees around her. A treeless landscape makes me quite uncomfortable, so I dearly love my trees.”
There are so many reasons we value our trees:
- Oxygen to breathe – that’s kind of important.
- Wood for building and fruit to enjoy.
- Shade for our living spaces.
- Shapes and Color in our landscapes.
- Memories created and cherished……
Understanding urban tree care usually begins with understanding the client first. During an initial visit I often ask how long have you lived here, and have you lived around trees before? The goal is to get a sense of the level of knowledge and understanding the person has for trees. It is important to create a partnership to improve the ability to catch signs of changes in tree health.
Kate had this experience “When we first bought our house 41 years ago, I contacted several tree services because I wanted to maintain the beautiful trees we had inherited. I have always been very concerned about the environment, so hesitated to do much with chemical solutions. However, I soon realized that moderate treatment with chemicals kept my trees healthy. When I found holes indicating birch borers on the 20 inch trunk of my white birch, I panicked and thought the tree was doomed. Wachtel assured me that they could save it and I have had treatment of it for about ten years and it is thriving.
Kate’s story goes on: “My approximately 150 year old White Oak‘s leaves were looking terribly yellow for several years and I was truly alarmed. Wachtel assured me that a specialized injection treatment would help and it really did.”
Unfortunately tree issues do not always happen during normal business hours. Kate explains: “As we were leaving at 5:00am on a trip, I noticed our ash tree didn’t look quite right. Upon closer inspection, the trunk had split causing a very dangerous situation. We had to leave town. I called Wachtel and they rushed out to brace the tree until they could schedule full removal.”
“I have always found Wachtel representatives knowledgeable, courteous, and professional. They always respond to my needs and explain what they are doing thoroughly.”
Caring for trees is an awesome job. As tree care providers we value the trees and we value the relationships created as a result of being allowed to care for your trees. While it is true that trees provide many benefits, I find the more existential benefits to be as important and more interesting to uncover. Thank you, Kate for sharing a few of your experiences and thoughts.
As I end this article I was hoping to find the perfect quote and happened upon this ancient Chinese Proverb: “Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come”
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