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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (June 24, 2015)
B4 wallowa.com June 24, 2015 Wallowa County Chieftain GROW The secret life of TREES By Steve Tool Wallowa County Chieftain E ric Sinclair and brother Benjamin are co-owners of Sinclair Broth- ers Tree Service. Eric Sinclair is an Interna- tional Society of Arboricul- ture-certified arborist. He got his start as an arborist learning to climb trees for the government, and later hired on as a tree climber for an urban tree care service while he attended college at Oregon State University. Sinclair found himself particularly busy after the brutal windstorm earlier this year, and he said the re- sultant damage changed the way many customers looked Construction General Contractor • DEQ Septic • Underground Utilities • Site Prep • Roads & Driveways • Retaining Walls • Landscape Boulders • Base Rock • Crushed Rock • Top Soil • 3 Quarries in Wallowa County 60 YEARS EXPERIENCE CCB #162803 Registered & Bonded PH: 541-569-2284 Cell: 541-398-0999 www.moffitbros.com at trees in their yards. Sinclair said a great number of Blue Spruce blew over, some caus- ing extensive damage, and lately he’s re- moving many of them from the property of concerned land own- ers. “You can do things to help pre- These “to p vent blow-down. infiltrate the ped” trees represent a tree to cu Steve Tool t through possible danger as /C You can thin out and stead rot can po hieftain il tentially y work its your tree, which way down . helps prevent breakage. Keeping your tree trimmed types. “Every tree has up has a lot of long-term its own strengths and weak- it all off. By benefits,” Sinclair said. nesses, and it comes down then, you’re just hurting Weeping Birch trees are to preferences. Some peo- and fighting the tree.” also susceptible to blow- ple like looking at the ever- Sinclair said some prop- down because of the Bronze greens in their yard, while erty owners are proactive Birch Borer parasite, which others like the fall colors enough to ask him what has affected birch trees and shade offered by broad- kind of trees to plant ahead statewide. “I would not leafs,” Sinclair said. of time and he suggests plant Weeping Birch at this He also recommends finding a place on your time,” Sinclair said. against planting willow un- property that will fit the tree Other than the afore- less you have the room for when it is mature. If the area mentioned trees, Sinclair it. “Willows get very big, is close to the house eaves doesn’t have particular and they’re prone to break- or a power line, he suggests preferences or recommen- ing. People plant a willow, planting a dwarf maple or dations for specific tree it gets too big, and they buzz fruit tree. “The biggest mis- takes I see people make are planting their trees too close to the power lines or their homes. I also see what we call ‘staubs,’ which is a limb that is not cut close enough to the tree and sticks out as a hazard, as well as making it more difficult for the tree to heal,” Sinclair said. •Shrubs •Berries • Annuals • Perennials Trees Topping a tree is also not Vegetables • Pottery •Organic Seeds & Supplies advisable. “It’s one of the worst things you can do to Hardy Roses, Hanging Baskets & Planters, a tree. The branches direct- Custom Planting Available, Gift Certificates ly beneath try to become 541-426-3317 • www.alderslopenursery.com the top and the attachment Serving Wallowa County Since 1968 is all wrong, and you end Open 7 days a week up with these pitchfork or trident-topped trees. Rot will start working its way through the cut and down • Professional staff to select and install all your residential and commercial door needs • Choose from many colors and style options • Operators, residential and commercial • R-value 18 available • Serving the Tri-County area for over 21 years Home • Garden Gifts • Antiques THE DOOR GUY Open Monday-Saturday 10am - 5:30pm 305 N. Main Street Joseph, OR 97846 La Grande LLC Located in Island City • Hours: Monday - Friday 8-4 or by appointment 541-432-3211 541-963-3701 • 1-888-342-4124 www.simplysandys.com CCB#23272 Sit Back and Let Wallowa County’s FULLY licensed, bonded & insured onestop plumbing shop! us do the Work! l u P m r e l l i M & Supply bing 202 S. River Street, Enterprise 541-426-3151 CCB# 140479 New construction • Remodels • Gas piping • Service calls In-floor heating • Camera diagnostic service Plumbing fixtures & supplies S imply S andy’s Steve Tool/Chieftain This is what a proper branch removal cut looks like. You can see the tree already healing itself. The scar will be virtually unnoticeable in a few years. the branches. It’s true with any kind of tree, not just conifers,” Sinclair said. He recommends removing the tree rather than battling it. Sinclair suggests trim- ming when dead limbs in the interior of the foliage start getting noticeably nu- merous. He also warned that branches crossing each oth- er are harmful as bark will eventually rub off, raising the possibility of infection followed by rot. As far as high-mainte- nance trees, Sinclair said fruit trees generally need yearly pruning, and al- though he likes Aspen, they constantly sprout “suckers” that need constant pulling up or cutting. “It’s just part of the battle. You can pull them up, mow them down, or weed-eat them.” Sinclair said that not ev- ery tree will affect property value positively. Healthy trees planted in the right places can raise your prop- erty values by as much as 10 percent, but poorly maintained trees with dead tops, rot or noticeable dead branches can have the oppo- site effect. Getting your soil tested can help determine what type of tree to plant in your yard and Sinclair also rec- ommended talking to local nurseries as well. Sinclair’s final sugges- tion to property owners with trees: “The easiest way to save time and money is by planting the right tree in the right place,” he said. Ross Rooper Lawn and Garden Specialist Ross has degrees in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, with almost 40 years experience in landscape, irrigation, and turf grass. " I would love to talk to you about any of your lawn and garden questions, come in and ask for me today!" Sale 01/31/2014 Sale ends ends 01/31/2013 ® Company. All rights reserved. ©2012 True by True Value ©2013 Value Company. All rights reserved. ®