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SPECIALISTS TREE CARE -TURF CAn: WOOD PRODUCTS - KUNDii CONSULTANTS $ Y;,v ES" rvn & SONS Es xamJSHLD 1976 Report from the plant pathologist 8 January 2008 To: The City of Little Canada From: Mark Stennes, Plant Pathologist ISA Board Certified Master Arborist #MN -0147B Re: Young maple trees along Little Canada Road east of Rice St. Formative pruning when trees are young is the most important pruning they will ever get. Commonly referred to as structural pruning, the objective is to impose some discipline on how a tree grows, and to ensure long -term structural integrity and resistance to damage due to ice and wind. In addition to maintaining the proper ratio of living crown to total height, and training to grow away from or around obstacles in the landscape, the principal objective is to ensure sound branch attachment and eliminate co- dominant stems that have a tendency to fail, often catastrophically. The quality of the work is measured not by the size of the brush pile, but by the long term development of trees that are safe, healthy and attractive. Of necessity, pruning cycles for young trees are relatively short. There are a couple of situations where it could be argued that there are too many maple trees for the space available, three in the space available for two for example. Imposing structural discipline on trees that are too close together can become problematic. Complicating the issue on the front end is the fact that there is a great deal of variability in vitality from tree to tree. Some trees appear to be prospering, while others appear to be barely alive if not just growing very slowly, so deciding which trees to cultivate and which to cull needs to happen on a case by case basis. I am available to participate in the decision making process. As the project progresses and individual vitality assessments are made, the odds are high that cost effective •oil or* ; ' d vitality enhancing treatments will be indicated. 405 Hardman Ave 5, South St. Paul, MN 55075 Office: 651 -451 -8907 - Pax: 651 -451 -1787 - Online: www.sstree.com 4