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RITree to Hold Fall Tree Steward Course in Barrington, RI

Published on
August 3, 2023

John Campanini

Technical Director, RI Tree Council

RI Tree recently announced that registration is now open for its fall Tree Stewards course, which will be held at the Barrington Public Library, 281 County Road, Barrington, RI 02806. The course’s lecture sessions will be held on September 7, 14, 21, and 28 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The course’s planting session will be held on October 7th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Seating for the course is limited.

“The Tree Stewards course provides an in-depth look at the basics of tree care and growth and covers various tree-related topics,” says John Campanini, RITree’s technical director. “It’s always been our most popular course, so seating fills up quickly. It’s only one of RI Tree’s many activities in its efforts to educate the public about trees and their benefits.”

The Tree Stewards Course is held in the fall and the spring at locations throughout Rhode Island. The course reviews the basics of tree care and tree growth, including the following topics:

  • Tree Biology
  • Tree Identification
  • Tree Health
  • Planting & Pruning
  • Urban Forestry
  • Soil

The course also reviews insect and disease diagnosis, common invasives, and plant stressors. Attendees should bring a lunch to the Saturday workshops.

For more information about the courses or to register, call Robin Enos at RI Tree at 401-764-5885 or visit its website: www.ritree.org. People also can register by emailing the organization at ritree@ritree.org.

Stop Girdling from Squeezing the Life Out of Your Trees

Girdling roots is a more serious tree care problem than many think. Girdling is like wearing a belt about your waist that keeps getting tighter and tighter and tighter. It can strangle the life of a tree. Girdling occurs when a tree’s lateral roots at or just below the soil’s surface encircle or cut into a tree’s trunk, restricting the flow of water and nutrients and weakening the tree dramatically.

Girdling is as bad a problem in tree care as volcano mulching and poor pruning. It needs to be addressed as soon as possible. What causes it? The USDA-FS recently published a list of the major causes of girdling root problems.

At the top of the list is container-grown plants. When a tree stays in its container too long, its roots can become problematic. With nowhere else to go, they encircle the tree’s ball. If they aren’t loosened during planting, they can become girdling roots.

Below are additional causes for girdling:

  • Soil obstructions (i.e., hard-pan)
  • Improper root cutting (either during nursery harvesting or construction activities)
  • Burial (too deep planting)
  • Volcano mulching
  • Berms and saucers (built too high or too low during plant installation)
  • Multi-stem plants (too little room between stems for roots to grow)
  • Nearby trees (competition from other roots and stems)

Leaving pieces of the planting container in the planting hole can lead to girdling roots. So, can planting a tree in heavily compacted soil and proximity to foundations, curbs, and other obstructions.

Fortunately, griddling is easy to spot. The most obvious sign is abnormal trunk flare. Instead of the tree trunk flaring where it meets the ground, it appears straight or narrower. Additional signs of girdling include roots circling the tree above the soil line and early leaf drop, as well as small leaves and canopy dieback.

Treating and Preventing Girdling

Digging the right-size planting hole is the best way to prevent girdling. Contrary to what many people think, digging the hole deeper isn’t necessarily better. In fact, it’s one of the worst things you can do when planting a tree. Digging a planting hole with a width of about twice the size of the root ball—no deeper than the root ball is ideal.

Additional steps you can take to prevent girdling include keeping the soil you put back below the root flare and mulch away from the tree’s trunk. Also, break up any roots encircling the root ball before planting the tree. Water the plant consistently initially and inspect the roots for defects occasionally.

Removing the girdling roots is an option. But talk with a certified arborist first before doing so. He or she can help you avoid cutting the tree’s main stem. In the severest cases, you may have to remove the tree. If you need help with what to do, RI Tree can help you find a certified arborist.