On Tue, 28 Jan 2003 08:31:26 -0600, "David H"
wrote:

I just stopped in here first time. I have a service in NW Houston that does
trees "properly". Good to see a promoter of good arborculture hanging out
here. Tell me, Babberny, do you guys have a lot of pine bark beetle there?
We have pines all over the place here turning light green to brown. I've
found beetle larvae in every one of these we've removed a square of bark
from. Ag extension says stressed trees are the ones most often attacked by
bark beetles and our long periods of no rain last summer are partially to
blame. My yard is strictly organic and my pines look great. The property
with the most dying pines are the ones you see bags of organic material out
at the curb every week. No organic material left in soil. Dries out quicker.
Oh welll, soon as weather dries out and gets warm every tree service in
Houston will be getting rich. My best to Austin.

David H.

David,

No, we don't have a problem with the beetles because we don't have any
pines to speak of. Austin soil sits on a bed of limestone and the
resulting alkalinity precludes their success. Bastrop is the closest
pine forest, but I don't know if they have beetles or not.

I'm glad to see there are actual arborists in Houston. In my in-laws'
neighborhood, hiring the lawn guys to strip out trees seems to be the
standard. When I let slip my prices, the Houstonians I talked to just
blinked and moved on.

keith
All Organic Lawn & Tree Service
NW Harris County
281.415.7953



For more info about the International Society of Arboriculture, please visit http://www2.champaign.isa-arbor.com/.
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