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Follow on Google News | Harvest Tree Expert Provides Tips to Keeping Urban Forests HealthyDoug Kokesh maintains the vibrancy of Orange County's communal landscapes and helps restore the health of distressed trees harmed by drought, pests or both.
By: Harvest Landscape Enterprises Inc. Many tree varieties are suffering under the drought. The Carnegie Institution for Science recently reported that as many as 58 million trees statewide are suffering from severe water loss. More than 12 million have died. It's not just a problem in our state and national forests. In Orange County, many cities and communities have increased budgets to remove diseased or dying trees. U.C. Irvine recently removed 1,000 trees on its campus that were attacked by invasive beetles as a result of the drought. "Many tree species cannot adapt to the sudden shock of cutting off or severely limiting their irrigation supply," said Harvest's Doug Kokesh, a 22-year certified arborist and natural resource specialist who has worked extensively with public agencies such as the Arizona State Land Department, Humboldt State University, and multiple municipalities throughout California to manage urban and natural forests. "Trees that are accustomed to regular lawn watering can become stressed when that supply gets reduced, even by 25 percent," Kokesh said. "This makes them more susceptible to pests and disease. We're seeing a growing need for triage in some of the properties we manage, removing dead trees, trimming infected limbs and revising irrigation systems to ensure those still surviving get the water they need at the roots." Some of the most common varieties exhibiting noticeable effects due to the drought and secondary invaders in Orange County include: Liquidambar, Sycamore, Ash, and multiple conifer species (specifically, pines, cedars and redwood), Kokesh said. He offered these tips to help ensure tree health and beauty: · Water slowly to allow all water to permeate the soil and reach the roots. · Periodically test soil around the tree's dripline (shade area) to ensure that the soil is moist up to 8 inches down. · Wrap a soaker hose in a spiral pattern around the trunk moving out to the dripline. (You can remove grass in this area and cover the hose with mulch to help keep the ground moist.) Harvest Landscape Enterprises Inc. is an Orange County leader in conserving water and creating award-winning sustainable landscapes. Named by Landscape Management Magazine two years in a row as one of the nation's top 150 green companies, the company specializes in large-scale landscape maintenance and renovation projects. It has saved clients millions of gallons of water and millions of dollars in irrigation costs. About Harvest Landscape Enterprises, Inc. Harvest Landscape Enterprises, Inc. is one of Orange County's largest family-owned landscape maintenance companies, servicing more than 10,000 acres in the region. The company specializes in resource efficiency, sustainable landscape practices and systematic maintenance for long-term savings. For information, visit www.hlei.us or call 714-283-4298. End
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