TREE CARE
Another great candidate for regular condition assessment .
An ISA Certified Arborist can help identify poor previous arboricultural practices such as lion ’ s tailing .
in a given species ) is different in this regard , but a good rule of thumb is that the lateral expanse of roots is equal to the height of the tree .
Fortunately , sports field managers have a wide variety of tools available to them to deal with these issues – including light meters , apps , soil moisture probes and even consultants that specialize in the tree vs . turf quandary . The bottom line when it comes to this crossroads of turf and tree management is twofold : 1 . Be careful trees and shrubs don ’ t cast too much shade . 2 . Monitor for the development of roots that compete excessively with turf for water and nutrients .
Scheduled maintenance When it comes to creating a schedule for maintenance , it should be done with the inventory and condition assessments in hand . As noted , certain species , such as pin oaks , are inherently susceptible to scale insects , but certainly not each and every year . This establishes a need for regular scouting and treatments based on the presence of pests at an actionable level . Yes , the knowledge that a certain disease or insect is likely to become infested or infected is really helpful in terms of knowing what to look for , but it ’ s the actual presence that helps pull the trigger in terms of pesticide application . Also , keeping good records of treatments is really helpful for future management , because , in most cases , common pests of trees and shrubs usually take two to three years to control . Scheduling those applications in years 1 , 2 and 3 increases the chances of success .
Pruning need is also a practice that should be coordinated with the inventory and analysis . Noting issues to be addressed utilizing recommendations from an ISA Certified Arborist ( pruning , fertilization , growth regulator usage , expansion of mulched areas ) on a weekly or monthly basis keeps tree and shrub maintenance on track throughout the season . For example , when scouting for pests , a technician should also notice if the mulch around a tree / shrub has blown away and needs to be replaced . Probing the soil for moisture level is a
An ISA Certified Arborist can identify structural defects such as girdling roots .
18 SportsField Management | October 2021 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com