Sat Feb 11 2012
Dave Leonard, one of only three board certified arborists in Kentucky, was the speaker at the May meeting of The Garden Club of Frankfort. His topic was “Healthy Trees for a Healthy Environment.” Leonard graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1974 with a degree in forestry.
Trees provide a multitude of personal and social benefits and are significant assets that add to property values. They enhance the environment in which we live by moderating climate, improving air quality, conserving water and harboring wildlife. It has even been shown that hospital patients recovered from surgery more quickly when their hospital room offered a view of trees.
These are some things to consider when adding trees to your landscape.
Proper selection of plant material
In selecting a tree there are many things to evaluate and it’s vitally important that you take the time to investigate. Some questions you need to ask yourself include:
>Why is a tree needed – shade, screen, seasonal color, etc.?
>What space is available? Take into account overhead and underground utilities, clearance necessary for sidewalks, patios, driveways and existing trees and hardscape.
>What type of soil condition is there – well drained, compacted, fertile?
>What type of maintenance is required like the amount of water and fertilizer needed and pruning requirements?
>Is the exposure appropriate – sun, shade, wind?
If you have difficulty answering any of these questions on your own, contact your local county extension agent, garden center or an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture for assistance.
Proper planting procedure
As a rule, trees should be planted no deeper than the soil in which they were originally grown. The width of the hole should be at least three times the diameter of the root ball. This will provide the tree with enough worked earth for its root structure to establish itself.
Fertilizer should be applied not only in the hole, but also around the hole as well to promote root expansion. Spikes and tablets are not as effective as a granular fertilizer and compost is the best fertilizer of all.
Maintenance
Mulching is of great benefit to a newly planted tree. Take care, however, not to pile it around the trunk as this will allow moisture to be trapped against the tree, leading to cankers and splits. A completed mulching should resemble a doughnut, with the hole of the doughnut represented by an area about 6-8” just around the trunk.
The wider the outer ring of mulch the greater the benefit. Mulch out to the tree’s drip line if possible. Two to four inches deep is plenty. Too much can create a matted barrier that prevents the penetration of water and air.
Ground cover plants may also be used to “mulch” under the drip line of trees. Some suggested groundcovers include pachysandra, liriope, hosta, lily of the valley and ferns. English Ivy, Vinca minor and Wintercreeper euonymous should be avoided as they will rapidly attach themselves and climb the trunk of the tree, creating an unsightly mass in the trees and eventually smothering them.
Pruning is important to maintain the health of a tree. The sooner it is started the better in order to establish a strong structure. Topping is perhaps the most harmful tree pruning practice known. Yet despite more than 25 years of literature and seminars explaining its harmful effects, topping remains a common practice.
The most common reason given for topping is to reduce the size of a tree. Initially this topping procedure stimulates growth and may create the impression that the tree has responded well. What has actually happened is that the severity of the pruning triggers a sort of survival mechanism. The tree activates latent buds, forcing the rapid growth of multiple shoots (sometimes as much as 20 feet in one year in some species) below each cut.
The energy reserves required to do this seriously weaken the tree. The tree is also unable to “heal” the multiple severe wounds caused by topping. The decay organisms are given a free path to move down through the branches. Topped trees are prone to breaking and can be hazardous. Since topping is considered to be an unacceptable pruning practice, any damage caused by branch failure of a topped tree may lead to a finding of negligence in a court of law.
A topped tree also is no longer considered an aesthetic enhancement to your property. Topping destroys the natural form of a tree, leaving ugly stubs. A tree that has been topped can never fully regain its natural form. There are times when a tree must be reduced in height or spread. There are recommended techniques for doing this. An arborist can determine what type of pruning is necessary to improve the health, appearance and safety of your trees.
Tending to the health of your trees in many respects parallels human health care. Try to provide your trees with regular check-ups. Several times during the growing season (usually every 3 to 6 weeks) make it a point to check out your tree for health and vigor and freedom from pest damage. Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Leonard suggests that adding a tree to your property truly is “going out on a limb.” It is a commitment that needs to have been well thought out with the understanding that it will require your care and attention for years to come.
Dave Leonard is president of Dave Leonard Consulting Arborist, Inc., www.dlarborist.com.
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