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Wednesday May 9, 2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER D7 H o m e s & G a rd e n s P l a n t a t r e e t h a t w i l l l a s t f o r y e a r s When you buy a high-quality tree and plant it correctly, you and your tree will both benefit for many years. When buying a tree, inspect it carefully to make certain it does not have problems with roots, injuries, or form. A high quality tree has a strong form with well-spaced, firmly attached branches and an adequate-sized root ball that will support healthy growth, and a trunk that is free of mechanical wounds. Avoid trees that have crushed or circling roots in a small root ball. Pass on any tree that has multiple stems or branches squeezed against each other or the trunk. Any of these problems will reduce the tree's chances for a healthy, and productive life. Here are some tips on what to look for when buying a tree. First and foremost, always talk to the nursery staff or grow- B R IA N B U R TO N Landscaping Forum er in detail about the tree, how to plant it and how to maintain it. These professionals know trees! Roots should not be crushed, tom or injured. Roots should not twist or circle in the container. Inspect the exposed larger roots carefully to see if they are twisting or turning in circles. Circling roots often girdle and kill other roots. Trunk flare should be obvi ous. Be on alert for trees planted too deeply in containers, or buried in fabric bags. Beware of injuries beneath trunk wraps. Inspect the trunk for wounds, incorrect and insect injuries. Now let's talk about form. Strong form starts with branches evenly spaced along the trunk and branches that have firm, strong attachments with the trunk. Squeezed branches signal problems. Weak branch unions occur where the branch and trunk squeeze together. As the squeez ing increases during growth, dead spots or cracks often begin to form below where the branch is attached to the trunk. Weak branches can crack or break during mild to moderate storms.) When several branches are on the same position on the trunk, the likelihood of weak attach ments and cracks increases greatly. As the branches grow larger and tighter together, the chances for splitting increase. Avoid trees with two or more stems squeezing together. As stems squeeze together, cracks often form down the trunk. Look for early signs of verti cal trunk cracks. Examine branch unions care fully for small cracks below the unions. Cracks are major starting points for fractures of branches and trunks. The small cracks could be present for many years before a fracture occurs. Always keep a close watch for vertical cracks below squeezed branches and squeezed trunks. Thanks to the International Society of Arborists, (ISA), for advice and assistance about how-to chose a high-quality tree. Brian Burton is a regular contributor to many o f Canada's leading landscaping and gar dening publications. Mr. Burton is also responsible fo r development o f Corporate Partnerships fo r Communities in Bloom, a nationwide non-profit volunteer organization that encourages and promotes com munity involvement in environ mental efforts, heritage preser vation, urban forestry and civic beautification. To contact Brian, email him at: bburton@bba.on.ca www.SunroomsCanada.com LAKESIDE PATIO ENCLOSURES & S0LARIUMS INC. " Since 1966" Authorized Dealer of "Genuine" Patio Enclosures, Inc. C J^ m t& S w e ! V IS IT O U RS H O W R O O M : 180 Sheldon Dr.. Cam bridge. 1-800-565-5991 Mon, Tues, Fri 9am-5pm; Wed & Thurs 9am-8pm; Sat 10am-4pm A tree can add a lot to the enjoyment of your home. 5 ® U s i M S p o r ts · i m e Beaver Hm · E n te r ta in m e n t L o o k for the E nnisclare In te rio rs S P R IN G S A L E FLYER in S e le c t e d E d it io n s o f to d a y 's O a kv ille Beaver 1 2 " M ix e d H a n g in g F ib re Thinking of Landscaping? · Patios · Walkways · Driveways · Curbs · Waterfalls · Ponds ^ | Let our frie n d ly sta ff help determ ine yo u r needs. u n iu J O C B t l ..... .... 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(905) 257-3577 Mon-Wed 7-6, Thurs-Fri 7-7, Sat 8-5 · (905) 634-7707 S a le E n d s T u e s d a y M a y 1 5 , 2 0 0 1 . OPEN 7 D A Y S A WEEK!