How to Choose Healthy Trees

Cities without trees would be awful. They would be hot, shadeless, soulless and very boring. I love trees, they provide colour, interest, a sense of belonging, a sense of scale and are overall just great! Trees are often planted for the next or even next generation as many of them can take decades to mature. Choosing a healthy tree is really important because it could live for 100s of years. If you plant a damaged specimen, down the track, it is going to cost you money, cause you grief and put the development of a garden canopy back years.

A healthy tree is one that has no major wounds, has shiny green leaves, has no unusual growths, is sturdy, has good branch attachments in the U shape, has no pests attacking it, is not oozing any liquids or sugars and generally is looking good. When you look up into the canopy, it should block out most of the sky. If you can see large amounts of blue, then it could be a sign its stressed. Stresses could be due to possums and other wild life eating the leaves, lack of water due to drought, too much water due to floods or caterpillars and insects eating the leaves. There are also lots of diseases that could be attacking it or the tree is senescence - nearing the end of its natural life. Also make sure you don't confuse autumn leaf drop with thinning canopy of a sick tree.

When buying a new tree from a nursery, you have the right to pull the tree out of the display and walk around it, checking it out for any broken branches, wounds or any other defects. If you find any do not buy that particular specimen. Also look at how long the the plant has been in the pot. If the roots are popping out the bottom, the potting mix looks dull and lifeless and there are weeds growing in it, it is highly likely that this plant has been in the nursery for more than 12 months and is probably root-bound. This is not a good specimen to buy.

Root bound trees are where the roots have grown round and round and round themselves in the pot and will continue this way when they are planted out. This is a problem because as they mature there is no root system anchoring them to the ground. A gust of wind can knock it over and cause a lot of damage to you and any building it falls on. To prevent this is it always important to tease out the roots of any trees grown in pots before you plant them.

Understanding a Trees Root System

There are two types of roots - structural and feeder. The structural roots are the ones that anchor the tree to the soil and can be a thick as your forearm or thigh. The feeder roots are delicate, absorb the water and nutrients, are white, only live for a day or two and are constantly being replaced. They are located at the end of the root system. They are very easily damaged. Roots general grow laterally and sometimes you can follow a structural root for many many meters. You often see this when walking in the bush and it is fun to try and see where it is going. It is really really important you don't prune off any structural roots because you may inadvertently create an unstable tree.

How to tell if a sapling is anchored firmly in the ground.

The Burnley method devised at Burnley College Melbourne, is a simple test to see if the sapling (young tree) has established a good root system. This is a test for a tree that has been in the ground for several years. Stand in front of the tree, place both your hands on the trunk in front of you and see you can rock the trunk. If you can feel it moving in the ground and/or see the ground heaving at the base of the trunk, then this tree could have something seriously wrong with its root system. This could be due to disease, damage or insects attacking the roots. If you do nothing and leave the specimen as is, it will develop into a potential risk.

There are two options, remove it immediately or stake it during the growing season and see if this will help it firm up. Remember, you must remove the stakes at the end of autumn. If it is still moving in the ground, then the hard decision of removing the tree may have too be made. Long-term staking actually hinders trees establishing a secure root system because the trees become reliant on the stakes to hold them up and it prevents them from moving in the wind and being forced to establish a strong root system. Never, leave a tree staked for years and then remove it. The next windy day, will blow your tree over or worst snap it off at the base.

The reason why the tree hasn't established a strong root system is mostly due to being root bound and that is why it is important not to buy trees that have been in a nursery for years. They are not safe trees. Also when buying a tree from a nursery, look at the ratio of canopy to pot size. This will determine whether the root system is big enough to support the tree when planted. I have seen some trees with huge canopies and very tiny root systems. There is no way that the root system can support the weight of the canopy. Don't buy these top heavy trees, they are an accident waiting to happen.

How to Plant a Tree Properly

Planting a new tree properly is really important because you want it to develop into a strong and healthy specimen. Firstly, it is important to dig a wide hole rather than a deep hole, (as long as it is a deep as the pot the plant came in) and that is because there a myth that plant roots grow vertically. In reality most plant roots grow laterally (sideways) as this is where most of the oxygen is. The deeper down, the less Co2 is present and therefore the roots can not respire (taking in oxygen). The majority of the trees roots are in the first 1/2 meter of soil where most of the oxygen and moisture is. Many trees die because they are incorrectly planted; they are planted either too deep or too shallow.

If the trunk is too deep, the roots can't get oxygen and the trunk will rot. If the roots are sticking out above the soil, then they will dry out and eventually die. The correct way to plant is to have the join where the trunk and roots meet planted at ground level. And if you are not happy with the first planting, pull it out and try again. (Warning, do it immediately, do not let several months go by because you could like the tree). As the tree matures, you should be able to see a nice flair at the base of the trunk developing. If you can not, then it is incorrectly planted.

Tip: To help prevent root balling - dig a square hole - it forces the roots to grow laterally.

I don't believe in putting at the bottom of the hole compost, animal or fertiliser because when it decomposes, it causes the tree to sink, thus causing it to be planted to deeply. Compost and animal manure also can hold onto the water, making it unable to the new plant. This causes the root ball to dry out as it is almost impossible to rewet it again and they die. I do believe in putting compost, manure and mulch around the plant when I have finished back filling with the unadulterated soil that I have dug out of the hole. For any tree issues I recommend you employ a qualified arborist who has the expertise to understand what is happening within the tree's biology and root system. It may be expensive but it is money well spent. If you are unhappy with advice, then I recommend getting a second opinion. Enjoy your trees.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6040157

Healthy Trees and Healthy Lawns Increase Property Value

Growing up next door to a lawn fanatic, I learned quickly that it's important to maintain a healthy lawn and garden; as well as how to do so. It becomes a part of the investment of owning a home and property. I used to take pride in my yard, but living in various apartments and houses over the past five years has made it difficult to care. However, I have respect for those homes that take the time to care for their lawn. Well-kept homes, well-landscaped homes for sale, attract potential buyers better than those homes with dry grass.

It is somewhat easy to keep yards trimmed and green by yourself, without lawn companies visiting your home. However, there are certain lawn maintenance tasks that shouldn't be do-it-yourself or D.I.Y. projects. Tree pruning, for example, is a routine chore that keeps your trees healthy and your property investment worthwhile. This is a job for the professional. Improper tree pruning can result in a loss of property value. Proper pruning involves spurless climbing and no stubs. Pruning is like picking dead flowers off plants. It makes them healthier and gives more room for new life to grow. In top heavy tress, tree pruning helps reduce wind sail and balance the crown. Gardeners wanting to improve their yields should know that fruit tree pruning is important.

Pruning services can be allocated through any tree service business. Kalamazoo tree removal takes pride in proper yard care, removal, and land clearance. In the midst of a terrible storm, they are available too. View clearance is another way to increase property value. Homes that are on the lake or have a beautiful countryside landscape view deserve to be on display for future homeowners, even current owners who want a view rather than dead leaves and brush.

Clearance, if done the wrong way, will potentially kill the living trees you have in your yard. "Topping" trees means completely removing the upper tops of trees. This does more harm than good. If you want view clearance, total tree removal or skillful trimming is the best options.

Lawn care is easy to do yourself. The bigger jobs, like tree pruning or view clearances should be left to the tree service professionals. Honestly, they are more dangerous tasks too. You don't need a tree falling on your while you're tree trimming. The professionals understand the importance of maintaining property value. And respect your want to a healthy lawn.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7172076

Pruning Landscape Trees

Flowering and shade trees in the landscape require periodic pruning to control size and shape, to correct undesirable growth, and to remove low-hanging or damaged branches. In this short video, learn the tools and techniques you'll need to correctly perform pruning to not only to improve the appearance of your landscaping, but also the health of your trees.

Shade Trees in the Landscape

UNL Extension Educator John Fech talks about good shade trees and proper placement for the maximum benefit around your home

Planting Bare-Root Trees

Late November and December are the best months for planting bare-root trees into the garden. These are trees that are field grown and lifted in the autumn when the leaves fall off; which this year is a little later than normal. The reason its good to plant now is because the soil is moist, but still reasonably warm which means that a newly planted tree will start to make root growth as soon as it is planted.

Summer pruning

Summer pruning may not be needed every year or for every tree, but where excessive new woody growth is made, there are benefits from thinning out some of the new growth to regulate the tree. Doing this in mid-to-late summer allows more light to fall on the apples which will lead to better colour and less apple scab, you are also going to prevent the tree getting overcrowded in future years.

Big, tall growing 'standard' apple trees, the sort you hang a swing from and sit in the shade beneath, cannot realistically be summer pruned, these trees find their own balance but in any event are usually more architectural/beautiful than fruit prduction units. But for restricted forms such as cordons, espaliers and dwarf bushes, summer pruning can be very helpful and even essential. As always, think about the needs of the tree and use your judgement

How to Prune Grapes -- Summer

Tricia shows you how to trim your grape vines in the summer months. Learn how to thin fruit, tuck vines, and sucker trunks. Details in our blog post http://groworganic.com/organic-gardening/articles/pruning-grapes-in-the-summe.... All you need to grow organic, in one place at our site http://www.groworganic.com.