RECAP - CW 09/2025

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 .

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 .

Yeah , for sure , life gets in the way .

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 .

That's right , no need to worry .

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

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

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

Oh , yeah , mistletoe .

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 ?

Yeah , I get it .

But that episode went way beyond that .

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

Oh right , Different species yeah .

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 .

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

It was cool .

And what about the part about the birds ?

Oh yeah .

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 ?

It did for sure .

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

People get heated about mulch .

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 .

Oh yeah , the one by Chalker , scott .

Yeah , that's the one .

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 .

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

Me too .

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

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

Oh yeah , I've heard that one .

Turns out that's not even true .

Really so ? Mulch doesn't attract termites .

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 ?

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 .

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

Right , because the field is constantly evolving .

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 .

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

Oh yeah , the urban trees .

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

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 .

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 ?

Yeah .

Especially with cities growing like they are .

Mm-hmm .

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

To active planning .

And really carefully monitor the trees in our cities .

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 .

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

Right . The right tree for the right place .

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

Oh yeah , Tree stability and wind load .

That episode was like drinking from a fire hose .

So much information .

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

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 .

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 .

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

Exactly .

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

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 .

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 .

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

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

So you got to see the big picture .

Yeah .

Not just one little piece of it .

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

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 .

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 .

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

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 .

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 .

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

Yeah , that's a good point .

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 .

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

it , it is for sure .

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

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 .

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 .

Oh yeah .

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 .

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

Oh , wow .

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 .

Double whammy .

Yeah , a one-two punch .

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

It is , it's alarming for sure .

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 .

Yeah , they really covered all the bases .

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

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 .

Oh , interesting .

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 .

That's encouraging to hear .

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

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

Oh yeah , Tons of good stuff .

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 ?

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 .

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 ?

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

The interconnected .

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

Yeah , oh , I see what you mean .

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 .

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 .

Oh yeah , for sure .

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 .

Right .

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

Oh yeah , that one was packed with info .

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 .

Yeah , it's a lot to take in .

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

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 .

That's so true .

Remember that article about mulch myths .

Oh yeah , that was a good one .

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

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

It happens to the best of us .

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

Right , we have to be the experts .

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

We have .

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

Yeah , a whirlwind tour .

But I think one message came through loud and clear .

What's that ?

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

Holistic and interconnected .

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

All the relationships that support that tree .

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

For the long haul .

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

And your minds even sharper .

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

I couldn't have said it better myself .

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 .

We did our best .

Until next time , happy tree climbing .

Happy climbing everyone .

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 .