Plsc 485/685 - Arboriculture Science

PLSC 485/685 - ARBORICULTURE SCIENCE Spring Semester, 2006 Course Syllabus
3 credits

Instructor:		Dr. Dale E. Herman Room 266E Loftsgard Hall Phone: 231-8477

Text:		Arboriculture, Integrated Management of Landscape Trees, Shrub and Vines; Harris, R.W., J.R. Clark and N.P. Matheny; Prentice Hall; 4th Edit.; 2004; 578 pp.

Additional References: Pirone’s Tree Maintenance; Hartman, J.R., T.P. Pirone and M.A. Sall; Oxford University Press; 7th Edit.; 2000; 545 pp. Establishment and Maintenance of Landscape Plants; Whitcomb, C.E.; Lacebark, Inc.; 1991; 638 pp.

I.	Course Description: Physiological/environmental principles involved in woody plant stem and root growth, transplanting, moisture and soil needs, mulching, fertilization, pruning and other plant health care and landscape management principles.

II.	Objectives: a) To acquaint students with the arboriculture and landscape management industries. b) To expose students to the vast amount of information needed concerning physiological and environmental principles involved in woody plant growth, plant health care and landscape management. c) To challenge students to keep abreast of current arboricultural research so that valid decisions can be made in woody plant health care by landscape management personnel.

III.	Educational Philosophy: Various opportunities are provided in this course to expand student learning. First, it is important that students attend all lectures. The text should be purchased by all students. Additional lecture handout materials are provided and other information may be supplied on reserve. Students also gain points by attending arboricultural/woody plant related conference presentations during the semester and (two hands-on pruning labs?). A specialized arboricultural report provides an additional learning opportunity and summaries will be distributed to all students. Graduate students also complete a more in-depth arboricultural paper.

IV.	Course Outline and Text Assignments:
	I.	Introduction - Chap. 1 (plus reading materials) A. Arboriculture (Arborist) - Definitions B. A Changing Field C. References D. Educational Needs and Employment Opportunities E. Benefits and Value of Trees - Chap. 5 F. Establishing Values of Trees and Other

	II.	Tree Structure, Function, and Physiology - Chap. 2 (plus illustrated and reading materials)
		A	. Meristems
		B.	Cross Section of Trunk
			1.	Bark Composition
			2.	Xylem or Wood a. Sapwood b. Heartwood
			3.	Annual Rings a. Springwood b. Summerwood

		C.	Stem or Shoot Growth
			1. 2.	Periodicity Seasonal Height Growth a. Four patterns of shoot growth - Terms
			3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.	Juvenile and Mature Growth (Foliage, Form) Rate of Height Growth Diameter Growth Role of Hormones in Growth Reproductive Growth Leaves and Fall Coloration Aging Phenomena and Tree Stumps

		D.	Root Structure and Function (reading materials)
			1.	Type a. Tap - Tree examples b. Fibrous - Tree examples (Surface Roots)
			2. 3. 4. 5. 6.	Root Clogging Waterlines or Sewers, Root-Pavement Conflict, Chap. 10, pp. 222-237 Root Hairs and Extent of Root Systems Periodicity of Root Growth and Diameter Growth Root Regeneration (Transplanted Trees) Research on Facilitating Landscape Establishment of Tap Rooted Trees

		E.	Mycorrhizal (Root-Fungus) Association - p. 25 and Chap. 7, pp. 175-180.
			1. 2.	Tree Examples Types of Fungi
				a. Ectocellular b. Endocellular
			3.	Role or Significance

		F.	Allelopathy, Chap. 2, p. 45

	III.	Site Evaluation: Climate and Environment - Chap. 3
		A. B. C. D. E. F.	Temperature Light Moisture Wind Urban Climate Lighting

	IV.	Tree Selection - Chap. 6
		A. B. C. D. E.	Selecting Right Plant Sources and Size Quality Boulevard Trees - Spacing & Location Problems Faced by Urban Trees

	V.	Transplanting Trees - Chap. 8, 9, (handouts and reading materials)
		A.	Importance of Good Transplanting and Selection
			1.	Types of Nursery Stock
		B.	Categorization of Woody Plants Based on Ease of Transplanting
		C.	Dormant Trees are Easiest to Transplant
		D.	Categorization of Woody Plants by Time or Season to Transplant
		E.	Trees with Spring Dormancy Problems and Vice Versa
		F.	Safe Out-of-Season Digging
		G.	Preparing Trees for Transplanting - Root Pruning
		H.	Digging Trees
			1. Bare Root (Is BR Transplanting a Dying Art?)
			2. Soil Ball (Balled & Burlapped)
				a. Weight of Soil Balls
		I.	Tree Spades or Moving Machines
			1. Different Types or Brands on Market 2. Precautions and Limitations of Tree Spades
		J.	Planting and Setting the Tree (Plant With Nature)
		K.	Staking/Guying Newly Planted Trees - A Controversial Practice - Chap. 8, pp. 192-201, 360.
		L.	Pruning Recommendations - Also Controversial
		M.	Watering - Chap. 13
		N.	Mulching - Chap. 7, pp. 162-175
		O.	Wrapping Trunk to Inhibit Sunscald Injury -- Not without Problems
			1.	Species Recommendations
		P.	Rodent and Deer Control, p. 486
		Q.	Fertilization - Chap. 12
		R.	Anti-Transpirants - Chap. 13, p. 331-332

	VI.	Brief Overview of Soil and Water and their Relation to Trees - Chap. 4,12,13
		A.	Importance and Components
		B.	Aeration
			1.	Waterlogging, Flooding -- Trees surviving under poor aeration - Chap. 10, p. 253
		C.	Moisture Requirement of Trees
			1.	High, Intermediate, Drought Tolerant
		D.	pH (Soil Reaction)
			1.	Tree Preference
				a. Acid pH needed
				b. Slightly alkaline pH satisfactory
				c. Alkaline and/or salt tolerant trees
		E.	Soil as an Anchor
		F.	Soil Improvement

	VII.	Nutrient and Water Management - Chap. 12 and Handout
		A.	Importance or Rationale
		B.	Brief Review of Elements and Fertilizers
		C.	Recommendation of Fertilizer Rates and Four Methods of Determination Used
		D.	Methods of Application for Root Uptake
			1.	Determination of Feeding Root Area
			2.	Surface Application
			3.	Punch-bar or Perforation Feeding
				a. Computation of Fertilizer per Hold
			4.	Compressed Air Feeding
			5.	Feeding Needles (Ross Root Feeder)
		E.	When to Fertilize
		F.	Fertilizing Narrow-leaved Evergreens
		G.	Fertilizing Broad-leaved Evergreens
		H.	Foliar Feeding
		I.	Jobe's Tree Food Spikes
		J.	Medicaps
		K.	Other Methods

	VIII.	Pruning and Control of Plant Growth - Chap. 14
		A.	Reasons for and Types of Pruning
		B.	Pruning Equipment
		C.	Pruning Practices
			1.	Flush Cut Technique - not recommended
			2.	Proper Removal of Large Branches
			3.	Proper Removal of V-Crotches
			4.	Dehorning
			5.	Pollarding
			6.	Pruning Suckers and Watersprouts
			7.	Pruning Storm Damaged Trees
			8.	Pruning for Disease Control
			9.	Pruning for Line Clearance (Types)
			10.	Pruning Transplanted Trees
				a. Thinning
				b. Heading Back
			11.	Pruning Practices for Deciduous Trees and/or Shrubs
				a. Shade Trees
				b. Screening Trees
				c. Clump or Multiple Stem Trees
				d. Shrubby Trees
				e. Specimen and Weeping Trees
				f. Small Flowering Trees
				g. Shrubs (special procedures)
				h. Old-Overgrown Shrubs
				i. Hedges - Informal and Formal
				j. Proper Timing
			12.	Pruning Practices for Conifers
				a. Trees
				b. Shrubs
				c. Proper Timing
		D.	Use and Disposal of Prunings
		E.	Chemical Control of Plant Growth - Chap. 15

	IX.	Preventive Maintenance and Repair - Chap. 17
		A.	Wound Treatment
			1.	Callousing and Compartmentalization
			2.	Dressings - Pro's and Con's
		B.	Cavity Development
		C.	Objectives and Methods of Treatment
			1.	Covering Cavities
			2.	Filling Cavities
			3.	Materials Used
		D.	Bracing and Cabling
			1.	Need for Artificial Support
			2.	Types of Artificial Support
				a. Rigid (Rods)
				b. Flexible (Cables)
			3.	Methods of Installation
			4.	Equipment and/or Hardware

	X.	Tree Hazard Management - Chap. 16

	XI.	Diagnosing Plant Problems - Chap. 18
		A.	Noninfectious Injuries/Disorders - Abiotic
			1.	Grade Changes
				a. Soil Fills
				b. Lowering Grades
			2.	Slime Flux - Types
			3.	Low Temperature Injury - Types and High Temperatures
				a. Control
			4.	Lightning Injury
			5.	Gas Injury - Soil
			6.	Girdling Roots
			7.	Atmospheric Pollutants
			8.	Chemical Injuries; e.g., Pesticides
			9.	Mechanical Injury and Storm Damage
			10.	Leaf Scorch
			11.	Chlorosis/Nutrient Deficiencies
			12.	Other Miscellaneous Injuries
		B.	Infectious Diseases (Biotic)

	XII.	Plant Health Care and Integrated Plant Management - Chap. 19

V.	Student Evaluation: Exam coverage begins where previous exam coverage ended. Any exceptions will be announced in class. No make-up test will be allowed without prior approval by the instructor.
		2 - 100 point exams			200
		3 - 30 point quizzes			80
		Final - 150 points			150
		Short report on a specialized arboricultural topic approved by instructor.
			See handout for information		50
					480	points
	Attendance at three conference or other presentations,
		@ 6 pts each.			18	points
	Note! Master Gardener updates, Jan. 24 & Jan 31, 2006, Fargo; NDNGA meeting January 30 - 31, 2006 at the Ramada Plaza Suites, Fargo; and Midwest Chap. - ISA, Feb. 21 - 23, 2006 at the RamKota Hotel, Bismarck. (Other meetings and dates will be announced in class.)
	Two hands-on pruning labs (tentative)				?	points
			Total		498?	points
	Graduate students must prepare a typed 10-12 page research term paper on a selected arboriculture-related topic. A minimum of 10-12 references must be cited properly. Obtain approval of topic by
	instructor. Review literature in depth.				100	points
			Total		598?	points

VI.	Grading:
		90 to 100 % A			60 to < 70% D
		80 to < 90% B			< 60% F
		70 to < 80% C

VII.	Cancellations: A university cancellation of a class meeting time automatically delays all scheduled activities (lecture or test) to the next regularly scheduled meeting time.

VIII.	Special Needs: Any students with disabilities or special needs in this class are invited to share with the instructor the first week of class so that such needs can be accommodated.

IX.	Dishonesty: The College of Agriculture operates under “The Honor System” which believes that a student has the privilege and the obligation to perform honestly and responsibly. An indication of dishonesty will be referred to The Honor Commission governed by students. Students must sign the College of Agriculture Honor Pledge at the end of each exam.