Homeowners can branch out in knowledge of trees

By Eric Czarnik
C & G Staff Writer

With Arbor Day coming up on April 30, experts say it’s a good time for homeowners to assess the trees — or lack thereof — in their yards.

Mike Barger, president of Global ReLeaf of Michigan in Ann Arbor, said trees are a good way to spruce up a yard’s aesthetics or provide shade and wind blockage. His organization encourages governments, businesses and individuals to plant trees.

“The most important thing that they provide is oxygen to breathe, so they help filter the pollutants in the air,” he said.

If a homeowner’s yard is looking rather bare, Barger recommended going tree shopping. But he said a property owner should take more into account than just the tree’s appearance.

One important thing to consider is the soil type where the tree would be planted.  “We call it the right tree in the right place,” he said. “Certain trees don’t like to have wet roots, while other trees will thrive extremely well in a wet location.”

Orchard Lake arborist Greg Nelson said his city encouraged residents to buy trees last fall through a program called Green Vision. Although many people tend to have maples or blue spruces in their yards, the program offered Michigan-native, but unique, species like beech and gingko, he said.

Tree diversity can be beneficial if a pest or disease is attacking a certain species. “When we had that problem with the emerald ash borer, we lost a lot of ash trees,” he said.

But Nelson warned planters to know in advance how tall a tree is going to get, especially if it is being planted close to a power line. “Typically, people plant trees along their property lines, and that’s where there generally are utility lines,” he said.

Barger advised people to make sure that the root flare — where the roots come out of the trunk — is exposed when the tree is planted.

“I think the biggest thing we see is that people plant them too deep,” he said. “They will put them in the soil and think that they need to put them in a little deeper in the ground so it doesn’t fall over. But that actually hurts the tree more.”

He also warned against going overboard on the mulch. “Don’t put the mulch on the trunk in a big pile like a volcano,” he said. “Put a thin layer, 2 to 3 inches, over the top of root, but not against the trunk.”

Shawn Scott, office manager of Richter’s Beautification in Utica, said his company sprays trees and shrubs to kill insects. While trees can bring beauty to a lawn, they can also attract leaf-damaging pests, such as Japanese beetles, aphids and spider mites.

“They can defoliate a tree, make it unsightly or even cause death,” he said. “If they defoliate a tree, a tree will lose its leaves early, and the tree won’t be able to produce photosynthesis.”

Sometimes, a tree can grow sickly, die or become so troublesome that it might be time to remove it. Nelson recommended that people consult their city and an arborist when deciding whether a tree should be cut down.

He also recommended that people call a professional when it’s time to chop down the tree. Multiple quotes are recommended.

“In our city here, we have a list of people who do tree work,” he said. “I’ve seen in some quotes … as much as a $1,000 difference. The price really does vary.”

Richter’s Beautification in Utica can be reached at (586) 997-6800. To learn more about Global ReLeaf of Michigan in Ann Arbor, call (800) 642-7353.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Eric Czarnik at eczarnik@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1058.