Fertilizing Your Trees

You want healthy trees and maybe the first thing that comes to your mind is to add fertilizer. While fertilizer is important, it is not plant food. Plants use water, carbon dioxide, elements from fertilizer, and energy from the sun to produce their own food. While fertilizer can help promote healthy flower production and foliage growth – too much fertilizer can decrease plant health and can lead your trees decline.

There is another reason not to over apply fertilizer and that is due to environmental concerns. Believe it or not, fertilizer can pollute our rivers, streams, lakes, and estuaries.

Over fertilizing your trees, and we say “over” - can increase the likelihood of some plant diseases. Ideally, you want your tree to grow in moderation. A tree that is pushed to grow too fast will have lush, green leaves and shoot growth, they also will become more susceptible to injury by cold in winter, are more likely to be broken during wind and ice storms, and usually will require more pruning than plants making moderate growth.

If your plant looks unhealthy, it is common too assume it just needs fertilizer. Fertilization may be helpful but only after the problem causing poor growth has been corrected. Reasons plants show such symptoms are numerous, they include inadequate soil aeration, moisture, or nutrients; adverse climatic conditions; incorrect pH; or disease. If you have recently transplanted your tree, it is common that the tree will not resume a normal growth rate until the original root system is reestablished. Plants disturbed by construction within the past five to ten years can also go into shock and exhibit limited new foliage growth. Adding fertilizer will not quickly remedy any problem, which is encountered, in many cases it can make existing problems worse. Determine the specific cause in each situation and apply corrective measures first.

What does a plant require? Plants need 17 elements for normal growth. These include carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, which are found in air and water. The nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, and sulfur are absorbed from the soil. The latter six elements are used in relatively large amounts by the plant and are called macronutrients. There are eight other elements that are used by the tree in much smaller amounts; these are called micronutrients or trace elements. The micronutrients include iron, zinc, molybdenum, manganese, boron, copper, cobalt, and chlorine. The nutrients that are most likely to limit plant growth are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

While you understand over fertilizing can hurt your tree, it is still important to fertilize. To fertilize, one must understand why you are fertilizing and what it is you are adding to your tree.

A primary need of a tree is nitrogen. Nitrogen is usually more responsible for increasing plant growth than any other nutrient. Shortages can cause slow growth, reduced leaf size, cause yellowing, short branches, premature fall color and leaf drop. While shortages can cause problems, again, abundance can also cause problems. An over abundance can cause excessive shoot and foliage growth, reduced root growth, low plant food reserves, and increased susceptibility to environmental stresses and some plant diseases.

Nitrogen is a mobile nutrient it is in constant motion. Nitrogen applied to the soil can be used by plants, washed off the soil surface, lost to the air as a gas, or leached through the soil). Nitrogen from granular fertilizer can enter streams from surface runoff. Nitrogen loss is higher when a heavy rain immediately follows a surface application of fertilizer, especially on sloped areas. Incorporating fertilizer into the soil or lightly watering (1/4 to 1/2 inch) after making a surface application will reduce the amount of nitrogen loss.

Phosphorus (P) is also important to trees and plays a role in photosynthesis, respiration, energy storage and transfer, cell division, and cell enlargement. It promotes early root formation and growth, and the production of flowers, fruits, and seeds. When applied as fertilizer, phosphorus is quickly bound by soil particles. Phosphorus is extremely immobile in soils (except sand); it moves about 1 inch from its original placement. Unless phosphorus is incorporated into the soil, watered in, or applied as a band, plants may not be able to use it.

Potassium in involved in many plant growth processes; it is vital to photosynthesis and helps regulate water in plants. Potassium fertilization helps plants overcome drought stress, increases disease resistance, and improves winter hardiness. Potassium can be leached through the soil by water, but not as quickly as nitrogen.

All fertilizers are labeled with three numbers, giving the percentage (by weight) of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P2O5), and potassium (K2O). A 100 pound bag of fertilizer labeled 0-20-10 has 0 pounds of nitrogen, 20 pounds of phosphorus, 10 pounds of potassium, and 70 pounds of filler. Filler is added to make the fertilizer easier to spread and to reduce the likelihood of burning plants with too much fertilizer. A fertilizer may contain secondary nutrients or micronutrients not listed on the label.

Fertilizer applications are used during the growing season to improve the health and appearance of trees. Most deciduous trees should be fertilized once every two to three years. Evergreens may be fertilized in the spring, but less often than deciduous trees.

Since trees have their greatest need for nutrients in the spring, fertilizer should be applied any time between leaf drop in the fall and leafing out in the spring. The health and vigor of a tree may be improved by fertilizers up to July 1. Beyond that time, new growth stimulated by the fertilizer may not have sufficient time to harden off before winter.

Trees growing in naturalized areas where little or no mowing takes place and leaves are not collected usually will not need regular fertilizing.

The fertilizer should be spread evenly over the entire root zone which can extend two to three times the width of the branches. Remember that some of the root zone may have already been fertilized when fertilizer was applied to the lawn or flower bed. Sprinkle the fertilizer on top of the soil or mulch and water lightly. Since the fertilizer will quickly move through the mulch there is no need to remove it or to place the fertilizer below it. Spread the fertilizer evenly under the branches. Dumping fertilizer in one spot can caused the roots below the fertilizer to be burned and die. Apply fertilizer when the foliage is dry so the fertilizer does not stick to plant foliage and cause burning. If fertilizer lodges in the whorls of plant foliage, use a broom to brush the fertilizer off.

Fertilizing doesn’t have to be complicated, just remember not to use it as a cure-all when your plant is looking a little off.

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

Trees Social and Economical Value

When we think of trees, we think of their beauty or their environmental benefits, what few of us realize is their benefits to our well being or even how they can help us financially. Yes financially. It has been proven that trees can actually increase property values. Why? Possibly because of all their social benefits, the way they help cool our homes and save us energy or break up the wind, keeping our homes warmer in the winter.

So now you may be asking, how are trees beneficially helpful to our well-being? To start,
imagine your community without trees? Any trees at all. It is difficult. Do you have trees at your place of work? The University of Cambridge did a study on job satisfaction of employees of business with a view of trees from their office. They found that these employees suffered from fewer diseases than workers without a view of trees.

Trees are helpful to children who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD. Kids with ADHD have been proven to be calmer, more responsive, and better able to concentrate when in a space with lots of trees.

Knowing how trees add to the environment and well-being of others, having a tree on your property can increase its value by 9 percent. Statistics show that homes with trees are also more attractive to visitors, potential buyers, and neighbors. Neighborhoods with lots of trees also report less crime!

Here are some quick facts on how trees are valuable economically and socially:

• Research shows that shoppers in well-landscaped business districts are willing to pay more for parking and up to 12% more for goods and services.
• Landscaping, especially with trees, can significantly increase property values. Here is one example: A value of 9% ($15,000) was determined in a U.S. Tax Court case for the loss of a large black oak on a property valued at $164,500.
• Trees reduce runoff and erosion from storms by about 7% and reduce the need for erosion control structures. In urban areas with trees, the use of smaller drainpipes can save cities on materials, installation and maintenance.
• Desk workers with and without views of nature were surveyed. Those without views of nature, when asked about 11 different ailments, claimed 23% more incidence of illness in the prior 6 months.
• Amenity and comfort ratings were about 80% higher for a tree-lined sidewalk compared with those for a nonshaded street. Quality of products ratings were 30% higher in districts having trees over those with barren sidewalks.
• In the United States over 200 million cubic yards of urban tree and landscape residue are generated every year.26 Of the 200 million cubic yards of urban tree and landscape residue, 15% is classified as "unchipped logs." If these logs were sawn into boards, they theoretically would produce 3.8 billion board feet of lumber, or nearly 30% of the hardwood lumber produced annually in the United States.
• Views of nature reduce the stress response of both body and mind when stressors of urban conditions are present.
• Trees in urban parks and recreation areas are estimated to improve outdoor leisure and recreation experiences in the United States by $2 billion per year.
• Trees reduce crime. Apartment buildings with high levels of greenery had 52% fewer crimes than those without any trees. Buildings with medium amounts of greenery had 42% fewer crimes.
• Hospital patients recovering from surgery who had a view of a grove of trees through their windows required fewer pain relievers, experienced fewer complications, and left the hospital sooner than similar patients who had a view of a brick wall.
• Americans travel about 2.3 billion miles per day on urban freeways and highways. Studies show drivers exposed to roadside nature scenes had a greater ability to cope with driving stresses.
• Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children are relieved after contact with nature. Specifically, ADHD kids are better able to concentrate, complete tasks, and follow directions after playing in natural settings. The greener the setting, the more relief.
• Trees help girls succeed. On average, the greener a girl’s view from home, the better she concentrates and the better her self-discipline, enabling her to make more thoughtful choices and do better in school.
• Trees and forests in urban areas convey serenity and beauty along a number of sensory dimensions, often surrounding the individual with nature in an environment where natural things are at a premium.

Trees are essential to the life of our planet and our own personal well-being – and if that isn’t good enough, they are economically beneficial as well.

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

Trees and the Environment

We have all heard about how trees help the environment, but do we know how exactly? Metaphorically, trees are like the lungs of the planet. They breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. What does this mean?

Carbon Dioxide or CO2 is one of the major contributing elements to the greenhouse effect. Trees trap CO2 from the atmosphere. Studies have shown that urban forests of the U.S store 800 million tons of. Mature trees can absorb roughly 48 pounds of CO2 a year. The tree in turn releases enough oxygen to sustain two human beings.

In urban areas, trees can help reduce urban runoff and erosion by storing water and breaking the force of rain as it falls. The United States Department of Agriculture says that 100 mature trees can reduce runoff caused by rainfall by up to 100,000 gallons.

Trees have other benefits in urban areas as well. For one, they absorb sound and reduce thus noise pollution. If you live by a major freeway, you can appreciate sounds absorbed. Studies have shown that in some cases, a well planted group of trees can reduce noise pollution by up to 10 decibels.

For urban areas that are quite hot, such as Phoenix or Las Vegas, the addition of trees help shade asphalt and reduce what is called the “heat island” effect. Reducing heat is so important in regards to helping people save energy that the Environmental Protection Agency encourages cities to grow trees. To determine exactly how much energy is saved by a trees cooling effect, studies have shown that one tree is equivalent to 10 room-size air conditioners running 20 hours a day.

Trees aren’t only beneficial for warm climates and summer heat. In the winter, they can act as windbreaks for your home and help you save on heating costs. The Journal of Horticulture claims that saving on heating costs can reach as much as 25 percent!

What are some other quick facts regarding trees and how they save energy and help the environment? Here are a few:

• As few as three trees properly positioned can save the average household between $100 and $250 annually in energy costs.
• Fifty million shade trees planted in strategic, energy-saving locations could eliminate the need for seven 100-megawatt power plants.
• Shade from two large trees on the west side of a house and one on the east side can save up to 30% of a typical residence’s annual air conditioning costs.
• Annual benefits provided by parking lot trees in Sacramento, California,(8.1% tree shade) were valued at approximately $700,000 for improved air quality. By increasing shade to 50% in all parking lots in Sacramento, the annual benefits will increase to $4 million.
• Rows of trees reduce wind speed by up to about 85%, with maximum reductions increasing in proportion to visual density. Because even a single row of dense conifers can cause large reductions in wind speed, effective windbreaks can be planted on relatively small house lots. Compared with an open area, a good windbreak that does not shade the house will save about 15% of the heat energy used in a typical home.
• Modest increases of 10% canopy cover in the New York City Area were shown to reduce peak ozone levels by up to 4 parts per billion or by nearly 3% of the maximum and 37% of the amount by which the area exceeded its air quality standard. Similar results were found in Los Angeles and along the East Coast from Baltimore to Boston.8
• Leafy tree canopies catch precipitation before it reaches the ground, allowing some of it to gently drip and the rest to evaporate. This lessens the force of storms and reduces runoff and erosion. Research indicates that 100 mature tree crowns intercept about 100,000 gallons of rainfall per year, reducing runoff and providing cleaner water.
• Trees reduce noise pollution by absorbing sounds. A belt of trees 98 feet wide and 49 feet tall can reduce highway noise by 6 to 10 decibels.
• Trees in Davis, California, parking lots reduced asphalt temperatures by as much as 36 degrees Fahrenheit, and car interior temperatures by over 47 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Philadelphia's 2.1 million trees currently store approximately 481,000 metric tons of carbon with an estimated value of $9.8 million.
• A typical community forest of 10,000 trees will retain approximately 10 million gallons of rainwater per year.

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

Caring For Your Tree Pruning Tools

Pruning and maintaining your trees and plants in your garden is a gardener’s ongoing duty. With such responsibility comes the care of their tools. No matter what type of tool or tools you own, quality and expensive or affordable, they will need care. So how do you go about caring for your gardening tools?

To start, tools need to be sharp so that you can use them effortlessly and so that they do not damage the tree or plant you are pruning. To keep your cutting tools sharp, file the cutting edge of the tool. Practice makes perfect. Even a badly sharpened tool is easier to use that a dull tool. To make short work of your filing projects, install a vise on your workbench. With the tool securely gripped by this second set of "hands" you'll be able to quickly and safely file the business end of your tool. If you regularly file your tools, it will take but a few strokes to keep a fine sharp edge.

To file, use a mill file. Start with the top edge of the tool. File away from you, using long even strokes at the same angle as the original bevel. Lift the tool between strokes. File the opposite side lightly just to remove roughness or burrs for a clean, sharp edge.

Tools made of more expensive metal will hold their edge longer than those that are inexpensive

Next, if your tools have wood parts, these too need care. Wood handles on long and short tools need to be sanded and oiled at regular intervals, usually once a year is enough. Wipe off the handle to clean, and use little if any water. Use fine sand paper to smooth the surface. Remove the dust and rub linseed oil into the handle. Let it soak in. Use as much as it takes until it doesn't absorb any more. Wait about a half hour, then dry off any remaining on the surface. If your tools are made of fiberglass instead, wash them with soap and water, then dry.

How should you store your tools? If your tools are made of metal, which most are, place them in a 5-gallon bucket filled with coarse sand to which oil (motor oil or vegetable oil) has been added. You can store tools in the winter in the sand. Once ready for use, remove them and wipe them off. Each time you use your tools, clean as much dirt as you can, then dig the tool up and down in the sand a few times to clean off remaining dirt and coat the head with oil. The oil coating prevent rusts.

Once a year, clean metal surfaces with a wire brush to remove dirt and light rust. If the rust is a bit worse, you can sometimes remove it by soaking the tool in white vinegar; otherwise, use steel wool. The extent of the rust determines what grade to use. Start with the least coarse grade you can to remove the rust. Once the rust is removed and the entire surface is clean, you can apply a rust-proofing primer. Steel wool and repaint any rough areas.

Of course to prevent rust during usage, always hose off your tools and then dry them. Use a general purpose oil to quickly wipe blades and metal surfaces to condition between uses. You can clean blades of tools like pruners with oil and make sure to oil the working parts so that they clip freely. Your pruners may need to be disassembled first before cleaning and sharpening them. Many gardeners color the blade to be sharpened with a black felt tip marker and sharpen evenly until all traces of the marker have been removed.

Sharpen only beveled edges and always shape blades to maintain the original shape of the bevel.

Tools like pruners need to be cleaned after every use for other reasons as well. Cleaning them each time helps to help prevent tree diseases from spreading. Many gardeners disinfect their pruning tools after each tree you prune. To disinfect your tools, a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water can be applied. Then follow this by cleaning your tools with soapy water and thoroughly drying them afterwards. Always make sure to they are dry before putting them away to detour rust from developing. Finally, if you’re not skilled in the use of tools like chain saws, especially, always put safety first and hire an expert in the tree trimming service.

Keeping your tools in good working order will not only be beneficial to your plants but will make your end of the job easier as well and save on having to replace them.

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

Tree Planting Rules

So you want to plant trees – before you get started, there is a method that works best so that you can have the healthiest tree possible – we will call them Tree Planting Rules.

To start dig your hole big enough so that when you place your tree in the ground, the crown of the tree will be level with the soil. Be sure the hole you dig isn't too deep or too shallow. Place your tree in the hole as you dig to measure whether it is the right depth, the ground level of the plant in the pot should match up with the ground level after you fill the hole in. You can place the handle of your shovel flat across the hole from one side to the other to measure whether the crown is level with the surrounding soil before filling in the hole.

Once your hole is dug, you can add fertilizer. All plants need fertilizer to thrive, but too much and you will burn the leaves or kill the plant. Follow the package directions on the type of fertilizer you purchase. A good choice is slow release fertilizer, available from garden stores. Over-fertilizing can result in growth that is too fast. This growth might not be very strong or well formed. More is not better.

You can use compost or manure to help the soil out around your newly planted tree. If the soil that you currently have is not rich, has clay-like qualities or if it has the consistency of dust or sand, the addition of manure or compost will give the tree a great start in life. Backfill three quarters of the hole with existing dirt, one quarter with compost or composted manure. The composted organic matter also includes lots of nutrients for your tree. If you think the compost is rich enough, you may be able to do without a commercial fertilizer.

When planting fruit and nut trees, give them extra attention. For example, adding manure or compost is essential if you are planting these types of trees. Backfill two thirds of the hole with existing dirt and one third with compost or composted manure for each fruit or nut tree.

Next, water the newly planted tree. There will be some settling after you water, so after this occurs, backfill the remaining soil, and water again. This will eliminate air pockets. Water one gallon (3.7 liters) for every six inches (15 cm) of tree height.

After you have watered, you can now apply mulch over the planting hole. The rule of thumb is to cover the planting hole with 1-3 inches (2.5 cm - 7.6 cm) of shredded hardwood or leaf mulch. Do not put mulch against the trunk or it will rot. Don't over-mulch the tree, either. A few inches are enough to keep water in and most weeds out. Mulch a circle out to the drip line, about the same width as the tree's leaves. A visible patch of mulch also helps remind people not to step or mow or run a string trimmer too close to the tree.

Now you need to water your tree again. After the planting is finished come back in about an hour and water one more time.
Stake the tree if necessary, for about the first year. Make sure that whatever stakes you use are tied loosely to the trunk and do not dig into the bark or tighten around the tree. Remove the stakes once the roots have a chance to become established, after about the first year. Staking protects the tree against blowing over in the wind, and it can also help to remind people moving around the tree not to run into it.

With your newly planted tree don’t forget to keep watering it for the first few years as it gets established. Depending on the climate and your area, it will need weekly watering until the roots are established. To form deep roots, water deeply. A long, slow trickle of water will water more deeply than a quick sprinkling. Remember, deep roots help your tree to be resist droughts and winds. Let the ground dry out, at least somewhat, between watering.

Last, is enjoy the tree as it grows over the years with you and your family. Appreciate its shade and beauty and thank yourself for adding another tree to the world. And there you have it, the rules for planting your tree.

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.