Did you know city code requires a permit to attach a light fixture
or anything else to a city owned tree, and for good reason? Light
fixtures attached to trees are difficult and expensive to maintain.
Undetected cables and light fixtures can cause chainsaw kickback and
injury to tree workers. Light fixtures are harmful to the tree as
well.
Driving nails or screws into a tree creates a wound that is an
open pathway for insects, disease, and decay. A tree cannot heal
like people or animals from living tissue beneath the wound. There
is no living tissue on a tree wound. So the tree must cover the
wound with new growth from each side of the injury. Tree
professionals call this wound closure not "healing". Wound
closures can take several years.
When items such as light boxes are left attached to the tree the
wound is not closed until the tree grows completely around the item.
The longer the wound stays open the more opportunity there is for
disease and decay. Decay may not be obvious behind the fixture and
can spread as a column down the limb and trunk. This weakens the
tree’s ability to withstand winds or its own fluctuating weight.
If the tree is successful growing around a forgotten electrical box,
the area becomes a hidden fault inside the tree. The strength of the
area surrounding the item is compromised and is often the site
of failure.
It is also important to note that many insects are attracted to
the scent of fresh tree wounds, such as the Nitidulid beetle that
spreads oak wilt. To help slow the spread of oak wilt, avoid
wounding or pruning red oaks or live oaks from February through
June.
The Forestry Section asks for your support by not attaching light
fixtures or any other items to trees. If you have any questions
regarding tree health contact one of your Foresters at 817 871 5738.
We are always eager to engage in tree talk.
Melinda Adams
City Forester
4200 South Freeway
Suite 2200
Fort Worth, TX 76115-1499
|
|
 |
