Ah. Shade. The bigger the tree the better right?

Not quite.

Sure, a large tree looks beautiful if properly maintained, but an poorly maintained large tree, grown in the middle of a city is both a hazard and an eyesore.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

Provides zero shade

It goes without saying that large trees are not as easy to maintain as smaller ones. Sure, parks need their large, majestic trees to look good, but what about the streets? What is the right sort of street tree for Singapore?

Quite simply, we want stable trees that provide shade. Consider the following trees, they both provide shade, which one is more stable?

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

Okay, they aren’t actually trees, just poorly drawn pictures of trees

“A” is less top heavy and more stable. We want a street tree that is just tall enough to serve its purpose, and no taller than required.

Now consider the following shapes for a tree’s crown, which one is more stable?

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

Ah the wonders of Microsoft Paint

Just like in the previous example, “A” is less top heavy and thus more stable. Arborists call this the Live Crown Ratio, or LCR. It is the proportion of a tree’s height taken up by a tree’s crown. “A” has a 60% LCR, while “B” has a 20% LCR.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

This is my best attempt at explaining LCR okay?

Generally, any tree with an LCR of 50 to 60% is good, but there are exceptions to the rule. After all, not all tree species have the same shape.

There is one last thing to consider for our ideal street tree. Singapore’s streets are full of things that are great for people but not so great for trees. Lampposts, traffic lights, road signs, and double-decker buses, just to name a few.

It would be silly to plant trees that block these things and cause road accidents.

With the above factors in mind, the first photo in this post is actually a good example of a street tree for Singapore. Here it is again, with all the reasons why.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

A heritage tree along Tanglin Road

Any future pruning work should focus on reducing or maintaining its height.

In our next post, we shall look at some less ideal examples and talk about what can be done better.

The post Did you know a tall tree is not always a good street tree? (Part 1) first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

Trains and buses arrive on time, elevators work, and drinking water straight out of a tap is generally safe.

However, when it comes to town council tree management, there is space for improvement.

On 27th Aug 2020, our principal arborist saw fungal fruiting bodies and a crack on a tree. These are clear signs of imminent failure. So he did the right thing and contacted the town council using OneService.

To their credit the town council replied in a timely manner.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S.) Pte Ltd

Red circle around the fungal fruiting bodies, red arrow pointing at the crack

Case closed. Problem solved right?

Not quite. When our principal arborist passed by the area on 14th Sep 2020, he discovered the tree was heavily pruned.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S.) Pte Ltd

Not the right type of tree work needed

The horticulture team dispatched by the Town Council had done something, but the actions taken were entirely inappropriate for the issue.

The tree’s defects meant that the tree should have been removed, not pruned.

Sure enough, around midnight on 15th Sep 2020, the tree failed.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S.) Pte Ltd

An avoidable error

Nobody was injured, and nothing was damaged, but this incident does show that there are gaps in our town council’s tree management regime that need to be filled.

If competent arboriculture consultancy is needed, we can be contacted at admin@csklandscape.com.

The post Town Council Needs Help Managing Trees first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

Disclaimer: The arborists writing this article have not physically visited the site. All observations are based on publicly available photos on Google Maps, Google Street View, and news reports. All comments should be taken with a heaping pile of salt.

A tree fell over near Toa Payoh Lorong 5 Block 68, on 13th Dec 2020, at around 7am. The owners of several vehicles struck by the falling tree were majorly inconvenienced, but luckily nobody was injured.

The Straits Times reported that a motorcycle owner, who had his vehicle damaged in this incident, previously had his car damaged from a falling tree branch in June 2020, but was unable to obtain compensation from the town council’s insurers. The reason given then was that the tree maintenance teams, which consists of mostly foreign workers, were unable to complete tree maintenance on time due to Covid-19 control measures within foreign worker dormitories.

This is cold comfort for someone whose livelihood depends on their means of transport. While we as arborists may be less familiar with the intricacies of specific insurance policies, we can analyze some aspects of this tree failure from publicly available materials. Hopefully some of what we say may help those impacted by tree failures to obtain compensation, and perhaps prevent future incidents.

Taking a look at the photograph from The Straits Times,

Source: The Straits Times

The fallen tree being removed

We can see the tree failed at its base. The roots are still in the ground, i.e. it has not uprooted. A bit of searching led us to Mothership’s website. They have taken a photo of the tree’s base.

Source: mothership

Fallen tree’s base

Unfortunately, the view was only from one angle, and we cannot make out important details, such as possible fungal fruiting bodies that indicate decay, or any structural defects that may have existed before failure.

However, even though we are unable to discern any defects that may have weakened the tree’s structural strength, we do have a few comments on the nature of the tree’s load.

After all, failure happens when load exceeds strength. For that, we turn to Google Street View, and take a look at the tree before failure.

Source: Google Street View

Overall view of the fallen tree on September 2020

Here, three things are apparent.

1) The tree species was inappropriate for its location.

The tree that failed was a rain tree, or Samanea saman. Compare the fallen tree’s crown shape with one growing in an open area.

Source: Wikipedia

The Hitachi Tree found on Hawaii

We can see that our fallen tree was shaded out on two sides by the nearby building. This caused it to develop an asymmetric form as it grew towards sunlight, which necessitated regular pruning to balance it.

The good news here is that roots on the side facing away from its lean, its tension side, are well developed and were able to support the tree. These tension roots remained in the ground, even as the tree’s base gave way. Without visiting the site, we are assuming the surface roots observed here are healthy, it would be a different story if they were found to be dead or decayed.

Source: The Straits Times

Tension roots circled

This problem could have been avoided entirely if a smaller tree, or several smaller trees, were selected in the first place. However, the original tree planters may not have known better, as a tree of this size would be several decades old, and the tree planting policies back then may not have accounted for such details.

The main issue here was with the type of pruning used on this tree.

2) The tree had its crown raised.

Let us consider the tree as a lever.

Source: Google Street View

The fallen tree as a lever

Assuming they have the same weight, would Load A or Load B require greater effort at the tree’s base to hold it up?

If you answered A, congratulations you are correct. If you answered B, may we direct you to the nearest primary school science lesson? (Please do not gatecrash your nearest primary school. Instead, refer to a Class 3 lever here.)

A tree’s leaves and branches are its load. Tree maintenance work has focused on removing ALL lower foliage (Load B) and some upper foliage (Load A). Google Street View shows the locations of some of its old pruning wounds.

Source: Google Street View

ALL of “Load B” removed circled red, some of “Load A” removed circled blue

This type of pruning is known as crown raising or lifting, where the lowest extent of the tree’s crown is raised. While it reduced the tree’s load in the short-term, it has caused the tree’s “lever” to grow longer over the years, requiring more and more effort to support its weight.

There are situations where crown raising is warranted, such as when clearance for lights or vehicles are required, but our fallen tree had grown taller than the tallest lamppost long ago, and should not have had its crown raised any further than that.

Just to drive home the point, here is a similar case on a Facebook page where arborists on an international stage rate the quality of a pruning job. The tree species is identical, as is the crown raising.

Source: Tree Stuff

Crown raising on a Samanea saman

And here is the comment from Guy Meilleur, a veteran arborist who has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles.

Source: Tree Stuff

Veteran arborist rates the job 2 out of 10

What should have been done for our fallen tree, was crown reduction, where lower foliage was kept, and upper foliage removed.

This would have been more laborious. Climbing to prune the tree’s upper foliage and bringing down cut branches without damaging its lower foliage, would have been more difficult than simply removing its lower foliage from a lorry crane parked in the nearby carpark.

Source: CSK Landscape Services and BSG Landscape & Construction

One is more laborious than the other

In the end, tree maintenance did remove some of its furthest branches. There is only one problem.

3) The tree was topped.

We have complained about tree topping on this blog before. It is for good reason. They waste a tree’s energy regrowing foliage or disposing of useless branches, when that energy can be better spent growing more wood to support itself or fighting off decay-causing organisms, not to mention the increased maintenance needed for a topped tree.

Where are these topping cuts you ask? Well, here they are.

Source: Google Street View

Topping cuts circled

Put simply, the branches are cut to random stubs, when they should have been reduced to the nearest union. What is a union? It is where a larger branch divides into two or more smaller ones. But wait, this is a union isn’t it?

Source: Google Street View

Close-up of topped branch

The problem here is that the remaining branch is too small. As a general rule of thumb, the remaining branch’s diameter has to be at least one third of the diameter of its parent.

Based on the points above, we think that planting and maintenance for this tree were focused on short-term solutions, rather than a coherent long-term plan.

The tree was first planted because many others of the same species were being planted in Singapore at that time. It was crown raised because that was the fastest and easiest way of immediately reducing load. It was topped because drawing an arbitrary line along its crown and cutting along it is easier than carefully selecting appropriate unions.

Each step made sense in its own narrow context of being the cheapest and most efficient solution, but failed to address the bigger picture.

This led to an unsustainable increase in its “lever arm” and load over many years, requiring more and more effort at its base to support it. Eventually, the load grew too heavy for its base’s structural strength and it failed.

Had long-term tree health be considered, we would have a shorter and more stable tree, or several smaller trees of different species.

The post An Arborist's Opinion: Tree Failure at Block 68, Toa Payoh Lorong 5 first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

Source: Germanic Mythology

The Norse gave us a tree that connected the universe

Let’s be a little less ambitious, and stick with the largest tree that you can find…in Singapore.

A heritage tree will do, while they do not compare to the largest monster trees in the world, they are large enough to make our point.

Lush, strong, majestic, and much like someone jaded with life, completely dead on the inside.

Source: NParks

It’s hard to tell, but this tree is sick of all our bullshit

But how can this be? It looks so healthy! Will it fall over? Is it dangerous?

Fear not, this is entirely normal for a tree. The oldest, thickest tree trunks, only have a relatively thin layer of living tissue, wrapped around its dead center. We even have fancy names for these different types of wood. That thin, living layer is called sapwood, while the dead core is called heartwood.

Source: CivilJungle

Proof that trees are dead inside

Why do trees do this?

The most obvious explanation would be because it is cheaper than a flea market. Us living things are made of cells, and cells burn energy just to stay alive. A big, heavy tree has a lot of cells, and if it is inefficient to have to feed all of them.

However, there are other living things out there, big and small, who would love to eat the trees, yes even the dead portions. While eating wood may not appeal to us humans, wood is an all-you-can-eat buffet for wood-boring beetle grubs and wood-decay fungi.

Source: The Conversation

Om nom nom nom

A tree simply cannot leave its dead insides as free food for them. It has to defend itself. Although it is an interesting research topic, we will not be able to cover all of a tree’s defenses. But, here are three ways a tree stops other living things from eating its insides.

1. The sapwood

The dead heartwood is surrounded by living sapwood. It physically blocks off access to a tree’s insides. If the wood-eating and decay-causing organisms can’t reach it, they can’t eat it. This is why cavities may be a cause of concern.

Cavities are where the sapwood has given way, and its insides are free real estate.We can sometimes see vigorous growth around the edges of a cavity, called wound wood, trying to close off it off.

Source: Snow Joe

Have to grow faster!

However, even after the first layer of defenses are breached, the decay-causing organisms will run into a gauntlet left behind by the tree as it developed its heartwood.

2. Tyloses

Flowering plants have vessels to transport water. Unfortunately, much like an invading army using a country’s roads, these can also serve as highways for decay-causing organisms to access most of the plant.

So what is a tree to do?

Plug them up. Tyloses are the equivalent of clogging up these highways with debris. The tree no longer needs these vessels to transport water, and it will not let other organisms use them either.

Source: Brain Kart

You shall not pass!

In fact, this defense is not only used in heartwood. Should damage to the sapwood occur, the tree is perfectly capable of growing tyloses and quickly cutting off the damaged area from its healthy portions.

Should the decay-causing organisms get past all the physical obstacles, there are still…

3. Tannins

Plants have been waging chemical warfare long before humans walked the Earth. Before a tree thanks its older sapwood for its service, and leaves it to die and form heartwood, it would fill the area with tannins.

What do tannins do?

To understand that, we must first know how most decay-causing microorganisms eat. They do not have mouths, so they spew enzymes all over their food. These enzymes break down the wood, and the organisms mop up the mess afterwards.

Source: Daily Mail

Vomiting all over your food before eating it is gross, but effective

Enter the tannins. They bind these enzymes and prevent them from working. The tannins are not just found in heartwood either. Leaves, seeds, unripe fruit, fruit skins, branches, anything a tree does NOT want eaten will probably have it.

In fact, these tannins are so good at preventing decay, that humans have used it to tan leather for centuries, hence their name. When eaten, or most often drunk by humans in wines and teas, it leaves a “dry” astringent taste in our mouths. Yes, us humans are pretty crazy.

Source: Business Insider

These tannins are delicious

But back to the trees. What if the decay-causing organisms get past ALL the defenses? What then? Well sometimes the trees fail.

Other times…

Source: Arbtalk

Ah…ah…ah…ah…Stayin’ alive~ Stayin’ alive~

It just keeps on living. That’s right, trees are pretty hardy, and can survive even if it is completely hollow.

The post Did you know that a large tree is mostly dead? first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

I was recently surprised by a friend asking for advice on buying a tree. It was literally the first time anyone had asked me for tree shopping advice. My first thought was, I should tell them to hire us. Followed shortly by, So this is what selling insurance to your friends feels like.

Nevertheless, I gave them a few words of advice for free, and left them to their own devices. I would like to share those few words here.

Without further ado, here are 5 things to look for when buying a tree.

1. Planting location

Take a look at where the new tree will be planted. Does it have sufficient space?

Moving or removing a tree is a laborious process, planting the right tree in the right spot will save everyone tons of trouble in the future.

Source: The Straits Times

Literally tons of trouble

Here in Singapore, space issues are usually buildings or other trees near the planting location, obstructing a new tree as it grows.

Here is what happens if a tree with a large crown is planted near buildings.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S.) Pte Ltd

Note the asymmetric form, even after pruning

The lack of space and constant shade on one side caused the tree to develop an asymmetric form, requiring more frequent maintenance. And here is what happens if a tree with a narrower crown is planted next to buildings.

Source: Google Street View

Almost no maintenance needed

It just makes more sense. If a shade tree is desired, plant it a little further away from nearby trees or buildings.

2. Soil conditions

Fact. Singapore’s soil is mostly terrible for plant life. A century and more of urban development, all the way back to colonial times, has removed what little topsoil we had, leaving the ground below compacted into a solid mass. Great for preventing roads and buildings from sinking into the ground, but terrible for tree roots.

The good news is that NParks has something called an Approved Soil Mix, or ASM. It is used in new landscaping work, and will hopefully regenerate Singapore’s soil in the long run. Most landscape companies that do tree planting will use ASM. However, this is something DIY tree owners should bear in mind.

Source: Kiat Lee Landscape

I’ve got a bag of dirt

The tree owner should also make sure the planting location drains properly, and water does not form stagnant ponds. Besides having the National Environment Agency breathe down your neck about mosquito breeding, poorly drained areas will suffocate a tree’s roots.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

*Gasp, choke* save the roots!

3. Girdling roots

Take a look at the tree that is about to be bought. Are the roots growing outwards, or circling around the trunk? Those circling, or girdling roots, are often the result of a young tree that has been left too long in its container.

Source: Extension

Those roots growing around the stem will get fat and strangle the tree

They will eventually strangle the tree by pressing against the trunk. If the girdling roots are not too serious, prune them before planting. Otherwise, reject the tree and pick another one.

4. Visible trunk flare

The trunk flare is the part of the tree where the trunk meets the roots. It is part of the trunk and should be kept exposed to open air. Burying it in dark and damp conditions, like those faced by a tree’s roots, will encourage decay and harm the tree.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

Keep this part of the tree above ground

A young tree with a buried trunk flare does not have to be rejected though. Expose the trunk flare by digging away the soil around it and check that it is healthy. Keep it exposed and do not plant the tree too deep.

Source: Cape Cod Tree Service

Exposing a young tree’s trunk flare, how scandalous

5. Vigour and branch structure

This probably does not need to be said, but pick a tree with healthy looking leaves. Structural pruning is also best done when a tree is young, fixing problems early will avoid much more costly problems in the long run.

What kind of problems will poor branch structure cause? Co-dominant branches may form weak unions that tear apart, rubbing branches may cause cavities, multiple leaders may compete with each other and limit future pruning options.

Source: Tree Dictionary

Branches of equal size, co-dominant branches, note the internal crack between them

Tree branches do not stop to consider their overall structure, they grow towards sunlight. It is better to fix potential problems with a pair of secateurs while the tree is young, rather than with a chainsaw and lorry when it is older.

That’s it, those are the tree shopping tips I can think of at the moment. If you need more help with picking and planting trees, we can be contacted at admin@csklandscape.com.

The post 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Tree first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

Source: Wikipedia

Not the actual picture sent to me.

The sender asked, “What tree is this?”

And I told them, “Oh, it’s a Pandanus of some kind. I can’t tell you the species from your picture, but it is related to pandan you find in food.”

In hindsight, the next question was inevitable.

“Is pandan a tree?” asked the sender.

Good question. And after a little bit of research, yes. The humble pandan, used in Southeast Asia for its flavour, and sometimes as an insect repellent, is in fact a tree. We are talking about Pandanus amaryllifolius. There are around 750 other kinds of Pananus, so it pays to throw the scientific name out there.

The National Parks Board Flora and Fauna Web claims that pandan can grow up to 4.5 metres.

But take a look at a picture of a pandan plant, and you will likely find a tiny little thing. If you’re lucky, maybe you can find a pandan shrub that reaches up to your waist. They do not even compare to the stilt-rooted monsters.

Source: GardenDrum

No, really. We are trees.

So what is going on here?

Turns out, by harvesting the leaves from a pandan plant, we keep it small. Rarely will we come across a pandan plant in its tree form, because to be honest, if I had fresh pandan available, I too would be using it at every opportunity.

In fact, the only place I found a picture of a pandan tree, was from the Kew Royal Botanical Gardens website. It was an oil painting from 1880, and it looks like this.

Source: Kew Science

Pandan trees, painted by a dead person.

The title of the painting is interesting. ‘Screw Pines and Avenue of Royal Palms in the Botanic Gardens, Rio’, painted by Marianne North.

What we know as pandan in Singapore, are also called screw pines in other parts of the world. However, a quick look at the species distribution on the same page, shows that Pandanus amaryllifolius is not found anywhere near Rio de Janeiro, where the oil painting was made.

Source: Kew Science

They are literally oceans apart.

Bearing in mind there are about 750 species of Pandanus around the world, I have a nagging doubt that the oil painting may not actually be showing Pandanus amaryllifolius in its tree form, but some other screw pine.

Perhaps they brought a few specimens to Rio, back in the 1800s, specifically to be planted in their Botanical Gardens. I am sure whoever curates literature at the Kew Royal Botanical Gardens is much smarter than me, so I shall take their word, that this is in fact what a pandan tree looks like.

However, an oil painting is a poor substitute for the real thing. If anyone spots an actual pandan tree, I would be interested in seeing it in real life, and can be contacted at arbor5@csklandscape.com.

The post Did you know pandan is a tree? first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

Disclaimer: The arborists writing this article have not physically visited the site. All observations are based on publicly available photos on Google Maps, Google Street View, and newspaper reports. We will strive to give the benefit of the doubt without naming any parties involved. Remember, everything always looks clear in hindsight, and the important thing is to improve moving forwards.

So without further ado, let’s get to the tree failure.

A tree fell over in a car park at Sims Drive block 41, on 11th Oct 2020 at around 5 am in the morning. Thankfully, nobody was injured, but the fallen tree did cause major inconveniences for the owners of 5 cars impacted by its fall.

There was a heavy downpour at that time, and it was likely heavy wind loads experienced by the tree led to its failure. It would be easy to treat this tree failure as an act of god, and leave it as that.

However, this approach is unhelpful, as it ignores the lessons this tree failure can teach us. Rather than focus on the things we cannot control, such as the weather, let us instead focus on things we can control.

Step one is to identify the tree that fell. Looking at photographs and address given by the newspaper, we can see the carpark lots 241 and 242 next to the fallen tree. It struck a car in lot number 227 across the road.

Source: The Straits Times

Lots number 241 and 242 circled.

Source: The Straits Times

Lot number 227 circled.

Google Street View will show the tree, still standing in 2019.

Source: Google Street View

The fallen tree in 2019.

Just to make sure that we have the correct tree, the tree beside the fallen tree has a lamppost next to it, and can be seen in both Google Street View above, and the newspaper photograph below.

Source: The Straits Times

The fallen tree’s neighbour circled.

We can tell from Google Street View, that the fallen tree is of the same size and species as those around it, likely to be Senegal Mahogany (Khaya senegalensis or Khaya grandifoliola).

This raises the first question. If the tree failed only because of a heavy wind load from the storm, then why are all the other trees of the same size and species in the area still standing? Were there any other factors that could have contributed to the failure? 

Judging from the previous newspaper photograph, the tree seems to have uprooted. Let us use Google Street View to take a look at the tree’s history.

Source: Google Street View

The fallen tree in 2008.

Looking at the photo from 2008, we can tell the tree is already leaning slightly. It is growing away from the larger trees shading it out, seeking sunlight by growing towards the car park. The arboriculture jargon for this behaviour is phototropism.

This brings us to our first lesson.

1) Plant trees where they would not be forced to compete with each other.

Well positioned trees grow better structure and we would not have to constantly prune to balance the tree.

Tracing the trunk up from the ground, we also find that it splits into two, almost equal sized branches. This is a poor structure, unrelated to the phototropism from before, that will present problems later in a tree’s life. The arboriculture jargon for this structure is co-dominant branches.

However, this can be remedied by pruning one branch more than the other, thereby suppressing its growth over time. In this case, the branch closer to the car park should be pruned more than the branch further from the car park.

This will have a twofold effect of encouraging better structure, and help balance the tree. Remember, due to the phototropism from before, the tree will grow towards the car park. Constant pruning to balance the tree throughout its life is expected.

Which brings us to the second lesson.

2) Establish pruning objectives early to encourage better tree structure later.

There are other more costly things we could do, such as pruning the larger tree to give this tree space, modifying soil conditions to encourage the tree to grow support roots in the right areas, and physically bracing or cabling the tree.

All of which could be avoided if we picked a good spot to plant the tree in the first place.

Moving on to a photo from 2014,

Source: Google Street View

The fallen tree in 2014, Co-dominant branch union circled.

We can see the tree has grown much taller. The issue with co-dominant stems is now apparent. As the branches grow fatter, they are actually pushing against each other at the union. Even if the tree did not fall over, this structure increases the risk of the union tearing itself apart, and a large branch falling on the car park lot below.

More distressingly, construction activity seems to have cropped up in the tree’s root zone, and there is a distinct lack of tree protection zones.

Based on this photo alone, an arborist would recommend searching for any tree protection plans made during construction for the other two, still standing trees in the background.

Failing that, some form of root exploratory trenching may be needed to check on the root condition of the still standing trees. Or, if the expense of rectification work is too great, removing the trees entirely would be advisable.

Root damage from construction activity is often hidden, and its effects take years to manifest, which brings us to the next lesson.

3) Be very careful around trees during construction, erect tree protection zones where possible.

And now, on to a photo from 2017.

Source: Google Street View

The fallen tree in 2017.

A problem that was not apparent when the tree was smaller now arises. With a thicker trunk, the tree and its neighbours will suffer repeated heat damage from vehicle exhaust, and perhaps collisions with vehicles reversing into them.

Which brings us to lesson 4.

4) Do not plant trees where they will come into conflict with humans.

And on the topic of heat damage, a close examination of the ground in 2018, near our fallen tree, reveals some interesting grey debris.

Source: Google Street View

Grey debris near the fallen tree (left) in 2018.

What could it be? Taking a look around the area from the same time, we see the same grey debris around some incense burners. Turns out, it is ash from incense burning.

Source: Google Street View

Ash from incense burning circled.

Needless to say, cooking a tree’s roots to death is not good for its stability. Lesson 5 is a simple one.

5) Do not burn anything in a tree’s root zone.

In fact, this gap in the canopy from 2019,

Source: Google Street View

Hole in canopy in 2019.

where branches from different trees have died in the same small area, is likely due to heat from incense burning. One of the trees affected in this way is the fallen tree’s, still standing neighbour.

To summarize our lessons learnt from this fallen tree,

1) Plant trees where they would not be forced to compete with each other.

2) Establish pruning objectives early to encourage better tree structure later.

3) Be very careful around trees during construction, erect tree protection zones where possible.

4) Do not plant trees where they will come into conflict with humans.

5) Do not burn anything in a tree’s root zone.

Did any of these factors contribute to the tree’s failure? It is likely, but also hard to tell for sure without comparison between the fallen tree’s roots and those of its neighbours.

What can be said is that this fallen tree had less than ideal growing conditions, and treating our trees well is the best way to get strong and stable trees.

As a side note, the other trees in the area warrant root exploratory trenching and/or removal. Just to see if the roots and stability have been affected by previous construction work and incense burning.

The post Tree Failure Lessons: Sims Drive Block 41 Car park first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

In this post, we would like to share with you why it is bad, both for the tree and for people.

But wait, we hear you ask. Drawing an imaginary line around the shape of what you would like the tree to look like, and pruning along that line is surely the right way to do it? After all, we trim bushes and hedges in the same way, and trees are plants too.

Source: Shiawasae Home

Not the right way to prune a tree.

Well, trees are not bushes, and each species has a natural shape. After all, why select a raintree or angsana for its large, spreading crown, if you are going to prune it into a bare stick.

It is possible to shape a tree into other forms by bending green branches, and keeping them in position until they turn woody (the fancy word here is lignify). But to force a tree to take another shape by pruning it like a hedge is ultimately harmful to the tree and to us.

Source: Epic Gardening

Shaping a tree’s shape as it grows. This technique is called espalier, to aid easy fruit harvest.

Humans need trees to be pruned for safety and aesthetics, while a tree needs pruning like a fish needs a bicycle.

Other than the obvious, “it is ugly, and defeats the purpose of having a tree for shade”, here are 4 reasons why topping is bad.

1. It will eventually kill the tree.

Think of the tree as an energy store. Its leaves produce energy in the form of sugars through photosynthesis, which the tree uses for growth and fighting off pests or pathogens.

Source: Quora

Leaves making that sweet, sweet sugar.

We wound a tree when we prune it. By removing all the leaves, we force a tree to spend precious energy regrowing all of it. While at the same time, denying it the ability to produce more energy to defend against the wounds we have inflicted.

If we repeatedly top a tree, eventually we can see each regrowth produce less, and smaller leaves, as the energy stores are drained. The process may take years, or decades, but the tree will eventually die from such abuse.

2. It generates hazards in the future.

When a tree is topped, one of two things may happen.

One, the tree considers the bare branch a waste of resources, and discards it. This creates a dead stub, ready to fall onto anything below, be it a building, vehicle, or pedestrian.

Source: CSK Landscape Services

Ready your heads, here I come!

Two, the tree replaces the lost foliage with new leaves. These leaves take the form of densely packed new shoots, which eventually lignify (there’s that fancy word again. It means to turn woody.) and start to increase in girth.

Source: NParks

We look fine now, but wait till we get bigger.

Since these new shoots did not grow at the same time as the parent branch, they are not attached as strongly to the tree. As they grow thicker and heavier, they push against each other causing some of them to fail and fall.

3. It allows decay entry.

If we are cut, our bodies will heal it over time if we are healthy. Trees are slightly different. Instead of healing, they compartmentalize wounds with special zones designed for defense. This prevents decay from invading healthy sections.

One important defense zone is the branch collar. In some tree species, you may see a bulge where a smaller branch meets a larger one. That is the branch collar. In other species, they may be less obvious, but they are there.

Source: Medium

There it is!

By reducing branches to random stubs, this important defense zone is completely ignored and decay is allowed easy access.

Source: NParks

Green arrows point at discoloured regions, where decay has invaded these random stubs.

4. It increases costs.

Because of the reasons stated above, more time and effort is needed to fix the hazards that appear. Suddenly, a tree that only needed maintenance once every two years to be safe, now requires maintenance every six months.

The tree will also need to be removed when it dies before it reaches its typical useful lifespan.

So, what is the correct way to prune a tree?

The right answer is, it depends on the tree. But without getting into the details, here are 2 general rules that you, as a member of the public, can use to tell if the tree workers are doing a good job.

1. No more than 30% of a tree’s existing foliage is removed.

Remember how trees need leaves to photosynthesize? This ensures that trees have enough leaves to continue generating energy and deal with the wounds we have just inflicted on it.

2. Branches are being pruned to the nearest union.

This is where the branch collar is located. By reducing branches to this place instead of a random stub, we help the tree compartmentalize the wound by placing it just outside the defense zone.

Ultimately, it is up to us to keep Singapore’s Garden City (or was it City in a Garden now?) reputation. Now you too are able to tell if the tree work in your neighbourhood is harming or helping the people and trees.

The post 4 Reasons Why Bad Pruning Hurts Trees and Us first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

The short answer is, “We don’t know.”

The slightly longer answer will be, “Ask the people who planted it.”

But wait, we hear you ask, why don’t we just cut it down and count its rings? Everybody knows counting a tree’s rings is the way to find out its age right? There are ways to estimate a tree’s rings without cutting it down, but as much as we would like to count them, they will not give us a tree’s age here in Singapore.

Source: CSK Landscape Services

How old are you?

The fancy word for dating tree rings is Dendrochronology.

A tree’s girth increases by growing new wood on top of the old. Take a look at any trunk or branch cross section. The older sections will be found towards the center, while the younger sections are closer to the edge.

Tree rings occur in temperate climates because a tree reacts to the change in seasons. Thick rings of light wood indicate fast growth in spring and summer, while thin rings of dark wood indicate slow growth in autumn and winter.

Source: Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Tree-ring Lab

The hand is putting a pin on older wood.

Since there are four seasons a year, all we need to do is to count the dark rings and we will have a tree’s age.

What about a tropical country like Singapore? Does this mean our trees have no rings because we do not have seasons?

Our trees still have rings. Variations in our climate affect a tree’s growth, but the rings are not as distinct, and we will have trouble equating a single ring to a year’s growth, because changes in our climate are not as regular or extreme as the change of seasons.

Source: Carousell

A chunk of tembusu wood, the same species as our 5-dollar tree. Note the lack of rings.

So the next time somebody in Singapore or a tropical region asks, “How old is that tree?”

You can be as knowledgeable as an arborist if you tell them, “Ask the people who planted it.” 

The post Counting Rings. How old is that tree? first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

What you have witnessed is known to arborists by a few names, topping, heading cuts, and yes, hat-racking. It is considered a poor practice (why topping is bad is a topic for another post), we would like to share a few reasons as to why it happens in Singapore.

Reasons for topping trees

1. Topping as a valid strategy for saving a tree

Take a look at this saga tree (Adenanthera pavonina) in the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Source: NParks

Tree before topping.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

Tree after topping. Use the lamp post for scale.

It has been heavily topped. If topping is such a poor practice, why would the Botanic Gardens allow it?

The tree in question is a Heritage Tree, and some of its roots have decayed. The Gardens are worried that the existing roots may not be able to support its full weight, and instead of removing the tree entirely, they topped it to drastically reduce its load.

However, they also recognise that topping is stressful for the tree. The tree was only topped once, the area is cordoned off to prevent foot traffic, and a root zone regeneration regime, complete with extensive mulching, is in place to support the tree’s recovery.

This is a far cry from the repeated topping cuts made on trees in our neighbourhoods, where residents have free access to the root zones. To understand why it happens, let us start with the tree workers.

2. Tree workers may not know better

If you have ever been disturbed by a buzzing chainsaw in Singapore, it was most likely wielded by a migrant worker.

Source: Wong Fong

Not an easy job.

Some of these migrant workers may not know better, and apply the most straightforward, but also harmful, pruning technique. Tree topping.

However, having worked with them, our migrant workers are also extremely efficient at taking instructions, and learn very quickly. There are significant challenges in coming to work in Singapore, and they have street smarts in spades. If the right instructions are given, proper tree care can still happen, which brings us to the contractors who hire the migrant workers.

3. The customer is always right

Competition is fierce in Singapore’s landscape industry, and contractors do their best to give a good price. This is good for the consumer, but stressful for landscape contractors.

Source: Sunny Fantasy

Every tree pruned faster and cheaper than the other guy.

You may be familiar with the high costs of owning private vehicles in Singapore. Owning a lorry crane for tree work is no different, and contractors barely break even on most jobs.

The contractors will do their best to fulfill a tree owner’s wishes.

So who are these tree owners and what do they want?

For that, we have to think of the people managing the land trees grow on.

4. Town councils and facility management

Imagine you are a town councilor, facility manager, or any other tree owner. The contractor calls you to tell you that the job has been completed, and you are given these “before” and “after” tree work photographs.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

Before (left). After (right).

Can you tell if any work has been done at all?

For this job, over a hundred kilograms of leaves and branches have been pruned to prevent future problems. However, it is difficult even for a trained arborist to tell if any work has been done at all. If a tree is healthy, good tree work looks like no tree work.

Now imagine you are the facility manager again. There are a hundred other complaints pouring in, lift maintenance, mosquito breeding, neighbour disputes, the list goes on and on.

If a contractor comes up to you with almost identical tree photos and says work has been done, you will have to spend precious time verifying their claims.

However, if the contractor has an easy way of showing their work, such as with photos of topped trees, you can pay them and move on to other pressing matters. As an added bonus, the contractor has also helped you with one other major resident complaint…

5. Residents complaints

You may be wondering, what is there to complain about lush and shady public trees? The noisy, pooping birds roosting in them of course!

Source: Bird Ecology Study Group

Feathered friends, noisy neighbours.

Topping trees to solve this problem is the very definition of passing the problem to somebody else. The birds find another tree to roost, some other residents complain, and eventually, every tree is as bare as a baby’s bottom.

More comprehensive solutions involving better food waste disposal and animal control will probably be needed, perhaps a reader with a better understanding of bird ecology will have a better solution than tree topping.

What you can do to help

The good news is that complaining works. It is how we ended up with bare trees in the first place. The people who complain about noisy, pooping birds, are louder than the people complaining about bare trees.

The next time you spot a bare tree, take a photo of it, note the location, and go here,

https://www.oneservice.sg/

Submit a case. The louder people complain about bare trees, the more likely alternative solutions to tree topping will be developed.

If you are in a position to hire contractors for tree work, we hope this post has piqued your interest in proper tree care.

If you have any doubts, we are happy to help, and can be contacted via email at,

admin@csklandscape.com

The post Why Do The Trees In My Neighbourhood Have No Leaves? first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

Our very own money tree.

This iconic Tembusu (Cyrtophyllum fragrans), with its low outstretched branch, sits on Lawn E of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It was chosen as the mascot for our garden city when the portrait series banknotes were first introduced in 1999, and we have carried its picture in our wallets ever since.

Singapore just celebrated her 55th birthday, so here are 5 facts about our 5-dollar tree.

1. It is older than Singapore

How old is it? Nobody knows for sure, not even arborists. But, we know it existed before the Botanic Gardens were laid out in 1859, which makes it at least 161 years old this year.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

The tree’s infoboard in the Gardens.

Singapore has been built, demolished, rebuilt, and even reclaimed from the sea. It is rare to find such a veteran tree anywhere on our urbanized island. Even when Singapore’s greening campaign began in 1963, Tembusus were not commonly planted.

Its wood is hard and durable, but slow-growing, which is not a desirable quality for quick city greening. The 5-dollar tree must have taken a long time to reach its girth of over 7.8 metres.

The good news is that more recent tree planting efforts are beginning to focus on native species, and we may see more of its kind in the future.

2. It has a large cavity, but that’s okay

Rain or shine, a tree has to weather storms, and stand its ground. The 5-dollar tree would have experienced quite a few injuries throughout its long life. It is common for veteran trees to have large cavities, yet survive and even flourish.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

Doesn’t bother the tree at all.

Think of all the times a person is injured in their life. Given time, most of those injuries would heal. A tree on the other hand, does not heal its wounds. Its strategy is to compartmentalize damaged regions from healthy ones.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

You can even see through its trunk from this angle.

A tree may cover up damaged areas with new wound wood, but the damage will still be visible if its cross-section is ever examined. The important thing is to support the tree as it compartmentalizes its wounds, and try to help prevent new ones from forming.

3. The Singapore Botanic Gardens tries its best to help

Compare this older photograph with one taken this year.

Source: Ghetto Singapore

Older photograph.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

Newer photograph.

You may have noticed some differences other than the photograph’s angle. The root zone has been increased, mulch laid down, and fences installed to reduce foot traffic.

Back when it was still accessible, visitors to the Gardens loved to approach it, taking photos while climbing on its low branch. This has the unfortunate side effects of compacting the soil, making it hard for its roots to survive, and increasing the strain on its already structurally awkward branch.

Source: The Straits Times

Great for pictures, stresses the tree.

On closer examination, you may also notice the static wooden props for its low branch, used since 1992, have been upgraded.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

Strutting some new struts.

These dynamic props were designed by engineers from Singapore Technologies Kinetics (ST Kinetics). Unlike the old wooden props, the new dynamic props can be adjusted, so that the tree does not become reliant on them, and it will continue to grow new wood to support the weight of the branch.

Speaking of which, the Tembusu has an easy way of telling us where it is growing new wood.

4. The bark tells a story

The Tembusu’s bark has been described as “deeply fissured”.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

Real Tembusus have fissures.

Thick and deep fissures generally indicate a layer of rapidly dividing cells underneath, the Tembusu is probably putting out a lot of new wood in such an area. On the other hand, thin and shallow fissures generally indicate the cell division beneath that area of bark has slowed. The Tembusu could be using its resources elsewhere.

The bark of the 5-dollar tree would be a useful, non-invasive way, to gauge if it is growing new wood where it is needed, such as in areas supporting its low, outstretched branch.

5. It is a Heritage Tree

This should come as no surprise, we have already seen it on the tree’s infoboard. The Heritage Tree scheme aims to protect our veteran trees in the face of Singapore’s rapid urbanization.

Source: CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

Hi! It’s me again, the infoboard.

You may be wondering why HSBC is on the infoboard. That is because when the Heritage Tree Scheme was introduced in 2001, they established the Heritage Tree Fund kickstart it.

According to NParks, the programme today hosts 258 trees, includes lightning protection installation, interpretive signage, and a nomination scheme. You can find the full description of the scheme here (https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/heritage-trees). It even contains a nomination form for new heritage trees.

If you need help with any tree-related matters, Heritage or otherwise, we can be contacted at, admin@csklandscape.com.

The post 5 Facts You Didn't Know About Our 5-Dollar Tree first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

You may have noticed that areas with poorly maintained trees get hotter.

This is no coincidence, a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) reports that tree cover can affect temperatures by up to 5.7°C (Ziter, 2019). It is the difference between being in the tropical heat at 30°C and in an air-conditioned room at 24 to 25°C.

• The urban heat island effect is the result of concrete, asphalt and other impervious man-made surfaces interacting with sunlight, thereby raising local temperatures.
• Areas with more than 40% tree canopy cover disrupt this process and lower temperatures (Ziter, 2019).
• Poor tree maintenance lowers tree canopy coverage, raises temperatures.

What often happens is that tree owners disown liability and foist responsibility unto landscape contractors with fine print in poorly-worded contracts, assuming the hired contractors know what is best for their trees.

Do not assume landscape contractors know what is best for your trees.

Landscape contractors vary in tree maintenance knowledge breadth and depth. Anyone can start hacking away at a tree with a chainsaw, years of experience is not a good indication of tree maintenance knowledge. Contractors want repeat customers, they will do what they are told even if the tree owner suggests something wrong. Incompetent contractors will straight up offer solutions that harm trees.

Tree owners must have some basic knowledge so that they do not give their contractors incorrect instructions or accept their contractor’s offered solution at face value.

At the bare minimum, visit one of the trees with the contractor and ascertain where they will cut. Agree on how much foliage is to be removed before work (anything more than 30% is usually too much).

Under no circumstances should a contractor be allowed to top/head/hat-rack/pollard a tree in Singapore, harming trees by leaving behind ugly bare stubs.

Topping cuts that leave bare stubs harm trees.

When faced with evidence that the hired landscape contractors are damaging their property, irresponsible tree owners shy away from further corrective action on their part as long as their proverbial behinds are covered by their maintenance contracts.

If you, or someone you know, are in-charge of trees in or near public spaces, we would like to take the opportunity to beseech you to take responsibility for the plants in your care. Educate yourselves on proper tree maintenance. Do not assume landscape contractors know what is best for your trees. And definitely do not use maintenance contracts as a way to shift responsibility to the contractor.

If you’re a member of the public and see disfigured trees near your homes, do not stay silent. The trees may have been contributing to a cool and pleasant environment for decades. A spike in your electricity bill from increased fan and air-conditioning use can be an indirect result of tree neglect.

References

Ziter, C. D., Pendersen, E. J., Kucharik, C. J., Turner, M. G. (2019). Scale-dependent interactions between canopy cover and impervious surfaces reduce daytime urban heat during summer. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 116(15), 7575-7580.

The post Being a Responsible Tree Owner first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

Seed Dispersal

Long-lived as trees may be, death eventually comes for (almost) all living things. Just like us, trees have to reproduce for their species’ survival.

However, unlike us, trees stay rooted to one location for all their lives. They cannot seek out new areas for resources to sustain themselves. Should young trees grow too near their parent, both parent and offspring will compete for the same resources.

Seed dispersal is vital for ensuring young trees not only survive, but thrive wherever they may grow.

To this end, some trees have enlisted the help of animals in aiding seed dispersal. The animals are paid for their efforts, fleshy fruits feed and sustain animal populations. Such mutualisms are important in sustaining biodiversity.

Trees with fruits that appeal to animals have a better chance of survival; their fruits are selected by disperser animals and their seeds spread far and wide. Their offspring with attractive fruits will in turn pass on their attractive fruit traits to subsequent generations.

Through natural selection and many generations, different but related species of trees may form with different fruits based on which animals they attract.

Bat or Bird?

Research has compared figs that are dispersed by bats and figs that are dispersed by birds, showing how these different figs have evolved to fit dispersal by birds or bats.

The post Bats, birds, and their figs. first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

Inspection Types:

Level 1: Limited Visual Assessment (eyes only inspection, on foot, drive-by etc)
Level 2: Basic Assessment (ground level inspection with simple hand tools)
Level 3: Advanced Assessment (climbing may be involved along with diagnostic equipment.)

These are often modified to collect additional data that clients deem important and within available timeframe and resources.

For example, in a large estate with thousands of trees, trees situated away from human habitation may get a Level 1 assessment, while trees close to road junctions or of a certain girth size receive Level 2 or 3 assessments on a more frequent basis.

Evaluating Tree Risk:

Tree Risk is evaluated in the following way,

• Grade the likelihood of failure of identified tree parts (could be branches, trunk etc).
• Grade the likelihood of the part actually landing on targets in the event of failure:
• Combine likelihood of failure and impact into an overall likelihood grade using a matrix
• Grade the consequences of failure.
• Now we have all we need to give the risk a grade…through another matrix,

Risk rating matrix

The risk rating gives a good gauge for prioritizing remedial actions. It is worth stressing that every part of the process, not just the final rating, is important. An insufficiently thorough assessment level cannot give enough information for a reliable risk rating, while an overly excessive assessment level wastes time and resources.

We hope that this gives the public a better idea of how tree risk is evaluated, this is but a brief explanation of the risk assessment process. Full tree risk assessment courses and manuals should be available from the Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE).

Sources

https://i1.wp.com/greenscenenz.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/healthhaz.jpg?resize=640%2C303

The post What does it mean when a tree has been inspected? first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

Here’s a quick list of 5 Rooftop Gardens:

1. School of Art, Design & Media @ NTU

The School of Art, Design and Media has a verdant turfed roof that connects to its green surroundings. The green roof decreases both the roof and surrounding temperatures.

2. Kampung Admiralty

Kampung Admiralty contains trees that were common in Kampungs, preserving a part of our past.

3. Banyan Home @ Pelangi Village

Banyan Home @ Pelangi Village serves as a platform for people to alleviate stress. Products harvested are sold to the local community.

4. NUS Ventus

NUS Ventus has both rooftop and vertical greenery, offering heat reduction and reducing energy spent on cooling.

5. The Farm at One Farrer

The Farm at One Farrer has a large variety of herbs, spices, vegetables and fruits supplying the restaurants within.

Image sources: https://www.todayonline.com/sites/default/files/styles/new_app_article_detail/public/17120650.JPG?itok=ih3PpSYA

https://www.cpgcorp.com.sg/CPGC/Project/Project_Details?ProjectID=1022

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-integrated-facility-in-woodlands-opens-has-both-childcare-and-eldercare-facilities

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/-/media/srg/files/sga-2017_project-info.pdf

https://designdautore.blogspot.com/2015/02/green-roof-art-school-in-singapore.html#.W-TyKcap1uU

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152454521864220.1073741841.269259419219&type=3

References:

NTU new buildings: https://www.ntu.edu.sg/odfm/usefulinfo/greenWebsite/Pages/NewBuildings.aspx

Oasia Hotel Downtown:https://blog.interface.com/en-au/biophilic-design-oasia-hotel/

The post 5 Roof Gardens Near You first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

It may be small now, but with a basic understanding of tree biology, you can help it grow to its full potential.

Here are three simple tasks:

1.Stake the tree, only if necessary.

Studies show trees establish more quickly and develop stronger trunk and root systems if they are not staked at the time of planting. Staking may be required when planting bare root stock or planting on windy sites. Materials should be flexible and padded to minimize injury to the trunk, yet still allow movement. It is important to remove support staking and ties after the first year of growth.

2.Mulch the base of the tree.

Mulches spread around the base of a tree, holds moisture, moderates soil temperature extremes, and reduces grass and weed competition. The two major types of mulch are organic and inorganic. Inorganic mulches include various types of stone, lava rock, pulverized rubber, geotextile fabrics, and other materials. Inorganic mulches do not decompose and do not need to be replenished often. On the other hand, they do not improve soil structure, add organic materials, or provide nutrients. A 2- to 4-inch (5- to 10-cm) layer is ideal. More than 4 inches (10 cm) may cause a problem with oxygen and moisture levels. Piling mulch right up against the trunk of a tree may cause decay of the living bark.

3.Limit your pruning.

At the time of planting, limit pruning to dead or broken branches. All other pruning should be withheld until the second or third year, when a tree has recovered from the stress of transplanting. You should always have a distinct purpose in mind before making any pruning cut; every cut has the potential to change the growth of the tree.

Note: This post shares content from http://www.treesaregood.org.

Please visit the site for more excellent tree care information!

The post Don't Plant and Run - Young Tree Maintenance first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

Landscape design is sometimes overlooked when building or renovating an estate. Here are several reasons why that may be the case.

Not in “To-Do-List”.
When renovating a new house, landscaping is often the last item on an owner’s “To-Do-List” despite being the first thing visitors encounter.
There is no need to hire Designers, “Anybody” can do it.
Perhaps the owner is accustomed to doing their own gardening. They feel confident in designing their landscape from scratch. However, it is still prudent to seek professional advice. Proper planning, preparation and installation is very important for landscape to thrive and remain beautiful for many years.

A low bid is a good bid.
Owners choosing the cheapest landscape contractor is closely tied to landscaping being on the back of their minds when renovating a house. Contractor reputation, past projects and materials chosen are good gauges and should not be ignored in favour of price.

Plants? Choose the cheapest.
Nothing beats good research. What may seem like a shrub can turn into a tree in 3 to 5 years, obscuring the view from a house. Cheap purchases might also cost more in future maintenance. A landscape designer can offer professional help in deciding which plants will be a sound investment for the future.

Image Sources:

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a3/c4/98/a3c498687e15bf6884f8ce236ce93d5c.jpg

The post Do we need a Landscape Designer? first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

Arborists are translators, communicating a tree’s messages to humans. But there is great pressure to fall in line with the property owner’s expectations and dispose of liability. Risk can never be reduced to zero while retaining a tree’s benefits. Like a medical doctor faced with a litigious patient and their family, an arborist will recommend the most conservative solutions of expensive surgery or removal.

These trees have been standing for many decades, providing shade, improving the air, supporting the ecosystem, silently working 24 hours a day for our benefit. All they require is regular attention every few months.

Having low risk, well-managed trees in an estate costs very little. Expensive surgery only results from old, sick trees that were poorly maintained, made worse by a property owner’s risk adverse attitude.

Here lies my love for trees, I found this poem in an old book:

The Tree’s Prayer

-Translated from “Ao Viandante”, Veiga Simões, May 1914.

The post Is Tree Risk Management expensive? first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

Myth 1. Trees planted deep = strong deep roots.

You can’t see root flares when trees are planted too deep. Trees should be planted with root flares above the soil line. The root flare is adapted to be dry and free of soil – if buried in the soil and constantly moist, root flares are susceptible to disease and a source of stress for trees.

Myth 2. Trees require lots of water

Trees need water, but probably not as much as you think. It is  easy to drown trees, especially saplings. Mouldy flowers, new and old leaves falling at the same time; are signs of overwatering.

Myth 3. More mulch will  benefit trees.

Overmulching  or volcano mulching, buries a trees root flare and can disrupt soil moisture and aeration. It’s suggested to apply small amounts over time, narrowing the depth of the mulch as it gets close to the tree trunk.

Myth 4. All insects and fungi that live on trees are harmful.

The vast majority of insects and fungi living on trees are not harmful to tree health. Insects help in pollination, fungi can capture water and nutrients; making more resrouces avaialble to tree roots.

Myth 5. Pollarding and topping are the same thing.

Pollarding is done intentionally, usually for aesthetics; it’s planned and executed on schedule, beginning while trees are young.

Topping is indiscriminate, with large mature trees cut down to an imaginary line without regard to tree biology. This can lead to a shortened lifespan. The shoots produced in response to topping cuts are often weakly attached and break off as they grow larger.

Image Sources:

1. http://shadetreeexpert.com/2013/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Marshview1.jpg
2. https://livinginglastonburyct.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/healthy-root-flare-cropped-6-inch-size.jpg
3. http://treefredericksburg.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/not-bad-for-tree.jpg
4. http://www.arbordoctor.net/overwatered-tree.jpg
5. http://www.dailyherald.com/storyimage/DA/20150814/news/150819505/EP/1/2/EP
6. jpg&updated=201508131606&MaxW=800&maxH=800&noborder
7. https://jardindesigndotorg1.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/pollarding-010.jpg

The post 5 Tree Care Myths first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

Image Source: http://www.asiaone.com/singapore/trail-mr-lees-trees

As a testament to the pace of redevelopment in Singapore, of the more than 60 trees planted by Mr.Lee since 1963, 39 have survived while the rest (including that first Mempat tree) no longer exist.

Green Heritage

Heritage trees are individual or groups of trees that are so special that they are worthy of recognition and protection for future generations. These trees broadly fit into three main groups; visual importance, scientific value and cultural connections.

Announced on 17 August 2001, the heritage tree program by NParks recognizes exceptional mature trees worthy of conservation. As of November 2017, there are 265 heritage trees in the register.

Read more here: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/heritage-trees

Sources:

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/about-us/special-tribute-to-mr-lee

http://www.asiaone.com/singapore/trail-mr-lees-trees

The post Heritage and Trees first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

However, when you finally get that “Eureka!” moment and find a match, what follows is a rush of adrenaline and an excited flurry of research. In the meantime, having a distinctive species smugly sit in front of you while being unable to identify it is hair-tearing.

Never has this experience been more pronounced when I was faced by this species at Bukit Brown Cemetery.

I felt stupid for the longest time when I could not figure out the name of such a distinctive plant with its absurdly large tri-lobed leaves. The specimen shown above is a small one. Mature individuals in the cemetery reach about 15m high.

Big leaves. Colleague for scale.

It was only when I ran into its cousin the Common Mahang (Macaranga bancana) that something clicked. This is the Giant Mahang (Macaranga gigantea). While the leaves are similar in shape to the Common Mahang, they are much larger, and its twigs do not contain mutualistic ants like its Common cousin.

Its role as a pioneer species fit the Bukit Brown Cemetery perfectly. Closed to new burials in 1973, secondary rainforest has been slowly reclaiming much of the area. Large tracts of open disturbed land? Perfect for the Giant Mahang.

Given enough time, these trees are eventually overtaken by larger, shade-tolerant competitors. However, the copious amounts of small fruit that it produces while it is alive ensures dispersal by animals to other open areas.

The post The Giant Mahang first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

Glance out the window in Singapore and it’s likely something will be waving back at you. It might be smooth or scaly, bigger than a bus or small enough to push over.

We live in a literal urban jungle, with trees peeping from around buildings, lining the sidewalk, or dominating plazas and courtyards.

“There is little in the architecture of a city that is more beautifully designed than a tree.” – Jaime Lerner

How do Singaporeans co-exist with our big mature trees?

Part of the answer is that our estate managers and urban planners work hard every day with architects, landscapers and arborists; trying to balance developmental needs with liveability and public safety.

Trees are an arborist’s speciality. We combine scientific knowledge with skill and experience to diagnose potential problems, and prescribe treatments for holistic management of trees.

Based on experience, frequently overlooked parts of tree care include:

 Contract Specification Planning: 

Long-term preservation of trees begins before contracts are signed: draft clear directions on proper tree care. Consult an arborist on potential tree-related loopholes in contracts.

Structural Pruning: 

Engage your arborist to prune young trees and develop strong form. Young trees pruned into biologically efficient forms minimize the potential for future structural problems and liability for tree owners.

Training: 

Optimal pruning techniques? Tree work safety? Work teams often get a productivity boost through specialist training.

Long, useful, and safe life expectancies for urban trees require proper planning and sustained effort. Other areas where an arborist can help include biology-first design, stock selection, installation and establishment methods, mature tree tune-ups, and risk management.

The post Welcome to the Jungle first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

A commonly seen example of bad pruning is “topping”. This practice chops large branches back to a pre-determined limit, into stubs without sufficiently large leaf-bearing branches (also known as a “terminal leader”) nearby. Some trees decline and eventually die because of periodic topping.

Topping is a temporary solution at the expense of overall tree health. Other more sustainable solutions, like thinning and size reduction, could have been implemented with the same resources.

Here is a Syzygium grande that has been repeatedly topped for “safety purposes”. This species has been criticized for its weak branches, but one cannot help but question if bad pruning practices have led to its poor reputation.

Notice how branches end abruptly. The tree’s natural shape is destroyed, while the topped branches try to put out new leaves to replace lost foliage, giving the tree spots of bushy growth.

Leaves are the photosynthetic factories of a tree; no leaves = no food to support living cells.

Tree longevity should always be kept in mind when pruning. Done by a skilled operator, pruning can improve the overall structure, stability, and health of the tree. Done poorly, higher maintenance costs and hazards from unstable sprout production are likely.

This Alstonia angustiloba below displays good previous pruning.

It has grown short, fat, and dense. Unlike a topped tree, constant maintenance isn’t necessary, its natural shape is retained, and is unlikely to be a public risk.

Plenty of Singaporean trees are topped as a management strategy. With the exception of a few extraordinary circumstances, topping does more harm than good.

We need to understand that while topping might be the easiest solution, it isn’t a sustainable one.

Maintenance frequency for a topped tree (to remove new weakly attached shoots) can run up to once every 3 months. In contrast, a well-managed tree can go for 3 or more years without attention.

For trees in private estates, hiring competent people for tree management is key. Whereas for public trees, signs of poor tree management can be reported to the relevant authorities via https://www.oneservice.sg/.

The post Good and Bad tree pruning: A simple comparison first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.

You have seen the headlines, shared it on social media, or perhaps even written to a political representative about it.

With approximately 2 million trees planted in Singapore, perhaps you are wondering what basic actions you can take to safeguard yourselves and your family.

We’ve come up with a list 5 things you can do to stay safe.

1) Don’t stand under trees during a thunderstorm.

Anyone under that tree deserves their Darwin Award.

This one is a no brainer. Don’t stand under trees when there’s a thunderstorm.

Lightning absolutely loves Singapore and taller objects (like trees!) are prone to get hit by lightning.

Lightning takes the path of least resistance from the top of the tree to the ground. Sap and water just under the bark conduct a lightning strike much better than wood. The liquids get superheated and explode outwards.

You do not want to be next to a tree when it happens. Even if the lightning does not hit you, the damaged tree might. Thankfully, many of the taller trees in Singapore have lightning protection installed. These grounded metal wires provide a path of super low resistance for lightning to pass through.

Workers repairing lightning protection.

They look like naked metal wires running from the top of the tree and into the ground. You still shouldn’t seek protection under these trees though, the wires are there to protect the tree from lightning, not you.

“Yea I understand the lightning part, but what about when there is NO lightning? Frequent inspections supposed to make trees safe during storms? Taxpayer money leh!”

The answer to that question is, arborists are not meterologists. Nobody has come up with a way to calculate exact wind and water loads, matching appropriate trees to storm conditions.

Tree risk assessment is done to ensure trees are safe in normal conditions. When water and wind load increases during a storm, all bets are off. The only way to make a tree completely storm-proof is to grow it indoors.

2) Do NOT go near a tree if the ground next to it is cracked or lifted.

 Where are roots found? If you answered “Underground.” Congratulations! You’ve scored some points in Common Sense.

Now apply that common sense and think, what happens when a tree is begins to tilt?

All those roots will turn into an underground see-saw, the ground will sink on one side and get lifted on the other. A clear sign of imminent tree failure.

Trees doing the see-saw, staying near them is what industry experts call a REALLY bad idea.

 Unless the tree is of great importance, removal is often recommended when this happens as the tree has managed to tear the water-absorbing portion of its roots.

3) Avoid trees with large cracks or cavities.

Living things don’t like having holes poked in them. Us humans deal with cuts by triggering immune response, blood clotting, and skin regrowth.

Similarly, trees have a healing strategy when cracked or cut. They grow wound wood, sealing off – compartmentalizing – unhealthy sections away from healthy wood.

Unhealthy sections can then be sacrificed to decay and shedded without much consequence to the tree.

If wound wood does not grow quickly enough, it is like an infected wound in humans. Fungi and bacteria attack healthy wood within a tree, resulting in a cavity.

Cavities, also known by the layman as “Holes”.

As a cavity grows, structural strength of a trunk or branch is weakened.

Eventually, the tree may successfully heal over the cavity sides and compartmentalize the cavity. Wound wood is harder and stronger than regular wood. Absolutely ancient trees can be completely hollow, but remain stable and healthy.

“Cavity? Meh. I’ve been through worse.” – Some old tree.

How do you tell if a cavity is safe? That’s one of the jobs an arborist gets hired to do.

4) Look out for dead branches.

Trees shed branches, it is a normal part of their lives to discard parts that are no longer useful and grow new ones.

Even so, it may take a long time (to us humans) before leafless branches detach and fall.

Our job is not to be under a branch when it happens.

How do you tell a dead branch is about to fall? Cavities are a good bet, as are visible fungi.

Sure signs that trees aren’t using these parts any more.

Proactive tree owners perform frequent crown cleaning on their trees, ensuring that dead branches are removed before they fall.

5) Contact the tree owner if you see something dangerous.

All trees in Singapore grow on land that are owned by someone. Tell the people responsible that their trees are endangering public safety.

If the trees are on government owned land, the appropriate agency may be contacted via the municipal service office at www.oneservice.sg.

Image Sources:

https://s‑media‑cache‑ak0.pinimg.com/736x/55/d0/bf/55d0bfc318cf755541c2ee8bb8c85889.jpg

http://dgstrees.co.uk/blog/post.php?s=2016-02-08-trees-high-winds-in-southampton-hampshire

http://www.haoda.com.sg/img/lightning/02.jpg

CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd

Stupsi explains the tree – Claus Mattheck, pg 51.

The post Tree risk in Singapore - Is that tree safe? - 5 Things you can do. first appeared on CSK Landscape Services (S) Pte Ltd - Professional Arborist Services.