BOOK REVIEW Tree Doctor’s guide is worth picking up

The Tree Doctor: A Guide to Tree Care and Maintenance, 2nd Ed. Authors: Daniel Prendergast and Erin Prendergast Publisher: Firefly Books. Published: February 27, 2017 Softcover book, 160 pages. Price: $19.95 Special to The Okanagan Weekend

“Trees benefit all areas of life . . . trees have the power to quiet our souls and to connect us to one another.”

Daniel Prendergast, a practising aborist for 20 years, certified member of the International Society of Aboriculture and arborist for the city of Mississauga, together with his sister, Erin Prendergast, chief of staff for the Art Gallery of Ontario, have published a second edition of their successful and comprehensive book on proper tree care.

This book is a good resource for both the urban gardener and the tree-growing novice. It covers all the essentials of how to plant a tree, choose the right environment, look after it and when to call a professional (arborist) in seven straight forward chapters.

The chapters, themselves, cover the topics: Benefits of Trees; Tree Selection and Placement; Planting and Care; Pruning; Diagnosing Tree Problems; Protecting your trees from damage; Hiring an Arborist.

Additional information, included in the book, is a wonderful list of arboretums and gardens to visit trees in their natural environment throughout North America.

The book is easy to read, with accessible page side panels that highlight good advice for tree care. The diagrams and illustrations of trees, leaf shape and correct pruning techniques are clear, concise and very useful to any growers of trees.

An invaluable resource is found under the heading Tree and Shrub Suitability Guide. Trees and shrubs are divided into categories covering such basics as trees for sandy soil, wet soil, shade, and flowering. But perhaps more useful and an indication of the requirements of an urban tree planter is the tree list for low maintenance, messy, invasive, salt tolerant, pollution tolerant and intolerant landscape trees.

With extra thought and planning, this book helps the tree purchaser make decisions that should enable them to “maintain a healthy tree” and grow something beautiful in the space and location they have available.

The final chapter in the book focuses on the often overlooked topic of hiring an arborist. All gardeners can learn the basics of proper tree and shrub care such as planting, pruning, monitoring damage and potential disease or pest infestations but everyone should be aware that safety must also come first with the proper management of a tree.

“Hiring an arborist is an important decision for the homemaker to make . . . proper tree care is an investment. Poorly maintained trees can be a significant liability.”

When and how to contact an arborist is a takeaway piece of advice that all gardeners should consider and is an integral part of this book.

I would recommend this book on tree care to all local gardeners in the Okanagan who are looking for advice on what kind of tree to plant, how to maintain tree health for many years to come and how to improve their landscapes for both their own enjoyment and for that of the local community.

Rachael Fleming is an Okanagan Master Gardener and is a member of the Kelowna Garden Club.