The practice of filling tree cavity’s with cement is no longer an approved practice in the field of Arboriculture. The long term, negative affects of such practice has long since been researched and documented.

This tree’s cavity remained exposed as it has grown. There are instances where a tree trunk will grow around the cement – this causes stress on the tree and affects the structural integrity of the tree.

If you have questions about the treatment for a tree issue, please consult a licensed and certified Arborist.

This story was just showcased on a local Portland news channel.

Forest Park is widely known as an urban oasis within the City of Portland. It provides an amazing local outdoor activity for walkers, hikers, runners and cyclists. In turn, this Park also offers a sanctuary of protected land to allow for urban habitats. Unfortunately, there are some rogue vandals who cannot appreciate the existing nature enough to respect the trails created so that this oasis can be preserved for generations to come.

The frustration really comes into play when we have individuals working hard each day to maintain the appeal of the Pacific Northwest; especially within the urban boundaries. The fact that we have miles and miles of trails very closeby that allow for a “more extreme” experience – there is just no need to disrespect nature with the spoils we have out our front doors.

Here is a link to the newstory educating the public about how this choice will negatively impact the vegetation, tree/plant growth and erosion for this area. Newstory found on Oregonlive.com.

Sometimes, it is just best to follow the path most traveled.

We are all about supporting our local companies. How exciting it is when we can promote the efforts of a local company reaching beyond our borders for the benefit of all.

Freesolo Photography is a Portland-based company and is the photographer capturing our outdoor adventures – most of the photos seen throughout our website were taken by Sean O’Connor.

Recently, Sean and his wife, Katie, teamed up with other non-profit organizations to tour an area near Chiapas, Mexico. The purpose of the expedition was to study and document how policy can be written to allow others to enjoy the wonders of the area while also conserving the natural resources. Additional visits are scheduled to further study the area. To read more about the purpose of the adventure, a great article was written by Stephen Richert titled Conservation Through Adventure.

With the help of Next Adventure and other local companies, Freesolo Photography is hosting an event on Saturday, February 20th to showcase their adventure via photography and conversation. This is guaranteed to be a great event! If you have not taken time to witness Sean’s excellent talent, don’t miss this opportunity.

When: Saturday, February 20, 2010  .  6-10pm

Location: Next Adventure Paddling Center, 704 SE Washington St. Portland, OR 97214

Enjoy Some Beer from Hop Works!
Get Your Tickets Here!

This picture is of a Cedar Tree recently viewed by our Certified Arborist, Damien Carre’.

This tree unfortunately became uprooted due to major decay in the root system and trunk of the tree.

Cedar Tree Uprooted in PNW

How did this happen? There are several explanations for the causes of tree uprooting. Many of the explanations can be prevented by proper tree care that starts with the intial planting.

The proper procedures for planting range from the best time of year, condition of the juvenille tree, best location for planting, environmental conditions and most importantly, the specific instructions for the type of tree to be planted: depth and width of initial hole, watering needs, etc.

Our weather in the Pacific Northwest affects the tree system even more – our wet Fall and Winter seasons coupled with the strong winds can cause this situation. Again, proper planting, care and maintenance of a tree can prevent this hazard.

Stay tuned for future information on following the proper planting techniques to ensure a healthy and safe tree.

Here is a piece of tree identification trivia. Can you identify the tree name/species based on its’ foliage?

HELPFUL HINT: My tree is not known as much by its foliage than it’s bark. There is only one species known to North America; all others are known to Asia.

Take a look at this Cedar tree! It unfortunately had to be removed due to the deteriorating condition and potential damage to adjacent structures if it fell.

Cedar Tree: Co-Dominate Trunk Split

With our love of trees, this situation poses a excellent opportunity to discuss how the situation occurred and what could have prevented it.

For this tree specifically, it received 360 degrees of sunlight; thus, allowing the tree to grow full foliage and branches out around the entire tree. This created an issue with excess weight being placed on the outer edges of the tree. Now, for most trees, this would seem normal and healthy as it would provide a full balance of foliage. On that same note, healthy trees have a strong structural system with a full trunk to support the weight of the canopy.

The Cedar tree actually had a co-dominate trunk where during a point of its maturation, the trunk split into two leaders; the junction created from this is called the “crotch”. With a co-dominate trunk, neither is supporting the other and thus a weak spot exists at the crotch. Couple this with the excess weight placed on each of the smaller leaders and overtime, the tree’s structure will fail causing it to split.

Prevention is an important factor to consider here. There are steps to be taken to prevent this type of tree failure and a Certified Arborist is trained in the techniques necessary to assist in supporting the tree. The method depends on the age of the tree as well. A juvenille tree can be trained to develop a stronger trunk and can most likely withstand the stress of removing one of the leaders.

A mature tree, such as this Cedar, is much more susceptible to the stress created from removing a large leader. Though it may seem like an obvious choice to remove one of the leaders, this alone can cause it’s own structural damage and could eventually kill the tree.

The technique used for mature trees with a co-dominate trunk is to maintain the weight of the canopy through a pruning process called Thinning. This allows for selective removal of branches to promote an overall healthy shape and weight distribution. Additionally support can be added with a Cabling system at the crotch to alleviate some of the weight placed on the joint.

Healthy Trees = Safe Trees

Spring is fast approaching and you can be prepared for the budding season.

Plenty of water and a good fertilization is always recommended. If your trees are not looking their best, we can help. Our service areas are throughout the Portland Metro area and include: 97201, 97202, 97203, 97204, 97205, 97206, 97209, 97210, 97211, 97212, 97213, 97214, 97215, 97216, 97217, 97218, 97219, 97220, 97221, 97222, 97223, 97224, 97225, 97227, 97229, 97230, 97231, 97232, 97233, 97236, 97239, 97266, 97267.

Oregon Tree Care recently made the local news when they helped a local family safely remove a tree that threatened their home after a recent storm. We were in the right place at the right time and were able to help the homeowners save their house.

Link to the Full Video Here