Find a safe tree?

**Ramblinrev** · 07-12-2014, 10:52

I have no knowledge of this item so I'll just throw it out there and see what happens. I found this while looking for pest control alternatives.

http://www.bugspraycart.com/equipmen...stress-glasses

They are glasses that supposedly allow you to see any trees that are under stress. The idea is they filter out the green and you can tell where the stress is. Sounds interesting for avoiding those trees that look okay but really aren't. Any body know anything about them?

**Beast 71** · 07-13-2014, 11:41

I hope they work better than these;xray-ads.jpg

Don't even get me started on my disappointment with "Sea Monkeys".

**Ramblinrev** · 07-13-2014, 11:45

That was kind if my thought, but the site seems legit.

**ntxkayakr** · 07-13-2014, 13:17

Some species of trees are far more susceptible to insect, fungal and viral infestations. I have made friends with various arborists, people in forestry and tried to learn as much as possible about the trees in my region. With some practice you should be able to spot an individual tree or species that may pose a danger. Some trees have higher/lower levels of chlorophyll but are still healthy, those glasses would be fun to play with. Is the sun still bright when you get to your campsite?

My region is totally different than yours but I avoid cottonwood and pecan. Also oak with signs of "oak wilt virus". NW and much of West would be those Beatles I assume, native and Asian not the ones that came over from Liverpool in the 1960's.

**f k** · 07-14-2014, 16:10

http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/programs/im...s_report.shtml

At least a little info. i cant say if it is good or bad though.

**samiam2714** · 07-15-2014, 18:10

from a parks professional point of view I have a pair of those I pull out at work occasionally. It does show plant stress fairly well. However if you are sort of a plant noob its difficult to tell which are fine and which are stressed. Polarized sunglasses work better to show the stress IHMO.

**MAD777** · 07-15-2014, 18:17

Will my Superman X-ray glasses work?
Sorry I just couldn't resist

**ntxkayakr** · 07-15-2014, 19:03

Those photos from the US Forest Service are very cool, but I imagine even better in person, some things are difficult to reproduce on a photo or digital image.
In my neighborhood I have observed several trees in obvious stress over about 20 years, their leaves are lighter green than others of similar species but they struggle on. Having volunteered may hours with the county horticulture agent, taken many classes and read a lot on the topic, personal interest and to answer Master Gardener helpline, I have an educated guess. I think the cause for several of these is that they are East Texas Red Oak sub species that grow better in acidic soil not the alkaline soil they were transplanted into.
So question is: are their branches weaker or stronger due to this tough life they have lived due to a clueless homeowner who wanted a cheap tree from East TX?
The fast growing ornamental pear trees fall apart, I.e. drop branches like pathetic weaklings every strong windstorm but their leaves are dark green and healthy. I took many photos of them for power point slide shows (another Master Gardener event) and labeled them the most expensive tree you can plant, with list of emergency tree removal cost and insurance cost to crushed car, house etc. Great fun, so bottom line is glasses can be a good tool but it is a complicated science, common sense is key.