Reed, please refer to my response (982) concerning the latest developments surrounding the root damage to a 150 yr old pecan tree, caused by, in my opinion, builder and utility company negligence. I cannot overlook the judgemental tone in your post - I hope you were only having a really bad day.

What bothers me about your negative comments is your implication that the welfare of the tree is ALL that is important. What about accountability? Why is it secondarily important that someone can committ such a blatantly irresponsible act, seriously compromising the life of such a valuable tree and just shrug it off, while you chastise me for wanting them to be held accountable? And, when I say valuable, I am not just referring to the real estate. These ignorant people will continue to destroy more magnificent trees with careless disregard unless someone stands up to them. They already have proven by their actions they could care less about the trees. You cannot reason with them with talk of "conservation management", "urban forestry", and "naturalism". The damage has already been done. You have to appeal to another level - if they start sufferring consequences in the form of monetary compensation, maybe, just maybe, they will think before they act when they are working on a neighbor's property, or down the road, or across town. I think of it as an educational, not a strictly legal, process. It's just some people need more motivation to learn than others.

Reply to post by Nancy, on April 22, 2002 at 19:49:34:

Nancy, thanks for re-posting so your message could be seen. I'm glad you found a local arborist who is taking what sound like the right steps to give your tree every chance.

You're not the first person who thought the state was the best place for science-based tree information, and sadly you won't be the last. I hope a local newspaper, or national journal, will find this tree's story worth writing, so the educational process will extend beyond the legal arena, and beyond those folks who did the damage.

Buds breaking open can give false hope. Please post again with developments in the case. You may get a useful thought. We wish you and your tree success. Guy

Reply to post by Guy, on April 22, 2002 at 19:49:34:

Guy, thanks for sending positive thoughts my way. We are trying not to be too confident, but are hoping the tree can somehow pull through with appropriate treatment. There has been a concerning new development: a rather sizeable void has been detected under the trunk on the damaged side. We've always been aware of the stability issue, but knowing this makes me even more unsure. This is a rather sizeable tree, measuring 32" in diameter at 4.5' above grade. I just found out yesterday that our neighbors on that side are finalizing their architectural plans and will begin construction soon. We had no idea things on their side were progressing so rapidly, and were not too overly concerned with how serious a hazard the stability issue presents since, in worst case, if the tree did topple, it would most likely fall on a vacant lot. Now it looks like a whole new scenario for consideration. Wow, I really don't remember signing up for all this when I decided to build a new home! But, at least I can share what I have learned, (and am continuing to learn), with the next guy!

Sorry these posts are so long...very few people seem to really understand all the emotion involved in a situation like this...I really appreciate all the responses.

Reply to post by Nancy, on April 23, 2002 at 06:55:46:

Nancy, your post 982 mentioned an "urban forester" was doing "deep-root fertilization and vertical mulching", and your last post described the big hole where a root used to be. Some comments:
Decay begins in wood exposed by wounding. Decay organisms feed on nitrogen.
Nitrogen is often the major component of fertilizer.
Therefore, your contractor needs to know NOT to put in a high-nitrogen fertilizer. This is typically done to produce quick results, but can have a long-term negative effect on the tree's stability and survival.

The book on Fungal Strategies of Wood Decay in Trees referenced on this site verifies this common sense. Sample pages can be downloaded free from Amazon--can your contractor understand them?
Roots are stimulated to grow by not only nitrogen but by other nutrients. Did your contractor test the soil and give you a copy of the results? (test is free or cheap--this is one service the state can dependably provide). You should know about the "soil" your builder left you with. Be ready for more bad news.

Re vertical (and horizontal) mulching, on a 34" dbh tree it should go well beyond the dripline, since that's where most of the roots are feeding. Your contractor may know more than the state agencies you first contacted, but make sure s/he is current on Best Management Practices. See www.isa-arbor.com for free information.

Even if it's still standing, it sounds like your tree lost a lot of value due to reckless disregard. Let us know how your education effort on that front is going.

Reply to post by Guy, on April 23, 2002 at 11:43:46:

Guy, the first consultant I've seen recommended using Arbor Green (30-10-7) at the rate of 40 lbs per 100 gallons of water, injected on 3' centers throughout the entire dripline. He suggests fertilizing now and again in October. Is this too much nitrogen? The vertical mulching is recommended for the entire root zone of the tree by drillling 2" diameter holes on 2' centers to a depth of 18" throughout the dripline. The holes would be backfilled with peatmoss. He did not conduct any soil testing. He also did not detect the hole under the tree. This was discovered by one of the service companies he recommended to bid on the cost of treatment. I reported the finding to him, but he did not seem to think it was significant other than the effect on the stability issue (which we already knew was a concern).

I have an arborist coming out tomorrow for a second opinion assessment. (I located him from the ASCA website). It will be interesting to compare notes. I feel like I'm in a catch-22 situation, though. I don't want to postpone treatment too long, but then I don't want to rush into something that really isn't in the best interest overall.

Thanks for the literature suggestions! I will download that info to prepare for tomorrow's meeting. This is becoming quite a saga. I'll keep you posted.

Reply to post by Nancy, on April 24, 2002 at 06:43:11:

Nancy, 30% N sounds way too high for a tree with that type of injury. Without a soil test there's no way to precisely prescribe, but see fungal Strategies... or even just the review for effects of high N on infected trees (and it's foregone that yours is).
Also can't comment on peatmoss as the only backfill ingredient. I use a pick instead of drilling to lessen root damage and increase aeration. A pick will crack up the soil while a drill can glaze the inside of the hole, esp. in clay soil.
First consultant should comment on the decay issue, and explain how he could prescribe fertilizer without testing soil. Second guy (if his initials are FF, tell him guy says hi) will hopefully have a more comprehensive treatment program.
Anyone else care to opine for Nancy?

Reply to post by Nancy, on April 22, 2002 at 19:49:34:

Nancy,
I truely apologize, but I was looking desperately for an immediate response - hours have effect when root damage is severe. You posted in January?

Guy has provided some excellent insight and advice - and yes, the prescribed nutritional ammendment is extremely high in nitrogen. What I would recommed is a high phosphorous number and a midrange potassium rating.

Working with developers: I guess that's the sensitive area that can often make my day miserable. I do believe however that some day, in some type of development, there can be a common ground of interests. I worked principally with forest disease - epidemics. My passion is saving populations while my employment is repairing single trees, or removing them, depending on how much of my advice was considered. I took your situation and emplaced my experience with the 60ft giant oak they asked me to upright, secure, and guarantee to live. If the builder hadn't asked for "expert" intervention by the state contrary to my site plan, the Forest Service wouldn't have cut a trenchline three feet away from the trunk.

Oftentimes when prescribing a plan designed to minimize all risk factors for landscape trees threatened with disease, the homeowner simple cannot uphold the cost/risk/benefit ration and to me this is the increase of potential that I will eventually return to intervene a far more costly dwindling option. If we could ever somehow enter the process in the design stage - say when the developer first purchases the land, long before the surveyor stakes the grids, we could possible get somewhere. I get frustrated, I hope you can understand.

FF that Guy refers to, has options for the pecan tree. However from my point of view the days that passed shortly after the meter was set and trench cut were critical. I'm glad to know that you feel the way you express, believe me, you're the exception to the general rule insofar as most of the people I've experienced as tree owners.

Again, my apologies.

Reed

Reply to post by Reed, on April 22, 2002 at 19:49:34:

Reed, thanks so much for getting back. No need to apologize. I tried to keep my initial post as unemotional as possible with just the facts, so I can understand how you could get the wrong impression. Just FYI, I grew up in a family with a deep appreciation of our natural resources. My father made sure we had visited EVERY national park (and most state parks) in the continental US before I reached the age of 12. In obtaining his goal, I think we hit most of them in Canada, too! We actually tent camped from Atlanta, GA to Fairbanks, Alaska as our last big family trip (30 years ago!). People just don't understand how fast our once vast forests and wilderness areas are declining. The education and appreciation of our natural environment I received from these great adventures is priceless!

When most people hear me talking about this (which they are sick of!), they look at me like I've got two heads. I am stunned by how many people just don't get it! So I can understand how extremely frustrating things could be for you. Unfortunately, since so much time did lapse after the trenching damage, I'm left with whatever can be done now for damage control. I should have never trusted what I now know to be unqualified opinions.

The arborist who came out yesterday was not FF, but, like you and Guy, did not support a treatment with that high a nitrogen level. He did suggest a soil test prior to any fertilization treatment. He, too, proposed vertical mulching, but said he really couldn't determine entire impact of root damage on the stability of the tree without excavating the root crown (? - I may not have that term exactly right). He pointed out not only has the tree sufferred severe damage from the trenching, but also experienced prior root damage when the street was cut. About a 5' grade was cut for the street approx. 5-6 feet from the tree on the adjacent side to the trenched area. So, this poor tree has had significant trauma to about 3/4's of it's root system in the past 2 years. When I told him our neighbors were finalizing plans to begin construction, he said cutting in a driveway on their side anywhere near this tree (which is on the front corner of our lots) would probably finish it off. I should receive his full report early next week.

I am also a bit dumbfounded that this same arborist has been working with another property owner down the street for (he says) at least 18 months, attempting to prevent tree damage from the utility installation, etc. If the heads up about utility & construction damage from this same arborist has been addressed prior to the commencement of my job, how did this even happen right down street? You would think someone would have been all over the utility company to make sure every effort was made to protect these century old pecans. Sure makes me wonder...

I can say this, I'm one of the first to build out here, and I assure you, everyone that follows (who will listen), will hear from me about what precautions I now know I should have taken prior to beginning construction.

All the input from you guys is so very appreciated. I'm hoping for something more encouraging with the full report. Stay tuned - news at eleven...

Reply to post by Nancy, on April 26, 2002 at 00:23:30:

Hope the report finds some options. Sounds dire, I agree.

35 years ago my father did the same thing for us. I'm forever greatful that I saw what few ever did and now most never will. Thanks for relaying that, it brought back many wonderful memories for me tonight.

If you'd like any additional recommendations for the tree, let us know through this board - I check it often. I might also suggest you review your homeowners policy and the mention of the prior utility coaching down the street - and further damage on your property after the fact, you could have a legal issue.

Thank YOU for writing back and again, deep regrets for my February response.

Reed Holt
Fredericksburg, TX