Author Archives: Geoffrey March

The Fine Art of Pruning an Apple Tree

When it’s time for apple tree pruning you need to follow some basic rules or the end result could be disastrous. As August sets in, an apple tree orchard should be full of beautiful green leafy trees laden with fruit. Unfortunately, apple orchards can become contaminated with fungus causing the leaves to become badly blemished and disfigured. Pruning correctly and at the right time of … Continue reading →

Posted in Seasonal Advice | Tagged , , , , |

Summer is upon us…. hooray!

But how does this affect your trees? Pruning Deciduous trees have been putting on all those leaves, and that takes an effort – or to put it a little more scientifically, it is a serious commitment of energy, with stored carbohydrate being devoted to the production of new leaves. In time of course those leaves put that money back into the bank as they produce … Continue reading →

Posted in Seasonal Advice |

Winter work

Winter – the time to stay snug indoors and forget about your trees?  Well, perhaps but perhaps not – for some species the correct timing of pruning or trimming work can be very important. Apple and Pear are generally pruned in the dormant months when out of leaf, however STONE FRUIT such as Plum and Cherry are then more susceptible to Silver Leaf Disease which is … Continue reading →

Posted in Seasonal Advice, Winter |

Honey Fungus

Honey Fungus (Armillaria species) is a common fungus that exists frequently on dead plant material, but has the ability to become parasitic on the living roots and lower stem of many sorts of plant. Continue reading →

Posted in Problems you might encounter | Tagged |

Newsletter 5

‘Trimmings’ Newletter 5 (.pdf format) was the fifth in an occasional series bringing you news and views from our wonderful world of trees. Tree Maintenance News from this newsletter: Accident investigation, Suffolk. Root investigations using Airspade for an Impact Assessment as required by LPA. A climbing inspection of a mature Cedar revealed a serious defect hidden by ivy.

Posted in Seasonal Advice, Tree Maintenance Newsletters |

Newsletter 4

‘Trimmings’ Newsletter 4 (.pdf format) was the fourth in an occasional series bringing you news and views from our wonderful world of trees. Tree Maintenance News from this newsletter: Our consultancy workload has increased considerably, partly due to the recently-revised British Standard (see right).  We now have three consultants available to cover all issues arboricultural and are also able to provide tree shadow projection and … Continue reading →

Posted in Seasonal Advice, Tree Maintenance Newsletters |

Why do trees shed bark?

Friends of Geoff travelling in Australia emailed the following question in 2009; here is Geoff’s reply – apologies for the frivolous tone… Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff's ramblings |

Geoff climbs tree shock!!!

In July and August 2007 Geoff and his wife Frankie spent 5 weeks in Australia. In West Australia Geoff climbed to the top platform of two of the three forest fire ‘lookout trees’ which, at 60 and 75m give a stupendous view above the surrounding forest canopy. And also, at least when done one in the morning and the other in the afternoon, somewhat sore … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff's ramblings |

Newsletter 3

‘Trimmings’ Newsletter 3 (.pdf format) was the third in an occasional series bringing you news and views from our wonderful world of trees. Tree Maintenance News from this newsletter: Several of our staff completed 9 months of study at a weekly evening class prior to successfully sitting the Certified Arborist exam in 2006. This scheme allows working arborists to expand their professional development and is … Continue reading →

Posted in Seasonal Advice, Tree Maintenance Newsletters |

Newsletter 1

‘Trimmings’ – Newsletter 1 (.pdf format) was the first in an occasional series bringing you news and views from our wonderful world of trees. Tree Maintenance News in Spring 2005: Geoffrey March has recently been accepted on the Arboricultural Association’s list of Registered Consultants – one of about 30 in the UK. Nick Organ, our Health and Safety Manager and long term foreman, recently passed … Continue reading →

Posted in Tree Maintenance Newsletters |