Whether you’re pruning, diagnosing or applying, there are several new products developed for tree and ornamental management.
| No Ordinary Glasses |
According to Roger Mellick, president, the lenses of the glasses can evaluate the health of vegetation. When a plant is under stress, there is a reduction in chlorophyll production. Using the glasses, a diagnostician can see pink or brownish red colors on leaves that are stressed. Although the glasses can’t indicate what the exact cause of the problem is, it’s a good first step in the evaluation of a tree’s health, according to Mellick. |
“There has been a gradual change in the design of hand and chain saws based on the research of Alex Shigo,” said Lauren Lanphear, president of Lanphear Supply, South Euclid, Ohio. “The tri-edge blade was designed into hand saws because it makes a finer, smoother cut with less tearing and ripping of the tree cambium.”
GENTLE POWER. Equipment has been revam-ped to deliver power, durability and comfort. New innovations include:
- The case on some chain saws can be dropped from a height of 40 feet without allowing major damage.
- Some chain saws have a narrower bar and chain to provide a better cut for the tree.
- Many new saws used by arborists feature a top handle which is balanced to make carrying and using the saw in awkward places easier. Improved power-to-weight ratios have also been included.
- Subtle ergonomic changes focus on other parts of the handle, adding texture, trigger finger supports and thumb rests for better control.
| Which Chipper is Best? |
There are essentially two types of large chippers — drum and disk. The drum style has been around the longest and is still widely used, according to Mark Ran, regional sales representative with E-Z Beever Corp., Winn, Mich. Drum chippers are very fast to take in and chip the material and are the lower priced unit. On the down side, Ran noted that “you’re limited to the size of materials the machine will chip, and there is the possibility of kick-back since there is no feeding system control and no engine speed variation.” Disk chippers have the advantage of a hydraulic feed, which sends the material to the cutting area at a constant pace. Some hydraulic feed machines have electronic sensors that slow material delivery when the engine bogs down, to reduce wear. Disk machines handle material up to 12 inches in diameter, and the controlled intake theoretically makes it safer for an operator. However, disk chippers in general don’t handle small debris as well, have more components to service and are more expensive than drum types. |
SPECIAL DELIVERY. Manufacturers of tree delivery systems are also creating new systems for optimum benefit:
- Microinjection is growing in popularity, especially in urban areas where spray applications of pesticides are becoming controversial. An injectable, systemic fungicide-insecticide combination has been registered for trees.
- An injection system using a wedge tip to penetrate tree bark and deliver formulations now allows users to apply product and walk away from the tree. A “plug” stays in place to deliver the formulation and is later removed.
- Soil injection systems are more portable. A portable injection unit delivers fertilizer effectively without the high pressure requirement of a truck-based injection system.
- A new backpack soil injector allows users to add iron and other minor elements, soil conditioners and mycorrhizae to soil.
The author is Managing Editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine.
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