Roger 0:02

Talking Trees with Lily and Jad . Welcome to a special recap episode of Talking Trees . Today , we're revisiting some topics that highlight the diverse world of trees and plants . We'll explore the mysterious biology and cultural significance of mistletoe , delve into the environmental benefits of using wood chips as mulch , and analyze the life cycles of urban trees alongside their role in shaping city environments . You'll also hear about cutting-edge research on tree stability and wind conditions , the ecological impacts of tree diseases on biodiversity , and the story of the emerald ash borer's invasion and its devastating effects on ash trees across North America and Europe . Join us as we reflect on these varied aspects of arbora culture , blending science , ecology and cultural insights into one enlightening episode .

Jad 0:58

All right . So if you happen to be a little behind on talking trees from last week , well , that's okay . It happens to all of us sometimes .

Lilly 1:06

Yeah , for sure , life gets in the way .

Jad 1:08

But you know , that's why we're here . We're going to catch you right back up so you don't miss a thing .

Lilly 1:12

That's right , no need to worry .

Jad 1:13

We've got all sorts of stuff to get into this week .

Lilly 1:15

Yeah , Mistletoe , mul know these big questions about what our field will look like in the future .

Jad 1:33

Exactly so . Let's rewind all the way back to Monday's episode , where they dove into the world of mistletoe .

Lilly 1:39

Oh , yeah , mistletoe .

Jad 1:41

And I got to admit , you know , before listening to that episode I kind of thought a mistletoe is just that holiday decoration . You know you hang up and then hope somebody stands under it . So you can ?

Lilly 1:49

Yeah , I get it .

Jad 1:50

But that episode went way beyond that .

Lilly 1:52

It was fascinating to learn about all the different mistletoe species from around the world .

Jad 1:56

Oh right , Different species yeah .

Lilly 1:58

They talked about the European mistletoe , of course , the Viscom album , I think it's called but they also had some from North America and even Australia that I had never even heard of before .

Jad 2:08

Really , I hadn't either . That's interesting .

Lilly 2:11

It was cool .

Jad 2:11

And what about the part about the birds ?

Lilly 2:13

Oh yeah .

Jad 2:14

Like spreading mistletoe seeds . I thought that was fascinating . It really is amazing how everything's connected . You know these ecological relationships Totally it is , and you know that interconnectedness of nature . That's something that really came up again and again throughout the week , didn't it ?

Lilly 2:29

It did for sure .

Jad 2:30

All right , so moving on , on Tuesday's episode dove headfirst into the mulch debate . Always seems to spark some strong opinions , you know .

Lilly 2:40

People get heated about mulch .

Jad 2:42

They do right . It can be a hot topic , but talking trees did a good job . They presented two different viewpoints . They had Clay Antio , who was all about mulching , and then they also brought in an article debunking some common mulch myths .

Lilly 2:56

Oh yeah , the one by Chalker , scott .

Jad 2:58

Yeah , that's the one .

Lilly 2:59

I thought it was interesting to hear those different perspectives . You know , and what was great was that both sources actually agreed on the benefits of using wood chips for mulch , Like it's great for soil health helps retain water , regulates temperature .

Jad 3:15

you know all that good stuff . Yeah , I was taking notes like crazy during that episode . So many good takeaways .

Lilly 3:19

Me too .

Jad 3:20

Especially from that myth busting article . They really addressed some misconceptions that I think a lot of us have heard , even as professionals .

Lilly 3:28

Oh for sure , Like that thing about mulch attracting termites .

Jad 3:32

Oh yeah , I've heard that one .

Lilly 3:33

Turns out that's not even true .

Jad 3:35

Really so ? Mulch doesn't attract termites .

Lilly 3:38

Nope , the article explained that termites are way more attracted to moist wood . That's in direct contact with the soil . Termites are way more attracted to , like moist wood . That's in direct contact with the soil Mulch , actually , if you apply it correctly can actually help prevent termite infestations . Wow so it's the opposite of what we thought ?

Jad 3:53

Yeah , pretty much that was a big aha moment . For me too , it's a good reminder that even with something like mulch , which seems so basic , there's always more to learn .

Lilly 4:01

Yeah , and it highlights , you know , how important it is to stay current with research and best practices .

Jad 4:06

Right , because the field is constantly evolving .

Lilly 4:09

It is so we need to be committed to learning , you know , throughout our whole careers if we want to provide the best care for our trees .

Jad 4:18

Absolutely OK . So Wednesday Talking Trees shifted gears to the future of open trees .

Lilly 4:25

Oh yeah , the urban trees .

Jad 4:26

That's a topic that's really relevant to our work , isn't it ?

Lilly 4:29

Definitely , and they focused on two studies that were both all about predicting how much tree canopy we might lose in cities because of urban development . One was about Los Angeles and the other one compared three different cities around the Mediterranean .

Jad 4:43

Okay , it makes sense . Yeah , it's kind of sobering to think about that , isn't it like how urbanization could impact our urban forests ?

Lilly 4:50

Yeah .

Jad 4:51

Especially with cities growing like they are .

Lilly 4:53

Mm-hmm .

Jad 4:54

Both of those studies , though , really emphasize how important it is to plan ahead , you know .

Lilly 4:58

To active planning .

Jad 5:00

And really carefully monitor the trees in our cities .

Lilly 5:02

Yeah , and on a practical level , you know , they said we need to consider what kind of trees we're planting , like how good they are at absorbing CO2 or trapping all those dust particles .

Jad 5:12

That's a good point . Yeah , we've got to think about what trees are actually going to thrive in those urban environments .

Lilly 5:17

Right . The right tree for the right place .

Jad 5:19

And then on Thursday things got really technical with a deep dive into tree stability .

Lilly 5:25

Oh yeah , Tree stability and wind load .

Jad 5:28

That episode was like drinking from a fire hose .

Lilly 5:30

So much information .

Jad 5:37

So much information . I mean they covered everything from software to industry standards for tree pulling tests .

Lilly 5:38

Yeah , they had three main sources . There was a software program called Adbian which is for analyzing tree stability , then the SAG standards for tree pulling tests to figure out how well a tree can handle wind . And then they had this source that was all about how buildings affect the wind around trees , which is like a whole other layer of complexity .

Jad 5:59

Wow , so much to unpack there . Let's break it down a bit , starting with that Adbian software they mentioned . It has four levels of analysis . It goes from like basic visual assessments all the way to these really complex instrumental tests . It sounds like a really powerful tool to help make informed decisions about you know when a tree needs to come down .

Lilly 6:16

Oh , yeah , for sure . It's all about having data to back up your risk assessment .

Jad 6:20

Exactly .

Lilly 6:20

Instead of just eyeballing it , you can use Adbian to make more objective decisions , you know , ones you can defend .

Jad 6:26

Right , and speaking of objective evaluations , those SAG standards for the tree polling tests . They seem like a really crucial part of this whole thing too . Oh , they are of this whole thing too .

Lilly 6:35

Oh , they are . They help you understand how things like the terrain , the other trees around it , even the characteristics of the tree itself , how they all affect the wind load .

Jad 6:44

I see , so it's not just about how strong the wind is blowing .

Lilly 6:47

Right , it's about all these factors working together to create a potential hazard .

Jad 6:51

So you got to see the big picture .

Lilly 6:53

Yeah .

Jad 6:53

Not just one little piece of it .

Lilly 6:54

Exactly . And then that third source they talked about how buildings can actually change the wind patterns around trees .

Jad 7:00

Oh wow , so it's even more complicated than we thought . Right Sounds like there are a lot of variables to consider when you're assessing wind load .

Lilly 7:07

Oh , there are a lot , but I think the main takeaway from that episode was that we have to use data and scientific principles when we're making decisions about tree stability and risk assessment .

Jad 7:18

So again , it's about making decisions based on data . That seems to be a theme this week .

Lilly 7:21

It is a good theme , though it is a good thing . As arborists , we need to be able to back up our recommendations with evidence and sound reasoning .

Jad 7:29

I completely agree . Okay , you ready to dig into the last two episodes ? Let's do it All right . So Friday's episode took a bit of a heavier turn , focusing on tree diseases and their impact on forest ecosystems .

Lilly 7:42

It was a good reminder that our forests are facing some serious threats , you know , both from native and introduced pathogens .

Jad 7:49

Yeah , that's a good point .

Lilly 7:50

And they explored how diversity in a forest can actually make the trees more resistant to diseases . They explored how diversity in a forest can actually make the trees more resistant to diseases , and then also the role that climate change is playing in all of this and the global plant trade , you know , spreading these diseases around .

Jad 8:03

It's a complicated web of factors , isn't ?

Lilly 8:06

it , it is for sure .

Jad 8:07

It's not just about you know identifying and treating one specific disease . No , you have to understand the whole ecological context .

Lilly 8:14

Exactly , they emphasize that we need a holistic approach to managing forests . No , you have to understand the whole ecological context . Exactly , they emphasize that we need a holistic approach to managing forests Right . Recognizing that diseases are just one piece of this really big , complex puzzle .

Jad 8:25

I like that analogy . Ok , and speaking of interconnectedness , saturday's episode brought us face to face with , I guess you could say , a really big threat to our ash trees .

Lilly 8:34

Oh yeah .

Jad 8:35

Emerald ash borer . Emerald ash borer , this invasive species , has been wreaking havoc on ash populations across North America and even over in Europe . Right and Talking Trees took kind of a global perspective on this problem .

Lilly 8:48

Yeah , they started with a research article about the emerald ash borer invasion of Ukraine .

Jad 8:53

Oh , wow .

Lilly 8:54

Yeah , the study looked at how fast the pest was spreading , which ash species were most vulnerable , and then also how the borer interacted with this fungus called Hymenosophis fraxinius . Basically , the fungus makes things even worse for the ash trees .

Jad 9:09

Double whammy .

Lilly 9:10

Yeah , a one-two punch .

Jad 9:12

Wow , it's amazing how fast these invasive species can disrupt , you know , entire ecosystems .

Lilly 9:17

It is , it's alarming for sure .

Jad 9:19

So they dug into that research article from Ukraine . And then they also provided a broader overview of the emerald ash borer . So they covered things like its life cycle , how it's distributed , what plants it likes to attack and you know the overall devastating impact it's had on ash populations .

Lilly 9:35

Yeah , they really covered all the bases .

Jad 9:37

Did they offer any hope , though , in terms of possible solutions ?

Lilly 9:41

They did . They talked about all sorts of monitoring and control methods that are being used to combat this emerald ash borer , like insecticide treatments bringing in other insects to prey on them .

Jad 9:51

Oh , interesting .

Lilly 9:51

And even developing ash trees that are resistant to the borer . Oh wow , so it's not all doom and gloom ? No , not at all . It's a serious situation , but people are working hard to manage this pest .

Jad 10:02

That's encouraging to hear .

Lilly 10:04

It is and it shows how important it is to work together . You know to be innovative when we face these global challenges .

Jad 10:10

That's a great point . So it sounds like last week's episodes of Talking Trees were jam-packed with valuable info and insight .

Lilly 10:17

Oh yeah , Tons of good stuff .

Jad 10:19

It's a lot to take in , but I feel like we've got a pretty good handle on the key takeaways . Now , wouldn't you say ?

Lilly 10:24

Definitely , and it's a good reminder that our field is always changing . You know , there's always new research , new technologies , new challenges , which is why we've got to stay informed and stay engaged . Exactly , lifelong learning is essential if you want to be a good arborist .

Jad 10:39

Couldn't agree more . So Before we jump ahead , let's take a moment to kind of reflect on what we've learned so far . Is there anything that stood out to you from these first four episodes ?

Lilly 10:46

Hmm , I think what really struck me was how much they emphasized the interconnectedness of everything .

Jad 10:54

The interconnected .

Lilly 10:55

Yeah , you know like how everything in the tree care world is connected in some way .

Jad 11:00

Yeah , oh , I see what you mean .

Lilly 11:01

Whether it's , like you know , the mistletoe and the birds , or all the factors that affect how much wind a tree can handle , or even the impact of invasive species . You can't just look at trees in isolation .

Jad 11:12

That's a great point . They're part of these big , complex ecosystems and everything we do has an impact on that system . And you know , something else that really stood out to me was how much talking trees focused on using data and science in our work .

Lilly 11:25

Oh yeah , for sure .

Jad 11:27

It's not just about climbing trees and pruning branches anymore . No way we have to understand these complex biological processes and use all these data-driven tools and , you know , stay up to date on the latest research .

Lilly 11:40

Right .

Jad 11:41

And that episode on wind load and tree stability was a perfect example .

Lilly 11:45

Oh yeah , that one was packed with info .

Jad 11:47

I mean they went deep into that software , adbian , for risk assessment and talked about the standards for tree pulling tests and even how buildings can affect wind flow around trees .

Lilly 11:57

Yeah , it's a lot to take in .

Jad 11:58

It really shows that our decisions need to be based on solid science .

Lilly 12:02

Absolutely , and it's not just about understanding the science ourselves . We have to be able to explain it to our clients and the public .

Jad 12:09

That's so true .

Lilly 12:10

Remember that article about mulch myths .

Jad 12:12

Oh yeah , that was a good one .

Lilly 12:13

That's a great example of using science to clear up misconceptions and promote best practices .

Jad 12:19

And it reminded me that even experienced arborists can sometimes have outdated information .

Lilly 12:25

It happens to the best of us .

Jad 12:27

Yeah , so it's up to us to stay informed and share that knowledge with others .

Lilly 12:30

Right , we have to be the experts .

Jad 12:32

I think we've covered a lot of ground today .

Lilly 12:34

We have .

Jad 12:37

From mistletoe to invasive species , to the future of trees in our cities .

Lilly 12:39

Yeah , a whirlwind tour .

Jad 12:41

But I think one message came through loud and clear .

Lilly 12:45

What's that ?

Jad 12:46

We need a holistic approach to tree care , you know .

Lilly 12:49

Holistic and interconnected .

Jad 12:51

Exactly . It's not just about one tree , it's about understanding the whole system .

Lilly 12:55

All the relationships that support that tree .

Jad 12:57

Right and working within that system to keep things healthy and resilient .

Lilly 13:00

For the long haul .

Jad 13:01

So to all our fellow arborists out there , keep those chainsaws sharp .

Lilly 13:05

And your minds even sharper .

Jad 13:06

Exactly and , most importantly , keep that love for trees alive .

Lilly 13:10

I couldn't have said it better myself .

Jad 13:13

Well , that's a wrap on our deep dive into last week's Talking Trees episodes . We hope you found it informative and insightful and maybe even a little bit inspiring .

Lilly 13:23

We did our best .

Jad 13:24

Until next time , happy tree climbing .

Lilly 13:26

Happy climbing everyone .

Roger 13:30

Thank you for tuning in to this recap episode of Talking Trees . Thank you for tuning in to this recap episode of Talking Trees . We hope you enjoyed revisiting these varied and impactful topics . From mistletoe's cultural roots to the ecological challenges posed by invasive species and urban forestry solutions , these discussions underline the interconnectedness of trees , ecosystems and human lives . If you want to support the podcast and access exclusive content , consider joining us on heroherotalkingtrees

Mistletoe Mysteries: More Than a Holiday Symbol

Roger 14:00

. Thank you , Music .