Plant (Tree) Health Care

Providing Optimum Tree Health Means Minimizing Tree Stress

Trees are the perennial giants of the plant kingdom. They are large, complex organisms with tissues and organs that specialize in numerous physiological and physical functions. Because plants are unable to alter their location, trees might be perceived by some as objects rather than as living entities. Their cells have nuclei that contain genetic information, and cell membranes regulate the movement of water, ions, and molecules in and out of cells. Trees have all the components required for respiration. They are sensitive, living structures that respond physiologically to stress in their environment.

Trees have limited supplies of nutrients that they must budget across competing demands. All demands cannot be met simultaneously. Because of this, trade-offs occur among growth, storage, reproduction, and defense. As tree growth increases, defenses may decrease. When trees are storing energy for next year's growth, defenses may decrease. When trees need to increase defenses due to an environmental stress, the storage for next year's growth can decrease, leaving the tree to begin in the next growing season with limitations for growth.

Tree stress indicates an energy problem with the tree, revealing a difficulty in balancing growth, storage, reproduction, and defense. If the stress factors are not minimized or eliminated, the tree will enter into the "mortality spiral" that will eventually lead to its demise.

Common Insect & Disease Problems Observed in This Area

Implementing a Plant Health Care Program

A plant health care program would ideally begin with the planning of the landscape, selecting a complexity of plant species that will compliment each other, grow well together, and are genetically suited to meet the specific site characteristics. The goal of a well thought-out plant health care program is to prevent problems through proper planting, site selection, and maintenance.

Many times, the ideal situation is not the reality of our landscapes, which are often "inherited" with the purchase of a new residence. Yet, regardless of the situation, it is up to the current generation to preserve the integrity of our landscapes for future generations and for the benefit of our environment.