Trim trees to cut costs

• By JORDAN BLUM
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Nov 23, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:00 a.m.

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A parishwide prevention effort is needed to avert in the future the level of devastation caused by trees knocked down in storms, Southern University and LSU tree experts said.

Fred Fellner, who oversees LSU’s landscape services, said just a 10 percent increase in tree cleanup and trimming could save millions of dollars a year in the region.

“I believe it’s feasible,” Fellner said. “Everybody wants to react to a storm rather than prepare for what we should do ahead of time.”

Yadong Qi, Southern urban forestry professor, said people must be very attentive to the health of trees in their neighborhoods.

Trees can be damaged by disease, insects, drought, flood, wind, fire, nearby construction and human harm, she said.

People must keep their eyes out for “basal rot,” when there are cavities or fissures near the tree base, or root rot, she said. White rot is another sign of disease, she said.

Mushroom growth at the base of trees also points to disease, Qi said, and the prevalence of carpenter ants is indicative of “intensive decay.”

Nearly 75 percent of all felled trees have root rot problems, she said.

Southern’s urban forestry department has sonic tomography technology that can produce three-dimensional images of the internal conditions of trees.

Using a large water oak on Southern’s bluff as an example, Qi said the tree looked relatively healthy. But more than 70 percent of it was decayed or completely hollowed on the inside.

Other trees may have sound bases and roots, but the limbs are damaged or imbalanced and can threaten roofs and vehicles below.

Qi also cited the 250-year-old Thomas Boyd oak that was felled by Hurricane Gustav in front of the State Capitol.

“All the agriculture practices didn’t save it from the winds of Gustav,” Qi said. “It’s Mother Nature.