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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Here is a LANTA bulletin that has
been circulating relating to the topic of winter kill on the prairies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'><img width=288 height=166 id="Picture_x0020_2"
src="cid:image005.jpg@01CB17BF.1A292E90" alt=ForTreeslogocolour><img width=235
height=100 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image006.jpg@01CB17BF.1A292E90"
alt="TC_logo_English"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'>Gerard Fournier<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'>Board Certified Master Arborist #PR-0130BT<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'>Tree Canada Community Advisor-Southern Alberta<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'>President<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'>For Trees Company Ltd.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'>1-877-390-TREE (Alberta toll-free)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'><a href="http://www.fortrees.ca/"><span style='color:blue'>http://www.fortrees.ca</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Cheryl - LANTA Administration
[mailto:admin@landscape-alberta.com] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> June-29-10 10:34 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Cheryl - LANTA Administration<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Tree Mortality Information Bulletin - Version 2<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>To:
LANTA Members<span style='color:#1F497D'>:</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Below,
and attached printable pdf, is an updated <b>Tree Mortality Information
Bulletin</b>. We have built upon the first Bulletin sent last week and now
included more details about plant dormancy, the effects of weather and weather data
from across Alberta during the time in question. We hope you can use this
information when discussing the subject with your clients. (Thanks to all
members who provided feedback to the first bulletin – much appreciated.) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:blue'>PLANT INFORMATION BULLETIN - HIGH MORTALITY IN URBAN TREES<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Urban
tree and shrub mortality rates in Alberta have spiked this year due to a
combination of weather events that occurred between September 2009 and May
2010.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>What
happened to cause such an increased loss of plants? The answer is not an easy
one to explain as there are many factors to take into consideration. Plants are
complex organisms and a basic understanding of their physiology is needed
before an explanation as to why so many “prairie hardy” plants did
not survive the 2010 spring season. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:black'>The life of trees occurs in cycles. In early spring, as days begin
to get longer and the weather is warmer, the tree is pulling all of its energy
together for growth. As the weather continues to warm the tree begins to grow
rapidly, taking advantage of the long days and optimum sunlight. For most
trees, growth ceases by August. From this point until fall, the objective of
the tree is to prepare for winter. During fall, a tree stores up food and
energy reserves - everything that is needed for next spring's growth. Between
fall and spring is the period known as <b>dormancy</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:black'>What is dormancy? It is a period when the tree's physical life
cycle is temporarily stopped to help the tree minimize metabolic activity. </span><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Plants prepare
themselves for dormancy by going through a process termed “<b>hardening
off</b>,” which is triggered in plants by the gradual decrease in
day-time temperatures and the length of daylight (photoperiod). Within the
plant, chlorophyll production slowly decreases, antifreeze proteins develop and
leaves prepare to drop (abscission). This is known as <b>predictive dormancy</b>
and </span><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>occurs
when an organism enters a dormant phase <i>before</i> the onset of adverse
conditions. </span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'> As
you will read later, changing the environmental conditions around the tree may
alter the time of year when it goes into dormancy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:black'>When spring approaches, dormancy begins to come to an end and the
physiological process is reversed. Metabolic activity begins again triggered by
lengthening daylight and a gradual increase in temperature. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:black'>It is the period between fall and the following spring that is of
interest in the examination of tree mortality, especially the period just
before the onset of dormancy and the period when dormancy is broken in
spring. </span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>As
mentioned above there are many factors that influence when a tree enters the
dormancy period, one of which is temperature. (Other factors may include stress
and too much water/fertilizer applied prior to leaf drop.) In an average season
the reduction in temperature during fall (September/October) is gradual. If,
however, temperatures are above or below ‘average’ this may have an
impact as to when and how well a tree enters its dormant period. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Temperatures
across Alberta in September 2009 were well-above average and this would have
had an influence on some plants not fully “<b>hardening off</b>”
before the cold weather arrived. In other words, the onset of dormancy would
have been retarded. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>For
this bulletin, temperatures were reviewed in Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Red Deer,
Calgary and Lethbridge. The highest temperatures recorded for September 2009
were: Grande Prairie 28C, Edmonton 33C, Red Deer 33C, Calgary 32C and
Lethbridge 33C. The mean maximum temperature in these five locations was 6.6C
above the combined average of 13.6C.*<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>The
above average warm weather continued into the first week of October 2009 and
then in all locations plunged to well below 0C. The sub-zero temperatures
lasted for a week and were accompanied by strong winds – combined this is
called an <b>advective freeze. </b>The lowest temperatures recorded during this
period were: Grande Prairie -9C, Edmonton -10C, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Red
Deer -14C, Calgary -16C and Lethbridge -17C. The mean minimum temperature in
these five locations was -7.2C below the combined average of +5C.*<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>The
late onset of dormancy, caused by late fall warm weather and the sudden and
extreme drop in temperatures will have had an impact on the physiology of some
plants and may have caused extensive tissue damage. This is called </span><b><span
lang=EN style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Consequential
dormancy</span></b><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>
and occurs when organisms enter a dormant phase <i>after</i> adverse conditions
have arisen. This is what, in our opinion, we believe happened in October 2009
– as indicated by leaves frozen in-situ on some plants. The result of the
tissue damage was not seen until this past spring, when many plants failed to
break dormancy as they normally would. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>A
compounding factor in some tree & shrub mortality are adverse weather
conditions during late winter and early spring periods when plants are coming out
of dormancy. Plant growth in spring is stimulated by lengthening daylight hours
and slowly increasing temperatures. If temperatures rise too quickly and too
early in the dormancy cycle, some plants may begin cell growth too soon. If
temperatures drop below freezing after cell development begins, tissue damage
is therefore possible. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Weather
records indicate that this did happen in most locations this past spring,
although it is difficult to know whether this is when the cell damage occurred
or whether it was during the fall conditions noted above. Regardless, when
combined with all these environmental conditions, many plants were unable to
survive and leaf-out this spring. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Another
contributing cause of tree mortality is drought. Although 2010 has so far been
wet, successive dry years since 2001 have taken a significant toll on a number
of tree species throughout the province. Many drought-stressed trees (ash in
particular) have also been attacked by an insect called the cottony psyllid </span><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>(<i>Psyllopsis
discrepans</i>) </span><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>and
this has further contributed to some tree mortality. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Why
do some plants on the same street, even within the same species, have no
problem surviving </span><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:
"Comic Sans MS"'>extreme weather conditions while others don’t? As a
living organism each one will react differently to environmental conditions
– it could be genetics, location, injury, stress or even how it was
maintained that contributes to how well it survives. Even plant scientists who
conduct research into plant hardiness find the answer to this question challenging.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Please
contact your local garden centre, contractor or plant supplier for more
information.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>*
Weather data provided by Weather Underground<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Landscape
Alberta Nursery Trades Association (LANTA)</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>200,
10331-178 Street, Edmonton </span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Alberta,
T5S 1R5 Canada</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Phone:
1-800-378-3198. 780-489-1991</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Fax:
780-444-2152</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><a href="http://www.landscape-alberta.com"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.landscape-alberta.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:green'>2010 Green Industry Show & Conference</span></strong><span
lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:green'>Edmonton Expo Centre </span></strong><span
lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:green'>November 18th & 19th 2010</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><a href="http://www.greenindustryshow.com"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:green'>www.greenindustryshow.com</span></a></span><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><span
lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This
communication is intended for the use of the recipient to which it is
addressed, and may contain confidential, personal, and or privileged
information. Please contact us immediately if you are not the intended
recipient of this communication, and do not copy, distribute, or take action
relying on it. Any communication received in error, or subsequent reply, should
be deleted or destroyed</span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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