How to Prune a Tree

A tree may need pruning for a variety of reasons:
· to remove diseased or storm-damaged branches
· to thin the crown to permit new growth and better air circulation
· to reduce the height of a tree· to remove obstructing lower branches
· to shape a tree for design purposes

Once the decision has been made to prune, your next decision is whether or not to tackle the job yourself. In the case of a large tree where you want to remove big branches in the upper area of the crown, it may be best to hire experts. Large tree pruning, in particular, can require climbing and heavy saws or even cherry-pickers and chain saws. However, there are new tools available that can make this a manageable job.

How to Prune a Tree

A tree may need pruning for a variety of reasons:
· to remove diseased or storm-damaged branches
· to thin the crown to permit new growth and better air circulation
· to reduce the height of a tree· to remove obstructing lower branches
· to shape a tree for design purposes

Once the decision has been made to prune, your next decision is whether or not to tackle the job yourself. In the case of a large tree where you want to remove big branches in the upper area of the crown, it may be best to hire experts. Large tree pruning, in particular, can require climbing and heavy saws or even cherry-pickers and chain saws. However, there are new tools available that can make this a manageable job.

Citrus Trees

Orange
Oranges arrived in North America from Europe but they originated in China. Orange trees generally range in height at maturity from 22 to 30 feet. Leaves are dark green, pointed with a round base and from 3 to 5 inches in length. Leaves can live for as long as three years. Flowers are white. The fruit itself is technically a berry (hesperidium) ranging from 2 to 4 inches in diameter at full size. The number of seeds in the fruit can vary according to a variety of factors with some 'cultivars' like navels being almost completely seedless.

For the home landscaper, depending on the region, there can be a wide range of orange tree varieties from which to choose.
Like all citrus trees, oranges are cold-sensitive.

If you live in northern Florida, the southern areas of the other gulf states or other regions where the occasional freeze is always a possibility during winter, think about choosing an early season cultivar like 'Hamlin', 'Parson Brown', Ambersweet or 'Washington' navel. Early season cultivars bear fruit before December unlike late season cultivars, some of which may not bear fruit until March. For advice on the best choice of orange tree for your region and climate, consult your local tree care specialist.

World Nature Photos

Old growth forest

source : From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_growth_forest

Old growth forest, also called primary forest, ancient forest, virgin forest, primeval forest, frontier forest or (in the UK) Ancient Woodland, is an area of forest that has attained great age and so exhibits unique biological features. Old growth forests typically contain large live trees, large dead trees (sometimes called "snags"), and large logs. Old growth forests usually have multiple vertical layers of vegetation representing a variety of tree species and age classes.

Forest regenerated after severe disruptions, such as clear-cut or fire is often called second-growth or regeneration until a long enough time passes that the effects of the disturbance are no longer evident. Depending on the forest, this may take anywhere from a century to several millennia. Hardwood forests of the eastern United States can develop old-growth characteristics in one or two generations of trees, or 150-500 years.

Old growth forests may be home to rare species which depend on this now-rare habitat, making them ecologically significant. Biodiversity may be higher or lower in old growth forests than in second-growth forests depending on specific circumstances. Logging in old growth forests is a contentious issue in many parts of the world.

Tree management

Introduction
The Tree Section is responsible for the care, maintenance and management of all trees on Waltham Forest Council land. We provide expert advice, inspections and surveys, planting programmes, and issue any maintenance works to external contractors. This specialist service is provided for the Highways, Asham Homes, Education, Green Spaces and Social Services departments and Planning issues.

The Tree Section also provides advice to the public concerning privately owned trees, however we do not carry out maintenance works on private land.

At present there are approximately 20,000 Highways owned trees in the borough which are generally pruned every three years, however, financial restrictions have recently altered this pruning regime and the Tree Section is currently reviewing its maintenance programme. Although full surveys are yet to be completed it is estimated that there are another 35,000 trees owned by the other departments combined.

The Tree Section is also responsible for Larkswood and Ainslie wood in which there are numerous trees that are yet to be surveyed.As can be seen there is a large tree resource in the borough of which the community can be proud. The benefits of trees are well documented and for the tree resource to improve and continue to thrive within the borough it is imperative that they are managed correctly and responsibly.

Benefits of trees
The trees in the borough are for the benefit of the whole community and provide many advantages to the environment in which we live. Trees reduce energy use, clean the air, enhance wildlife habitats and offer psychological benefits for humans that research is just beginning to define. Older and larger trees often maximise these benefits - one large tree can provide oxygen requirements for approximately four people. Urban trees and forests come in many forms, varying from street trees to park groves and garden thickets. Regardless of what collective or solitary forms they appear in, all trees are capable of providing multiple benefits. Trees absorb pollution, prevent soil erosion, reduce glare, enhance recreation areas, protect against cancer-causing ultraviolet rays, turn vacant areas into playgrounds, serve as teachers, identify communities, provide employment and even catalyse spiritual and creative inspirations.

Ecological benefits
Planting trees combined with reducing impervious surfaces - such as car parks and pavements - buffers bodies of water from runoff and associated pollution. Trees provide shade and help reduce radiated temperatures from buildings and roads thereby reducing energy use in heating buildings. They provide habitats and food for wildlife and provide "green corridors" for wildlife to travel from one habitat to another. Trees also help to reduce noise pollution either by providing a dense barrier of sound deadening vegetation or by producing opposing sound waves - when leaves, twigs and branches rustle - to the obtrusive noise thereby helping to cancel the noise out.

Social benefits
Social benefits are well documented in a number of studies. Urban trees can have a positive impact on the financial success of commercial areas, a recent study indicates that shoppers are willing to pay as much as 10% more for goods and services if businesses are located in tree-lined streets. Studies have also shown that property values can be up to 15% higher in "green and leafy" areas. Perhaps more unexpectedly research has revealed that residential buildings with greener surroundings had fewer crimes committed in the area; this reduction included both property crimes and violent crimes. This study also linked green environments with reduction in mental fatigue, a condition that often accompanies violent behaviour.

Trees improve health
If an urban forest had no other benefits, this factor alone should establish trees as an extremely important resource within the borough: trees actually improve the physical and mental health of human beings. It is a fact that trees trap airborne particulates and reduce carbon dioxide. The result: pollution is reduced and the air becomes much healthier to breathe.

Believe it or not, research studies show that an environment with trees can reduce human stress and recovery time for hospital patients. Surgical recovery patients - looking out of windows at trees versus a barren landscape or concrete jungle - had shorter hospital stays. Also, these patients having access to natural views required fewer medications for pain and received two-thirds fewer negative evaluations by nurses.

A Green Environment for Now and the Future

In the past, the major need of people in this world was arable land. Man did not have to think about animate things. However, now the adverse effects on forests through over-population and the development of various chemical elements in the atmosphere have led to irregular rainfall and global warming. This global warming has brought changes in climate, including making perennial snow mountains melt, thereby adversely affecting not only human beings but also other living species.

This dangerous situation is being taken very seriously by the world. In the past the perennial snow mountains of Tibet had very thick snow. Older people say that these mountains were covered with thick snow when they were young and that the snows are getting sparser which may be an indication of the end of the world. It is a fact that climate change is a slow process taking thousands of years to realize its effect. Living beings and plant life on this planet also undergo change accordingly. Man's physical structure too changes from generation to generation along with the change in climatic conditions.

Because of the growth in the population, a large number of trees are cur for fuel, and to reclaim land for agricultural cultivation. In the case of Tibet, too, the Chinese have now destroyed its ancient trees in a similar way to shaving a man's off. This is not simply the destruction of trees but it also means harming what belongs to the Tibetans. Similarly, the continuing decline in forests in many parts of the world, including America, is adversely affecting the already changing global climate, thus upsetting the lives, not only of mankind, but also of all living beings.