Division IV.6 Phases to be monitored
United Kingdom
In principle, all phenological phases are of interest for phenological monitoring. However, from the practical point of view (e.g. financial input, ease and reliability of the monitoring, European-wide comparability, compatibility with other surveys like Crown Condition) it is necessary to concentrate on a limited set of phases and on the major species or groups of species.
A distinction is made between conifers and broad-leaved species:
| Conifers | Broad-leaved species |
|---|---|
| Needle appearance | Leaf unfolding |
| Lammas shoots | Secondary flushing |
| Flowering | Flowering |
| Autumn coloring | |
| Leaf death and leaf fall |
For the flowering phase, only the beginning of opening of the male flowers (characterised by pollen shed) is to be recorded, whereas the other phases are to be recorded quantitatively. In addition, damage to needles, leaves or flowers caused by late frost in spring should also be recorded, as well as its intensity. The definitions and determinations of the individual phases are described hereafter.