|
When Does OPPD Use TGRs?
OPPD Forestry personnel make tree-by-tree assessments to determine which trees would benefit from TGRs. If they determine that your tree would benefit from TGR application, they will talk with you so that you can make an informed decision. Application of the TGR is free of charge.
Will TGRs affect the way my tree looks?
Basically, your tree should look thicker and healthier. You may notice more dense, darker-green leaves. You may also notice shorter "internodes" or the distance between where groups of leaves attach to a branch. These effects may vary with environmental conditions and tree species.
Do treated trees need special care?
Besides reducing growth, TGRs do not affect the other processes of the tree. Treated trees require no special care. In fact, research indicates that they may hold up better under drought conditions and disease/stress conditions than untreated trees.
How long with the TGR stay in the tree?
TRGs effectively regulate trees from two to eight years. Tree species, environmental conditions, type of trimming, application rates and timing influence the length of control.
Can I burn the leaves or wood from a treated tree?
Yes. Burning trace amounts of TGRs found in leaves or wood of a treated tree breaks down the compound into harmless elements. You can still undertake these activities.
Can I still use the tree's leaves as mulch or as cover in my garden?
Yes, you can use leaves of treated trees as mulch around trees, shrubs, flower beds and gardens.
Will the TGR affect grass and shrubs around the treated tree?
This depends on the TGR and application method used. Grass and shrubs having roots growing into the treatment areas may show signs of regulation, but these effects are often subtle and temporary, and should result in no permanent damage.
Will TGRs cause stress in trees?
No. TGRs offer advantages over trimming alone. Each new trimming places a tree under stress because it removes leaves and branches, which store nutrients. This forces the tree to tap its reserves to grow new wood. TGRs, on the other hand, control regrowth, allowing a tree to use its reserves to survive disease and insect attacks, and to withstand environmental assaults like drought and pollution. Therefore, TGRs can often reduce tree stress and leave a tree with greater ability to fight harmful conditions.
What impact can TGRs have on people, pets, wildlife or the environment?
Before we can use TGRs, they must meet rigorous standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency prior to the time registration is granted. Meeting these standards requires years of testing, which helps ensure that TGRs pose no unreasonable adverse effects to humans, animals or the environment. In addition, only trained, professional applicators, using proven application methods, can apply TGRs. Therefore, the chances for you, or your children and pets to even come in contact with them are highly unlikely. Finally, TGRs don't accumulate in fruit or nuts, so there is little risk to feeding birds and squirrels.
For more information about TGRs, call OPPD's tree-trimming number at (402) 536-4131.
Information provided courtesy of Dow AgroSciences LLC, manufacturer of tree-growth regulators.
|
