In October, Tree Logic was set the task of transplanting a large maturing Azarole Hawthorn (Crataegus azarolus) located in old Salvation Army site where it had been planted 60 years earlier, to Victory Park in the very heart of Traralgon which is literally across the road.

The tree is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register as being of state botanical significance as the only known example of this specie or hybrid in Victoria. With the help of Rob Bodenstaff (Arbor Centre, WA), BS Callow, Gyra Engineering and various local sub-contractors including P & D Cranes, Maffra Trenching and RTL Transport; Tree Logic set about process for transplanting the 40 tonne tree.

How we did it

A root ball of over 5 meters in diameter was carefully excavated, roots were trimmed and the ball framed. A steel raft frame was constructed under the tree so that it may be lifted with a crane and placed on a transport vehicle. The base lift method of transplant was chosen over the more common practice of pin lifting, to reduce damage to the tree and to take a much larger root ball. Once lifted on to transport the tree was driven across the Princess Highway into Victory Park. The tree was planted proud of existing site grade to avoid any potential water logging of the root ball, was mulched and the site cleaned up.

The job was completed within 5 days. LaTrobe City Council will look after the tree for the next 2 - 5 years until it becomes re-established in the landscape. Parks and Gardens staff lead by Mick Cantwell were trained by Tree Logic in the nuances of managing and maintaining the tree over this critical period and we will be dropping in from time to time to see how the tree fares. Early indications are that it’s a happy team at Hawthorn.

Lee Carr Tree Logic’s Office Manager and Wayne Bloxidge Team Leader Outdoor Services from Tree Logic recently attended the 9th National Street Tree Symposium in September joining others passionate about sustainability practices in their industry. Wayne’s take home points [link]
A big thank you to everyone who supported the Tree Logic Stand at the Symposium.

With increased crowding within urban sprawl, the need for greater emphasis on wise use of water and reduced water use.
Street verges becoming the future water catchment areas by directing water runoff into nature strips rather than into the stormwater systems. Use this water for street tree production/improvements before it becomes wasted/lost to our bays and oceans.
Greater emphasis on species selection. Field demonstrations showed an interesting look at root development of elms and native gums that may improve the tree selection process. Fine matted roots to the canopy edge on elms and large far reaching roots on gum trees.
Much broader and improved look at risk assessment of mature trees and trees in general in urban settings. Greater management of targets and tree crown management rather than a narrow focus on tree removals. Especially when considering cavity and hollow defects.

The long-awaited release of the newly registered Bayer SilvaShield® Injectable Tree Insecticide has arrived.

Current practice has many applicators using non-registered products such as Confidor® to undertake trunk injections.  Confidor was formulated as a soil drench and while some control may be achieved, there are chemicals in Confidor that actually inhibit uptake through the tree’s vascular system and reduce the effectiveness of any control.

Better Results
Bayer’s SilvaShield is a specifically formulated trunk injectable that has been in testing for some time. If you are an owner of trees that are likely to receive trunk injection as a control option this season, you should specify that SilvaShield is to be used to maximize your tree management spending.

Tree Logic offer a range of trunk injection equipment to allow applicators to make the best use of SilvaShield with the Arborjet (US) product range now available in our online store.

Refillable Injectors Coming Soon
Tree Logic has also been working on developing a small low-cost refillable trunk injector that will be perfect for the application of SilvaShield.  These small refillable injectors are in the testing stage now and are likely to be available in the next few weeks, Stay Tuned!!

At present, Harbour Esplanade is only partially complete. The roadway south of Bourke Street is yet to be developed and parts of the Victoria Harbour waterfront remain at the original elevated level with the old wharf structures.  A functional review undertaken by VicUrban identified several issues that require consideration, including lack of weather protection and confusion between pedestrian, cyclist and tram routes.

VicUrban appointed a team of consultants lead by a joint venture between Black Kosloff Knott and Taylor Cullity Lethlean (BKK/TCL) to develop concept designs for Harbour Esplanade.
Tree Logic is working as a sub-consultant to BKK/TCL providing arboricultural information to the areas of tree selection, tree planting systems complimentary to Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), tree stock assessment and procurement, and tree maintenance scheduling.
The project area comprises 700 metres of public space between Docklands Drive to the north and Bourke Street (adjacent to Docklands Park) to the south.

Hairy Wattle or Downy Wattle (Acacia pubescens) has become the 1000th seed sample to be sent to the Millennium Seed bank project at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew UK.

The Millennium Seed Bank Project (MSBP) is the largest ex situ conservation project ever conceived. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and its partners will have banked seed from 10% of the world’s wild plant
species by the end of the decade. These will not be just any plants, but will include the rarest, most threatened and most useful species known to man.

The Millennium Seed Bank Project seeks to develop a global seed conservation network, capable of safeguarding wild plant species. This will make direct contributions to national and global conservation/development programs, and will make a big contribution to meeting the objectives of the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The current project will run until 2010.

Acacia pubescens

The long-awaited release of the newly registered Bayer SilvaShield® Injectable Tree Insecticide is likely to occur any day now according to company sources.

This new product will be the only bulk liquid trunk injectable insecticide available for use in Australia and will mean that applicators will be able to access a registered product to offer their clients for a range of tree injection uses.

In the past the trunk injection industry has seen many applicators using non-registered products such as Confidor® to undertake trunk injections. Confidor was formulated as a soil drench and while some control may be achieved, there are chemicals in Confidor that actually inhibit uptake through the tree’s vascular system and reduce the effectiveness of any control.

This will change with Bayer’s SilvaShield as it is a specifically formulated trunk injectable that has been in testing for some time.

If you are a owner of trees that are likely to receive trunk injection as a control option this season, you should specify that SilvaShield is to be used to maximise your tree management spending.

Tree Logic offer a range of trunk injection equipment to allow applicators to make the best use of SilvaShield with the Arborjet (US) product range now available in our online store.

Tree Logic has also been working on developing a small refillable trunk injector that will be perfect for the application of SilvaShield. These small refillable injectors are in the testing stage now and are likely to be available in the next few months, Stay Tuned!!

What is believed to be the world’s tallest hardwood tree has been discovered near Forestry Tasmania’s Tahune Airwalk tourism attraction 88km south of Hobart.  One of two giant Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) found growing together, the trees were detected in August using an airborne Light Detection and Ranging Laser scanning technology (LiDAR).  The trees were subsequently located and inspected from the ground where their heights were measured.  Details of the two trees are as follow:

Name: Centurion
Height: 100 –101 metres.  Because the sight to the very top of the tree was partially obscured by the tree’s healthy crown, it may be taller. According to Forestry Tasmania staff the head of Centurion had previously broken off and it was likely the tree was once higher.
Trunk Diameter: 405 cm

Name: Triarius
Height: 86.5 metres, Clear sight to the very top of the tree.
Trunk Diameter: 390 cm

Centurion becomes the tallest known tree existing in Australia, the tallest Eucalyptus tree in the world, the tallest hardwood tree in the world, and the tallest flowering plant in the world.  The previous tallest known existing hardwood tree was “Icarus Dream”, a Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans), measured at 97 metres in the Styx Valley (west of New Norfolk) in 2005.

Centurion and Triarius have survived the major bushfire events of 1934 and 1966/67, which burnt to the west and immediately east of the trees respectively.  The trees are now afforded protection through Forestry Tasmania’s Giant Trees Policy.  This policy provides for the protection and management of all Giant Trees on Tasmania’s State forests. To qualify as a Giant Tree, trees must be at least 85 metres tall or 280 cubic metres in volume.

Despite the Giant Tree policy, “El Grande” a Giant Mountain Ash discovered in 2002 was killed by Forestry Tasmania during burning in 2003 that was part of a woodland clearance exercise.  El Grande - which stood at 79 metres (260 feet) - was thought to be the largest tree in Australia in terms of volume and grew in the Florentine Valley about 100km northwest of Hobart.  El Grande collapsed last year.  Lets hope Centurion fairs better than El Grande and other Giant Trees threatened by forestry activity.

Information on Tasmania’s Giant Trees can be found at the Giant Tree Consultative committee website www.gianttrees.com.au. The committee was established by Forestry Tasmania to provide independent advice on the protection, management and promotion of Giant Trees.

Information about Victoria’s tallest trees can be found at The Department of Primary industries website www.nre.vic.gov.au/virtualexhibition/trees.

A recent letter from Peter has been answered by Stephen Frank at Tree Logic and so we include here as advise to those with similar problems.

Hi
My name is Peter I have a problem with my maple tree in the back yard.
Can you help me with a grub that seems to be eating the crotches and trunk of this Acer rubrums.
It is a young tree.
If I send some photos can you please give me a consultation? Possibly a way to save the tree from getting worse as we love the tree I am happy to pay you for your time
Regards
Peter

Hello Peter,
Indeed your Red Maple has a problem, and to be honest one that can not be solved by any arboricultural treatment I am aware of.
Judging from the photo accompanying your email, the pest has been present for some time and extent of damage is too much. It would appear that ~50% of the circumference of the stem has been affected.
Control of borer in trees is very difficult.  Most borers attack trees weakened by drought, mechanical injury, recent transplants, poor soils or root systems. The most important prevention of borers is keeping trees healthy through proper management (primarily watering, which again can be difficult under current drought conditions).  The most common way to control borers, in addition to proper tree maintenance, is chemical control.  However, borers live inside trees, and treating them with insecticides is difficult if not impossible, and it comes down to timing of treatment.  The best time to control borers is when adult are laying eggs on or under bark, which is difficult to monitor in a domestic situation.  Pheromone traps, available for some borer species, help determine if adults are present. Trunk sprays can be effective when borers are in the early larvae stage before they enter the tree.  I reiterate that the extent of damage with your tree suggests that the tree is past chemical treatment.  I have heard people using a fine wire to poke into the tunnels created by the borers in the hope of skewing one.
I would suggest you remove the tree (as distasteful as it sounds) and replace it with a new one.  Properly plant species that are well adapted to your location and provide them with proper care.  Avoid pruning from spring through summer when adults are active. Protect trees from injury. Remove and dispose of dying limbs and dead trees. Do not pile fresh-cut wood near trees.
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Stephen Frank

Seminar
March 2009
Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne
Dates and venues to be confirmed

Tree Logic’s next seminar will be looking at the necessity to re-introduce nature into our urban lives. The seminar will aim to provide a holistic perspective looking at
sociological, psychological and economic perspectives of our urban forests.
Topics will also cover issues regarding the development and implementation of urban forest management.
Speakers
Kathleen Wolf is a research faculty member of the Centre for Urban Horticulture at the University of
Washington.
Kathleen investigates perceptions and experiences related to landscapes and the influence natural environments have on peoples’ behaviours, attitudes and values. Having worked as an urban horticulturist and a landscape architect, she has been able to combine her past experience in her present work having special interest in the relationships between ecology and business districts. Her research of the human dimensions of open space, urban forestry and natural systems include:

1. Public preferences and perceptions regarding urban public landscapes
2. Costs, benefits and perceptions of urban forestry in retail and commercial districts
3. Integration of urban nature and transportation systems
4. Developmental benefits associated with youth participation in urban greening work
5. Effective integration of science and policy through technology transfer

Thomas B. Randrup, Landscape Architect (1990), PhD
(1996).
2003 - present. Professor in Park Management and Urban Greening at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (since 2007, University of Copenhagen). 1996 - present. Researcher, senior consultant and senior
researcher at the Danish Forest and Landscape Research Institute.
Since 1996 Thomas B. Randrup has researched and developed projects in relation to planning and management of urban green spaces, with special emphasis on urban trees. His research is currently primarily focused on strategic management (planning and maintenance) of urban green spaces which involves the development of policies, organisation and planning methods, as well as maintenance strategies in relation to green spaces.
Thomas B. Randrup is author/ co-author on more than 250 publications and he has held more than 130 presentations both nationally and internationally.

Click here to download the pdf

Recently published research in the application of carbohydrates (sucrose) in root drenches has shown considerable promise in improving general plant health whilst limiting the effects of environmental stresses and even herbicide damage. Peer reviewed and published research on field trials conducted on containerised plants, young transplanted and established mature trees demonstrated that carbohydrate treatments applied at specific rates resulted in a decrease in time taken for the initiation of new roots, an increase in the number of roots initiated and improved root elongation rates.
More traditional forms of soil improvement treatments generally contain macro and micronutrients and encourage beneficial microbial activity which in turn helps release nutrients in the soil for plant uptake. These assimilates are then transported to the crown of the plant and used in the photosynthetic process to generate carbohydrates required for root growth. By providing sucrose at specific rates in and around the root zone of the plant, the carbohydrates required for root growth are immediately available thus limiting the plants reliance on the crown to provide these assimilates. This can be particularly useful in circumstances where the plants crown may have decreased foliage levels, small and/or chlorotic leaves and which may not have the capacity to produce sufficient carbohydrates for root growth.
Carbohydrates are also known to stimulate beneficial soil microbial and fungal rhizosphere that assist in plant nutrient uptake. In addition, the use of surfactants in carbohydrate drenches can improve irrigation performance and reduce water requirements. Surfactants aid in the wetting and movement of water in media and landscape soils. These are biodegradable detergent-like products that work by lowering the surface tension of water so that wetting is uniform and effective. If media wetting is not uniform, irrigation water tends to move through the larger pores in the media where it is subject to downward gravitational forces. This in turn leads to increase leaching and reduced irrigation efficiency. By improving penetration, wetting, and water movement, media surfactants can increase the effective wetting area thereby increasing irrigation efficiency.
Carbohydrate and surfactant drenches are applied through soil injection techniques that deliver the material at a depth of approximately 150 - 200mm. This is done to reduce the loss of material through natural evaporation and to better target the root system of the subject plant. Treatments shallower than this could result in other plants (particularly turf) drawing up the sucrose before the target plant has a chance to absorb it.
Click to download printable pdf