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Abscisic acid helps.
tree care from keeping trees out of power lines
longer to keeping a suburban lawn tree at a reasonable size. It turns out that gibberellic acid is
made from some of the same base compounds
as other plant hormones like abscisic acid. So by
reducing the amount of gibberellic acid that the
tree is producing,we are increasing the amount of
abscisic acid.This slower-growing tree will be
putting more energy into root production than
shoot production, and with the increased abscisic
acid it can be more responsive to urban tree stress
conditions.Treated trees show less scorch,and this
is becoming one of the tools arborists employ to
combat drought.
Drought stress is a very serious condition for
urban trees,which are already dealing with hotter
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and drier conditions than their counterparts in the
natural forest.Will 2013 return to average precipitation levels or be another drought year?
Unfortunately,it is impossible to say for sure;but we
do know that not many climate experts predict
more rain and cooler temperatures any time soon.
Fortunately,with the help of tree care professionals and better-educated homeowners, drought is
a condition that can be managed,and the stress on
trees can be reduced.Now we just need everyone
to pray for rain this summer.
Brandon M. Gallagher Watson is director of
communications at Rainbow Treecare Scientific
Advancements, and is an ISA Certified Arborist
(#MN-4086A).
Arbor Age / July/August 2013
15
