General Information for Managing Trees Under Stress

July 26, 2011

Suggested Care of Trees Showing Signs of Stress:

Good growing conditions and appropriate care to minimize stress will enable many trees showing signs of stress to recover and return to good health.
Many trees have the capacity to recover from stress. Allow trees showing injury symptoms to remain in the ground during the fall and winter to fully assess the potential for recovery the following spring.
According to a Bartlett Tree technical report on remedial treatment practices:

Irrigating the plant during dry periods will minimize moisture stress.
Tree fertilization should be avoided for a minimum of one growing season because stimulating excess growth can compound injury from certain herbicides.
Pruning should be delayed for at least a year to fully assess the extent of injury. (source: Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories Technical Report (TR-43), Bruce R. Fraedrich, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist)

Do not over irrigate. One good soaking per week if there has been no rain.
Deep root fertilization of trees should be avoided until trees recover.
Immediate pruning is necessary if dead branches pose a danger to life or property.
Please consult a Certified Arborist, Registered Consulting Arborist, or Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) member company if you have any questions regarding particular care of your trees.

It is an individual business decision whether a tree should be removed due to a safety issue or a customer issue.
If it is decided to remove a tree please prepare proper documentation including:

Record the size (height and trunk diameter at 12 inches above the ground), species, and physical location of the tree
Provide the name and address of the property owner
Spray records including date treated, application rates, application equipment, etc.
Provide photos of each tree before it is removed including:

A full picture to establish location, size and condition (include an object like a broom or yardstick to show perspective)
A close up picture of branch terminals to record symptoms

Summer is not a good time to plant a tree. The temperature is too hot and the actively growing plants are susceptible to damage from stress due to replanting.
The best time to plant a tree is in the fall or early spring (October to April) when tree growth is dormant and temperatures are cooler.
For DuPont™ Imprelis® herbicide treatments applied at labeled rates prior to June 1, 2011 trees can be replanted after October 1, 2011. As an additional precaution, do not use Imprelis® treated soil to backfill around newly planted trees.
For DuPont™ Imprelis® herbicide treatments applied at labeled rates between June 1, 2011 and June 30, 2011 trees can be replanted after November 1, 2011. As an additional precaution, do not use Imprelis® treated soil to backfill around newly planted trees.

Trees that are cut down may be used for lumber or for use as firewood.
According to the DuPont™ Imprelis® label directions, the use of grass clippings from treated areas in mulch or compost is prohibited. As a precaution, if your customer’s property was treated with Imprelis®, and a tree has been cut down, do not chip the tree for use in mulch or compost.
If allowed by local yard waste regulation, trees may be disposed of in the trash.
If allowed by local regulations burning is an alternative method of disposal.

This information is provided by DuPont™