The Press-Dispatch

The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, December 18, 2013 A-7 Working parents and the holidays By Betsy Van Dorn One of the great things about being a kid is the number of vacation days you get. One of the not-sogreat things about being a working parent is figuring out how to accommodate those you don't get—like the days between Christmas and New Year's, for example. What strategies might work for you? Working parents have different schedules. If you're not taking a certain day off, a colleague or friend may be at home with a child or two. Think in terms of mutual benefits. . . maybe that person would welcome an extra playmate in return for their offspring spending a weekend overnight stay at your house. Don't overlook the obvious: Community agencies such as the Y's, park and recreation departments, synagogues and churches increasingly offer day care for various holidays and school vacations. If your child balks at the prospect of a totally strange setting, then get a best friend or daycare buddy to go along. Know any trustworthy college students who are home from school? With the expenses of the holidays looming ahead, they may well be looking to earn extra cash. And for many, it's a treat to shrug off their newly acquired sophistication and hang with the rug rats. It's not too late to put together a small group of parents who can rotate child care in their homes for holidays, for professional development afternoons at school, or other occasions when families find themselves casting about for child care. Your commitment to stay home for one day is a good trade-off for peace of mind on the other three or four. If you have a friend or relative to look after the kids on these occasions, know how lucky you are. Santa takes requests Chaz Lough uses his hands to help explain what he wants to Santa. Chaz got to talk to Santa at Marge's Hallmark in Petersburg during the Holly Walk on Saturday. Tree Pruning to ANSI Standards You and your landscape trees have made it through another season-drought, insects, or early leaf drop might have been the battles you had to fight for months ... at least as far as your trees are concerned. You may think that because the now dormant, leafless trees have made it this far into the calendar, you can now breathe easy. Think again! With winter storms approaching, hazards in trees should be removed now—before they damage property or the tree. Winter is a great time to examine the stability and health of your trees, say tree care experts. Why? With the leaves off, cracks, defects and deadwood are easier to see. "Most trees can be pruned year-round, if pruned properly," says Tchukki Andersen, BCMA, CTSP* and staff arborist for the Tree Care Industry Association. "And certain operations are easier to do in the winter, if the ground is frozen or the tree is not actively growing." Some homeowners worry that arborists will not be able to determine deadwood on a tree when the leaves are off. "On the contrary," says Andersen. "This is the best time for an arborist to locate deadwood by looking for changes in branch color, fungus growth, cracks, and other symptoms that can help them make this determination. Since the leaves are off, the view of the entire tree's architecture is clear and a thorough check can be performed." Pruning is much more than the simple act of sawing off limbs. Proper pruning is an art based on scientific principles of plant physiology. At its most basic level, pruning trees involves removing damaged, dead or structurally weak limbs, which will improve a tree's health and reduce the chances of personal or property damage caused by falling limbs. More advanced pruning methods aid in improving the tree's structure and long-term health. Proper pruning encourages growth, increases flower and fruit production, improves plant health, andremoves damaged limbs, all which give aesthetic appeal to a tree. Pruning at the right time and in the right way is critical, since it is possible to kill a tree through neglect or over-pruning. How can a homeowner know if an arborist will prune a tree correctly? "Ask the arborist if they prune according to the American National Standards Institute standard for tree pruning, which is called ANSI A300," says Andersen. This standard recommends, and in some cases requires, that the use of certain tools, cutting techniques and pruning methods be followed, and sets the standard definitions for terms the arborist will use in your estimate. Properly written work estimates for tree pruning should be written in accordance with ANSI A300 standards. In addition to the information given on the work estimate, ANSI A300 sets some guidelines for basic pruning practices that arborists should follow. Arborists adhering to the ANSI A300 pruning standard will: •  not leave branch stubs •  make few or no heading cuts •  not cut off the branch collar (not make a flush cut) •  not top or lion's tail trees (stripping a branch from the inside leaving foliage just at the ends) •  not remove more than 25 percent of the foliage of a single branch •  not remove more than 25 percent of the total tree foliage in a single year •  not damage other parts of the tree during pruning •  not use wound paint •  not prune without a good reason •  not climb the tree with climbing spikes Find a professional A professional arborist Sleepin' Angel Farm Products Sold at Bertram's Supply in Winslow Meet & Greet Glenna Stop by Bertram's Supply Sat. Dec. 21, 10 a.m.-1:00 p.m. for FREE Bar of Soap or Lotion! Register for Prizes! Glenna Russo 789-5287 can assess your landscape and work with you to determine the best trees and shrubs to plant for your existing landscape. Contact the Tree Care Industry Association, a public and professional resource on trees and arboriculture since 1938. It has more than 2,000 member companies who recognize stringent safety and performance standards and who are required to carry liability insurance. TCIA has the nation's only Accreditation program that helps consumers find tree care companies that have been inspected and accredited based on: adherence to industry standards for quality and safety; maintenance of trained, professional staff; and dedication to ethics and quality in business practices. An easy way to find a tree care service provider in your area is to use the "Locate Your Local TCIA Member Companies" program. You can use this service by calling 1-800-733-2622 or by doing a ZIP Code search on www.treecaretips.org. 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