Back in the saddle again!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday season.  I missed a couple of columns due to technical difficulties with our server, which have now been resolved.  We have been using PC's at the store since 1984.  I have concluded that computers never really gave people much trouble until a phone line was plugged into the magic box.

    Now to this week's column.  When one plants a young tree it is fairly obvious to determine if the tree is healthy or in distress.  All of the symptoms are eye level.  How do you know when a large established tree is in dire straits?  In early spring look to the top of the tree soon after it has leafed out.  If the branches are in full leaf all the way to the top, you're probably in pretty good shape.  If you have no leaves on the tips of the upper branches, your tree is probably dying.  Until next week...just kidding.  The point is that the diagnosis is just about this simple.

    Once a branch begins to die back form its terminal (tip) point, it is an irreversible process.  The process of death can take years and possibly decades, but the end result will be the same.  The tips of dying branches may produce non-productive "water sprouts" or twigs with great profusion in a futile effort to carry on, but the process of decline will predominate.

    Another sign of a distressed tree may be a blackening of the lower trunk, which might be a sign of root stress or disease.  One enemy of root systems of large trees is a repetitive trampling by bulldozer tracks during the construction process.  This compaction of the soil is difficult to correct and can be lethal.  Maintaining the health of the tree through deep root feeding is helpful.  Mechanically loosening the soil is difficult as the compaction is deep and the aeration act can be damaging to the roots as well.  Proceed with caution.

    If you are seeking professional tree work for the maintenance of a tree's health, ask the arborist if they "top" trees.  A simple answer of "yes" should encourage you to call someone else because the topping of trees begins the decline process of terminal growth.  I would refer you to my column located in the archives (Vol 2, #120 on May 18, 2001 titled Trees Need Not Be Butchered)  for additional discussion on "topping".

    In summary, look to the sky this St. Patrick's Day and observe what is growing in the treetops.  Besides, a blue March sky makes a person feel good all day.  Now - until next week.

                                                                                    Andy Lynn