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Plant Health Care Newsletter:
Omni Tree Service, Inc.
This is the time of year when we
enthusiastically grab for our
favorite sweaters that have been
hung up and inactive during the
long days of summer. The same
sweaters that are now destined
to catch the smell of log fire
smoke and the ones that keep
away the bite of the much colder
winds blowing in from the
north. These are the days we
take our long weekend hikes in
our Maple, Beech, Oak and
Hickory forests that are ablaze
with a palette of red, purple,
yellow and orange hues.
Have you ever wondered where
these colors come from?
It starts, of course, with leaves.
One of the primary functions of
leaves is to manufacture food,
with each individual leaf
operating as a “solar panel” to
enable photosynthesis. Leaves
contain cells (chloroplasts) that
contain green pigments
(chlorophyll). Sunlight provides
the energy needed to allow the
cells to transform carbon
dioxide and water into food
(carbohydrates) and oxygen.
The food is then allocated to
power several key functions
within the tree, or is stored as
starch in the leaves, branches or
roots for use later on.
With the onset of Autumn with
its shorter days (decreasing
amount of available light) and
cooler temperatures, the trees
start to shut off the production
of chlorophyll to the leaves. As
the amount of chlorophyll
decreases, other accessory
pigments that have always been
there become unmasked and
show up, usually the
xanthophylls (yellow) and
carotenoids (yellow, orange or
red). You can see this in trees
such as White Ash, Birch, Honey
Locust, Kentucky Coffee Tree,
(continued on page 3)
Sassafras tree
Why Do Fall Leaves Change Color?
Jason is the new Plant Health
Care Manager/Consulting
Arborist at Omni Tree Service.
A native of Bournemouth,
England and an extensive
traveler, Jason's first
professional experience with
plants occurred over several
years on a kibbutz (agricultural
project) in Israel.
In the U.S., Jason worked his
way up from landscaping
projects, where his passion and
dedication earned him tutelage
from Vaughn Banting, one of the
foremost bonsai masters in the
United States.
As the greenhouse manager/
horticultural coordinator for Sea
World Orlando, visitors
routinely commented on the
luxurious, unusual hanging
basket displays he designed and
instructed his crew to create. So
much so that he was sent to
(continued on page 2)
Jason Sharman, Plant Health Care Manager
Fall 2012
Omni Tree Service, Inc.
55 Old State Rd.
Ellisville, MO 63021
omnitree@aol.com
(636) 391-9944
Why Do Fall Leaves
Change Color?
1
Jason Sharman, Plant
Health Care Manager
1
Should We Fertilize
Our Trees?
2
Inside this issue:
The Plant Health Care (PHC)
division of Omni Tree
Service is responsible for
tree and shrub fertilization
and insect/disease control
for your shrubs and trees.
A Certified Arborist designs
a PHC program specially for
the individual needs of the
landscape that includes cost-
effective solutions for each
site and client.
These scientific,
research-based
techniques help private
and commercial owners
avoid:
The expense of removal
and replacement
Loss of property value
Exposure to risk of
property damage
Urban stress is unavoidable,
but can be mitigated. KEEP
your tree looking good and
preserve your investment.
PHC is cheaper than being
reactive.
At Omni Tree Care Service
we are committed to your
satisfaction and we
unconditionally guarantee it!
Call for your Plant
Health Care evaluation
today.

Our tree and shrub fertilization
programs are based upon
guidelines that come from the
latest international
arboricultural research. We
constantly seek the best and
most currently available
scientific information in the
development of these
fertilization programs and all of
the other Plant Health Care
programs we offer.
Research has shown that urban
trees will be healthier when
fertilized properly, along with
aeration and watering.
Fertilizing is a critical step in
rebuilding root systems and
replenishing energy reserves. Its
main purpose is not to create
bigger faster-growing trees, but
rather healthier, more vigorous
trees.
The nutrients in the fertilizer we
use are of the highest quality -
low salt, chloride free, slow
release, complying with the
ANSI300 standards for tree
fertilization. In addition to this
we also add a blend of
Mycorrhizal inoculants
combined with humic acids,
biostimulants and beneficial
bacteria for optimal root
development. This increases the
uptake of essential nutrients and
water, increasing the overall
tree/shrub vitality.
Fertilization is one of several
cultural practices that promote
the continuing health and
vitality of landscape plants.
Proper fertilization improves
plant vigor/vitality, makes
leaves grow larger and darker
green, makes trees less
susceptible to certain pest
problems and when combined
with other correct cultural
practices such as proper
watering during hot, dry periods
and correct mulching, will help
trees overcome decline issues.
This past summer’s drought
conditions will most likely have
a long-term effect on the health/
vitality of our trees and shrubs.
We can offer a fertilization
program that can help to
counterbalance the damage
caused by drought stress.
The Value of Trees
 Aesthetically pleasing
 Increases property value
up to 20%
 Provides summer
cooling (up to 50%)
 Allows winter warming
 Enhances privacy
 Obstructs wind
 Provides air filtration
 Creates a sound barrier
Should We Fertilize Our Trees?
Jason with one of his
Bonsai Trees
on the art of bonsai to art
students. Additionally, he
assisted in many controlled
burning programs at the
arboretum and in state parks
throughout Central Florida.
Prior to Omni Tree Service,
Jason was a Plant Health Care
Manager at two other tree
service companies. He continues
to give arboriculture-related
presentations to groups
throughout St. Louis.
Jason is available to meet with
you at your convenience to
discuss a Plant Health Care
program that can best meet your
needs and expectations.
Jason Sharman (continued from page 1)
train other staff in Tampa.
As the horticultural manager at
the University of Central Florida
Arboretum, he created many
firsts: the first biogeographic
gardens, the first public bonsai
display, and the first arboretum
taxonomic catalog. He also
provided plant taxonomy and
biology instruction to
undergraduates, and instruction
Page 2Plant Health Care Newsletter: Omni Tree Service, Inc. Volume 1, Issue 1

Fall Leaves (continued from page 1)
Tulip Tree, Pawpaw, Fringetree,
Hickories, Ginkgo, Persimmon,
Redbud, Zelcova, Yellowwood,
Katsura and Maples - see
sample 1 and 2.
As the chlorophyll
continues to be broken
down and the weather
continues to get colder,
the sugars in the leaves of
some trees become
trapped, providing the
right ingredients for the
red, scarlet and purple
pigments to start showing
up (such as anthocyanins).
These mix with the yellow
and orange pigments,
providing us with the
many bright orange/red
hues we see in trees such
as Sugar Maples - see sample 3
and 4.
With the increasing clear, colder
sunny days and shorter chilly
nights the sugars in the leaves
start to accumulate and as a
result the red colors intensify -
see sample 5 and 6.
Page 3Plant Health Care Newsletter: Omni Tree Service, Inc. Volume 1, Issue 1
Below are some good examples of the yellow to orange pigments:
Shagbark Hickory Sugar Maple Japanese Maple Ginkgo
Below are some good examples of the carotenoids and anthocyanins (orange and red pigments):
Sugar Maple White Oak Scarlet Oak Burning Bush

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