Trees are beautiful, provide shade and are a part of many happy memories including crawfish and crab boils, swim parties and Easter Egg Hunts. We have to take care and maintain our trees so that they remain beneficial to us and do not become a nuisance.

If they are neglected, they can become a hazard during high winds and heavy rain that may cause structural failures in trees that are too dense, declining in health or diseased. Dead or dying trees are structurally compromised and need to be removed for the safety of you and your property.

1. Have a licensed and experienced tree company look at and evaluate your tree. No one can see inside of a tree but we can look for signs of disease and rot.

2. Remove the deadwood from your tree

3. Reduction in size of the tree if necessary

4. Balance the tree

5. Aerate the tree including reduction of suckers

6. Remove co-dominate branches when necessary

7. Remove limbs that are touching your house or may touch during periods of high wind and rain

IIt is important to keep a biodiverse tree representation in your landscaping plans. Clients, who want to plant only one species of tree in their yard, are more susceptible to lose all of their trees if a pest or disease targets that particular tree species. For example, Emerald Ash Borer, which is a beetle that preys on Ash trees, in certain areas of the country whole communities lost almost every Ash tree planted. In the New Orleans area, we have had Citrus Canker and Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale, clients saw their Citrus trees and Crepe Myrtle trees decline because of the spread of these two diseases.

• Horizontal or vertical cracks in the major structure of the tree.

• Mushrooms or fruiting bodies in the root zone or structure of the tree

• Lightning strikes

• Insect infestation

• Hollow cavities or other evidence of decay

• Cavities with nesting animals or birds

• Changes in root zone such as: mulching, digging, trenching

• Dead branches at the top of the trees

• Leaves falling off early

• Leaf color different for this type of tree

• Cracking or splitting of bark

• Energy conservation (shade)

• Property value

• Air pollution reduction (trees help to clean the air)

• Water quality and conservation (helps slow surface water, runoff and reduce soil erosion)

• Wildlife habitat

• Environmental improvement

• Research has shown positive emotions and physical benefits to people exposed to trees and green space

• Healthy tree, healthy people

• Take care of your trees and they will take care of you

RESOURCES:

Native Tree Growing Guide for Louisiana

Hallie Dozier, Mills, Bob, Kilpatrick, Ricky L.

LSU AgCenter, 8A, 8B, 9A

Publication ID: 2926

This guide will answer some of the most commonly asked questions about tree planting in the area. It suggests native and well-adapted trees for our region and describes how to grow them successfully.

The Selection, Planting and Care of Urban Trees